TOS · SEASON 11×23

A Taste of Armageddon

NOMADIC PICK · GREAT DISCUSSION EPISODEWar made clean and efficient.

FIRST SHOWN (US): 23 February 1967
ON: NBC
STARDATE: 3192.1
DIRECTED BY: Joseph Pevney
PRODUCTION NO.: 23

WRITTEN BYTeleplay by Robert Hamner and Gene L. Coon; story by Robert Hamner

IN BRIEF

SPOILER-FREE

A diplomatic mission to Eminiar VII goes wrong when the planet warns the Enterprise to stay away, and Kirk discovers how its centuries-long war is really being fought.

SYNOPSIS

SPOILERS

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Kirk carries Ambassador Robert Fox to Eminiar VII to open diplomatic relations, despite a warning to keep away. The planet has been at war with its neighbour Vendikar for 500 years, yet its cities are untouched. The attacks are simulated by computers, but the casualties are real: citizens listed as killed must report to disintegration chambers to keep the war tidy. When the Enterprise is declared destroyed in a simulated strike, Eminiar's leader Anan 7 demands that the crew report for death. Kirk is held prisoner while Scotty refuses to lower the ship's shields. Escaping with Spock's help, Kirk destroys the war computers. Faced with the prospect of a real war in all its horror, Anan agrees to contact Vendikar, and Fox stays to help negotiate peace.

DID YOU KNOW?

01The first episode to use the full name “United Federation of Planets”.
02Albert Whitlock created the matte painting of Eminiar's capital city.
03Although given production number 23, it was filmed after “Space Seed” because of script revisions.

SOURCES WE CHECKED