The Savage Curtain

Surveying the molten planet Excalbia, the Enterprise is hailed by a figure claiming to be Abraham Lincoln. Intrigued, Kirk welcomes him aboard with full honours. On the surface, Kirk and Spock meet Surak, the revered founder of Vulcan philosophy. Their hosts, the rock-like Excalbians, reveal that they want to study good and evil by forcing the two sides to fight. Kirk, Spock, Lincoln and Surak are set against Colonel Green, Kahless the Unforgettable, Zora and Genghis Khan. To make sure Kirk takes part, the Excalbians threaten the Enterprise, leaving it four hours from destruction. Surak goes to seek peace and is killed, and Lincoln dies trying to save him. Outnumbered, Kirk and Spock fight on and defeat their enemies, who flee. Yarnek declares the two sides no different, since both used the same methods. Kirk disagrees: he fought to save his crew, the villains for power. The Excalbians let the ship go.