1.14 — “The Slaver Weapon”
Plot: Spock, Uhura, and Sulu are transporting a slaver box by long-range shuttle when they are diverted by a strange signal. The signal indicates that another rare and valuable slaver box may be present in the area. This turns out to be a trap set by Kzinti pirates, a cat-like warrior race which fought an unsuccessful war against mankind 200 years ago. The Kzinti use the box to recover a billion-year old space weapon, which may tip the galactic balance of power and empower them to wreak vengeance against humans–if only they can figure out how to use it.
Thoughts: This very unusual story was written by Larry Niven and set within his already established Known Space universe. The Kzinti come from that universe, familiar from Ringworld (1970) and a host of the books, novelettes and stories, including the Man-Kzin Wars series. This script itself is adapted from Niven’s 1967 story “The Soft Weapon,” altered by the substitution of Trek characters for the characters in the original story.
The result is a very pregnant episode, suggestive of a large world around its boundaries, begging to be explored. The concept of the slaver boxes is very creative, definitely not more of “the usual” for Star Trek. The story has mystery, jeopardy, and an unusual lineup of protagonists, featuring just Spock, Uhura, and Sulu. According to Memory Alpha, this is the only original cast Trek story to not to feature Captain Kirk, apart from “The Cage,” which didn’t receive its first airing on television until 1988.
Another thing that sets this episode apart is that the Kzinti who die at the end are the only characters ever to die onscreen in TAS. Unlike TOS, TAS was a redshirt-safe zone.
I enjoyed the Kzinti characters and the imprecations they hurl at vegetarians. The mystery of the weapon was just complex enough to carry a 22-minute animated episode without leaving me feeling cheated, or wanting more.
I may have to front burner reading some more Niven as a result. What’s your favorite? I’ve read Ringworld and half of The Ringworld Engineers. I’ve been meaning to read The Mote in God’s Eye (1974) for the last 20 years.
4 out of 5 pink pirate ships
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