"Errand of Mercy" Star Trek: TOS episode
Kor and Kirk, Errand of Mercy.
Episode no.	26
Prod. code	027
Airdate	March 16, 1967
Writer(s)	Gene L. Coon
Director	John Newland
Guest star(s)	John Colicos John Abbott David Hillary Hughes Peter Brocco Victor Lundin George Sawaya Walt Davis Bobby Bass Eddie Paskey Gary Coombs

"Errand of Mercy" is an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, and was broadcast on March 16, 1967. It is episode #26, written by Gene L. Coon and directed by John Newland. It was the first episode to feature the Klingons. March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in Leap years). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Screenwriters, scenarists or script writers, are authors who write the screenplays from which movies and television programs are made. ... Gene L. Coon (7 January 1924-8 July 1973) was an American screenwriter and television producer. ... A television director is usually responsible for directing the actors and other taped aspects of a television production. ... John Colicos (December 10, 1928 - March 6, 2000) was a Canadian born actor. ... The Hon. ... Peter Brocco (January 16, 1903 – December 20, 1992) was an American film and TV actor for nearly 60 years. ... Eddie Paskey-is an actor who is primarily known for playing the uncredited Lieutenant Leslie in the original Star Trek. ... The Devil in the Dark is a first season episode Star Trek: The Original Series which first aired on March 9, 1967. ... Stardate is the dating convention used in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... A year is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. ... The Alternative Factor is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ... The starship Enterprise as it appeared on Star Trek Star Trek is a culturally significant science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in Leap years). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gene L. Coon (7 January 1924-8 July 1973) was an American screenwriter and television producer. ... Klingons (tlhIngan in the Klingon language) are a race of humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe. ...

Quick Overview: In a state of war with the Klingons, Kirk and Spock attempt to sway the incomprehensibly placid population of a planet to their side. Captain James T. Kirk James Tiberius Kirk, a fictional character in the Star Trek television series, was the captain of the starship Enterprise (NCC-1701 and NCC-1701-A). ... Spock, commonly called Mr. ...

On stardate 3198.4, relations between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire have reached boiling point, and recent negotiations have broken down. The USS Enterprise has been sent to the world of Organia, a non-aligned planet near the Klingon border, in fear that the Klingons will annex it. Stardate is the dating convention used in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... In the Star Trek fictional universe, the United Federation of Planets (UFP) – widely referred to and known amongst fans as merely the Federation – is a federal state of more than 150 member planets and thousands of colonies. ... Klingons (tlhIngan in the Klingon language) are a race of humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... The early Earth starship Enterprise (NX-01) The original Federation starship Enterprise (NCC-1701) The second Federation starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) The third Federation starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-B) The fourth Federation starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-C) The fifth Federation starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) The sixth Federation starship...

Upon approach the Enterprise is attacked by and destroys a Klingon vessel. It is soon discovered that war has officially started. Captain James T. Kirk and his landing party warn the Organians of the Klingons, but they are not concerned. The Klingon fleet then invades, forcing withdrawal of Enterprise leaving Kirk and Mr. Spock on the surface. The Organians are a fictional race in the universe of Star Trek. ...

The Klingons easily seize control of the planet with Kor being the governor. The Organians disguise Kirk and Spock, but refuse to do more to resist the occupation. The two start guerilla operations of their own against the occupation force over the objections of the Organians. Kor in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Kor (Qor in Klingon) is a character from the fictional Star Trek universe. ...

When the Klingons confront the Organian ruling council and threaten to torture Kirk and Spock as suspected insurgents, the Organians confess their true identities and allow them to be arrested. After preliminary interrogations, the pair are held in a dungeon, but are freed by the Organians, and hidden in the council chamber.

While Kirk and Spock try to reason out the natives' incomprehensibly contradictory actions, Kor retaliates for the apparent aided escape by ordering mass execution of Organians. However, the Organians still neither budge from protecting the officers nor accepting the occupation. Both the Federation and Klingon officers become profoundly frustrated.

As the enemy fleets converge on the system, threatening to turn it into a war-zone, Kirk and Spock decide to make a suicidal raid on the Klingon occupational headquarters in hopes of rousing the population into resistance. They prove surprisingly successful in entry and capturing Kor. Kirk and Spock prepare to make a last stand while the fleets are about to engage.

At that point, the Organians reveal their cards, and they instantly and totally incapacitate the fighting abilities of both sides. Furthermore, they disclose that they are not humanoids with primitive technology as they may appear, but are highly advanced and extremely powerful energy beings, far beyond the Klingons and the Federation, who were never threatened by either side.

They force the opposing sides to make a truce, which would later be known as the Organian Peace Treaty. Both sides protest, but the Organians predict that the two political bodies will get along far better in the future than they even imagined. The Organian Peace Treaty was the treaty of peace, imposed by the Organians, upon the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, on stardate 3199. ...

Back on the Enterprise, Kirk admits his embarrassment at his own indignation of the conclusion of the war.

Trivia

In the Star Trek continuity, the Organians' prophecy proved accurate with the Federation and Klingon Empire becoming close allies by the 24th Century. Star Trek collectively refers to a science-fiction franchise spanning six unique television series, 726 episodes and ten motion pictures in addition to hundreds of novels, video games, fan stories and other works of fiction all set within the same fictional universe created by Gene Roddenberry in the mid-1960s. ...

Politically, this episode is a clearly a reflection of its time. Its clear anti-war message reflects the public's feeling about the Vietnam War. Anti war protest in Melbourne, Australia, 2003 Anti_war is a name that is widely adopted by any social movement or person that seeks to end or oppose a future or current war. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) United States of America South Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand the Philippines Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) Commanders Strength ~1,200,000 (1968) ~420,000 (1968) Casualties South Vietnamese dead: 1,250,000+ US dead: 58,226 US...

John Colicos was set to reprise his role as Kor in the third-season episode "Day of the Dove", but was unable to find the time, so the role of Kang was created instead and played by Michael Ansara. John Colicos (December 10, 1928 - March 6, 2000) was a Canadian born actor. ... Day of the Dove is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, first broadcast November 1, 1968 and repeated June 17, 1969. ... Kang is a character from the fictional Star Trek universe. ... Michael Ansara (born April 15, 1922 in Syria) is a stage, screen and voice actor. ...

The Organians are explored again in a Star Trek: Enterprise episode, "Observer Effect". The starship Enterprise (NX-01) Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. ... Observer Effect is the name of the 87th episode from the television series Star Trek: Enterprise. ...

External links

Errand of Mercy article at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki
Memory Alpha is a collaborative project launched in November 2003 by Harry Doddema and Dan Carlson. ... Star Trek collectively refers to a science-fiction franchise spanning six unique television series, 726 episodes and ten motion pictures in addition to hundreds of novels, video games, fan stories and other works of fiction all set within the same fictional universe created by Gene Roddenberry in the mid-1960s. ... Look up Wiki in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Wikibooks has more about this subject: Wiki Science A wiki (IPA: <wee-kee> or <wick-ey>) is a type of website that allow users to easily add and edit content and is especially suited for collaborative writing. ...