- The Enterprise crew investigates the disappearance of a ship's crew on a planet that is a modern version of the Roman Empire.
- While searching for the crew of a destroyed spaceship, the Enterprise discovers a planet whose oppressive government is a 20th-century version of Earth's Roman Empire. Kirk, Spock and McCoy meet the rebels, seemingly sun worshipers, but are soon thereafter apprehended by the regime. The missing Captain Merik is revealed as the "First Citizen" and a pawn of the regime, but he and the rebels ultimately help Kirk and company to escape. Back on the Enterprise, Uhura observes that the crew's understanding of the rebels as sun worshipers was not completely accurate.—MGR
- Debris in space is determined to be the remains of a merchant ship, the S.S. Beagle, which disappeared 6 years ago and was commanded by Merik, a one-time Academy cadet with Kirk who was dropped before graduation. They trace the debris to an Earth-like planet whose society has been based on that of the Roman Empire, with gladiatorial games broadcast on live TV and slaves who have discovered a new religion for which they are apparently ready to die. They also find Merik, sitting pretty in a position of authority. He has clearly violated the Prime Directive and interfered with the development of the local society. For Kirk, Spock and McCoy it's a matter of life and death when they are forced to participate in gladiatorial combat.—garykmcd
- Debris in space is determined to be the remains of a merchant ship, the S.S. Beagle, which disappeared 6 years ago and was commanded by Merik (William Smithers), a one-time Academy cadet with Kirk who was dropped before graduation. They trace the debris to an Earth-like planet whose society has been based on that of the Roman Empire (but set in the 20th Century), with gladiatorial games broadcast on live TV and slaves who have discovered a new religion for which they are apparently ready to die. Kirk and Spock find evidence of crew of the SS Beagle participating in the gladiatorial games and beam down to investigate.
They are intercepted by the rebels led by Septimus (Ian Wolfe) & Flavius (Rhodes Reason). The rebels used to be slaves of the ROmans. Flavius thinks Kirk and his landing party are agents of ROme, but Septimus accepts them as friends, upon Kirk's insistence. Septimus tells them of a society based on ancient Rome, but set in the 20th century Earth, with cars and bath salts and so on. Kirk asks Septimus to smuggle them inside the city. Kirk discovers that Merik is the First Citizen of this society. He tells Septimus that Merik has violated the Prime Directiv and should be taken away for punishment. Septimus and Flavius were gladiators, but turned rebels after "hearing words of the sun"..
Flavius takes the landing party towards Rome, but are captured by the guards. Under captivity Flavius tells Kirk that slaves in ROman society had medical insurance and Pensions. But then the sun appeared and spoke of freedom and rights, and some of the slaves rebelled. Merik meets the landing party with his 2nd in command Claudius Markus (Logan Ramsey). Merik explains that he met Markus 6 yrs ago when he visited the planet. Markus convinced Merik that the planet and its society was unique as there had been no war for over 400 yrs. He convinced Merik to let slavery thrive. Merik sold his entire crew into slavery on the planet and became rich. Merik wants Kirk to order his entire crew to beam down for the same fate. Markus will torture Spock and McCoy unless he complies.
For Kirk, Spock and McCoy it's a matter of life and death when they are forced to participate in gladiatorial combat, when he refuses to order Scott to beam the crew down. In fact Kirk gives a coded signal to Scott that the landing party is in trouble and not to interfere till further orders. Spock wins the contests by deploying the Vulcan neck grip. Markus imprisons Spock and McCoy, but tries to seduce Kirk with his slave Drusilla (Lois Jewell).
Markus decides to kill Kirk as he refuses to cooperate still. Markus thinks very lowly of Merik, and insults him at every opportunity. Meanwhile Scott had prepared the Enterprise for disruption of all power on the Planet's surface. As Merik prepares to kill Kirk, Scott disrupts the power, allowing him a chance to escape and rescue Spock and McCoy. Merik tries to protect them by contacting the Enterprise, but Markus stabs him in the back. As Merik dies, Kirk and his landing party are beamed back up. Uhura informs Kirk that by reading the planet's radio waves, she has understood that the slaves referred not to the planetary body Sun, but to the Son of God, or Christ.. The society was just discovering the word of Christ and this will eventually free them all from slavery, just as it did on Earth.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content