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"A Piece of the Action" was the 49th episode produced of Star Trek: The Original Series and was released during the show's second season, first airing on 5 January 1968. The teleplay was written by David P. HarmonMA & Gene L. CoonMA and directed by James KomackMA. It was novelized in Star Trek 4 by James Blish and adapted as a fotonovel in 1978.

Description[]

Fotonovel introduction
Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock are trapped on the planet Sigma Iotia II.
A planet that has patterned its entire culture after the gangland style life of the Chicago mobs of the 1920s.
Where arguments are settled by shoot-outs, leaders are called Bosses and enemies are outfitted with cement overshoes.
When Kirk and Spock are given an offer they can't refuse, the Feds are cut in for… A Piece of the Action.

Summary[]

Episode log entries[]

Ship's log.
Mister Spock reporting. Incredible as it seems, Doctor McCoy and I are once again prisoners of the chief criminal boss of a society patterned after old Earth gangsters.

Fotonovel log entries[]

Captain's log, stardate 4598.0.
In response to a conventional radio signal transmitted one hundred years before by the USS Horizon, shortly before being lost with all hands, we are en route for Sigma Iotia II, an inhabited planet on the outer reaches of the galaxy.
Ship's log, stardate 4598.2.
Chief Engineer Scott recording. The captain, first officer and chief surgeon have beamed to the planet. We have received a transmission from someone calling himself Bela Okmyx who demands a ransom of one hundred type 1 hand phasers in return for the lives of our landing party. We have been given eight hours in which to comply.
Personal journal, Capt. James T. Kirk, stardate 4598.7.
We have left orbit around Sigma Iotia II and thanks to a remedy known to Bones and Scotty, have recovered from the effects of Mr. Okmyx's drinking stuff. The Iotians, however, will need more time to recover from the effects of The Book. A culture can bend only so fast without breaking. Inevitably, I am moved to speculate upon the dangers of limited cultural influence and the effects certain other books might have had. There was something pathetic yet appealing about their technology.

References[]

Characters[]

Episode characters[]

Clifford Brent[1]Pavel ChekovBill HadleyKaloKarfJames T. KirkJojo KrakoRoger LemliRyan LeslieLewis (USS Enterprise)Tony Lubocq (aka Sonny) • Leonard McCoyMirt (Iotian)Bela OxmyxMontgomery ScottSlugoSpockSwensonTepoNyota UhuraZabo (Iotian)
Referenced only
Cirl the Knife

Novelization characters[]

KaloKarfJames T. KirkJojo KrakoLeonard McCoyMirt (Iotian)Bela OkmyxMontgomery ScottSpockTepoNyota UhuraZabo (Iotian)
Referenced only
Cirl the Knife

Starships and vehicles[]

USS Enterprise (Constitution-class)

Locations[]

Sigma Iotia II

Races and cultures[]

HumanIotianVulcan

Technology and weapons[]

starshipviewscreen

Materials and substances[]

atmospherebloodgasoxygen

States and organizations[]

FederationStarfleet

Ranks and titles[]

captaincommandercommanding officercommunications officerFederation Starfleet ranksFederation Starfleet ranks (2260s)first officerlieutenant commanderofficerscientistscience officer

Other references[]

anatomyarmbootclothingFederation membersfingerfive-year missiongovernmenthumanoidlanguagelifeformlogicmattermemorynation-stateorbitpantsquadrantraces and culturesrankspacestarstardateStarfleet uniformStarfleet uniform (2260s)technologytitletunicuniformuniverseweapon

Appendices[]

Related media[]

Adaptations[]

Video releases[]

Images[]

Connections[]

Timeline[]

published order
Previous episode:
The Immunity Syndrome
TOS episode produced Next episode:
By Any Other Name
Previous episode:
The Gamesters of Triskelion
TOS episode aired Next episode:
The Immunity Syndrome
Previous story:
The Enterprise Incident
Star Trek 4
Blish4
Next story:
last story
chronological order
Previous Adventure:
Marginal Existence
Pocket Next Adventure:
By Any Other Name
Previous Adventure:
Planet of Judgment
Voyages of the
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
(2264 to 2270)
Next Adventure:
By Any Other Name


Translations[]
1972
German : Ein Stück vom Kuchen, translated by Hans Maeter. (Williams)
1973
Turkish : Bir Parça Hareket, translated by Reha Pinar. (Altın Kitaplar)
1976
Japanese : 行動の一端, translated by Haku Saito. (Hayakawa Bunko)
1978
Italian : Società imitativa, translated by Lella Cucchi. (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore)

External links[]

  1. The character of Clifford Brent was not named in the episode but the same actor, wearing an officer's Starfleet uniform, was addressed as Brent in TOS episode: "The Naked Time". The same actor also played the character of Vinci.
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