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Description[]

Another exciting episode from television's most popular science fiction series.
Complete in this volume.
Bem
It seemed like such a simple request.
The Pandronians had petitioned to send a representative to observe a Federation crew carrying out a survey mission... precisely the type of mission the Enterprise had just been assigned.
What could go wrong?
So Commander Ari bn Bem joined Captain Kirk and his crew to evaluate aboriginal lifeforms of undetermined intelligence and accomplishment on the planet Delta Theta III.
And that's when the trouble began…

Summary[]

Before and during the mission to Delta Theta III, Ari bn Bem is generally disagreeable, haughty, and disdainful of all other sentient races and cultures. He surreptitiously substitutes fakes for a landing party's phasers and communicators, with the result that they are easily captured by the planet's natives. After an encounter with the planet's ruling intelligence, however, he is greatly humbled, and becomes much more cooperative.

Following the events of the original episode, Bem receives a message from Pandro, one so shocking that he faints. After his upper and lower torsos dissociate and revive his head, he explains the import of the message: the Tam Paupa, which has been the source of peace and justice on Pandro for many generations, has been stolen, the Pandronian premier is dying, and Pandronian society is slipping into total chaos.

The USS Enterprise is immediately diverted to Pandro, and a landing party is sent down to assist bn Bem in recovering the Tam Paupa. What follows is a travelogue of Pandro, leading to a confrontation with a Klingon expedition seeking to exploit the weapons potential of Pandro's uniquely modular animal wildlife, and ultimately to a series of surprises from the Tam Paupa itself.

Log entries[]

Captain's log, stardate 5537.3.
The Enterprise, having concluded the Lactran affair and having returned officers Markel, Bryce, and Randolph to Starbase Sixteen Survey Headquarters, is proceeding according to directives on standard survey run.
Captain's log, stardate 5537.3.
We are taking up orbit around Delta Theta Three, a newly charted Class M planet — the last world on our current mission. The original drone scout reported the possible presence of aboriginal life forms on Delta Theta Three, life forms of undetermined intelligence and accomplishment.
Upon entering orbit the Enterprise will proceed to carry out standard survey procedures and investigation, placing particular emphasis on a detailed study of the local sapient life form.

References[]

Characters[]

Episode characters[]

Arex Na EthAri bn BemJames T. KirkJohn KyleShiboline M'RessMontgomery ScottSpockHikaru SuluNyota UhuraDelta Theta III entityDelta Theta III aborigines

Novelization characters[]

ab AfArex Na EthAri bn BemCamusChristine ChapelDav pn HonKau afdel KaunJames T. KirkKor, son of RynarMonty KunjollyJohn KyleShiboline M'RessMarkhamLeonard McCoyNamuraLud eb RissMontgomery ScottSpockHikaru SuluNyota UhuraDelta Theta III entityDelta Theta III aboriginescoryatdiccobTam Paupazintar
Referenced only
Randi BryceMatthew JefferiesTom MarkelPatrick O'MorionNancy Randolph

Starships and vehicles[]

USS Enterprise (Constitution-class heavy cruiser)

Locations[]

Delta Theta IIIPandroScience Station 24
Referenced only
LactraStarbase 16Ursa Major Lacus

Races and cultures[]

CaitianDelta Theta III aborigineHumanKlingonPandronianEdosian or TriexianVulcan
Referenced only
KlingonLactranOrganianRomulan

States and organizations[]

Federation Diplomatic CorpsFederation Diplomatic Psychology CorpsStarfleetStarfleet ScienceStarfleet CommandUnited Federation of Planets

Science and classification[]

biologyboloclass M planetclubcommunicatorcoordinatesdrone scoutforce fieldknifemedicinemessage cubephasersensorspeartransportertricorderturboliftviewscreenweapon

Ranks and titles[]

admiralcaptainchief engineercommanderdoctorengineerensignfirst officerguardhunterlieutenantlieutenant commanderscience officertransporter chiefwarriorxenologist

Other references[]

alienanimalbeambrainbridgeBrownian movementcaptain's logcatciliacivilizationcodecommand chaircrewcryptographyculturediplomatic relationsdiseaseEnglish languageFederation lawFederation Starfleet ranks (2260s)firegovernmenthangoverlanding partylanguagelifeformLoch Ness Monsterlog entrylogicphysiologyquartersrocksleepStar Fleet Technical ManualStarfleet uniform (2265-2270)stuntabootransporter roomtribeVulcan nerve pinchwarwarp factor (warp four) • wood

Appendices[]

Background[]

This is the ninth of Alan Dean Foster's TAS adaptation collections which have been reprinted a number of times, often in omnibuses with other Star Trek Log books. Most recently in 2006 by Del Rey Books, an imprint of the original Ballantine Books publishers, as part of Star Trek's 40th Anniversary celebrations.

In fact, this was the last of the Star Trek Logs to be published under the Ballantine imprint before the Del Rey imprint was created.

This was also the first book in the series to feature the new cover art style with an image of the Enterprise rather than an image from the adapted episode. The last book in the series would also have this style of cover as would the following reprints of the earlier books.

Connections[]

Timeline[]

published order
Previous novelization:
Log Eight
Star Trek Logs Next novelization:
Log Ten
Previous episode:
Once Upon a Planet
TAS episode produced Next episode:
Albatross
Previous episode:
The Pirates of Orion
TAS episode aired Next episode:
The Practical Joker
chronological order
Previous Adventure:
The Eye of the Beholder
Pocket Next Adventure:
The Slaver Weapon


Translations[]
1994
German : Ein fataler Fehler, translated by Lore Straßl. (Goldmann)

External links[]

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