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Flesh of My Flesh

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COMIC
Flesh of My Flesh
Attribution
Series: Early Voyages, No. 1
Writer(s): Dan Abnett & Ian Edgington
Penciler(s): Patrick Zircher
Inker(s): Greg Adams
Colorist(s): Marie Javins
Letterer(s): Janice Chiang
Publication information
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Published: February 1997
Pages: 56, 40 of which are story
Omnibus: The Complete Comic Book Collection (2008); Star Trek Omnibus, Volume 2 (2009)
Chronology
Date: 2254
Stardate: 2252.34
From the pilot episode of The Original Series... Captain Pike commands the U.S.S. Enterprise!

Flesh of My Flesh is a Star Trek: The Original Series comic published by Marvel-Paramount Comics in 1997, it is the first issue in the Star Trek: Early Voyages series, set during Christopher Pike's captaincy of the USS Enterprise. In this opening issue the Enterprise encounters the Ngultor, who capture Pike and probe his mind; causing him to flash-back to key moments in the formation of his crew.

Contents

[edit] Summary

Pike and April in spacedock

The USS Enterprise has been diverted from its course to the Marrat system to investigate several strange disappearances, a number of small ships have been found, a fleet of Marie Celestes, adrift and undamaged but entirely devoid of crew. The Enterprise has been sent to act as bait to find out what happened. The culprit soon makes itself known, a huge organic starship. As The enterprise attempts to hail a huge energy build-up blinds the crews…

In the void of his mind Captain Pike finds himself walking with Captain April in spacedock alongside the Enterprise. As Pike prepares to board he discusses his crew, some old hands from April's time on the Enterprise, Pike's yeoman of the last three years, and some new faces.

The Enterprise in the grasp of the alien ship

On the Enterprise, Spock brings Number One out of her daze and informs her of the captain's disappearance. Using Enterprise's few active sensors the crew ascertain they are being held by the alien ship, and traveling at warp three. Doctor Boyce turns up on the bridge to fix up the crew.

Meanwhile… Pike recalls his meeting to enroll Lieutenant Robbins as his first officer. Whilst she was hoping for a command of her own she is happy to wait with a chance to serve under Pike and on the Enterprise. The two discuss how they might go about bettering Captain April's legendary exploits.

Whilst Doctor Boyce announces his findings, that whilst they were knocked out the crew were subjected to invasive surgery, Number One takes the Captain's chair. Spock borrows the doctor's medical tricorder hoping to diagnose what might be wrong with the ship after his deductions indicated aliens with organic starships might well use organic weapons.

As Pike suffers the pains of his memories being sucked from him he recalls his first encounter with the young cadet Spock, hoping to enroll him into his then two year old crew as a replacement for his fever stricken science officer.

In the briefing room Spock announces his findings; the Enterprise has been infected by an energy sapping virus. Whilst the rest of the crew are assigned duties to restore the ship Number One decides to take a landing party to rescue the captain.

Pike in the organic prison of the Ngultor

Back choosing his crew, Pike goes over the personal files of his final choices with his trusted Yeoman; Dermot Cusack. Finally unable to take anymore, Pike pulls himself into consciousness to find himself dangling in the organic prison of the aliens which call themselves Ngultor. They reveal their plans; to use Pike's mind to find the homeworld of species in the region and consume them. As they prepare to re-enter his mind the chamber is illuminated by phaser fire.

The captain is quickly cut down and puts on an EV suit for the journey back to the Enterprise, but before they can leave, the Ngultor ships tentacles swipe Number One away. Fortunately Nano is on the team and uses his pyrotechnic ability to drive off the organic ship and rescue Number One. However escape still eludes the team who get lost in the ever changing labyrinth of the organic vessel and end up face to face with Ngultor.

The huge insectoid aliens explain their plight, lost from home in a freak warp accident, now harvesting flesh for the return journey. As they encroach on the team ready to consume the landing party feel the familiar tingle of the transporter beam as they relocate to the Enterprise.

Nurse Carlotti briefs the group on the progress of curing Enterprise's virus and they quickly make their way to the bridge. Soon after they drop out of warp before the huge Ngultor mothership. Using what limited phaser power is available the Enterprise cuts herself free from the smaller Ngultor vessel, then upon restoration of the torpedo banks, fires on the mother ship, destroying it.

Observing a hollow victory the Enterprise resumes her course for the Marrat system and Captain Pike retires to his quarters confident in the abilities of his crew and sure the name Enterprise will not depart the history books under his command.

[edit] References

[edit] Characters

Number One leading a rescue party on the Ngultor ship
Robert AprilPhillip BoyceGabrielle CarlottiDermot CusackMoves-With-Burning-GraceSita MohindasNanoNumber OneChristopher PikeNils PitcairnSpockJosé TylerYamata
Unnamed
unnamed Andorianunnamed Tellariteunnamed Starfleet personnelunnamed Vulcan
Referenced only 
Rajiv Mohindas

[edit] Starships and vehicles

USS Enterprise (Constitution-class) • Ngultor shipNgultor mothershipunnamed Constitution class starshipunnamed small craft
Referenced only 
USS Alexanderharvester craftUSS LeeMarie CelesteUSS NelsonUSS RedoubtUSS TiberiusUSS Valley Forgeunnamed ships attacked by the Ngultor

[edit] Locations

The events of the comic occur in an unspecified area of open space. • unnamed facilities
Referenced only 
DelhiEarthEristasMarrat systemMarsNew MilanNew VenicePathiad NebulataeUtopia Plantia Yards

[edit] Races and cultures

AndorianHumanLirinMasaiNgultorTellariteVulcan

[edit] States and organisations

Federation StarfleetUnited Federation of Planets

[edit] Science and technology

antibodyastrographybrain stemcomparative xenobiologychronometerflumedical tricordernest worldpyrotechnicquantum mechanicsstomachvaccinevirillian toxic feverviruswarp engineering

[edit] Ranks and titles

acting ensignambassadorcadetcaptainchief engineerdoctorfirst officerhead nurselieutenantlieutenant commandermaster programnursescience officertransporter chiefyeoman

[edit] Other references

Irish whiskyfive-year missionmantraprayersemioticsTholian expansionist programs

[edit] Appendices

[edit] Background

  • Despite being set up as a primary member of the Enterprise crew in this issue, transporter chief Nils Pitcairn only appears in two panels, and make no further appearances in the Early Voyages series.
  • Amongst the 16 pages of adverts in this comic is one page advertises subscriptions to Marvel's comic, highlighting Star Trek comics with an image of the USS Voyager.

[edit] Quotes

"There you go, Nano. My favourite Lirin patient. You're right as rain"
"Doctor Sir, I am your only Lirin patient"

- Doctor Boyce and Nano


"Did you hear me Cadet?"
"Of course Captain. You seemed so sure about my posting, I didn't realise it required a response"

- Captain Pike recruiting Spock

[edit] Related stories

Stories featuring Christopher Pike
Comics Early Voyages "Flesh of My Flesh" • "The Fires of Pharos" • "Our Dearest Blood" • "Nor Iron Bars a Cage" • "Cloak and Dagger" • "The Flat, Gold Forever" • "Immortal Wounds" • "One of a Kind" • "The Fallen" • "Futures, Part One" • "Future Tense" • "Futures" • "Now and Then" • "Thanatos" • "Nemesis"
other "All Those Years Ago..." • "To Walk the Night" • "Door in the Cage" • "Return to the Forbidden Planet" • "A Prelude to War" • "Alien Spotlight: Vulcans" • "Alien Spotlight: Orions" • "Mirror Images, Issue 1" • "Mirror Images, Issue 2" • "Mirror Images, Issue 4" • "Mirror Images, Issue 5" • "Shadows of the Past" • "The Ends of Eternity" • "Spock: Reflections, Issue 2"
Novels Enterprise: The First AdventureVulcan's GloryLegacyThe RiftWhere Sea Meets SkyBurning Dreams • "A Less Perfect Union" • To Thine Own Self
Short stories "Conflicting Natures" • "A Private Anecdote" • "Sins of the Mother" • "The Greater Good"
Episodes "The Cage" • "The Menagerie" Movie Star Trek

[edit] Timeline

Based on other issues of the Early Voyages series, this comic takes place in 2254, before the episode "The Cage", and very shortly before the next issue in the series, "The Fires of Pharos". Flash-backs occur to events earlier in Pike's life; to his taking command of the Enterprise, circa 2251, and two years into his command, circa 2253, when he recruited Spock has his new science officer.

Published Order
Previous comic:
First issue
EV comics Next comic:
The Fires of Pharos
Chronological Order
Previous adventure:
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Chapter 14
Memory Beta Chronology Next adventure:
The Fires of Pharos
The above chronology placements are based on the primary placement in 2254.
The Memory Beta Chronology places events from this story in 2 other timeframe(s):
Previous adventure:
Final Frontier
"Hope and a Common Future"
2251 Next adventure:
Cadet Kirk
Previous adventure:
Chaotic Response
Sections 5 & 7
2253 Next adventure:
Vulcan's Glory

[edit] Images

[edit] External link

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