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"Our Dearest Blood" is a Star Trek: The Original Series comic published by Marvel-Paramount Comics in 1997, it is the third issue in the Star Trek: Early Voyages series, set during Christopher Pike's captaincy of the USS Enterprise. The story dramatizes the events on Rigel VII referenced in the episode "The Cage", including the real battle with the Kaylar later seen as a Talosian illusion, and the death of Yeoman Dermot Cusack.

Summary[]

Rigellian Festival of Light

The Rigellian Festival of Light

On Rigel VII, Captain Pike, Doctor Boyce and Yeoman Cusack enjoy the Rigellian Festival of Light whilst awaiting the arrival of the Rigellian minister Etashnan. After a discussion about the forthcoming ratification ceremony for Rigel VII’s admission into the United Federation of Planets and the necessary changes in Rigellian society for the planet’s joining Captain Pike departs with the minister's aide Talza to visit the Zemtar fortress, the location for the ceremony.

On the Enterprise, upon receiving the all clear from Yeoman Cusack many of the crew, including Nano, Sita Mohindas and Spock make their way to the transporter rooms to enjoy some shore leave on Rigel.

Approaching the Zemtar fortress Pike and Talza discuss Rigel, its history and culture and what joining the Federation might mean to the planet. On the cliffs above a Kaylar, a member of Rigel’s soon to be disbanded warrior elite, stalks the pair…

In a Rigellian bar Dermot Cusack keep spirits high leading a master class in the art of making the perfect Sundowner, dubbing it a Kaylar Kalamity.

Kaylar

Pike's Kaylar friend

At the Zemtar fortress Pike attempts to contact the Enterprise, but cannot get through and soon finds himself confronted by a rather agitated Kaylar.

In the Enterprise’s observation lounge a contemplative Number One is joined by Moves-With-Burning-Grace to engage in a spot of stargazing when her communicator beeps; Lieutenant Tyler informs her contact has been lost with all surface personnel.

...Below Cusack and Mohindas also note the communications blackout. As another Enterprise crewman asks a Kaylar if he might know what’s going on the human is struck down by the warrior’s blade. Spock blocks one swing of a Kaylar’s club only to find himself thrown across the room. Nano responds using his pyrotechnic abilities to repel the Rigellians and the Enterprise crew make a run for their lives.

In the Zemtar fortress Pike keeps his own attacking Kaylar busy affording Talza the opportunity to escape.

As the Kaylar rampage through the city the Enterprise survivors stay out of sight. Nano manages to recalibrate his communicator to track the jamming signal and Cusack leaves to locate the transmitter and shut it down. He finds in the midst of the Rigellian Parliamentary Assembly building.

In the Zemtar fortress Pike manages to evade the Kaylar and as the warrior jumps down to attack uses a pike to spear him.

At the transmitter Cusack disables the transmitter and gets through to the Enterprise but is then stabbed in the back by a vengeful Talza.

Meanwhile, Pike, pinned down by his fallen attacker and a new trio of Rigellian warriors, is rescued by Tyler and a landing party from the Enterprise. Upon returning to his ship the picture soon became clear. Rigellian extremists resentful of the Federation forcing changes in Rigellian society organized the coup. The situation is brought under control, but the event cost Rigel its Federation membership and the lives of three of the Enterprise’s crew… including Dermot Cusack.

References[]

Rigel VII

The USS Enterprise over Rigel VII

Characters[]

Phillip BoyceGabrielle CarlottiDermot CusackEtashnanMoves-With-Burning-GraceSita MohindasNanoNumber OneChristopher PikeSpockTalzaJosé Tylerunnamed USS Enterprise personnel

Starships and vehicles[]

USS Enterprise (Constitution-class) • unnamed terrestrial vehicles

Locations[]

bridgeobservation loungeRigel VIIRigellian Parliamentary Assemblytransporter roomZemtar fortress

Races and cultures[]

HumanKaylarLirinRigellianVulcan
Referenced only
ArcturanNgultor

States and organizations[]

Federation StarfleetKaylar legionsRigellian extremistsUnited Federation of Planets

Science and technoloy[]

chitincommunicatorlaser pistoltransporterunnamed animals

Ranks and titles[]

captainchief medical officerfirst officerministeryeoman

Other references[]

dress uniformfirst contacthongualathian spiritoff-worlderpyrotechnicRigellian Festival of Lightsalurian rumshore leavesundowner

Chronology[]

This comic takes place shortly before "The Cage", placing it in 2254.

c. 13th century
The last known time off-worlders witnessed the Rigellian Festival of Light and lived. (Historical reference by Captain Pike, noting the date to be a thousand years prior to the events of the story.)
Years before 2254
The Federation makes first contact with Rigel VII, stimulating years of reform to throw off protectionist and barbaric traditions and ready themselves for a place in the galactic community as part of the Federation.
Stardates 2385.7 - 2385.8 (c. 2254)
The USS Enterprise arrives at Rigel VII to witness the planet's admission into the United Federation of Planets. Before the ceremony however, a Kaylar uprising endangers members of the crew on the planet. (Events of the story. No calendar date given, but events take place immediately before the episode "The Cage", in 2254.)

Appendices[]

Related media[]

  • "The Cage" (TOS episode) - The events on Rigel VII were mentioned in The Cage when the Enterprise was diverted from taking its wounded to Vega colony to render aid of Talos IV. The same events were then used by the Talosians in their mental illusions.
  • "Nor Iron Bars a Cage" (EV comic) - Set concurrently with The Cage with numerous references to the Rigel VII incident.
  • "Flesh of My Flesh" (EV comic) - Doctor Boyce expresses concern that Captain Pike still hasn't fully recovered from his ordeal with the Ngultor from this issue.
  • Dr Boyce's internal strife - This comic is the first to depict Dr Boyce's apparent schizophrenia. This occurs again in "Nor Iron Bars a Cage" and the story is concluded in "Immortal Wounds".

Background[]

  • Amongst the 18 pages of adverts in this comic is one page that advertises subscriptions to Marvel's comic, highlighting Star Trek comics with an image of the USS Voyager. Another page advertises toys produced by Playmates to tie in with the film Star Trek: First Contact.

Quotes[]

"Add a finger of Salurian rum, before the Hongua - preferably Arcturan - then a measure of Lathian spirit, a jiggle of bitter, and Bob's your uncle! The perfect Sundowner. I call it a Kaylar Kalamity."
"Intriguing, yet I fail to see what having a relative named Robert adds to the beverage."

- Spock analyzing Dermot Cusack's Sundowner recipe.

Images[]

Connections[]

Media featuring Christopher Pike
Episodes and movies The Original Series The CageThe Menagerie
Movies Star TrekkStar Trek Into Darknessk
Discovery Will You Take My Hand?BrotherNew EdenPoint of LightAn Obol for CharonSaints of ImperfectionThe Sound of ThunderLight and ShadowsIf Memory ServesProject DaedalusThe Red AngelPerpetual InfinityThrough the Valley of ShadowsSuch Sweet Sorrow
Short Treks Q&AThe Trouble with EdwardAsk Not
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Novels Killing TimeaEnterprise: The First AdventureVulcan's GloryLegacyThe RiftWhere Sea Meets SkyBurning DreamsA Less Perfect UnionaThe Children of KingsChild of Two WorldsDesperate HoursThe Enterprise WarThe High Country
Short stories "Conflicting Natures" • "A Private Anecdote" • "Sins of the Mother" • "The Greater Good"m
Comics Early Voyages "Flesh of My Flesh" • "The Fires of Pharos" • "Our Dearest Blood" • "Nor Iron Bars a Cage" • Cloak and Dagger (12) • "The Flat, Gold Forever" • "Immortal Wounds" • "One of a Kind" • The Fallen (12) • "Futures, Part One" • "Future Tense" • "Futures" • "Now and Then" • "Thanatos" • "Nemesis"
Starfleet Academy "Return to the Forbidden Planet" • "A Prelude to War"
Crew "Shadows of the Past" • "The Ends of Eternity"
other "All Those Years Ago..." • "To Walk the Night" • "Door in the Cage" • Alien Spotlight Alien Spotlight, Volume I (VulcansOrions) • Mirror Imagesm (1245) • Spock: Reflections, Issue 2Star Trek Movie Adaptationk (23456) • Captain's Log: PikeAftermath (123)
k : Kelvin timelinem : Mirror Universea : alternate reality

Timeline[]

Published Order
Previous comic:
The Fires of Pharos
EV comics Next comic:
Nor Iron Bars a Cage
Chronological Order
Previous adventure:
The Fires of Pharos
Memory Beta Chronology Next adventure:
Nor Iron Bars a Cage
Production history[]
April 1997
First published by Marvel Comics.
September 2008
Re-released on The Complete Comic Book Collection DVD. (Graphic Imaging Technologies)
May 2009
Reprinted in Star Trek Omnibus, Volume 2. (IDW Publishing)
26 November 2013
Reprinted in The Stardate Collection's Volume 1 omnibus. (IDW Publishing)
27 April 2017
Collected in the Graphic Novel Collection's Volume 9 omnibus. (Eaglemoss Collections)
Translations[]
25 October 2017
Italian: Collected in the Italian release of Graphic Novel Collection, Volume 9: Primi Viaggi. (RCS MediaGroup, ISSN 977228074425770009)

External link[]

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