Inalienable Rights

Inalienable Rights is a Star Trek: The Original Series manga story from the 2008 anthology Uchu, published by ToykoPop, written by Nathaniel Bowden, with art by Heidi Arnhold and shading by Dominic Prestera. The Enterprise detected a planet’s initial warp flight, so the crew flew down in a shuttle to initiate the celebratory first contact the same way the Vulcans did after Cochrane’s warp flight. But as the day progressed, something seemed not right about the planet’s society.

Summary
Captain's Log, Supplemental: Starfleet Command has authorized a first contact with the third planet in the Makon system following their first successful warp flight. As customary with this procedure, Mr. Scott has prepped a shuttle for the surface. A landing ship is preferable to the transporter. I’ve left First Officer Spock in command of the ship.

Captain’s log, Supplemental: After moving the shuttle to a safe distance, away from the prying eyes of a more primitive culture, the away team has returned to the capital city of the Makon government. As we sit down to dinner I find myself pleased that our meeting has started well. And hope for continued success. Dr. McCoy has determined that, while not altogether appetizing, the dish is fit for human consumption.

Captain’s log, Supplemental: Following our less than cordial discussion last night, Mr. Spock advises we stick to the plan and contact the Mols in a timely fashion. But I feel it would be a failing as a good will ambassador to give up after a single meal. We will return Jeena to the surface with one last attempt at reasoning and diplomacy.

Blurb

 * From the back of the anthology Uchu
 * ’’Nathaniel Bowden brings us a society in which bureaucrats run wild.’’

Characters

 * James T. Kirk • Spock • Leonard McCoy • Montgomery Scott • Hikaru Sulu • Jeena • Pipp • President Wan’brek • Vice President of Operations Del’Chan • Secretary of Affairs Dol’Rum

Starships and vehicles

 * USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) • Shuttlecraft Copernicus NCC-1707/7

Locations

 * Makon III

Races and cultures

 * Human • Makon

Mols

States and organizations

 * Makon City-States

Science and technology

 * space telescopes • satellites • warp reactor

Ranks and titles

 * Thinker • Healer

Other References

 * First contact • first contact procedures

Related stories

 * - Featured Copernicus, though seemingly not the same Copernicus shown in Inalienable Rights. The shuttle in Inalienable Rights was identical to the Galileo shuttlecraft and had the registration number NCC-1701/7.
 * - Featured Earth’s first contact with Vulcans.