The Children of Stai

The Children of Stai, or UK comic strips, fifth story arc, was a Star Trek: The Original Series comic strip published in 1969. It was the fifth story arc in the UK comic strips series. It was released in four parts in issues of Joe 90: Top Secret. In this story, James T. Kirk rescued a group of children from a hostile interstellar state.

Publisher's description

 * Teaser summary, 31 May, 1969
 * Unable to forget the tumultuous welcome the aliens of Stai gave him, Captain Kirk is determined to rescue their children from Galactic Union control…

Summary
Kirk was treated to an enthusiastic welcome and a feast during his diplomatic visit to Stai, until controllers from the Galactic Union arrived to shoo him off the planet. Officer Ruf threatened Stai representative Da Mek, reminding him that the Union controlled this planet. Da Mek acquiesced to protect his son and other children schooled on neighboring Union planet Vrex. Angered by Ruf's bullying tactics, Kirk promised Da Mek that he would bring back their children.


 * Captain's log, stardate 25:11.3... Approaching Vrex. Have alerted landing party to rescue school boys belonging to Stai…

Four space bugs landed on Vrex. Vrexian teachers apprehended the crews, who were under orders not to use military force. Kirk beamed down with three security officers to help, but the school children unexpectedly attacked them all. The Starfleet teams were eventually caught under a huge net and put in a dungeon. Ruf arrived and placed Kirk in a brainwashing machine, converting him to the side of the Union.

As a test, Ruf ordered Kirk to kill his landing party. Before he could fire, however, Spock beamed down an armed team who were able to overwhelm the Union officers. Spock reversed the brainwashing process on Kirk. They returned the students to Da Mek, who said it was the happiest day of his life. Da Mek announced to Ruf that Stai quit the Union.

Characters

 * David Bailey • Da Mek • Da Mek's son • James T. Kirk • Ruf • Spock • Hikaru Sulu • unnamed USS Enterprise personnel (2260s)

Starships and vehicles

 * USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) ( heavy cruiser) • Galactic Union ship • hovercraft • space bugs • Vrex military ships


 * school bus

Locations

 * Stai • Vrex


 * Earth

Races and cultures

 * Human • Staian • Vrexian • Vulcan

States and organizations

 * Galactic Union • Galactic Union Patrol

Science and technology

 * brain-scrambling unit • brainwashing • communicator • gun • rifle • transporter

Ranks and titles

 * captain • Earthling • Federation Starfleet ranks (2260s) • Starfleet ranks • teacher

Other references

 * battle stations • captain's log • decade • dungeon • landing party • monk • orbit • peace • red alert • school • stardate • Starfleet uniform • Starfleet uniform (2265-2270) • starship • tiger • transporter room • warfare

Chronology
The presence of Bailey on the Enterprise places this story early in the year 2266, before the events of "The Corbomite Maneuver".

Production history

 * This story was published in two-page sections over four consecutive weeks in Joe 90: Top Secret magazine.


 * May 1969
 * 24 May, pages 1-2 published in Joe 90: Top Secret #19.
 * May 1969
 * 31 May, pages 3-4 published in Joe 90: Top Secret #20.
 * 7 June, pages 5-6 published in Joe 90: Top Secret #21.
 * 14 June, pages 7-8 published in Joe 90: Top Secret #22.

Background

 * The story was not printed with a title, but it was given one (The Children of Stai) for its reprinting in the omnibus The Classic UK Comics, Volume 1.
 * Artist Harry E. Lindfield signed the third installment.
 * The Galactic Union, or an interstellar state sharing that name in the 28th century, proposed the Temporal Accords that led to the Temporal Cold War.

Related stories

 * – The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) rescued a group of children on Triacus.