- For other uses, see 'Til Death.
"'Til Death" is the third of five Star Trek: The Original Series manga stories from the 2006 anthology Shinsei Shinsei (New Life, New Star), published by TokyoPop, written by Mike W. Barr and drawn by Jeong Mo Yang. During a wedding ceremony, the USS Enterprise was attacked by two groups of missiles from the lifeless planet below. Investigating, landing parties found a sarcophagus at each launch site, each containing a body.
Summary[]
- Captain's log, stardate 3376.5
- Science Officer Spock reporting: The Enterprise, resuming its mission of mapping unexplored planetary systems in deep space, is investigating a world that, though of the proper age and circumstances to bear life, appears lifeless.
On the rec deck, Kirk joins Becky Randall and Tom Markham in marriage. Visiting Dr. Pierson attends, asking Kirk if he's ever thought of getting married, but he says he is married to the ship, like all starship captains.
Two missile salvos strike the ship from the surface. Suspecting the launches to be from automated systems, two landing parties beam down, discovering at each launch site machinery containing a body.
- Captain's log, supplemental
- The sarcophagi — if that's what they are — have been beamed aboard the Enterprise for further examination. There have been no further missile attacks.
Random power drains begin affecting the ship, and sudden emotional outbursts affect the crew. Kirk and Dr. Pierson argue during a dinner date, and the recently-married couple begins fighting.
- Captain's log, supplemental
- Incidents of violence between men and women have broken out all over the ship, which is contributing to a massive breakdown of command. And Engineer Scott reports a power drain that has begun to deplete the ship's energy reserves. Its course — and its destination — is unknown. I have called an emergency meeting with some of the senior staff to come up with solutions to our mounting problems.
McCoy develops a neural neutralizer to temporarily offset emotional outbursts. With not enough power to beam the sarcophagi off the ship, Kirk sends the male crew to the secondary hull and women to the primary hull.
- Captain's log, supplemental
- Mr. Spock and I are examining each sarcophagi in an attempt to disable them. Now that the rest of the crew has been separated, I expect no further violence.
Kirk and Spock find that the security teams around each sarcophagus have killed each other. The sarcophagi open, with a rejuvenated woman emerging from one and a man from the other. Faron and Nadira telepathically compel the crew to join them in a mortal battle of the sexes.
- Captain's log, supplemental
- The situation continues to get worse. The two sections of the ship have been entirely taken over by the two aliens along with most of my officers.
Spock telepathically discovers that fighting by the two aliens destroyed their planet. The two aliens order a saucer separation, with each intent on destroying the other half of the ship. After separation, but before weapons can be fired, Kirk beams the two aliens face to face. They then fight and kill each other, releasing the crew.
- Captain's log, stardate 3378.7
- Science Officer Spock reporting: The Enterprise is making its way to a rendezvous with technicians from Starbase 13, where the two sections of the ship will be rejoined. Despite our experience, we were unsuccessful in learning the name of the planet on which we found Faron and Nadira. However, if Earth legends can be considered at all a reflection of our universe, I submit this planet's name was not Eden.
References[]
Characters[]
- Christine Chapel • Pavel Chekov • Faron • James T. Kirk • Tom Markham • Leonard McCoy • Nadira • Pierson • Becky Randall • Montgomery Scott • Sinclair • Spock • Hikaru Sulu • Nyota Uhura
- Referenced only
- Hippocrates
Starships and vehicles[]
Locations[]
- "not Eden"
- Referenced only
- Earth • Starbase 13
Races and cultures[]
States and organizations[]
Science and classification[]
- automated weapons system • biobed • circuitry • communicator • deflector shield • environmental suit • intercom • intruder control gas • missile • neural neutralizer • phaser • photon torpedo • rifle • sarcophagus • scanner • transporter • type-2 phaser • vent • warp drive
Ranks and titles[]
- captain • doctor • electrician • engineer • general • hypospray • lieutenant • nurse • officer • rank • rank • regeneration • science officer • technician
Other references[]
- 21st century • alert status (battle stations • red alert • yellow alert) • arboretum • assignment patch • auxiliary control • beam • botanical lab • bridge crew • briefing room • brig • cake • captain's log, USS Enterprise, 2267 • cargo deck • class M • corridor • crew • earring • emotion (hate) • engineering • Federation Starfleet ranks (2260s) • gas • hour • kilometer • landing party • language • legend • life • log entry • logic • love • planetary system mapping • marriage • metal • peace • planet • quarters • rec deck • saucer section • saucer separation • stardrive section • sickbay • space • standard orbit • star system • Starfleet ranks • Starfleet uniform (2265-2270) • starship • telepathy • transporter room • universe • wedding • wine • zombie
Appendices[]
Related media[]
The Enterprise used intruder control gas in:
- TOS episode & Star Trek 2 novelization: Space Seed
- TOS - The Brave and the Bold, Book One novel: The First Artifact
- TOS - Star Trek II Short Stories short story: "Wild Card"
- TOS comic: "Revolt on Dak-Alpha"
- TOS comic: "By Order of the Empire"
- TOS comic: "Planet of Rejects"
- TOS comic: "Husian Gambit"
Planetary defense systems were seen in:
- TNG episode: "The Arsenal of Freedom"
- TNG episode: "Contagion"
- TOS comic: "Prophet of Peace"
- TOS - Star Trek: The Manga - Kakan ni Shinkou comic: "Communications Breakdown"
Kirk performed marriages in:
- TOS episode & Star Trek 1 novelization: Balance of Terror
- TOS comic: "The Animal People"
- TOS - Who Killed Captain Kirk? comic: "Haunted Honeymoon"
Background[]
- Although the wedding was said to have occurred on the recreation deck, it looked like the chapel as seen in TOS episode & Star Trek 1 novelization: Balance of Terror.
- Spock compared the planet's automated weapons system to nation-state nuclear missile defenses on Earth in the early 21st century. However, Earth's weapons required firing approval from a person, a head of government.
Images[]
Connections[]
| Manga stories | ||
|---|---|---|
| TOS manga | Shinsei Shinsei | "Side Effects" • "Anything But Alone" • "'Til Death" • "Oban" • "Orphans" |
| Kakan ni Shinkou | "Cura Te Ipsum" • "The Trial" • "Communications Breakdown" • "Scaean Gate" • "Forging Alliances" | |
| Uchu | "Art of War" • "Bandi" • "The Humanitarian" • "Inalienable Rights" | |
| TNG manga | Boukenshin | "Changeling" • "Sensation" • "The Picardian Knot" • "Loyalty" |
Timeline[]
| Published Order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous comic: Anything But Alone |
TOS comics (Star Trek: The Manga) |
Next comic: Oban |
| Previous story: Gemini |
Stories by: Mike W. Barr |
Next story: The Centre Cannot Hold Mere Anarchy |
| Chronological Order | ||
| Previous adventure: Death of a Star |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: Chaotic Response Sections 2-4, 6 & 8 |
Production history[]
- August 2006
- First printed in 5" x 7 1/2" format in the anthology Shinsei Shinsei. (TokyoPop)
- March 2009
- Reprinted in 6" x 9" format in the anthology Star Trek: The Manga - Ultimate Edition. (TokyoPop)
- 24 October 2019
- Reprinted in Graphic Novel Collection #83. (Eaglemoss Collections)
External link[]
- 'Til Death (manga) article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.