"A Piece of the Action" was the 49th episode produced of Star Trek: The Original Series and was released during the show's second season, first airing on 5 January 1968. The teleplay was written by David P. HarmonMA & Gene L. CoonMA and directed by James KomackMA. It was novelized in Star Trek 4 by James Blish and adapted as a fotonovel in 1978.
Description
- Fotonovel introduction
- Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock are trapped on the planet Sigma Iotia II.
- A planet that has patterned its entire culture after the gangland style life of the Chicago mobs of the 1920s.
- Where arguments are settled by shoot-outs, leaders are called Bosses and enemies are outfitted with cement overshoes.
- When Kirk and Spock are given an offer they can't refuse, the Feds are cut in for… A Piece of the Action.
Summary
Episode log entries
- Ship's log.
- Mister Spock reporting. Incredible as it seems, Doctor McCoy and I are once again prisoners of the chief criminal boss of a society patterned after old Earth gangsters.
Fotonovel log entries
- Captain's log, stardate 4598.0.
- In response to a conventional radio signal transmitted one hundred years before by the USS Horizon, shortly before being lost with all hands, we are en route for Sigma Iotia II, an inhabited planet on the outer reaches of the galaxy.
- Ship's log, stardate 4598.2.
- Chief Engineer Scott recording. The captain, first officer and chief surgeon have beamed to the planet. We have received a transmission from someone calling himself Bela Okmyx who demands a ransom of one hundred type 1 hand phasers in return for the lives of our landing party. We have been given eight hours in which to comply.
- Personal journal, Capt. James T. Kirk, stardate 4598.7.
- We have left orbit around Sigma Iotia II and thanks to a remedy known to Bones and Scotty, have recovered from the effects of Mr. Okmyx's drinking stuff. The Iotians, however, will need more time to recover from the effects of The Book. A culture can bend only so fast without breaking. Inevitably, I am moved to speculate upon the dangers of limited cultural influence and the effects certain other books might have had. There was something pathetic yet appealing about their technology.
References
Characters
Episode characters
- Clifford Brent • Pavel Chekov • Bill Hadley • Kalo • Karf • James T. Kirk • Jojo Krako • Roger Lemli • Ryan Leslie • Lewis (USS Enterprise) • Tony Lubocq (aka Sonny) • Leonard McCoy • Mirt (Iotian) • Bela Oxmyx • Montgomery Scott • Slugo • Spock • Swensen • Tepo • Nyota Uhura • Zabo (Iotian)
- Referenced only
- Cirl the Knife
Novelization characters
- Kalo • Karf • James T. Kirk • Jojo Krako • Leonard McCoy • Mirt (Iotian) • Bela Okmyx • Montgomery Scott • Spock • Tepo • Nyota Uhura • Zabo (Iotian)
- Referenced only
- Cirl the Knife
Starships and vehicles
Locations
Races and cultures
Technology and weapons
Materials and substances
- atmosphere • blood • gas • oxygen
States and organizations
Ranks and titles
- captain • commander • commanding officer • communications officer • Federation Starfleet ranks • Federation Starfleet ranks (2260s) • first officer • lieutenant commander • officer • scientist • science officer •
Other references
- anatomy • arm • boot • clothing • Federation members • finger • five-year mission • government • humanoid • language • lifeform • logic • matter • memory • nation-state • orbit • pants • quadrant • races and cultures • rank • space • star • stardate • Starfleet uniform • Starfleet uniform (2260s) • technology • title • tunic • uniform • universe • weapon
Appendices
Related media
- A Little More Action (Strange New Worlds IV short story)
- Legal Action (Strange New Worlds V short story)
- A Piece of the Pie (Strange New Worlds VI short story)
- A Piece of Reaction (Star Trek Unlimited 10)
- 25th Anniversary (NES)
Adaptations
Novelization collected in The Classic Episodes 2.
Novelization collected in The Classic Episodes.
Video releases
Collector's edition VHS release with "By Any Other Name".
Images
Connections
Timeline
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous episode: The Immunity Syndrome |
TOS episode produced | Next episode: By Any Other Name |
| Previous episode: The Gamesters of Triskelion |
TOS episode aired | Next episode: The Immunity Syndrome |
| Previous story: The Enterprise Incident |
Star Trek 4
|
Next story: last story |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous Adventure: Marginal Existence |
Next Adventure: By Any Other Name | |
| Previous Adventure: Planet of Judgment |
Voyages of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) (2264 to 2270) |
Next Adventure: By Any Other Name |
External links
- "A Piece of the Action" article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- A Piece of the Action (Star Trek) article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.