- For other uses, see Orphans.
"Orphans" is the last of five Star Trek: The Original Series manga stories from the 2006 anthology Shinsei Shinsei (New Life, New Star), published by TokyoPop, with story by Rob Tokar and art by E.J. Su. In this story, the Enterprise fights a large group of mechanoid raiders.
Summary[]
- Captain's log, Stardate 5268.7
- The Enterprise is escorting a cargo freighter to Lowaria, a non-militaristic planet that has become a favorite target of alien raiders. The Lowarians believed that a Federation starship would make the raiders keep their distance. I expected otherwise… but I never expected a sight like this.
The Enterprise and Lowarian freighter are surrounded by about 20 large, humanoid-shaped fighter craft called Haarkos mechanoids that try to incite combat by giving them the finger. James T. Kirk chooses not to fire, seeing that the pilots are immature. But taunting prompts the freighter to fire, which triggers a power feedback that overloads systems on the Enterprise and knocks out all power on the freighter. Mechanoids start crawling over both ships. Hikaru Sulu fires phasers on the mechanoids on the freighter. Kirk magnetizes the hull then reverses hull polarity to jolt them off the hull. Before being thrust off, Haarkos Alpha is able to stab a sword through the viewscreen. Alpha then aims a large weapon at the ship, forcing Sulu to fire and disable it. Kirk has the transporter room rescue the pilot of the damaged ship. A photon torpedo scatters the remaining raiders, leaving one, Haarkos Beta. They also beam up that pilot and destroy his ship, discovering the pilot to be a kid.
- Captain's Log, Supplemental.
- The crew of the Lowarian freighter is safely aboard the Enterprise, and we are towing the ship back to its home planet. Damage control teams are making repairs, but the bridge is going to have to wait until more critical systems are finished. I've called a briefing with my senior staff, Representative Melkor, and Lowarian freighter captain Lladash to plan our next move.
Melkor describes the history of the Haarkos. They were a remnant military force set up by the Uljwhan Imperial Territory. Students' DNA were altered so it was impossible to know where they came from. The dissolution of that empire freed Loweria. Before the Haarkos could be disbanded, most of the pilots stole their ships and struck out on their own, attacking helpless planets. Loweria had no military and were an easy target. Kirk realizes that, worse than being enemies, the Haarkos were orphans.
- Captain's Log, Supplemental.
- Scotty and Spock are studying the Haarko's mech. Dr. McCoy is analyzing the pilot's interface suit. Sulu and Chekov are reviewing the Haarko's fighting style and Uhura is examining the Haarko's communications. I… want to see what makes the Haarkos tick.
Kirk speaks with the rescued kid pilot, Xill Kofza, and gives him a tour of the ship, ending in sickbay and the body of his leader, Cheyenn, who didn't survive the battle. Kirk helps Xill realize his responsibilities as their new leader, that they "need you to save them from themselves."
- Captain's Log, Stardate 5268.8.
- Thanks in large part to the efforts of Representative Melkor and Xill Kofza, the Lowarians and the Haarkos have agreed on terms of reparation. The Haarkos, closely supervised by Lowarian officials, will act as Lowaria's security and rescue force, while Loweria administers and maintains the mechs. In addition, each of the Haarkos will be assigned to live with a Lowerian family and attend Lowarian schools in order to integrate the pilots into the society they're now protecting. Though some of the pilots may see this as a punishment, I believe they couldn't receive a better gift.
References[]
Characters[]
- Christine Chapel • Pavel Chekov • Chyenn • James T. Kirk • Xill Kofza • Lladash • Leonard McCoy • Melkor • Montgomery Scott • Spock • Hikaru Sulu • Nyota Uhura • unnamed USS Enterprise personnel (transporter chief, crewmen in corridors)
- Referenced only
- Carol Marcus • David Marcus
Starships and vehicles[]
- USS Enterprise (Constitution-class heavy cruiser) • Haarkos mechanoids (Haarkos Alpha • Haarkos Beta • Haarkos Gamma • Haarkos Epsilon • Haarkon Protos) • Lowarian freighter
Locations[]
Races and cultures[]
States and organizations[]
- Federation • Federation Council • Haarkos • Starfleet • Starfleet Academy • Uljwhan Empire
Science and technology[]
- claymore • communications • deflector shield • DNA • force field • Haarkos energy web • interface suit • life support • mechanoid • particle beam • phaser • photon torpedo • polarity • power distribution network • robot • scanner • structural integrity • tractor beam • transporter • viewscreen
Ranks and titles[]
- captain • chief engineer • chief medical officer • doctor • engineer • farmer • head nurse • helmsman • merchant • pilot • representative • scientist • second-in-command • traitor
Other references[]
- alert status (battle stations • red alert) • assignment patch • auxiliary control • battery • bird • brain • bridge • brig • bulkhead • captain's log, USS Enterprise, 2268 • cockpit • corridor • crop • distress call • engineering • Federation Starfleet ranks (2260s) • foods and beverages • General Order One • Haarkon crest • history • marauder • medicine • oxygen • peace • piracy • Prime Directive • races and cultures • scarecrow • sickbay • stardate • Starfleet uniform (2265-2270) • transporter room • warp speed
Appendices[]
Related media[]
Kirk and Carol Marcus in:
- TOS movie: The Wrath of Khan
- TOS novel: Inception
- TOS - Star-Crossed comics: "Star-Crossed", "Loved Not Wisely...", "A Bright Particular Star"
Kirk's days at Starfleet Academy in:
- TOS - My Brother's Keeper novel: Republic
- TOS novel: Academy: Collision Course
- TOS - Starfleet Academy novella: Cadet Kirk
- TOS comics: "Starfleet Academy!", "Captain James T. Kirk: Psycho-File"
Retired super-soldiers were also seen in:
- TNG episode: "The Hunted"
Background[]
- James T. Kirk talked about his time at Starfleet Academy and Carol Marcus to Xill. David Marcus was referenced with an illustration.
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 story: Oban |
TOS comics (Star Trek: The Manga) |
Next story: Cura Te Ipsum |
| Chronological Order | ||
| Previous adventure: Cura Te Ipsum |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: The Dream Walkers |
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)
External link[]
- Orphans (comic) article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.