- For other uses, see Odyssey's End.
Close encounters! – "Odyssey's End" was the final issue of the TOS Untold Voyages miniseries published by Marvel Comics in 1998. The story takes place near the end of Captain Kirk's second five-year mission. In this story, the crew considers their future while encountering a flying saucer.
Contents
Summary[edit | edit source]
The Enterprise's second five-year mission comes to an end. On their way home, the Enterprise answers a distress call from the Yorktown, now a Starfleet Academy training vessel, which has been attacked by a huge alien vessel. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are abducted by the alien lifeforms, little grey creatures with large eyes. The Abductors are telepathic, communicating with Spock, who learns their startling history and current mission. Kirk averts a disaster and reevaluates his own role in Starfleet as a result of the close encounter.
Log entries[edit | edit source]
- Captain's log, stardate 7909.8
- After five years, our mission of exploration aboard the refitted starship Enterprise is finally coming to an end, and we will soon begin the long voyage home to Earth.
- At the moment, however, a reception is underway on the recreation deck to celebrate a very special occasion...
- Security Chief Pavel Chekov has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander, and will be leaving the fold to join the crew of the USS Reliant...
- ... Where he will serve as first officer.
- Captain's log, stardate 7910.1
- We have received a distress signal from the USS Yorktown, in the Lycos system. The Enterprise is the closest starship to that sector of space...
- ... So we have altered course and increased speed to get there as quickly as possible.
- Captain's log, supplemental
- I have led a landing party over to the Yorktown, where we are now beaming her survivors over to the Enterprise for medical attention.
- On the bridge of the crippled vessel, I hope to find some answers...
- Captain's log, stardate 7911.2
- The Abductors have agreed to avoid entering Romulan space, now aware of the dire consequences that such an action could have on the galaxy. Before we return to the Enterprise, these ancient and mysterious aliens have granted us a guided tour of their enormous and magnificent vessel.
- Captain's log, stardate 7911.8
- Much like the Abductors, we too have begun the voyage home. In our sickbay, the survivors of the Yorktown are all recovering nicely. The Yorktown herself, however, has been retrieved by Starfleet and is scheduled to be decommissioned. On a more personal note, I have had another conversation with Admiral Morrow, which has led me to a momentous decision.
References[edit | edit source]
Characters[edit | edit source]
Regular characters[edit | edit source]
Other characters[edit | edit source]
- Daniel Ehrlich • Harry Morrow • Janice Rand • unnamed USS Enterprise personnel (recreation deck crew, bridge crew) • unnamed USS Yorktown personnel (bridge crew)
- Referenced only
- Broderick • Christine Chapel • Amanda Grayson • Edith Keeler • George Samuel Kirk, Jr. • Carol Marcus • David Marcus • Gary Mitchell • Heihachiro Nogura • Saavik • Sarek • Surak • Clark Terrell
Starships and vehicles[edit | edit source]
- USS Enterprise (Enterprise-subclass refit Constitution-class heavy cruiser) • USS Yorktown (Constitution-class heavy cruiser training vessel) • abductor mothership • abductor saucers
- Referenced only
- USS Reliant (Reliant-subclass Miranda-class research cruiser)
Locations[edit | edit source]
- the galaxy
- Referenced only
- Spacedock
Planets and planetoids[edit | edit source]
Stars and systems[edit | edit source]
Stellar regions[edit | edit source]
Races and cultures[edit | edit source]
States and organizations[edit | edit source]
- Federation • Romulan Star Empire • Starfleet (Starfleet Academy • Starfleet Admiralty • Starfleet Operations)
Science and classification[edit | edit source]
- communications • communicator • life support • linguacode • paralysis beam • phaser pistol • phaser • type-2 phaser • Atalskes phaser IV • sensor • shields • suspended animation • technology • transporter • viewscreen • warp drive
Ranks and titles[edit | edit source]
- admiral • cadet • captain • chief • chief medical officer • commander • commanding admiral • doctor • ensign • first officer • lieutenant • lieutenant junior grade • lieutenant commander • security chief • Starfleet Commander
Other references[edit | edit source]
- alien • beam • blood • brain • bridge • captain's log • century • civilization • decommissioning • communications • culture • day • devil • distress call • emotion (love) • evolution • extinction • Federation Starfleet ranks (2270s-2350s) • foods and beverages • galaxy • gnat • helm • history • IDIC • landing party • lifeform • live long and prosper • log entry • logic • mind meld • millions of years ago • pajamas • peace • prison planet • quarters • rank • recreation deck • refit • Romulan ale • sector • shore leave • shuttle • species • sickbay • stardate • Starfleet uniform • Starfleet uniform (early 2270s) • Starfleet uniform (2278-2350s) • Sundering • telepathy • thousands of years ago • transporter room • tree • uniform • universe • Vulcan history • war • warp speed (warp one) • year
Timeline[edit | edit source]
Chronology[edit | edit source]
- abductor mothership is constructed.
- Evolution of Humanity on Earth.
- The Sundering splits Vulcan and Romulan societies.
- Surak leads Vulcan on the path of logic.
- 20th century and others
- USS Yorktown critically damaged in battle.
- USS Yorktown scheduled to be decommissioned.
- James T. Kirk accepts a future position at Starfleet Academy.
Production history[edit | edit source]
- July 1998
- First printed by Marvel Comics.
- 9 July 2020
- Reprinted in Graphic Novel Collection #120 by Eaglemoss Collections.
Appendices[edit | edit source]
Background[edit | edit source]
- Abductor ships weren't the only explanations for flying saucer sightings on 20th century Earth. The Collector abducted various aircraft, groundcars and people in the 20th century, in TOS comic: "The Collector". A Certoss operated in the Los Angeles area, in ST novel: From History's Shadow. And various ships from the future were identified as UFOs in the 20th century, including Quark's Treasure in 1947 (DS9 episode: "Little Green Men"), the USS Enterprise in 1968 (TOS episode & Star Trek 2 novelization: Tomorrow Is Yesterday), and USS Voyager in 1996 (VOY episode: "Future's End").
- Kirk chose to join Starfleet Academy partly to dispel his larger-than-life image. He also participated in a documentary in 2274 with that goal in mind, in TOS comic: "It's a Living".
- Kirk suggested to Admiral Harry Morrow that he might resign if Starfleet didn't want him on the Enterprise. Kirk actually did resign in 2279, after being grounded by Admiral Yaramoto, in TOS comic: "The Retirement of Admiral Kirk".
- Sarek, Amanda Grayson, Carol Marcus and the Sundering were referenced, but not by name.
- Adbuctors believed the Sundering was influenced by the Preservers, though Spock did not recall it from Vulcan history.
- The end of the second five-year mission ought to occur five years after the V'Ger incident, in 2278. However, each issue of the miniseries explicitly took place one year after the next, which set this story four years after V'Ger, in 2277. While the maroon Starfleet uniforms debuted in this story, the Pocket Books Timeline also sets additional stories with the crew wearing these uniforms in 2277.
Quote sources[edit | edit source]
- Spock quoted a variant of, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it", a statement published by George Santayana in 1906. (George Santayana article at WikiQuote.)
- Kirk abridged a quote from William Shakespeare's Henry V when he stated, "Once more unto the breach, dear friend" to Spock. (The Life of King Henry the Fifth Act 3 Scene 1 at The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.)
- Kirk also deliberately used a cliché appropriate for the Abductors. (Take me to your leader (phrase) article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.)
- TOS movie & novelization: The Search For Spock was referenced twice. Hikaru Sulu stated the meme "This is where the fun begins", referencing a quote made by David Marcus to Saavik in the film. Kirk also used the phrase "young minds, fresh ideas", which he'd previously said to Montgomery Scott in that film.
- Thinking at one point that he might be dead, Kirk said he's always known he'll die alone, a statement first made in TOS movie & novelization: The Final Frontier.
Related stories[edit | edit source]
- TOS episode & Star Trek 2 novelization: The Paradise Syndrome – Footnoted in the story; introduction of the Preservers.
- TOS episode & Star Trek 2 novelizations: The City on the Edge of Forever, Operation -- Annihilate! – Kirk lamented the deaths of Edith Keeler and his brother Sam.
- TOS episode & Star Trek 8 novelization: Where No Man Has Gone Before – Kirk lamented the death of Gary Mitchell.
Images[edit | edit source]
Connections[edit | edit source]
| Published Order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous comic: #4: Silent Cries |
TOS comics (Untold Voyages) | Next comic: Last in series |
| Previous story: Silent Cries |
Stories by: Glenn Greenberg |
Next story: The Art of the Deal |
| Chronological Order | ||
| Previous adventure: Taking Shape |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: Star Trek IV Sourcebook Update Operation Armageddon |
External links[edit | edit source]
- Odyssey's End (comic) article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Odyssey's End article at the BW Media Spotlight blog.
- Odyssey's End article at Siskoid's Blog of Geekery.
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