"Patterns of Force" was the 52nd episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, the 23rd episode of the show's second season, first aired on 16 February 1968. The episode was written by John Meredyth LucasMA, directed by Vincent McEveetyMA and novelized in Star Trek 12 by James Blish.
Summary
James T. Kirk, Spock and Leonard McCoy must stop a Nazi-like invasion of the planet Zeon by planet Ekos and Federation observer John Gill is the Ekosians' Führer!
References
Characters
Episode characters
- Abrom • Pavel Chekov • Daras • Davod • Eneg • John Gill • Bill Hadley • Isak • James T. Kirk • Leonard McCoy • Melakon • Montgomery Scott • Spock • Nyota Uhura • unnamed Ekosians and Zeons • unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) personnel
- Referenced only
- Adolf Hitler • Ramses II • Julius Caesar • Alexander the Great • Napoléon Bonaparte • Lee Kuan • Uletta
Novelization characters
- Abrom • Pavel Chekov • Daras • Davod • Eneg • John Gill • Isak • James T. Kirk • Leonard McCoy • Melakon • Montgomery Scott • Spock • Nyota Uhura
- Referenced only
- Adolf Hitler • Ramses II • Julius Caesar • Alexander the Great • Napoléon Bonaparte • Lee Kuan • Uletta
Starships and vehicles
Locations
- Ekos (M43-Alpha system, Orion constellation, the galaxy's Beta Quadrant)
- Referenced only
- Earth (Sol system, sector 001, Quadrant 0, Alpha Quadrant)
Shipboard areas
- USS Enterprise
- bridge • transporter room
Planetary locales
- Ekos
- Ekosian Chancellery, Chancellery Detention Center, Gestapo Command Headquarter (in Ekosis, Thalossis kingdom state)
Races and cultures
Technology and weapons
- communicator • Ekosian missile • Ekosian pistol • Ekosian submachine gun • intercom • medical kit • medical tricorder • projectile weapon • sensors • starship • viewscreen • medi-comp • transponder • transporter • radio • tricorder • subcutaneous transponder
Materials and substances
States and organizations
- Federation • Starfleet • National Socialist Party • SS • Führer's Special Documentary Corps • Gestapo
Ranks and titles
- captain • chief engineer • chief medical officer • colonel • major • commander • commanding officer • communications officer • chairman • cultural observer • doctor • engineer • excellency • Führer • Federation Starfleet ranks • Federation Starfleet ranks (2260s) • first officer • lieutenant • lieutenant commander • helmsman • medical practitioner • navigator • officer • Deputy Führer • scientist • science officer • second officer • weapons officer • tactical officer • corporal • secretary • pharoah
Other references
- anarchy • anatomy • arm • beaming • Bones • bruise • cancer • capital city • city • clothing • cultural contamination • drug • fascism • Federation members • five-year mission • government • homeworld • hour • Human culture • humanoid • language • lifeform • logic • matter • nation-state • orbit • planet • population • quadrant • races and cultures • rank • Prime Directive • regulation • space • star • star system • Starfleet uniform • Starfleet uniform (2260s) • standard orbit • suicide • technology • title • uniform • universe • Vulcan neck pinch • weapon •
Final Solution • gambling • Iron Cross • kilometer • Leader Principle • millimeter • pig • psychosis • space fleet • Starfleet Academy • swastika • swine • Vulcan mind probe
Chronology
- 1930s/1940s (Human history)
- The Nazis rise to power.
- prior to 2268
- Gill travels to Ekos and begins social changes. (prior to episode/novelization)
- stardate 2534, 2268 (2260s chronology, 2264–2270 Enterprise voyages)
- Enterprise travels to Ekos.
- until 2287
- Ekosian/Zeon tensions continue until Klingon intervention exacerbates the conflict. (SCE eBook: Fables of the Prime Directive)
Appendices
Related media
- According to Decipher RPG module: Worlds, Gill's headquarters was located in the city of Ekosis, the capital city of an historic state, the Thalossis kingdom.
- ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation
- Depicts the coordinates and maps of the M43 Alpha system and Ekosian homeworld, as well as the Zeon history and clothing.
- ST references: Maps, Star Charts, FASA RPG module: The Federation
- Depicts the coordinates and maps of the M43 Alpha system and Ekosi/Zeosian homeworlds.
Adaptations
Novelization collected in The Classic Episodes 2.
Video releases
Collector's edition VHS release with "The Squire of Gothos".
Images
John Gill.
Episode image.
Melakon.
Melakon.
Isak and Daras.
Ekosian NCO.
Ekos.
Ekos.
Enterprise.
Enterprise.
Connections
Timeline
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous episode: Return to Tomorrow |
TOS episode produced | Next episode: The Ultimate Computer |
| Previous episode: Return to Tomorrow |
TOS episode aired | Next episode: By Any Other Name |
| Previous story: first story |
Star Trek 12
|
Next story: The Gamesters of Triskelion |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous Adventure: Return to Tomorrow |
Next Adventure: Uhura's Song | |
| Previous Adventure: Return to Tomorrow |
Voyages of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) (2264 to 2270) |
Next Adventure: Uhura's Song |
External link
- "Patterns of Force" article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Patterns of Force article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.