"The Children of Stai" was an 8-page Star Trek: The Original Series comic strip published in 1969. It was the fifth story arc in the UK comic strips series. It was released in four parts in issues of Joe 90: Top Secret. In this story, James T. Kirk rescues a group of children from a hostile interstellar state.
Description[]
- Teaser, 31 May 1969
- Unable to forget the tumultuous welcome the aliens of Stai gave him, Captain Kirk is determined to rescue their children from Galactic Union control…
Summary[]
Kirk is treated to an enthusiastic welcome and a feast during his diplomatic visit to Stai, until controllers from the Galactic Union arrive to shoo him off the planet. Officer Ruf threatens Stai representative Da Nek, reminding him that the Union controls this planet. Da Nek acquiesces to protect his son and other children schooled on neighboring Union planet Vrex. Angered by Ruf's bullying tactics, Kirk promises Da Nek that he will bring back their children.
- Captain's log, stardate 25:11.3... Approaching Vrex. Have alerted landing party to rescue school boys belonging to Stai…
Four space bugs land on Vrex. Vrex teachers apprehend the crews, who are under orders not to use military force. Kirk beams down with three security officers to help, but the school children unexpectedly attack them all. The Starfleet teams are eventually caught under a huge net and put in a dungeon. Ruf arrives and placed Kirk in a brainwashing machine, converting him to the side of the Union.
As a test, Ruf orders Kirk to kill his landing party. Before he can fire, however, Spock beams down an armed team who are able to overwhelm the Union officers. Spock reverses the brainwashing process on Kirk. They return the students to Da Nek, who says it is the happiest day of his life. Da Nek announces to Ruf that Stai quit the Union.
References[]
Characters[]
- David Bailey • Da Nek • Da Nek's son • James T. Kirk • Ruf • Spock • Hikaru Sulu • unnamed USS Enterprise personnel (2260s)
Starships and vehicles[]
- USS Enterprise (Constitution-class heavy cruiser) • Galactic Union starship • hovercraft • space bugs • Vrex military ships
- Referenced only
- school bus
Locations[]
Races and cultures[]
- Human • Staian • Vulcan • unnamed races and cultures (Vrex teachers)
States and organizations[]
- Galactic Union • Galactic Union Patrol
Science and technology[]
- brain-scrambling unit • brainwashing • communicator • gun • rifle • transporter
Ranks and titles[]
- captain • Earthling • Federation Starfleet ranks (2260s) • Starfleet ranks • teacher
Other references[]
- alert status (battle stations • red alert) • captain's log • decade • dungeon • landing party • monk • orbit • peace • school • stardate • Starfleet uniform • Starfleet uniform (2265-2270) • starship • tiger • transporter room • warfare
Chronology[]
The presence of Bailey on the Enterprise places this story early in the year 2266, before the events of "The Corbomite Maneuver".
Appendices[]
Related media[]
- TOS episode: "And the Children Shall Lead" – The USS Enterprise rescues a group of children on Triacus.
Background[]
- Published on 7 June 1969, the third installment of this story marks the first release of licensed content after the end of the series. TOS broadcast its final episode, TOS episode: "Turnabout Intruder", on 3 June 1969.
- The story was not printed with a title, but it was given one (The Children of Stai) for its reprinting in the omnibus The Classic UK Comics, Volume 1.
- Authorship of this story was attributed to Angus Allan. (ST reference: New Life and New Civilizations: Exploring Star Trek Comics)
- Artist Harry Lindfield signed the third installment.
- An interstellar state sharing the name Galactic Union in the 28th century proposes the Temporal Accords that leads to the Temporal Cold War. (STO - Future Proof mission: "Time and Tide")
- The teachers on Vrex with large, bald heads are not identified by name or species in the story, making it unclear if they are native to Vrex.
Images[]
Connections[]
Timeline[]
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous story: The Third Party |
TOS comics (UK comic strips) | Next story: Skin Deep |
| Previous story: The Third Party |
Stories by: Angus Allan |
Next story: Skin Deep |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous adventure: The Third Party |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: Skin Deep |
Production history[]
- This story was published in two-page sections over four consecutive weeks in Joe 90: Top Secret magazine.
- 24 May, pages 1-2 published in Joe 90: Top Secret #19.
- 31 May, pages 3-4 published in Joe 90: Top Secret #20.
- 7 June, pages 5-6 published in Joe 90: Top Secret #21.
- 14 June, pages 7-8 published in Joe 90: Top Secret #22.
- April 2016
- Reprinted in the omnibus The Classic UK Comics, Volume 1. (IDW Publishing)
- 11 May 2017
- Reprinted in the omnibus Graphic Novel Collection, Volume 10. (Eaglemoss)
External links[]
- The Children of Stai article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.