Stranded on a hostile world! Last stand! – "The Trouble With Bearclaw" was the 29th issue of DC Comics' 1984 series of Star Trek comics. It was the third of seven TOS stories by Tony Isabella.
Summary[]
- Captain's log, stardate 8901.1
- Continuing the Excelsior's ongoing shakedown cruise, we have assumed standard orbit around an uncharted planet just outside known space. Because of magnetic storms and other radiations on its surface, the planet cannot be scanned effectively. These storms also make beaming a landing party to the planet an unacceptably risky procedure. Accordingly, Commander Thimon and the survey team have taken a shuttlecraft to make preliminary ...
With James T. Kirk mired in paperwork, Thimon leads a landing party made up of Lieutenant Jed, Lieutenant Konom, Ensign William Bearclaw, and Crewman Bodine. During the flight, radiation suddenly disables the shuttle's navigation, but Thimon takes the helm and guides NX-2000/E7 to a safe landing. Before the landing party can assess damage and hail Excelsior for help, they are beset by a horde of large anthropoid ape creatures. The team is forced to retreat higher and higher into rough hills, as the apes' thick hides are impervious to phaser fire. They manage to get atop a cliff near a cavern. The apes are relentless, however, with one grabbing and wounding Thimon's leg. Konam frees Thimon only to get a deep venomous bite in his shoulder before Konam can snap the attacking creature's neck. Bearclaw shoots at the edge of the cliff, dislodging many of their pursuers. The group manages to get inside the cave, with more apes less than a minute behind them. Bearclaw feels a breeze, realizes the cave has another exit, and collapses the entrance with his phaser to defend the team over Thimon's objections, burying several of the creatures.
Konam's condition worsens, but minerals in the cave block communications. Thimon insists Bearclaw stay with the group to defend them, but instead he deserts them and seeks the cave's rear exit. Once outside, he contacts Montgomery Scott, who immediately launches a rescue team. A large ape near the rear entrance attacks Bearclaw. They struggle, but Bearclaw is able to vault it off the cliff.
Back in the cave, one of the buried apes revives and comes for Thimon, who has difficulty moving with his injured leg. Before the ape can reach him, Bearclaw dives into it and fires his phaser into its mouth, disintegrating it. Bearclaw is too close, though, and is injured.
Later, Bearclaw is recovering in sickbay, expecting his insubordination and desertion will lead to a court martial. Lieutenant Jed had pressed charges against him while Thimon planned to issue a commendation. Jed would only drop the charges if Thimon withdrew the medal, so Thimon at least saves Bearclaw's career. Thimon and Konom agree that Bearclaw has potential, if only he can overcome personal issues.
References[]
Characters[]
- William Bearclaw • Bodine • Hathaway • Jed • James T. Kirk • Konom • Montgomery Scott • Thimon
Starships and Vehicles[]
- USS Excelsior (Excelsior-class explorer) • NX-2000/E7 (Federation shuttlecraft)
- Referenced only
- USS Enterprise (Constitution-class heavy cruiser) • USS Sturgeon
Locations[]
- primate world (unnamed planet)
- Referenced only
- Beta III • Eminiar VII • Mumaw • Thasus
Races and cultures[]
States and organizations[]
- Federation • Federation Diplomatic Corps • Quartermaster General • Starfleet • Starfleet Central
Science and classification[]
- biobed • communicator • computer • drug • parachute • phaser • transporter • tricorder
Occupations and titles[]
Other references[]
- Ajir-Grond treaty • alien • animal • anthropoid • ape • bridge • Captain's log, USS Excelsior • cavern • century • commendation • court martial • fang • feather • flak jacket • food • headache • insubordination • ion • landing party • launch deck • library • medal • medical • mineral • mountain • poison • radiation • rock • shakedown cruise • ship commissioning • sickbay • space • standard orbit • Starfleet uniform (2278-2350s) • stun • suicide • survey team • terraforming • tree • venom
Appendices[]
Related media[]
- TOS comics: "Double Blind, Part One", "Double Blind, Part II" – The Federation Diplomatic Corps had administrative questions about the Ajir-Grond treaty.
- TOS episodes: "Charlie X", "The Return of the Archons", "A Taste of Armageddon" – Lieutenant Hathaway had questions about Captain James T. Kirk's experiences with Thasus, Beta III, and Eminiar VII.
Background[]
- A prominent ringed planet or moon was depicted on the cover, apparently for dramatic effect, as no such planetary body appeared in the story.
Images[]
Connections[]
Timeline[]
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous comic: #28: The Last Word |
TOS comics (DC Comics, 1st series) |
Next comic: #30: Uhura's Story |
| Previous story: Wolf at the Door |
Stories by: Tony Isabella |
Next story: Maggie's World! |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous adventure: The Last Word |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: Maggie's World! |
External links[]
- The Trouble with Bearclaw article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.