"Worlds Collide" was the second issue of the TOS Untold Voyages miniseries published by Marvel Comics in 1998. The story takes place during the second year of Captain Kirk's second five-year mission. In this story, the crew deals with the ethics of non-interference when a species faces an extinction-level event.
Description
- During the second year of the newly refurbished USS Enterprise's second five-year mission into the unknown, Commander Spock took a leave of absence to go back to Earth to look into the affairs of his ward Saavik. While Spock was away, the Enterprise went to an isolated world to observe the imminent collision between the planet and an immense asteroid.
Summary
Log entries
- Captain's log, Stardate 7521.4
- The Enterprise has traveled to an isolated, previously unexplored M-class world on the galactic frontier, a world about to be hit by a twenty-mile-long asteroid.
Our long-range scanners detected this rare cosmic event taking place, and we have come to observe and record it. A similar incident is believed to have occurred on Earth, millions of years ago…
... Causing sweeping geological and ecological changes that ultimately caused the total extinction of the dinosaurs. Having detected life forms on the planet upon our arrival, I have led a landing party down to the surface, to study these beings… before the impact of the asteroid changes this world forever.
- Captain's log, supplemental
- We continue to monitor the upcoming cataclysm on this new world—
— and Doctor McCoy continues to voice his opposition to our non-interference.
- Captain's log, Stardate 7521.9
- The Enterprise is en route to Vulcan, to pick up our returning science officer and then proceed to our next assignment.
References
Characters
- Pavel Chekov • Amanda Grayson • James T. Kirk • Leonard McCoy • Omal • Saavik • Sarek • Spock • Nyota Uhura • T'Pris • unnamed Vulcans (Hellguard expedition members, Vulcan/Romulan hybrid children) • unnamed creatures
- Referenced only
- God • Surak
Starships and vehicles
Locations
- Earth (San Francisco • Vulcan Embassy) • Vulcan • unnamed planet
- Referenced only
- Hellguard • Miramanee's world
Races and cultures
- Human • Rhaandarite • Romulan • Vulcan
States and organizations
Science and classification
- asteroid deflector • class M • ecology • genetics • geology • phaser • photon torpedo • scanner • science • selective breeding • tricorder • viewscreen
Ranks and titles
- captain • doctor • ensign • instructor • Kolinahr master • lieutenant • science officer
Other references
- asteroid • asteroid belt • bridge • captain's log, USS Enterprise, 2274 • colony • communications • day • embassy • emotion (fear) • extinction • Federation Starfleet ranks (2270s) • galaxy • Golden Gate Bridge • hour • humanoid • ice age • Kolinahr • landing party • lifeform • logic • meat • meditation • mile • millions of years ago • mind meld • minute • officer's lounge • plant • Prime Directive • quarters • races and cultures • space • species • Starfleet uniform (early 2270s) • statue • ta'al • telekinesis • time • tree • uniform • valley
Timeline
Chronology
- 65 million years ago
- An asteroid impact on Earth leads to devastating climate change and the extinction of the dinosaurs.
- 2273
- Spock rescues Saavik from Hellguard.
- 2274
- Saavik moves in with Sarek and Amanda Grayson on Vulcan.
Production history
- April 1998
- First printed by Marvel Comics.
- 9 July 2020
- Reprinted in Graphic Novel Collection #120. (Eaglemoss)
Appendices
Background
- The crisis of a culture facing an extinction-level event was encountered several times by the crew of the USS Enterprise. Advanced races like the Vultrans and Styrans were aided, sometimes through the efforts of the Federation Science Council. Developing cultures like the Rizas, Zeta Reticulans and Abaris natives were contacted and transplanted to another planet. Notably, however, Andreans saved the day themselves, in "Tomorrow or Yesterday", from Marvel Comics's prior series set in the 2270s.
- Hellguard, a.k.a. Thieurrull, was referenced, though not by name, as Saavik's homeworld.
- Hikaru Sulu was in command while James T. Kirk was off the bridge.
Related stories
- TOS episode & Star Trek 7 novelization: The Paradise Syndrome – Leonard McCoy cited these events as precedent for interference; Kirk mentioned an asteroid deflector.
- TNG episode & novelization: Unification – Spock stated that he and Sarek never mind-melded.
- TOS novel: The Pandora Principle – Saavik's origin and rescue from Hellguard.
- TOS novel: First Frontier – In an alternate timeline, Earth's asteroid impact was prevented, saving the dinosaurs and preventing the evolution of Humanity.
- TAS episode & Log One novelization: Yesteryear, TOS comic: "Lt. Commdr. Spock: Psycho-File" – Spock's youth.
Images
Cover image.
Connections
| Published Order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous comic: #1: Renewal |
TOS comics (Untold Voyages) | Next comic: #3: Past Imperfect |
| Previous story: Renewal |
Stories by: Glenn Greenberg |
Next story: Past Imperfect |
| Chronological Order | ||
| Previous adventure: The Pandora Principle Chapter 1 |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: Department of Temporal Investigations Forgotten History Chapters 7-11 |
External links
- Worlds Collide article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Worlds Collide article at Siskoid's Blog of Geekery.
