Star Trek: Season Four
For I Am Become Death

Introduction:
Captain's Log, Stardate: 2012.12.23. Recently detected radio and television signals indicate a digital age civilization in the previously unexplored Anat 7 system. We have diverted from our Subspace Pulse-Mapping mission in the nearby Hephaestus Maelstrom to investigate. As we near the system, continued monitoring of the Anati transmissions paints an unsettling picture - they appear to be a divided people hurtling headlong toward nuclear Armageddon.

Scene One:
Upon arrival in the Anat system, the crew of the Enterprise discovers a planet on the brink of disaster. A triad of nuclear armed nations stands poised on the brink of all out war. Already, conventional battles rage across the planet - a catastrophic first strike looms in the not too distant future.

While McCoy and other members of the command staff argue for some manner of interference to save the Anati from themselves, Spock and Kirk stand fast by the Prime Directive. In the end, Kirk sends a signal to Star Fleet Command requesting permission to make initial contact with the locals - but the transmission delay at this distance may render the matter moot.

Scene Two:
With hours remaining before any possible reply from Star Fleet Command can be expected, Mr. Spock reports the detection of several nuclear detonations on the surface of the planet - followed almost at once by the launch of several hundred intercontinental ballistic missiles around the globe. Kirk orders the ship's weapons to target the missiles, but Spock reports that even with an optimal success rate, more than enough missiles would survive to end civilization on the planet.

Kirk announces that he can't just sit by and watch the Anati destroy themselves and orders Sulu to plot a firing solution intended to protect at least one portion of the planet from instant annihilation. Spock objects and a heated debate erupts between the Captain and his Exec. In the end, Kirk relieves him of duty and orders him off the bridge.

Scene Three:
As the missiles rise above the atmosphere, Kirk makes ready to fire. It is clear that some of his officers, especially Dr. McCoy, think he is doing the right thing. Others, like Mr. Sulu, believe he should follow the Prime Directive. A third faction, represented by Mr. Scott, will follow the Captain almost blindly.
As tensions hang heavy on the bridge, Mr. Spock makes his way to the Stellar Cartography section. He relieves the officers on duty and begins reviewing the data collected in the Hephaestus Maelstrom. In so doing, he "accidentally" fires a pulse from the Subspace Mapping Radar. This powerful system fries the electronics of all Anati systems not protected by the planetary atmosphere - including the missiles. One after another, they tumble and burn up on reentry. The Anati are saved.

Epilogue
On the bridge, Lt. Uhura reports monitoring a flurry of diplomatic communications sweeping the surface of the planet. The scattered people of Anat appear to be ready to step back from the madness of nuclear proliferation. When McCoy questions the "accident" and how it will be perceived by the Anati, Mr. Spock explains that, because he was working with recordings from the nearby Hephaestus Maelstrom, the energy signature of the pulse will look like an unusual, but potentially natural, phenomenon. Kirk concludes the conversation by noting that Mr. Spock's recent tendency toward "accidents" may indicate that the strain of duty is getting to be too much for him. He offers to detour the ship to Wrigley's Pleasure Planet so the Vulcan can enjoy some shore leave.

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Special thanks to Graywolf-Starkiller for his amazing Connie model and to Arcas for putting forth the idea of a new series of Star Trek images. Star Trek and all related elements are owned by Paramount and used without permission.