Errand of Mercy

DVD, Star Trek S1 (Errand of Mercy)

"There's much more to life than the things we can see," sings part of the song to the John Wayne film 'El Dorado,' and if any episode proved it, it's this one, in the calm acceptance of Ayelborne and the Council of Elders on planet Organia, becoming firm intervention to deal with those who refuse to follow their lead and play nicely. Kirk can't comprehend why they won't fight, why they won't choose between the democratic Federation way and the ruthless system of the Klingon Empire, and, importantly, he's allowed to be wrong. This must be the only episode of Trek where the Captain ends the episode a little sheepish for the vehement stance on war and violence he advocated, even in the face of a known barbaric force such as the Klingons, and it is this, as much as it is the two sides of an argument for society between Kor and Kirk, that makes the episode. It helps that it was the genesis for a race that would provide fertile ground for the most Trek episodes in future, perhaps only the Borg in opposition for making the greatest impact on the Trek universe, and it's beautiful the way Ayelborne tells them of their future friendship and cooperation, working together, appalling both parties, but which would come to fruition through the films, and might even be said to be the arc of the 'TOS' era, an alliance born out of these struggles and seen in all its glory through 'TNG' and beyond, as the Klingons became most people's favourite Federation ally (the Vulcans a close second through being a more reserved and almost silent partner much of the time).

Are these the same Klingons we'd come to love in the future? With 'Star Trek: Discovery' delving into the race a decade before this episode, where apparently, war is raging, I was half expecting to hear of war in the past, but very little can be gleaned from this, the Klingons' first appearance in Trek (chronologically production-wise, of course), beyond the fact that there were currently negotiations with the Empire which were on the verge of breaking down, and in fact do break down during the episode (leading to Kirk getting a Code One message on his little disk reader device: it means 'war'), so there may well have been spats and skirmishes prior to the episode, I just wish we could have heard more of that history. The way Kirk describes them as a military dictatorship they sound more like the Cardassians at this time, but I ask again: are these the same Klingons? The obvious answer is that no, they aren't, not just for the aesthetic differences between the smooth-forehead, small-bearded, swarthy outward appearance, but also the cruel and slimy attitude to conquest and subjugation. It's been noted by many that in the transition between 'TOS' and 'TNG' the Klingons and Romulans swapped characteristics, the Romulans becoming more devious and militarily dictatorial, the Klingons taking on a nobler character, but I'm not sure how true this is, as neat and pat as it sounds.

Really, in 'TOS' we're talking about the main representatives of their race, not the race as a whole, the characterisation of minor roles pretty much a blank slate, both sides featuring soldiers who obey orders. So while Mark Lenard's Romulan Commander is one of the noblest and greatest tacticians, and Commander Kor is devious and harsh, they aren't the entirety of their race. I can see the Klingon heritage in Kor's actions - you can see he loves battle, claiming it would have been glorious if he could have faced the famous Captain Kirk (though clearly not famous enough for the Klingons to have seen an image of his face - though they probably think all humans look alike!), to test his mettle against such a warrior. Could it be that the answer really does lie in their appearance? Thanks to 'Enterprise' we eventually learned the reason behind the changing look of the Klingons, going from bumpy to smooth foreheads: it was all part of a virus intended to make them superior, but which actually lost them much of their superiority to humans in terms of losing the greater physical strength and bony exoskeleton that made them such formidable opponents. Could it be this loss led those affected to become bitter towards their fate, coming out in ruthlessness, less care for honour, and setting out a new regime? I think it's as good an explanation as any, though I have yet to see what 'DSC' adds on the subject (it would be a bit strange if we saw a proportion of the population change in 'Enterprise,' then don't see any in 'DSC,' then in 'TOS' they're in clear evidence again).

Whatever the case for how Klingons became the cheaper variety to make in the Sixties (the real reason for lack of prosthetic makeup), Kirk had to deal with the reality of them in this situation and it's not an easy one: giving Sulu (why was he left in charge, was Scotty in the doghouse for something?), orders to scarper if the Klingons arrive in number, trapping himself and Spock on the planet with a seemingly harmless and simplistic folk that want to avoid violence at all costs, something Kirk isn't accustomed to accept. In his vehement exhortations he almost becomes as violent as the Klingons through frustration at the Organians' peaceful, mild demeanour, even in the face of atrocity. Ordinarily you could see where he's coming from, how was he to know these are actually beings of pure energy that can't be hurt by any act of savagery the Klingons threaten. I used to confuse them with the Metrons of 'Arena,' both powerful races which intervene and impose their greater morality upon races that insist on fighting amongst themselves, and both provoke a different attitude in Kirk. The Organians' humble appearance was forgettable, while the bright, angelic vision of the Metrons had much more of an impact, which would explain my impression. They're almost like the Ba'ku from 'Insurrection,' except they were only on the way to where the Organians are - both have rejected technology for a simple life, though the Organians, like the Q Continuum, presented their agrarian society with all its farms and fields, merely for the purposes of giving visitors conventional points of reference so they could interact, as Spock surmises. Maybe Squire Trelane was actually an Organian?

Ayelborne is really a great character, calmly putting up with these humanoids and their petty issues, trying to find some common ground without interfering in their ways until he and the others feel forced to for the safety of the humans and Klingons, a superb surprise turnaround. Maybe it shouldn't have been so surprising, the clues were there: the self-opening doors of the Council where the other doors must be pushed; the fact that one of the Elders can tell how many Klingon ships have arrived, and when and how many have beamed down, it should all have tipped Kirk off that something was going on here, but he was too caught up in his righteous indignation to pay attention to the implications and I don't think Spock was there at that point or he might have put two and two together. I was expecting to see at least one of the Klingon ships, but not even the one that attacks the Enterprise at the start is shown on screen and we can only assume it was Klingon as there was nothing to categorically confirm it. It does succeed in one thing, and that is to present the idea that a greater Starfleet is out there, as well as a greater Empire, but they didn't have the money or technological ability to present us with a fleet battle the likes of which wouldn't become truly possible until 'DS9' about thirty years later. It's enough to have the figureheads of these two mighty organisations sparring with each other over idealogical differences.

The Organians make an attempt to keep Kirk and Spock out of harm's way by giving them villagers clothing, but though you can take the Captain of his uniform, you can't take the uniform out of the Captain, Kor quickly realising this 'Organian' is different. He doesn't meekly accept whatever decrees Kor puts before them, and without directly defying anything he says, Kor can still see the fire in 'Baroner's' eyes, something he understands and has respect for, a respect only heightened when Ayelborne eventually reveals Kirk's true identity in order to prevent him being hurt. It's truly fascinating to see these two, Kirk and Kor, standing together in disgust at the Organians' lack of loyalty to their allies, their unwillingness to strike out for their freedom or risk any confrontation. Equally they stand together when they're in the midst of a fight and the Organians come in and stop them like parents separating squabbling children. They both cry about their rights to bash the others' heads in and it is this that Kirk feels ashamed of later when he's on his ship, that he felt outrage at violence being prematurely ended, instead of grateful that there was a force that could prevent both sides from warring.

Except, despite the Organians' best efforts they could only stop outright hostilities, they couldn't force the two enemies into alliance, so a cold war resulted, though this led to eventual peace. I noticed a rather major flaw in the Organians' plan and one negative that might be applied to their strategy: if both Starfleet and the Empire were unable to fight each other, would they not simply use other races to wage a strategic war? And did this simple method of prevention extend to all races that wanted to fight? Could, for example, the Klingons take battle to the Romulans, or the Federation move on any attacking threat? How was this all to be governed… You begin to see the enormous implications of the Organians' imposing their will over the freedom of the others. I'd love to know if it affected the balance of power in the Galaxy: did the Klingon/Romulan alliance come into being because of this forced peace with their greatest enemy? Could it be it encouraged them to seek peace with other enemies? Were the Federation and Klingon Empire the two biggest powers at that time, and this enforced detente gave rise to other races catching up? It intrigues me, because of course we would go on to see other races fight with Starfleet and it did seem to be that the imposition was relegated to just Federation and Klingon forces, but the domino effect on the greater Galaxy would likely be one major reason why the Organians were reluctant to use their power in this way.

It is with glee that we see both our heroes and their enemies forced into behaving rationally and makes a change from the usual situation of the audience being wholeheartedly behind the main characters as a force for good. Kirk's allowed to learn a lesson and it shows that even someone as bold, forthright and moral can learn important truths. I'm not sure what Kor learnt from the experience, probably to be a little more circumspect in his attitude, though I'm not sure he ever was cowed - it's terrific we were later treated to a total of three further appearances by him in 'DS9' (another reason why that series is the greatest of Trek), as a much older warrior almost resigned to old age, living in past glories but with that same wild light in his eyes and toothy grin on his face. If Kor had not been such a good representation of a hard, dictatorial race it's possible the Klingons may not have made such an impact. He doesn't have the gravity of the Romulan Commander, but he does have the intensity, his soldiers raiding the town like Mexicans in an old Western, Kor himself striding about imperiously and warming to Kirk's equally soldierly attitude, far from the contented smile plastering the faces of the Organians, whom he considers weak, like sheep. He has a good look, too, with severe facial hair and coffee-tinted wrinkles, a broad gold sash with some kind of device upon it (the symbol of the House of Kor perhaps?), and chain mail trousers, he presents a formidable air, but not a mindless enemy, someone who relishes tactics and delights in strategies and the glory of battle. So not that far from other Klingons after all…

It doesn't affect the episode, but the lack of Klingon ships is disappointing. There's also a lack of Dr. McCoy and Scotty, neither of whom appear, but at least Sulu and Uhura are back in their proper places, and even Mr. Leslie can be seen on the Bridge. The series was still unsure of its terminology as we get yet another example of Spock's people being spoken of as both Vulcans and Vulcanians (the Klingons say it), but at least we learn that Vulcan merchants are a common sight on many worlds. We also learn that Phasers and Communicators can attach to each other, as that's how they are when Kirk demands them back from the Organians who've kept them in a cupboard with the neatly folded Starfleet uniforms. The subject of money comes up like few times before or after, with Kirk actually stating that the Federation has invested quite a bit of money in their training, though this could have been said for the Organians' benefit to make Kirk and Spock's Federation sound more formidable or more attractive, I'm not sure. Or it could mean that they really do still use a financial system. It could be questioned why Spock's inner eyelid didn't come down to protect his eyes from the glare as the Organians transfigured into their true form of bright points of energy, but it happened so gradually that I would say it wasn't necessary. The Klingons aren't quite as we became accustomed to them on the series, with only the main speaking parts allowed beards, perhaps a sign of status and rank, and the fantastic Disruptors are here called Klingon Phasers. And they use sonic grenades which look uncannily like the traditional pineapple type of Earth history!

Unlike the Klingons, the Organian race did not make multiple reappearances in Trek lore, but they did appear in a prequel, the NX-01 unknowingly playing host to a couple of them in 'Enterprise,' a pleasing and logical use without disrupting canon and making for a good episode. The joy of the surprise in the Organians' superior ability stems largely from the expectations that this is another group of elderly leaders as we'd seen before (for example, in 'A Taste of Armageddon'), that need to be given a talking to by Kirk who claims he's more soldier than diplomat but always manages to orate with aplomb. In a way, his heartfelt arguments come across almost like the Klingons in the way he wants to have an impact on their society, to reshape it in the Federation image, an altruistic, technologically advanced way, but it isn't what they want, nor need. In general I think Kirk would have been right to do this - I've heard comments about 'TOS' not being right to spread its philosophy or beliefs to less advanced aliens as if all systems should be equally valid, but that's like saying medicine shouldn't be shared because it's better for a race to invent it themselves at their own pace, even if, for example, they refuse to explore medicine. While in Organia's case they didn't need change or the help Kirk wanted to give (despite there being some notion of the suspect motive of wanting a strategic advantage over the Klingons in that area), in most cases Starfleet are bringing light and aid to dark places, something they do very well.

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