A Taste of Armageddon 

Kirk and Spock must save their ship's crew when they are declared all killed in action in a bizarre computer simulated war where the actual deaths must occur to continue.

Director:

Joseph Pevney

Writers:

Robert Hamner (teleplay by), Gene L. Coon (teleplay by)

Stars:

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, David Opatoshu

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
William Shatner	...	Capt. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
David Opatoshu	...	Anan 7
Gene Lyons	...	Ambassador Fox
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
James Doohan	...	Scott
Barbara Babcock	...	Mea 3
Miko Mayama	...	Tamula
David L. Ross	...	Galloway
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
Sean Kenney	...	DePaul
Robert Sampson	...	Sar 6

Storyline

On a mission to establish diplomatic relations at Star Cluster NGC321, Kirk and Spock beam down to planet Eminiar 7 to learn that its inhabitants have been at war with a neighboring planet for over 500 years. They can find no damage nor evidence of destruction but soon learn that their war is essentially a war game, where each planet attacks the other in a computer simulation with the tabulated victims voluntarily surrendering themselves for execution after the fact. When the Enterprise becomes a victim in the computer simulation and ordered destroyed, Kirk decides it's time to show them exactly what war means.

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Plot Keywords:

held captive | blonde | ambassador | year 2267 | 2260s | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 1967 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Desilu Productions, Norway Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

Spock refers to himself in this episode as a "Vulcanian" rather than a Vulcan, one of very few times in the series where the longer synonym is spoken. Also, the Enterprise's protection is called screens rather than shields.

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Goofs

Scotty moves the Enterprise to a higher orbit, out of range of the planet's weapons. But the Enterprise has already been hit by a simulated weapon from another planet. So the weapons must be able to hit several planets away - a ship in any orbit would be in-range of the planet it's orbiting.

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Quotes

Spock: Computers, Captain. They fight their war with computers, totally.

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Alternate Versions

Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song

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Connections

Referenced in Star Trek: By Any Other Name (1968)

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Soundtracks

Theme From Star Trek
Written by Alexander Courage

User Reviews

Peace Keeping With Computer Wars

Season 1, episode 23. The Enterprise is on a mission to Star Cluster NGC321 planet Eminiar VII with the diplomat Ambassador Fox in order to learn more about the inhabitants of the planet and for peace talks. Eminiar VII has had a long standing war with their neighboring planet Vendikar. When the Enterprise nears Eminiar VII, they are sent a message from the planet to not bring the ship any closer. The high ranking Ambassador orders Kirk to approach the planet and orbit it anyway. Scotty was left in command of the Enterprise while Kirk, Spock with a small party of security beam down to the planet and are held hostage where they learn that Eminiar wants to keep peace by waging war with their computer and real people must die, that includes all members of the Enterprise. Kirk & Spock must do whatever it takes to save themselves and their ship while Mr. Scott must take care of the Enterprise while having difficulties getting the Ambassador (who has never been a soldier) to understand what is really going on.

A pretty good episode about peace keeping with computers that will annihilate all ships that approach their peaceful planet but they have never seen real war with bombs and such. Nor has this planet's inhabitants ever tried to have peace talks with Vendikar.

7/10