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While transporting an arrogant, demanding princess for a political marriage, Captain Kirk must cope both with her biochemical ability to force him to love her, as well as sabotage on his ship.

The Enterprise transports Elaan, a member of the ruling dynasty of the warrior Elasians, to the planet of their enemy, the Troyians, so that her arranged marriage will halt their interplanetary war. Kirk must teach the arrogant, vicious princess the ways of polite society but falls victim to the legendary weapon of Elasian women: their tears serve as a love potion. Spock tracks what may be another ship shadowing the Enterprise and Kirk, distracted by Elaan, must fight against other parties interested in preventing the Federation's peace efforts.—Tom D.

The Enterprise is on a diplomatic mission to prevent an interplanetary war between two neighboring, bitterly rivaling planets in a region disputed between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. To this, the Troyians have sent the courteous ambassador Petri; the Elasians no less then their extremely arrogant Dohlman (ruler) - Elaan - who is to marry the ruler of Troyius. Petri points out the voyage must be smooth but slow, as it is the only chance to tame the shrew or at least civilize the raging bitch enough to become an acceptable queen, or else the alliance bet will only trigger war even sooner, spelling total destruction given recent arms technology. Kirk has a hard job ahead: Elaan starts by refusing and insulting the royal wedding gifts (enough to raise even Petri's blood-thirst) before stabbing the ambassador, which forces Kirk to step in as a Petruchio to her shrewish Kate. As if this isn't bad enough, a Klingon warship is found, distantly dogging the Enterprise. As one of the Elasian bodyguards conducts sabotage, Elaan resorts to the ultimate, biochemical weapon of fiendish Elasian females: a supreme love potion contained in their tears that enslaves any man for life who touches them. Her unwary target - Captain Kirk.—KGF Vissers

Kirk and the Enterprise crew are on a diplomatic mission to transport Elaan, a princess of her people, to Troyius where she is to marry the ruler in the hopes establishing peace between their two worlds. She's rather a handful for Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise - imperious, demanding and completely lacking in anything remotely akin to manners. She even stabs the Troyian ambassador when he enters her quarters uninvited. It's left to Captain Kirk to try and get her under control, but she does have the power to entice men, and soon Kirk is passionate for her. All the while, the Enterprise is being followed by a Klingon warship that is bent on destroying them. It is also apparent that the Enterprise has a saboteur on board.—garykmcd

The stability of the Tellun system depends on an arranged, political marriage between its two warring planets. Kirk must take the arrogant, demanding and contemptuous Elaan (the Dohlman of Elas) to marry the ruler of Troyius on a slow impulse drive voyage, allowing time to indoctrinate her in the servile manners and customs of her new home world. Since this star system lies in disputed territory between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, a Klingon warship hovers at the very edge of sensor range, apparently with designs against the success of Kirk's mission, which proves true once a saboteur is discovered aboard the Enterprise. Elaan's unruly behavior belies the alluring reputation of Elasian women, which Troyian ambassador Petri explains is all due to biochemistry: Elasian tears, once touched, serve as an intense love potion. It's something Kirk should have overheard before assuming the responsibility of close contact etiquette lessons with the Dohlman.—statmanjeff

The Enterprise transports Elaan (France Nuyen), a member of the ruling dynasty of the warrior Elasians, to the planet of their enemy, the Troyians, so that her arranged marriage to the Troyian ruler, will halt their interplanetary war. Perti (Jay Robinson) is the Troyian Ambassador on board the Enterprise. Elaan is brash and brutish and Perti's mission is "civilise" Elaan and teach her the Troyian habits before they get to the planet. Kirk's mission is the assist Perti in his mission as Perti is leaning towards the Federation and the space is also claimed by the Klingons.

Kirk must teach the arrogant, vicious princess the ways of polite society. Elaan hates Perti and throws all the gifts he brought her on behalf of his ruler. She has an issue with the quarters that Kirk has provided her on-board the Enterprise (they belonged to Uhura). Perti begs Kirk to let him contact his home planet as he does not consider Elaan a suitable royal bride. Kirk tries to drill some basic courtesies and manners in Elaan. She is more interested to learn about the weapon controls on board the Enterprise. Kirk has a diplomatic incident on his hands when Elaan stabs Parti in his back. McCoy says he will recover. Now Perti is against the wedding and Kirk is in a bind as The Federation High Commissioner is scheduled to attend the wedding. Its upto Kirk now to turn things around.

Kirk confronts Elaan and tells her to learn her royal manners. Elaan slaps Kirk and spits at him, so Kirk slaps her back. Kryton (Tony Young), Elaan's bodyguard sabotages the Enterprise's Communications. Kirk falls victim to the legendary weapon of Elasian women: their tears serve as a love potion. Elaan cries to Kirk that people hate her, and her tears touch Kirk. This was a trick from ELaan to enslave Kirk.

Spock tracks what may be another ship shadowing the Enterprise and Kirk, distracted by Elaan, must fight against other parties interested in preventing the Federation's peace efforts. Spock eventually determines they are being shadowed by a Klingon war-bird. Spock and Uhura figure out that someone from the Enterprise is sending a message to the Klingons. Kirk and Spock apprehend Kryton in the Engineering section with a Klingon communicator. Before Kirk can interrogate him, Kryton kills himself.

Meanwhile ELaan tries to seduce Kirk to use enterprise to destroy Troyius. McCoy and Spock find Kirk kissing and embracing Elaan. McCoy starts working on an antidote for Kirk, and the Klingons intercept the Enterprise. Scott figures out that the Enterprise will blow the moment they enter warp drive, hence Kirk cannot escape the Klingons. Kirk and Spock figure that Klingons are trying to force the Enterprise to go into Warp and blow themselves, thus avoiding a war and yet preventing the marriage. Worse, the Enterprise doesn't have enough power for phasers. Klingons start attacking the Enterprise with phasers. Spock and Kirk cant figure out why Klingons are interested in this system. Turns out the system is rich in Dilithium and Elaan is wearing 3 huge crystals around her neck as ornaments. Kirk takes the crystals for his warp engines. Kirk attacks the Klingons and damages their ship, but wont finish them off. He resumes his course towards Troyius. Kirk delivers Elaan to Troyius and they both promise to remember each other.