Issue 15 of Gold Keys Comics version of Star Trek was written, like all the previous tales, by Len Wein, with art by Alberto Giolitti and a cover painting by George Wilson. It hit comic spinners for August of 1972.

The story is similar to one that would be featured in an episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series that aired in November of 1973, The Time Trap.

The Enterprise, which looks great in this panel, is moving to intercept a Klingon cruiser that has entered Federation space. Unfortunately, the Klingons are using a cloaking device which is making the ship difficult to track.

Sulu picks something else up on the sensors, however, a strange energy field. A cosmic storm! Kirk, Scotty and Spock work the ship, shields and engines, and they are able to slingshot the Enterprise free of the storm. But they have been shot out so far that the ship’s sensors say that they are literally nowhere.

While the crew attempt to figure out what is going on, the ship receives a strange transmission from a strange man. And before they can respond the Enterprise is dragged deeper into the void by a tractor beam. It delivers them a strange museum, littered with countless missing ships.

Kirk, Spock and McCoy beam down to the museum. As they are leaving the Enterprise, Kirk leaves Scotty in command with orders to try to break free of the void in one hour.

The Curator greets them, and tells them his story. He came from a planet that suffered a galactic disaster, and miraculously, he and his museum survived, tumbling through space until they ended up in this strange void.

As the tour continues, they find the crews of all the other ships that have been marooned there. And they have been there for a long time, though time seems to pass differently in this strange place. The Curator confirms this by telling them that they are stuck in some kind of limbo. And they’d best resign themselves to it.

Kirk, however, isn’t one to give up so easily.

Spock, meanwhile, is intrigued by the reveal that some of these ships have been missing for over a decade. It could account for countless myths and legends. The crew interacts with the missing ships and crews, but as their investigation continues, they are stunned to find that the Klingons are here as well.

It seems their ship was pulled into the void as well. Once again, these Klingons don’t look anything like the Klingons we’ve ever seen.

Fisticuffs follow, as it does. The trio gets beaten soundly, and end up prisoners… again.

The Klingons don’t realize yet that they are trapped as well, they are only intent on laying claim to this strange world.

The trio are able to escape, and beam back to the Enteprise. They arrive in a transporter room that looks a lot closer to the set we’re used than we have ever seen before. They also beam up the Curator and the museum’s inhabitants. They hope to convince them to fight the Klingons.

A phaser fight ensues. As it’s going on, Kirk attempts to convince the Klingons that they are all trapped here. With this distraction going on, Spock beams in behind the Klingon commander, and forces them to agree to a truce; the only way they can get out, is if they work together.

Back on the bridge, which looks like the bridge, the crew organizes a maneuver for the ships to blast their way out. The Curator and the rest elect to stay behind, but Klingons and Starfleet are able to blast free.

Once in open space again, both forces agree to fight another day, and go their separate ways.

Next time it’s the Day of the Inquisitors!