July 1984 had issue 6 of DC Comics ongoing Star Trek series on comic spinners. Written oncee again by Mike W. Barr, it featured pencils by Tom Sutton, inks by Ricardo Villagran, and a cover by Sutton and Sal Amendola.

Stardate: 8173.5

The issue’s opening splash page tties directly in with the canon of The Original Series as Kirk welcomes Ambassador Robert Fox (Taste of Armageddon) aboard. He’s beeen brought aboard to help with the floundering peace talks between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.

While Kirk gives Fox a tour with Sulu, Saavik and McCoy, Scotty beams some replacement crew aboard – though none of them arrive in uniform. And one of them isn’t who they appear to be and they have a plan!

The Enterprise heads for Babel, and while Kirk assigns security chief Richardson escort, we see one of the new crew arrivals shapeshift into Richardson and goes to see Fox. An attack follows, but a pair of security guards show up, and encounter a strange tentacled beast that flees through the ship.

McCoy tends to Fox, though the evidence of the atack suggests that whatever it was has been extinct. The security team reports that they saw the thing, whatever it was, change shape. Kirk orders a 24 hour protection team for Fox.

Kirk calls Sulu and Saavik to his quarters, and asks Uhura to contact Commodore Benedict for him. And there’s something/someone on his ship!

Fox, left in his quarters finds a tape that was left behind after the attack, it has a recording from The Orion Victory League about the death of Ambassador Fox, and he recognizes the speaker.

Benedict reveals to Kirk and his team that the Orion Victory League have an operative that can shapeshift, and is code-named Enigma. It’s a talent Kirk has seen before… Captain Garth of Izar (Whom Gods Destroy).

Benedict shuts Kirk down when Kirk wants to investigate further. Kirk is ordered to Babel, and to carry out his mission to keep Fox safe. Oh, and the voice of the Orion Victory League, the one Fox recognized, is his daughter, Trisha!

Kirk orders all crew to travel in pairs, and Richardson to continue his search around the ship for Enigma. The Enterprise arrives safely at Babel. As Kirk and McCoy stroll tthe corridors heading to the transporter room. He bumps into Saavik, who may or may not be Saavik. Her food choice is a little strange for a Vulcan, but not one that is part Romulan.

In thee transporter room to make sure Scottty is Scotty (he’s not) Kirk asks for a familiar pass phrase, which the engineer can’t answer because he’s Enigma!or rather She is Enigma. Trisha, Fox’s daughter has learned the same shape-shifting skills Garth of Izar had.

Kirk suspects Fox knows who Enigma is, but Fox refuses to open up. Richardson escorts the Ambassador back to his quarters for safekeeping and Kirk asks to see Saavik in his quarters.

Scotty is missing from his quarters, and there is evidence he may be dying. Can they find him and Trisha before it’s too late? Kirk is worried it may be too late to find Scotty. While Richardson and his security crew scour the ship, Kirk is left to worry.

Meanwhile the Klingon Ambassador arrives on Babel, and the negotiations with Fox get underway. Trisha doesn’t strike yet, she’s waiting for her opportunity. While Fox takes a break, Kirk beams down to see him.

The pair talk about his daughter, where he fee;s he did wrong by her, but tried to serve the galaxy at large. Kirk and he connect as fathers. Fox admits to be willing to do anything to get Trisha back, and it seems Kirk may have a plan.

Fox and the Klingon Ambassador meet again, under the eye of Federation security. Kirk kicks his plan into gear and beams the security team up, leaving the diplomats open to attack. Trisha shifts into a Gorn, but Fox activates a beacon, and Kirk, McCoy and Saavik beam down just in time.

Kirk and Trisha/Gorn fight, until the captain gets the upper hand, and Trisha collapses, and becomes Kirk. Who is who? McCoy plans to inject one of them with Retinx 5… Jim Kirk is allergic! So Trisha makes a break for it, and Saavik uses the Vulcan nerve pinch to render her unconcious.

McCoy injects with a paralyzer and a truth serum. They learn where she has hidden Scotty, and the Engineer is rescued.

Commodore Benedict is less than thrilled that Kirk violated his orders, but he was succesful, and the Klingon Ambassador actually approves of Kirk’ efforts.

And will Fox and Trisha be able to repair their relationship. Not by the looks of it. Until Kirk pushes him to go see her in the final panel, recalling that there ‘always are possibilities.’

I’m really enjoying these comics so far. I like how they’re written, and while I don’t always love the way the characters are drawn, I am loving the attention the story is giving to canon, and being faithful to the characters as established in the films and the television series. I’m truly digging it.

Next time, we explore the origin of Saavik in an issue titled, Pon Farr. The Human Adventure is just beginning…