There’s a change in writer for this issue of DC Comics’ ongoing Star Trek series. I imagine Mike Barr needed a break after that eight-issue tale he penned. Writing the script for issue 17, which was on spinners for August of 1985 is L.B. Kellogg, Tom Sutton continues as penciller, and Ricardo Villagran is on inks.

This one is a stand alone story for Sulu, Uhura and supporting character created for the comic series, Bearclaw.

Stardate: 8263.5

The splash page shows us the Excelsior chasing down a cargo ship that is emitting some strange readings. Sulu has the conn as the chase continues, and Saavik is unable to identify the cause of the strange readings. he ship fires on the Excelsior, and Sulu orders Chekov to standby on phasers to disable the ship as Kirk arrives on the bridge (even the comic series recognizes that Sulu is due a command of his own).

Kirk allows Sulu to finish his actions, and Kirk orders the ship tractor beamed to the shuttle deck.

The strange readings may have been caused by dilithium crystals the tiny ship was carrying. To figure out what the two cargo pilots were up to, Kirk and McCoy pretend to concoct some special truth serum. But McCoy is just mixing drinks, and the pair fall for it a little too quickly, revealing they came from Cestus V and going to Orillius I, but the story has to move along.

Meanwhile, Uhura has a word with Nancy Bryce about whether she should pursue her feelings for Konom. And Uhura is happy the pair have one another as she joins the rest of the senior officers for a briefing by Kirk.

Someone, it seems is going to go to Cestus V to find out what is going on there – is it an illegal smuggling operation? And it seems that the space station there is headed by a former lover of Uhura’s, Kabaka. I guess she’ll be assigned, to that. Sulu agrees to lead the mission and recommends that Bearclaw be their third. Scotty preps the cargo ship, and the trio are on their way to the station while the Excelsior heads to Cestus.

The trio have three days to carry out their investigation and rendezvous with the starship. And that’s odd, cause it takes them two days to get to Orillius.

When their ship, christened the D’Artagnan is greeted less than warmly, Uhura specifically calls for Kabaka. They are finally allowed to dock, and are met by a gang of ruffians, who all seem to have dastardly intentions until they are stayed by Kabaka.

Meanwhile, Excelsior has arrived at Cestus V, and Kirk leads a landing party which includes McCoy and Saavik, down to investigate. They discover a slave labor camp digging up dilithium. In less than three panels, Kirk has set the slaves free.

Kabaka chats with Uhura, Bearclaw and Sulu, and Uhura works to maintain their cover as former Starfleet officers who are now looking for work as cargo haulers and traders. It also involves her rekindling their old romance.

Sulu and Bearclaw witness the execution of a slave, which may provide them a link in connecting the station to the smuggling ring. When Uhura contacts Sulu to find out what is going on, Kabaka who is monitoring communications, learns that the trio aren’t who they say they are.

Bearclaw and Sulu are preparing the ship to leave, and Uhura is making her way to the landing bay, but firs has a violent confrontation with Kabaka, which Sulu shows up to help her with.

On Cestus V, the freed slaves lead Kirk and company to one of the cities of the actual planetary inhabitants, fish people! They reveal they brokered a deal with the leader of the slave ring, in an attempt to help restore the water surface of the planet. They are in danger of dying out.

But within about three panels, Kirk tells Saavik to find them a new watery home in a different system not threatened by a red giant star.

As the D’Artagnan races to its rendezvous, Kabka’s fleet pursues! But Sulu is able to use ships in the fleet as cover as he maneuvers the cargo ship in and around them. The little ship can only take so much, so they beam aboard Kabaka’s ship (through the shields?).

They materialize on the lower decks, which are filled with slaves, and Sulu, Uhura and Bearclaw now have an army to take the ship with.

They rendezvous a little late with Excelsior, but they are safe, and the smuggling ring is foiled.

I like hat Uhura had a little more to do in this story, I just wish the story was better, especially coming on the heels of the Mirror Universe tale. I like seeing Sulu have more opportunities, and letting someone besides Kirk shine, but it needed to be fleshed out a little more. It all happens too quickly.

It’s not a bad story, it’s just not as strong as it could be. This could have been a really strong Uhura/Sulu story. Maybe it could have been two issues.

We’ll see what happens next time as we boldy go to issue 18, and see what Scotty gets up to in Rest and Relaxation!

The Human Adventure continues…