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"The Mimicking Menace"
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Cover Blurb:
The Enterprise intercepts Tactis II, a wandering asteroid, to determine
if it poses any threat to the Federation. A visual survey of the asteroid
reveals a volcano, but Mr. Spock reports that it is inactive. Sensors show some
minor movement on the surface. Mr. Spock suggests the movement might be caused
by wind currents or ground tremors. Kirk decides that they must find out for
sure whether life exists on the asteroid. He orders a landing party be formed.
A lovely blonde female lieutenant suggests that they take a shuttle craft
instead of using the transporter, as the shuttle will be able to carry down a
larger "bio-detection" unit to the surface to search for life. The
Captain agrees, and orders that two crew members from security join himself, Mr.
Spock, and the (still unnamed) lieutenant in the hanger deck.The shuttlecraft Galileo arrives on the surface at the base of the dormant volcano. Spock reports that scanners indicate life-supporting atmosphere. The exit ramp opens, and Kirk steps out to take a look around. He is surprised to see another shuttlecraft Galileo, sitting only yards away! Sensor scans confirm that the other shuttle craft is an exact duplicate of their own. The two security guards are sent to investigate the other shuttle. (Not the typical Kirk approach to a problem! He almost always goes in before the crew.) As they approach the other shuttle, the "dormant" volcano in the distance suddenly erupts, spewing red-hot lava! Kirk orders the security team to enter the other shuttle in order to avoid the lava flow, which is creeping down the face of the volcano. They enter the shuttle, and are knocked out by strange dancing lights. Two exact duplicates of the security team are waiting inside. The impostors pick up a dropped communicator and report back to Kirk that the shuttle is abandoned, and they are preparing to lift off.
On the Enterprise, Scotty is puzzled by the lack of communications with the landing party, and the appearance of "two" shuttle craft on the sensors. Scotty orders Dr. McCoy to beam down to the surface with him to check it out, and leaves Lt. Sulu in command of the ship.
From the hatchway of the shuttle craft, Spock orders Scotty and McCoy
to shoot the imposters. Scotty and McCoy are confused, but draw their phasers
and prepare to fire. Just as they are about to shoot, all four of the imposters
change into flashing lights, and disappear into the lava field. Scotty and
McCoy rush to the shuttle. Spock begins to explain what is happening, but just
then the volcano erupts again! Spock rushes out of the Galileo to bring back
the (real) unconscious Captain Kirk and the Lieutenant. They barely make it
back to the craft in time to avoid being smashed by a huge boulder from the
volcano.Spock believes that the answer to the strange events lies in the volcano crater. Scotty's communicator is still functional, and he calls the ship to have a "fully-equipped video-camera robot" beamed down. The robot (sent down complete with a large console t.v. remote viewing screen) climbs up the mountain, and into the crater. The crew watches it's progress from outside the shuttle. The robot sends back pictures of ancient spacecraft and skeletons scattered over the crater floor! The robot is surrounded by more dancing lights and destroyed. A duplicate robot is created, and the duplicate moves back down the mountain to attack the landing party.
In accordance with Federation laws, the Enterprise does not harm the energy being. Captain Kirk notifies Star Fleet of the creature, and warns them to keep other ships clear of the area.
 Email: cdanhauser@yahoo.com |
