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==Background Information==
 
==Background Information==
===Story and production===
+
===Story and Production===
  +
* This episode began as one of numerous short stories that youngster [[Howard Weinstein]] wrote for East Meadow High's annual science fiction magazine, ''Probe''. Weinstein was both in senior year and serving as the magazine's co-editor when he published the story. Since the typical method of breaking into a television script-writing career was to submit a self-penned spec script to a series and then hope for the best, Weinstein did exactly that, converting "The Pirates of Orion" from short story form into a teleplay. {{st.com|howard-weinstein-on-pirates-puppies-more||article}}
* This was the first episode of [[TAS Season 2|TAS's second season]]. This episode was [[novels|novelized]] by [[Alan Dean Foster]] in [[Ballantine Books]]' ''[[Star Trek Log 5]]''.
 
  +
* Howard Weinstein's first effort to submit the script for ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' was unsuccessful. "''[My agent] submitted my script -- addressed to [[Dorothy Fontana]], who'd been associate producer [[TAS Season 1|the first season]]. By that time, though, Dorothy had left. So [[Filmation]] forwarded it to her, and she returned it to my agent without reading it for legal reasons,''" Weinstein explained. "''So, it traveled 6,000 miles and nobody even peeked at it! When the show got renewed in late {{y|1973|'73}}, I re-submitted it using my agent's name -- and they bought it in [[April 1974]]. I guess there's a lesson about perseverance in there somewhere!''" {{st.com|howard-weinstein-on-pirates-puppies-more||article}}
* Only 19 when he sold this story to the animated series, writer [[Howard Weinstein]] was the youngest person ever to write a script for any incarnation of the show. He went on to write several ''[[Star Trek]]'' novels and [[comics]], including [[The Covenant of the Crown]].
 
  +
* Only nineteen when he sold this story to the animated series, Howard Weinstein was the youngest person ever to have written a script for ''[[Star Trek]]''. He was thrilled when his teleplay was finally purchased, later referring to the event as "a dream come true," and the script impressed at least two of the most decisive makers of ''The Animated Series''. "''Filmation honcho [[Lou Scheimer]] told me [[Gene Roddenberry]] called it one of their better first-draft scripts,''" Weinstein reflected. "''Lou was surprised to hear I was a college junior and that it was my first script sale. He asked for minor revisions, which I happily did. And that's the last I heard [of its development].''" {{st.com|howard-weinstein-on-pirates-puppies-more||article}}
  +
* Coloring difficulties caused the Orions in this episode to appear light-skinned.
   
===Continuity===
+
===Continuity and Trivia===
* This episode was the first appearance of an Orion male. Like [[Devna]] previously seen in {{e|The Time Trap}}, the Orions (pronounced "ORE-EON" versus the traditional pronunciation of "O-RYAN") appeared light skinned in this due to coloring difficulties.
+
* This episode was the first appearance of a male Orion (pronounced "ORE-EON" here, versus the traditional pronunciation of "O-RYAN"). Their unintentional light-skinned appearance is in common with the character of [[Devna]], who appears in the first season [[TAS]] outing {{e|The Time Trap}}.
* This episode marks the franchise's third reference to the starship {{USS|Potemkin|NCC-1657}}.
+
* This episode marks the franchise's third reference to the starship {{USS|Potemkin|NCC-1657}}.
 
* Kirk's reference to the Orion conflict at [[Coridan]] on stardate [[2268|3850.3]] comes from {{TOS|Journey to Babel}}.
 
* Kirk's reference to the Orion conflict at [[Coridan]] on stardate [[2268|3850.3]] comes from {{TOS|Journey to Babel}}.
* This episode introduced the first Orion starship design, which was classified as not being a [[starship]]. An Orion ship had previously been seen, in "Journey to Babel," however in that episode it was animated as a colored shape on the [[viewscreen]].
+
* This episode introduced the first Orion starship design, which was classified as not being a [[starship]]. An Orion ship had previously been seen in "Journey to Babel". However, in that episode, it was animated as a colored shape on the [[viewscreen]].
 
===Other Information===
 
 
* The sleeves of Captain O'Shea's uniform are devoid of captain's braid.
 
* The sleeves of Captain O'Shea's uniform are devoid of captain's braid.
 
* This episode was [[novels|novelized]] by [[Alan Dean Foster]] in [[Ballantine Books]]' ''[[Star Trek Log 5]]''.
  +
  +
===Reception and Aftermath===
  +
* Howard Weinstein reminisced about his viewings of this episode, the first installment of ''Star Trek: The Animated Series''{{'}} [[TAS Season 2|second season]]; "''I learned during the summer [of {{y|1974}}] that 'Pirates' would open what turned out to be the show's short, final season [....] It aired the first Saturday of my senior year, a week before my 20th birthday. TV sets in dorm rooms were pretty rare back then, so I invited friends over to watch: 30 kids and one [[dog]], and everybody cheered for my name in the credits. Kind of like a very-mini-[[Star Trek convention|convention]] [....] After 'Pirates' aired, I bought a 16mm film copy, which I showed at dozens of appearances at schools, libraries and conventions. That ol' film got pretty chewed up over the years.''" By {{y|2011}}, Weinstein hadn't viewed the installment "in ages." {{st.com|howard-weinstein-on-pirates-puppies-more||article}} Following his writing of the episode, he went on to write several ''[[Star Trek]]'' novels and [[comics]], including ''[[The Covenant of the Crown]]''.
   
 
===Video and DVD releases===
 
===Video and DVD releases===

Revision as of 10:11, 18 May 2011

Template:Realworld

While Spock lies ill, Orion pirates hijack the drug shipment desperately needed to save his life.

Summary

"Captain's log, Stardate 6334.1. The outbreak of choriocytosis aboard the Enterprise seems to be under control. Dr. McCoy says the disease is no longer even as serious as pneumonia and there should be no problem completing our present mission, representing the Federation at the dedication ceremonies for the new Academy of Science on Deneb V."

While underway, however, Spock loses consciousness and is taken to sickbay. Spock has contracted the disease, which, because of their copper-based blood, is fatal to Vulcans. The infection enters the bloodstream and encases the cells so they cannot carry oxygen, resulting in suffocation. A synthesized drug can control the disease, but only naturally-occurring strobolin will cure it. The drug is found on only a few worlds in the galaxy, the closest of which, Beta Canopus, is four days away. McCoy can slow it down, but Spock only has two days before the disease builds up immunity to the drug. Then, by the end of the third day it will be irreversible.

"Captain's log, Supplemental. We have arranged to get the strobolin needed to save Mr. Spock's life. The starship Potemkin has already picked up the drug and will transfer it to a freighter, the SS Huron for delivery to the Enterprise."

Kirk informs Spock of the situation and tells him his duty time has been cut in half. When Spock protests, McCoy asserts, "Doctor's orders." When Spock leaves Kirk says, "It'll hurt seeing him like that." McCoy agrees adding, "As much as it may seem at times that I can't stand that pointy-eared encyclopedia I don't want to see that happen to him."

Captain O'Shea's freighter gets underway with the drug shipment. Without warning, they detect another vessel closing on them, of an Orion designation. Spock is summoned to sickbay for another injection, but the synthesized treatments are losing effectiveness on maintaining his health.

The Huron hails the oncoming ship and Captain O'Shea asks them to state their registry and purpose. When they don't answer, O'Shea sends out a distress signal to the Enterprise. The alien pirate craft then orders them to turn over their cargo of dilithium crystals or be destroyed. On the Enterprise, Spock falls unconscious, the drug no longer effective. The Enterprise finds the Huron, disabled, with its cargo missing, and recovers the injured crew. Spock has only twenty hours to live.

"Captain's log, Stardate 6335.6. The Huron has been left as space junk, its engines sabotaged. Captain O'Shea has no idea who attacked his ship, but the intruder must be found and the precious cargo retrieved."

The Enterprise sets out after the specific pattern of radioactive waste left by the intruder. They detect dilithium crystals in the cargo bay of a ship in a highly unstable asteroid field and the Orion vessel is fired upon by the Enterprise.

The Orion captain hails the Enterprise, protesting the pursuit of his vessel, but refuses a search. Kirk attempts to negotiate for the strobolin in exchange for not mentioning the stolen dilithium crystals, but the Orions suspect a ruse. Kirk agrees to meet the Orion captain on an asteroid knowing that it might be a trap, but worth the risk for Spock's life. Kirk and the Orion beam down to the asteroid to exchange the drug. Unknown to Kirk, the Orion arrives carrying a dilithium explosive set to disrupt the asteroid's molecular structure and destroy him, the asteroid, and both ships.

The Orion captain gives his ultimatum, but Kirk wrests the device and the drug from him and captures him. Scotty beams the explosive to the Enterprise, disarms it, and then beams up both captains and forces the Orion to stand trial for piracy. His crew becomes prisoners, ending Orion's neutrality in pirate activities. With the medicine administered, Spock is saved, but McCoy wants him to admit that this time his green blood almost did him in. He just says he prefers his own physiology. McCoy laughs that he's just as stubborn as usual. Kirk says that everything is back to normal.

Memorable Quotes

"Blasted Vulcan, why can't you have red blood like any normal Human?"

- McCoy


"Analysis Mr. Sulu."
"Standard phasers, sir, weak though. A diffused low quality beam. Our deflectors can stop them."
"I recognize the ship's markings Captain. It's an Orion."

- Kirk, Sulu, and Arex


"A Federation freighter was attacked in this quadrant, its cargo hijacked. As the first alien ship encountered we require you to submit to search as per Babel Resolution A-12. Reply!"
"We have no Federation cargo aboard. Orions are not thieves. If you don't cease this harassment we will lodge a formal protest with your government!"

- Kirk and Orion Commander


"Enterprise to Orion vessel. I have a proposal to make. If you do have the Huron's cargo there was some perishable drugs in it that we desperately need."
"What would these drugs be worth to you, if we had them?"
"You keep the dilithium shipment, no mention of the whole incident to Starfleet or in my log, plus an additional galactic standard weight container of dilithium as payment for the drug."
"We get what we want, plus our neutrality remains intact? We will consider your offer."

- Kirk and Orion Commander

Background Information

Story and Production

  • This episode began as one of numerous short stories that youngster Howard Weinstein wrote for East Meadow High's annual science fiction magazine, Probe. Weinstein was both in senior year and serving as the magazine's co-editor when he published the story. Since the typical method of breaking into a television script-writing career was to submit a self-penned spec script to a series and then hope for the best, Weinstein did exactly that, converting "The Pirates of Orion" from short story form into a teleplay. The Pirates of Orion (episode)
  • Howard Weinstein's first effort to submit the script for Star Trek: The Animated Series was unsuccessful. "[My agent] submitted my script -- addressed to Dorothy Fontana, who'd been associate producer the first season. By that time, though, Dorothy had left. So Filmation forwarded it to her, and she returned it to my agent without reading it for legal reasons," Weinstein explained. "So, it traveled 6,000 miles and nobody even peeked at it! When the show got renewed in late '73, I re-submitted it using my agent's name -- and they bought it in April 1974. I guess there's a lesson about perseverance in there somewhere!" The Pirates of Orion (episode)
  • Only nineteen when he sold this story to the animated series, Howard Weinstein was the youngest person ever to have written a script for Star Trek. He was thrilled when his teleplay was finally purchased, later referring to the event as "a dream come true," and the script impressed at least two of the most decisive makers of The Animated Series. "Filmation honcho Lou Scheimer told me Gene Roddenberry called it one of their better first-draft scripts," Weinstein reflected. "Lou was surprised to hear I was a college junior and that it was my first script sale. He asked for minor revisions, which I happily did. And that's the last I heard [of its development]." The Pirates of Orion (episode)
  • Coloring difficulties caused the Orions in this episode to appear light-skinned.

Continuity and Trivia

  • This episode was the first appearance of a male Orion (pronounced "ORE-EON" here, versus the traditional pronunciation of "O-RYAN"). Their unintentional light-skinned appearance is in common with the character of Devna, who appears in the first season TAS outing "The Time Trap".
  • This episode marks the franchise's third reference to the starship USS Potemkin.
  • Kirk's reference to the Orion conflict at Coridan on stardate 3850.3 comes from TOS: "Journey to Babel".
  • This episode introduced the first Orion starship design, which was classified as not being a starship. An Orion ship had previously been seen in "Journey to Babel". However, in that episode, it was animated as a colored shape on the viewscreen.
  • The sleeves of Captain O'Shea's uniform are devoid of captain's braid.
  • This episode was novelized by Alan Dean Foster in Ballantine Books' Star Trek Log 5.

Reception and Aftermath

  • Howard Weinstein reminisced about his viewings of this episode, the first installment of Star Trek: The Animated Series' second season; "I learned during the summer [of 1974] that 'Pirates' would open what turned out to be the show's short, final season [....] It aired the first Saturday of my senior year, a week before my 20th birthday. TV sets in dorm rooms were pretty rare back then, so I invited friends over to watch: 30 kids and one dog, and everybody cheered for my name in the credits. Kind of like a very-mini-convention [....] After 'Pirates' aired, I bought a 16mm film copy, which I showed at dozens of appearances at schools, libraries and conventions. That ol' film got pretty chewed up over the years." By 2011, Weinstein hadn't viewed the installment "in ages." The Pirates of Orion (episode) Following his writing of the episode, he went on to write several Star Trek novels and comics, including The Covenant of the Crown.

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

And

Also starring

Guest star

Background character

References

2245; Academy of Science; asteroid belt; Babel Conference; Babel Resolutions; Beta Canopus; blood; choriocytosis; copper-based blood; Coridan planets; deflectors; Deneb V; dilithium; doomsday bomb; emergency battery power; encyclopedia; energy; exploding mineral asteroids; galactic standard weight; Huron, USS (Template:ShipType); iron-based blood; life support systems; Middle Ages; Orion; Orions; Orion vessel; oxygen; phasers; pirate; pneumonia; Potemkin, USS; radioactive waste; registry; remote control device; respirator; self-destruct system; solar day; space junk; Starfleet; Starfleet Academy; starship; strobolin; suicide; yellow alert


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