Journey to Babel (Episode)

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Journey to Babel

"Journey to Babel" (TOS 44)

Series	Star Trek
Season	2
Episode	10
Production Number	44
Release Date	17 Nov 1967
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Stardate 3842.3: Tensions run high when the Enterprise transports ambassadors to the Babel Conferences.

The Enterprise is en route to an important Federation conference on a planet code-named Babel. Traveling aboard are delegates from many worlds, including Vulcan Ambassador Sarek and his Human wife, Amanda — revealed as Mr. Spock's parents. Spock and his father have not spoken for 20 years, a fact that causes embarrassment for Captain Kirk, but not for Spock. The journey is also complicated by an unidentified vessel, which is following the Enterprise, and tension between various delegates, particularly Sarek and Tellarite Ambassador Gav; when Gav is murdered, Sarek is the prime suspect. The stress reveals that Sarek is suffering from a heart condition and needs an immediate operation to save his life. Only his son can serve as the blood donor, but when Kirk is attacked and stabbed by Thelev, a member of the Andorian delegation, Spock assumes command. Despite the danger to his father's life, he refuses to step down until the unidentified ship following the Enterprise is stopped. Spock's mother is unsuccessful in her appeals to her son to permit the operation to be performed, so Kirk fakes a return to duty to trick Spock into reporting to sickbay. The vessel, revealed to be an Orion ship, attacks the Enterprise and is destroyed. Thelev is exposed as a surgically-altered Orion spy, posing as an Andorian, and commits suicide on the bridge. The operation on Sarek is successful and the ambassador resumes diplomatic relations with his son.