Stardate 4523.3: The Enterprise is summoned to Deep Space K-7 by Federation Undersecretary Baris to protect a shipment of quadrotriticale, the only Earth grain that would grow on Sherman's Planet. This planet is disputed between the Federation and the Klingons, and the Federation needs to hurry to develop it. A Klingon battlecruiser under Captain Koloth arrives, requesting shore leave on the station, whereupon a scuffle with the Enterprise crew ensues. In the meantime, intergalactic trader Cyrano Jones has brought small furry animals called Tribbles to the station. Uhura takes one Tribble to the Enterprise, not knowing that it would breed rapidly. And so do the Tribbles on the station, thanks to the supply of quadrotriticale. When Kirk opens the storage compartment, the grain is gone, and it is swarming with Tribbles. Many Tribbles, however, are dead, as the grain has been poisoned. Kirk discovers that the Tribbles squeak in the presence of Baris's assistant Darvin just the way they do when they encounter Klingons. McCoy examines the man, who turns out to be a Klingon. A freighter is dispatched to deliver a new shipment of grain to the planet, and Scotty solves the Tribble problem on the Enterprise by beaming them over to the Klingon ship.

• E12 Previous
• E14 Next