Stardate 1429.9: Science officer Lynne Lucero leaves the Enterprise to take command of the research vessel Cabot. Her mission is to offer aid to Pragine 63, a world at the edge of Klingon space in an ecological crisis. In a meeting with the departments of the ship, she declines the proposal by biologist Edward Larkin to breed a species nicknamed as Tribbles as food for the starving population. Larkin keeps working on his pet project nonetheless, and genetically speeds up the reproduction of Tribbles, using his own DNA. Lucero calls Larkin to his office because Starfleet Command received anonymous messages demanding to relieve her of her command because of incompetence, messages that were probably sent by Larkin. She arranges for his transfer off the ship. In the meantime, the Tribbles have started breeding rapidly, up to the point where the crew has to abandon the Cabot. Larkin refuses to leave and dies when the ship suffers structural failure. The Tribbles infest the planet Pragine 63 that has to be evacuated, and also head for Klingon space...

• E01 Previous
• E03 Next