Hostage Crisis
| Star Traks: The Original Series | |
| Episode name | Hostage Crisis |
|---|---|
| Season | |
| Episode number | |
| Writer(s) | Alan Decker |
| Year | 2373 |
| Stardate | 50299 |
| Chronology | |
| Previous in series | Fear Has A Red Nose [TRK] |
| Next in series | Beaming There [TRK] |
| Previous in timeline | This Is Only A Test [WAY] |
| Next in timeline | Previous Occupant [TRK] |
A routine trip to an official dinner becomes a bit more of a problem for Captain Alexander Rydell and Ensign Andrea Carr when their shuttle is hijacked by a lunatic. Now, Commander Travis Dillon and Lieutenant Commander Jaroch must negotiate for their release or kill each other trying.
Summary
Captain Alexander Rydell leaves the USS Secondprize via a shuttle piloted by Ensign Andrea Carr to attend a diplomatic dinner at Starbase 37. As the shuttle is leaving the ship, Lieutenant Commander Jaroch detects the presence of a third human lifesign on the shuttle. This is Michael Rennicks, the 20-year-old son of one of the Secondprize crew. Rennicks quickly stuns Carr and orders Rydell to do nothing. Rennicks has modified the shuttle's engines to produce interference, preventing the Secondprize from getting a transporter lock. Realizing that they most likely have a hostage situation on their hands, Commander Travis Dillon and Jaroch argue over who is best equip to handle the negotiations. Rennicks contacts the Secondprize, where Dillon and Jaroch try to one-up each other as they speak to him. Rydell, standing behind Rennicks, starts mouthing words. Lieutenant Patricia Hawkins notices this and calls Jaroch away from his feud with Dillon to help her translate. Rydell is saying "tractor beam." Following his orders, Hawkins activates the tractor beam, jolting the shuttle. With Rennicks off-balance, Rydell goes on the attack, knocking Rennicks' phaser away. Rennicks gets the upper hand and screams that all he wanted was to get into cooking school. Just as Rennicks is about to slam his boot into Rydell's head, Carr tells him to stop. She has regained consciousness and grabbed the dropped phaser. Rennicks breaks down, and Rydell, feeling a little sorry for him, offers him control of the ship's galley, which no one uses anyway. Rennicks agrees, and the shuttle returns to the Secondprize, where Rennicks is immediately dropped by multiple phaser beams. True to his word, Rydell lets Rennicks cook. He quickly learns that Rennicks is far better at manipulating engines than creating edible meals.
Featuring
- Captain Alexander Rydell
- Commander Travis Dillon
- Lieutenant Commander Jaroch
- Lieutenant Patricia Hawkins
- Ensign Andrea Carr
Also Featuring
Author's Comments
There is what could possibly be considered a continuity error in this story. Carr plays Elvis music for Rydell, who doesn't seem pleased to hear it. Of course, later he's a big fan, as evidenced by his participation in Elvis Nights on the Secondprize. Perhaps Carr got him interested in the King.