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Balance of Terror
"Balance of Terror" is the fourteenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Paul Schneider and directed by Vincent McEveety, it first aired on December 15, 1966.
The series, which was later subtitled The Original Series, follows the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) and its crew led by Captain James T. Kirk (portrayed by William Shatner) through the galaxy. The episode follows a strategy-filled battle between the Enterprise and a Romulan ship that has methodically destroyed Federation outposts bordering the Neutral Zone.
"Balance of Terror" notably introduces both the Romulan species and the cloaking device. Mark Lenard, who plays the unnamed Romulan commander, later portrayed Spock's father Sarek in the majority of his later Star Trek appearances, as well as a Klingon captain in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The episode's events are revisited within an alternate future in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2022 episode "A Quality of Mercy".
The USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain Kirk, is investigating a loss of communications with a line of Earth outposts near the Romulan Neutral Zone, formed under the terms of the peace treaty that ended the Earth–Romulan War a century earlier. Because there were no visual communications at that time, the two races have never seen each other.
While Kirk officiates at the wedding of Lieutenant Tomlinson and Ensign Martine, Outpost 4 comes under attack. The Enterprise races to Outpost 4's aid and contacts the base commander, Hansen, who reveals he is the only survivor of an attack by an unknown enemy. As they speak, the enemy ship reappears, fires, and disappears.
Though sheltered under a mile of iron on an asteroid, the outpost is destroyed, and Hansen killed.
The ship's sensors locate the attacker, which remains invisible. Kirk surmises that the attacker is equipped with a cloaking device. A coded message from the intruder provides a view through one of its internal cameras, revealing humanoids with an appearance like Vulcans. Lieutenant Stiles, the navigator, a descendant of a service family that lost several members in the Earth–Romulan War, begins to question the loyalty of the Enterprise's first officer, Mr. Spock.
During a discussion of the Romulan ship's capabilities, Stiles suggests the Enterprise attack before it can reach the Neutral Zone. Spock agrees; he reasons that if the Romulans are in fact an offshoot of the Vulcan species and have retained the martial philosophy of the Vulcans' ancient past, they would surely take advantage of any perceived weakness.
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Balance of Terror
"Balance of Terror" is the fourteenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Paul Schneider and directed by Vincent McEveety, it first aired on December 15, 1966.
The series, which was later subtitled The Original Series, follows the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) and its crew led by Captain James T. Kirk (portrayed by William Shatner) through the galaxy. The episode follows a strategy-filled battle between the Enterprise and a Romulan ship that has methodically destroyed Federation outposts bordering the Neutral Zone.
"Balance of Terror" notably introduces both the Romulan species and the cloaking device. Mark Lenard, who plays the unnamed Romulan commander, later portrayed Spock's father Sarek in the majority of his later Star Trek appearances, as well as a Klingon captain in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The episode's events are revisited within an alternate future in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2022 episode "A Quality of Mercy".
The USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain Kirk, is investigating a loss of communications with a line of Earth outposts near the Romulan Neutral Zone, formed under the terms of the peace treaty that ended the Earth–Romulan War a century earlier. Because there were no visual communications at that time, the two races have never seen each other.
While Kirk officiates at the wedding of Lieutenant Tomlinson and Ensign Martine, Outpost 4 comes under attack. The Enterprise races to Outpost 4's aid and contacts the base commander, Hansen, who reveals he is the only survivor of an attack by an unknown enemy. As they speak, the enemy ship reappears, fires, and disappears.
Though sheltered under a mile of iron on an asteroid, the outpost is destroyed, and Hansen killed.
The ship's sensors locate the attacker, which remains invisible. Kirk surmises that the attacker is equipped with a cloaking device. A coded message from the intruder provides a view through one of its internal cameras, revealing humanoids with an appearance like Vulcans. Lieutenant Stiles, the navigator, a descendant of a service family that lost several members in the Earth–Romulan War, begins to question the loyalty of the Enterprise's first officer, Mr. Spock.
During a discussion of the Romulan ship's capabilities, Stiles suggests the Enterprise attack before it can reach the Neutral Zone. Spock agrees; he reasons that if the Romulans are in fact an offshoot of the Vulcan species and have retained the martial philosophy of the Vulcans' ancient past, they would surely take advantage of any perceived weakness.