star trek a mirror for futility

A Mirror for Futility

• View history
• 2 Memorable quotes
• 3.1 Releases
• 4 Characters
• 5 References

Summary [ ]

Near the end of the patrol, Mr. Sulu reports readings of extremely powerful radiation near the edge of their sensor range. Spock notes that it is unlike any natural phenomenon. Captain Kirk orders them to approach it and investigate when Sulu suggests that there are possibly two centers.

As they approach it, they discover that there are two enormous starships , each at least sixty times the mass of the Enterprise , in combat with each other, using weapons that Spock cannot describe and communicating in languages that Uhura cannot decipher, even with the universal translator .

Finally, one of the ships contacts the Enterprise , identifying itself as Red Worm of the Unified Dray Peoples. It does not recognize the Federation, and tells them that it assumes that they are neutral. Dr. McCoy tells Kirk to confirm that, but before Kirk can, they are contacted by the other vessel, introducing itself as Renderer , a warship of the Nax Empire. Kirk asks Spock if he can find information on either civilization. While he searches, both signals fade, and the two warships concentrate on attacking one another again.

Spock reports that both civilizations can only be found in myth, and are both reported to have died out over 150,000 years ago. Kirk contacts both ships asking to speak to an officer, but both seem to be unmanned. Spock speculates that both are run by computer and have been engaging in such combat for 150 millennia. Unfortunately, the ships are on course to the heart of the Federation.

Kirk contacts the two ships, suggesting they go elsewhere, but both take offense. Spock, McCoy, and Kirk discuss the situation, coming to the conclusion that they need to bluff the combatants. Kirk does so, threatening the arrival of thousands of Federation warships if they continue on their current course. As he sends the message, the Enterprise jumps to warp 8, just as the two ships fire on their previous position and move to pursue.

The two vessels are now headed away from the Federation, but still in pursuit of the Enterprise as they continue to battle each other. The Enterprise slowly increases speed, pulling away from them, but neither of the two ships appear to notice, too involved with each other. The Enterprise sets course for Starbase 14 , knowing that the two ships are so evenly matched that they will not likely cause any problems again in the future.

Memorable quotes [ ]

" A trick! I see through you now! There is no such thing as a "United Federation of Planets." It was a low ploy of you, blashphemer, to attempt to fool me into assuming a weaker tactical position. " " You are quick, quick, evil monster! Did you truly think to trick me, me, with such a feeble lie! This United Federation, this tiny fabrication masquerading as an inhabited ship, is but a decoy, manufactured in your own perverted factories! You will pay for that. Die, social misfit! " " I shall extinguish your noiseomness imperial vileness! "

Background information [ ]

• Sulu is shown as a black man in a science uniform (blue).
• Uhura is shown as a blond Caucasian woman.

Releases [ ]

• This story was released a total of five times during the Peter Pan Records run. It could be found on Records #2, #8, #9 (re-release of #8), #10 (re-release of #2), and #22.

Characters [ ]

References [ ].

• 1 Abdullah bin al-Hussein

Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki

A friendly reminder regarding spoilers ! At present the expanded Trek universe is in a period of major upheaval with the continuations of Discovery and Prodigy , the advent of new eras in gaming with the Star Trek Adventures RPG , Star Trek: Infinite and Star Trek Online , as well as other post-57th Anniversary publications such as the ongoing IDW Star Trek comic and spin-off Star Trek: Defiant . Therefore, please be courteous to other users who may not be aware of current developments by using the {{ spoiler }}, {{ spoilers }} OR {{ majorspoiler }} tags when adding new information from sources less than six months old (even if it is minor info). Also, please do not include details in the summary bar when editing pages and do not anticipate making additions relating to sources not yet in release. THANK YOU

A Mirror for Futility

• View history

In this story, the Enterprise encounters two ancient warships .

• 1 Description
• 2.1 Log entry
• 3.1 Characters
• 3.2 Starships and vehicles
• 3.3 Locations
• 3.4 Races and cultures
• 3.5 States and organizations
• 3.6 Science and technology
• 3.7 Ranks and titles
• 3.8 Other references
• 4.1 Related media
• 4.2 Background
• 4.4.1.1 Production history
• 4.5 External links

Description [ ]

Summary [ ], log entry [ ], references [ ], characters [ ], starships and vehicles [ ], locations [ ], races and cultures [ ], states and organizations [ ], science and technology [ ], ranks and titles [ ], other references [ ], appendices [ ], related media [ ].

• VOY episode : " Prototype " – Automated Personnel Units built by the Praylor and the Cravic continued to fight each other after killing their creators.
• TOS episode : " The Doomsday Machine " – In 2267 , USS Enterprise encountered an automated planet killer which continued fighting long after its creators had died.
• TOS episode : " Let That Be Your Last Battlefield " – Last survivors of warring races on Cheron continued a futile battle after 50,000 years.
• TNG episode : " The Arsenal of Freedom " – The Echo Papa 607 Killer Drone continued to operate after similar devices slaughtered their creators on Minos .

Background [ ]

• Neal Adams was credited with artwork for the cover and story. ( Hasslein Books )
• Montgomery Scott was not drawn in the comic , but was heard in the audio over the bridge intercom .
• The story was set entirely on the bridge of the Enterprise .
• The inside cover of record #8 included line art from the back cover illustration as well as cover art from three other Peter Pan Records sets. One was a Neal Adams / Dick Giordano illustration of Sherlock Holmes lighting a pipe and wearing his trademark hat, a scene occasionally emulated by Data .
• Hikaru Sulu and Nyota Uhura were not drawn to resemble George Takei and Nichelle Nichols . This version of Sulu appeared on the cover of record #8.

Connections [ ]

Timeline [ ], production history [ ].

• "A Mirror for Futility" was released five times by Peter Pan , always with other stories. It was initially released on TOS record #2 of 23, a 33-rpm LP, along with " The Time Stealer ", To Starve a Fleaver and The Logistics of Stampede .
• Released on a 33-rpm LP, along with " The Time Stealer ", accompanied by a comic book on record #8.
• Released on a 33-rpm LP, along with " The Time Stealer ", and accompanied by a comic book on record #9.
• Record #2 re-released as record #10 with TOS movie : The Motion Picture cover imagery.
• Released on audio with five other stories on record #22.

External links [ ]

• A Mirror for Futility article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• Peter Pan Records article at Sequart .
• A Mirror for Futility article at Curt Danhauser's Guide to the Star Trek Story Records .
• 1 The Chase
• 2 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 3 Preserver (race)

A Mirror for Futility

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Star Trek - A Mirror For Futility/The Time Stealer original art by Neal Adams et al

Star Trek #3

Star Trek » Star Trek #3 - A Mirror for Futility / The Time Stealer released by Peter Pan Records on January 1, 1976.

Summary Short summary describing this issue.

A Mirror for Futility / The Time Stealer last edited by mshirley27 on 04/02/22 11:17PM View full history

Stardate 5470 / A Mirror for Futility

The U.S.S. Enterprise encounters two war vessels that have been a war so long no one on either side lives and only the two vessels shoot at each other in a never ending battle run by their on board computers. Captain James Kirk and his crew trick the ships into leaving Federation space.

Stardate 6134.6 / The Time Stealer

The Enterprise encounters a giant space entity known as the Gola that warps time. When Spock discovers that it is an infant the crew takes it home. They also run into two fellow humans from Earth who left the planet in the age of the barbarians and still live as such.

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Star Trek #3 - A Mirror for Futility / The Time Stealer by liberty on June 21, 2011

Sulu Page 10 This comic has two stories A Mirror for Futility and the Time Stealer.  I gave this book two stars.  The first story was pretty good but the second was awful.    A Mirror for Futility This is a very Star Trek anti war story about two races that fought a war so long that their automated systems keep fighting it.  Using the poker style of being a Captain Kirk is able to keep the war out of Federation space.  I liked this story but it was not awesome.  There was nothing that made ...

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Star Trek Book And Record Set - 1976 - BR 513 - A Mirror For Futility - The Time Stealer

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