Star Trek _ Arena

One of my personal favorites of the entire original series, “Arena” has a “peace race” called Metrons pitting Captain Kirk against a reptilian creature called the Gorn (it talks with a slithery and rough voice, laced with sinister intent), with the victor allowed to return to his ship while the loser (and his crew) will be destroyed. It all started when the Gorn’s ship and warrior crew led a massacre towards a Federation outpost on the planet, Cestus 3. Women and children were also attacked on this outpost along with Federation officers on the planet. Kirk is outraged with this seemingly senseless bloodletting, commanding the Enterprise to follow after the Gorn’s ship and engage in combat, with both ships entering the Metrons’ space, their warp drives slowed to still. The Metrons decide that since humans and the Gorn race are uncivilized and violent, bringing these corrupt traits to their space unwanted, will pit their leaders against each other in a fight to the death…the arena is created by them, consisting of a desert, hilly planet where natural minerals and deposits, organic materials from the land, are provided to make weapons and can be used for the big heavyweight fight. While Spock assumes command of the Enterprise, with McCoy and crew questioning how to rescue their captain, Kirk must use his brains and ingenuity in order to appropriately battle a stronger and resilient foe. Dumping a large boulder on him, with punches, chops, and kicks doing nothing against Gorn’s thick exterior flesh, Kirk will have to develop a unique type of weapon to defeat him. From the earth of the planet could provide a type of gunpowder and makeshift blaster Kirk stands in need of, with the Metrons allowing the Enterprise crew to view his movements and activity. Spock approvingly looks on, realizing what Kirk is up to. Kirk very well could have Gorn dead to rites, but will he finish the mission? A thought-provoking piece, questioning what good comes from violence begetting violence. A twist involving why the Gorn ship actually attacked Cestus 3 adds a fascinating wrinkle which has Kirk, Spock, and McCoy dwelling on if they were in the wrong. Amusing visit of a Metron to Kirk after the arena combat concludes with the possibility that humans have potential as a race after all, still “half savage/half civilized” but in another thousand years we might be alright (I wouldn’t count on it, but Roddenberry felt different, bless his heart).