Sunday, November 26, 2006

Tribble Trouble

Star Trek's Trouble with Tribbles was on. The chance to observe soft, fuzzy, little critters emitting charming purring sounds had a strangely relaxing effect on me. Filled with fun, wit, engaging arguments and action packed scenes, this episode is one of the favourites and left me in good spirits. The creature known as "tribble" had me mesmerised.






"They seem to be gorged!"






Copyright belongs to
Paramount Pictures and or CBS
Star Trek TOS
Memory Alpha.



KIRK: Good. Mister Chekov, this flight is supposed to provide both experience and knowledge. How close will we come to the Klingon outpost if we continue on our present course?
CHEKOV: One parsec, sir. Close enough to smell them.
SPOCK: That is illogical, Ensign. Odours cannot travel through the vacuum of space.
CHEKOV: I was making a little joke, sir.
SPOCK: Extremely little, Ensign.













Copyright belongs to
Paramount Pictures and or CBS
The Trouble with Tribbles.

Trouble with Tribbles is a great episode because this harmless little tribble critter is the center of much devotion on the USS Enterprise and the Deep Space Station K7. Spock being a vulcan, naturally, would'nt admit to being affected by the little animals trilling.

" Most curious creature Captain. Its trilling seems to have a tranquillizing effect on the human nervous system, fortunately of course, I am immune to its effects."
Spock's crewmates looked at him in amused, sheer disbelief.





"As captain. I want two things done. First find Cyrano Jones and close that door!"




Copyright belongs to
Paramount Pictures and or CBS
The Trouble with Tribbles.

Uhura was the first to be held in its spell at K7 in 2267.This warm-blooded little animal with no teeth had a special charm that Uhura found adorable. Born pregnant and reproducing a family of ten every 12 hours eventually became a problem aboard the Deepspace Station K7 where numbers jumped to 1,771,561. The U.S.S Enterprise NCC - 1701 too fell victim to tribble infestation where Uhura's pet had its offspring.

Interstellar trader Cyrano Jones removed tribbles from its predatory filled homeworld where this highly perceptive creature lived in persecution from reptiles. Sold as pets to unsuspecting earthers, these mites liked to eat and reproduce.


Image Copyright belongs to
Paramount Pictures and or CBS
The Trouble with Tribbles.
Memory Alpha.

Deep Space Station K7 had plenty of food. To be more precise quatrotriticale, a genetically engineered Earth grain crucial for the development of Shermans Planet which only the Federation had. This created a dispute in 2267 between Klingon and Earthling.

Under the terms of the Organians Peace Treaty, only the most efficient could assume ownership of the planet which was near the Klingon border. The tribbles soon discovered K7's quatrotriticale storage compartments and skillfully bypassed Kirk's clueless guards. The feasting was about to begin! Whoopee!



Image Copyright belongs to
Paramount Pictures and or CBS
The Trouble with Tribbles.
Memory Alpha.

Tribbles coo when their feeling happy, especially when around Humans and Vulcans. This moving, purring ball of fur is hard to ignore when seen ambling accross a counter top. Picking one up and patting it is generally the human response however you will never see a Klingon do this. The reason?

The little animal is a highly sensitive, perceptive creature and can detect unwellcome people in a flash. The poor mites become badly affected and scream their little lungs out with a high pitched screech, a definate sign of an agitated animal in distress and a warning to others.

When tribbles are near, klingons have plenty to fear. In 2267 Klingons looked human and some even behaved without honour but this was due to a Klingon Augment Virus developed in 2154 which spread throughout the Klingon Homeworld, Kronos. It twarthed Klingon DNA and affected facial features for over a century. (Read my post on Worf's Bumpyhead Secret)

Tribbles were good detectives. Spotting Klingons was easy. Spotting poisoned grain was not so easy ... but this discovery soon led to another startling revelation. A Klingon spy! Our furry friends are indeed resourceful.


Image Copyright belongs to
Paramount Pictures and or CBS
The Trouble with Tribbles.
Memory Alpha.

Spock and McCoy are men of science. There is however a divide that can never be bridged that takes its shape in the form of cold logic (as Dr McCoy has described it) vs. human emotionalism. The following dialogue is hilarious and excellently performed by Leonard Nemoy and DeForest Kelley, classic Spock vs McCoy.

" Spock, I don't know too much about these little tribbles yet but there is one thing I have discovered.." - McCoy.
" What is that Doctor?"- Spock.
" I like them ... better than I like you." - McCoy.
" Doctor." - Spock.
" Yes?" - McCoy.
" They do indeed have one redeeming characteristic"- Spock.
" What is that?" - McCoy.
" They do not talk too much. If you'll excuse me sir." Spock leaves the room.

Live Long and Prosper, Trekkers!

2 comments:

Calypso said...

Some people respond to danger with a high-pitched shriek, also. Are they part tribble??

SpacerGuy said...

I love soft furry animals that make pleasing sounds. A high pitched shriek is positive characteristic of highly strung nerves. The good news is you've allot in common with tribbles!

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