abstract
| - The Enterprise arrives at an outpost on Zeta Gibraltar to find it completely deserted. Evidence points to the L'rah'hane, a group of pirates who once captured slaves for the Hradrian Empire, but who haven't been seen since the late 22nd century. The Enterprise tracks and defeats the L'rah'hane ships to recover their captives, but in addition to the Starfleet personnel, they discover what appear to be historical figures from human history. These are soon revealed to be Excalbians, who have become trapped in humanoid form. Their leader, who has taken on the persona of George Washington, turns out to be Yarnek, whom Kirk had encountered previously. He explains the Excalbians' test of the Enterprise crew was actually intended to prove the existence of life outside the Excalbian group-mind, but many of their people rejected the assertion, with the result of Yarnek's faction having been cast out. They seek sanctuary from the Federation, with Representative Valek, a protégée of Sarek's, being sent to assess their suitability. Sulu and Chekov discover an old Hradrian station, which the L'rah'hane are using as their base. Meanwhile, the Excalbians decide to take possession of Zeta Gibraltar and a group of captured L'rah'hane ships, and declare themselves an independent state. They join the Enterprise in attacking the outpost, defeating the ships, and convincing the automated station to release any slaves onboard to them. However, upon returning to Zeta Gibraltar, they find that the USS Montana, with Valek onboard, has been hijacked by the main Excalbian faction. This, as it turns out, is an attempt by their commander, Anvit, to open negotiations. After the Enterprise's departure in 2269, the Excalbians continued taking space travellers to participate in gladiatorial games, but one of these, a malevolent cosmic entity known as the Demiurge, turned out to be a being that feeds on life and information, and destroyed all civilization on Excalbia. The refugees thus officially request the Federation's help. The Enterprise joins with the Excalbians in confronting the Demiurge. Spock and an Excalbian with the identity of Benjamin Franklin manage to use an old Hradrian weapon to overfeed the Demiurge with knowledge, causing it to break apart. The Federation recognises the New Excalbians as a separate state, while Anvit and the other survivors are allowed to settle on a planetoid in the nearby nebula.
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