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"Death, the undiscovered country. From whose bourn no traveller returns."

While the Federation faces economic devastation, Chekov succumbs to a disease that causes him to age rapidly.

Synopsis[]

Teaser[]

Stardate 6031.2. The USS Enterprise is in orbit above the neutral planetoid Babel, while they transport the ambassadors of the Federation who have participated in an important economic conference. One ambassador, Rayna Morgan, prefers to go back in a shuttlecraft, which is piloted by Pavel Chekov. Chekov and the ambassador speak about Chekov's grandfather, Dimitri, because she knew him and they were close friends. Then a Klingon ship, the Dark Destroyer, attacks the shuttlecraft Archer. Chekov tries to avoid the Klingons and hides in some asteroids of Babel's rings.

Act One[]

Kargh TSAMD

Kargh

To Serve All My Days OpeningTitle

"To Serve All My Days"

The shuttlecraft of the Enterprise is being pursued by the Klingon ship, but the Enterprise appears and interposes on it. The Klingon ship contacts the Enterprise, the captain being Kargh; Kargh says that they passed to say a friendly hello, and also do target practice. Kargh also says that lately, cloaked, they have been visiting some abandoned planets of the Federation, and that they could be incorporated into the Klingon Empire. James T. Kirk tells Kargh to go away, and Kargh responds that they will talk again. The screen closes, and Kirk has his officers come to welcome Ambassador Morgan.

The shuttlecraft Archer returns to the Enterprise, and Chekov and Rayna Morgan go on board. Kirk presents his officers to ambassador Morgan, and orders Chekov to set a course to Earth. Chekov says to Ambassador Morgan that he will see her later. Ambassador Morgan then explains to Kirk that they haven't achieved at all in the sessions of the Council, and the crashing value of the credit on some planets of the Federation is sinking one planet after another. They will try it again in six months, but if they don't find a solution, the Federation will fall.

In the bridge, Hikaru Sulu is relieved on duty by Vincent DeSalle, who tells Chekov that he did a good flight, despite not being so qualified for the helm as for navigation. Chekov asks DeSalle his qualification on weapons proficiency; DeSalle's rating is much lower than that of Chekov: 97. Chekov's duty relief arrives and he leaves to dine with Ambassador Rayna Morgan; Chekov tells DeSalle that it's only a dinner. Then DeSalle detects an object which follows them. Probably it's a ship, but it only was detected for an instant. Kirk orders surveillance for 24 hours.

In the dinner, Chekov speaks with Rayna about his grandfather, and reveals that Dimitri was in love with her. The dinner finishes, and the two agree that they will dine another day. Chekov goes to engineering because he has detected a slight deviation in navigation. It appears to be an energy discharge, and Chekov protects Montgomery Scott of the discharge and receives the impact. In sickbay, analysis shows that Chekov doesn't seem to have suffered any injury, and Leonard McCoy orders Chekov to remain in his room, or he will retain him in sickbay and do a full medical checkup that will include probes, just because. Chekov accepts confinement to quarters.

In his quarters, Chekov notices that his face is aging, and he returns to sickbay. On the bridge, Scott informs Kirk that they have only one nacelle for warp and one impulse bank, but they're working on it to get systems restored. McCoy calls Kirk and tells him to come to sickbay as soon as possible. In sickbay, McCoy explains to Kirk that on Gamma Hydra IV, all of them were exposed to the illness of the aging. A rise of adrenaline made Chekov escape from the effect, but his body housed the illness all this time. Now he has suffered a massive dose of radiation, the illness has started and the therapy with hyronalin doesn't work. He has aged 25 years in a day, and McCoy says that he can't stop it.

Act Two[]

Chekov tells McCoy that this has to be reversible. Kirk tells Chekov that he would have to leave his estate in order, just in case. Chekov wants to go back to duty, and Kirk says that he only can go back to his quarters. On the bridge, the mystery object is detected again: a ship which is cloaking and uncloaking. Nyota Uhura hails the ship, but there isn't an answer. They open a channel, because Kirk thinks that it is Kargh, and says that the phasers are ready and will remain so. Kirk orders the yellow alert.

In Chekov's quarters, he becomes angry about what is occuring with him, and throws the food to the floor. Rayna comes to speak with him, and wants to enter. Rayna says Chekov that regrets what is occurring with him, and Chekov angrily realizes this is known in the whole ship. McCoy still is looking for a cure, and Scotty is making progress with the engines. Then the mystery ship uncloaks, revealing that it is Klingon design, and attacks the Enterprise, causing damage to the hull and the explosive blow-out of at least one crewmember. Kirk orders red alert, and Chekov wants to go back to his duty, but Rayna says that Kirk hasn't called him. The Enterprise attacks the Klingon ship, without success, and the Enterprise remains damaged.

Act Three[]

The Enterprise has lost phasers, but still has torpedoes. The Klingon ship goes away, and Kirk decides against attacking because they could need the torpedoes. Spock says that they don't have phasers nor shields, but have the energy to maneuver slowly. Scott says that the engines work again, but if they enter warp, they will lose the energy for phasers and shields. If they stay without moving, they will have energy for phasers and shields. They can escape, or remain and fight. Kirk orders Uhura to send a mayday.

The Enterprise decides to remain without moving, while Chekov begins to see a young version of him who speaks with him. Chekov (old) says that he has to see McCoy, but Chekov (young) convinces him to speak a bit. The two Chekovs begin to remember their adventures, while Kargh's ship (a Klingon bird-of-prey, different from the battle cruiser which has attacked them) contacts the Enterprise. Kargh says that the ship that has attacked them is not Klingon, and stands «by his honor». Kirk doesn't want to believe him, but Spock says that for the Klingons, the honor is more important than their lives, and it could be true. Kargh proposes to come to the Enterprise, and Kirk accepts.

The two Chekovs speak about their career Starfleet. Chekov (young) says to Chekov (old) that he acted very well saving Scott's life. Chekov (old) then says to Chekov (young) that he's the best navigator and weapons operator the ship has. Chekov (young) says that he's the best of the Fleet, and Kirk will call him. In the meeting room, Kirk welcomes Kargh and they begin to speak.

The two Chekovs take tea, and continue to remember and speak about their career. In the meeting room, Kirk tells Kargh that they only can trust his honor, and Kargh says that they know that the conference in Babel was useless, and attacking the Enterprise also is useless. Only somebody who wanted to incriminate the Klingon Empire could do it, and probably the Romulan Star Empire. Kirk says that it can be any other, and Kargh says that they will discover it together and shake hands.

Act Four[]

Kirk shows the hostile ship to Kargh, and he says that it's called Dark Stalker, but is a replica of a ship in the Klingon fleet. But the intruders don't want their identity discovered in order to incriminate the Klingon Empire for the attack. Kirk decides to inform Starfleet that the attacking ship is not Klingon. Kargh goes back to his ship.

Rayna comes to speak with Chekov, who is already very old. She informs him of Kargh's help, and Chekov says that it's a Russian joke. Chekov goes back to the sickbay, and McCoy says that he hasn't found anything, and he has to warn the captain. Kirk tells Chekov that they will need him, and he must come to the bridge. Chekov comes slowly to the bridge, and the false Klingon ship is back. The false ship begins to attack them, and Chekov does some acrobatics and shoots, and with the help of Kargh's ship, they get to disable the false ship.

Kargh proposes to board the false Klingon ship because they have dishonoured the Empire, and Kirk accepts. Then Rayna Morgan comes to the bridge, and she and Kargh discover that it's a Federation ship created by the Esterians, one of the systems with an unstable economy on the edge of the collapse. The Esterians have focused their priority on bellicose inventions, and they need a war. They obtained the Romulan cloaking device that the Enterprise stole 18 months ago. Kargh found only one survivor on the ship, and they don't know who helped the Esterians. Kirk decides to take the false Klingon ship and his captain to the Earth to be judged. Kargh parts with Kirk after warning him that they only in this instance did they cooperate.

Chekov's is lying on the bed in his quarters, having received a lot of crew to visit. Rayna Morgan speaks with Chekov, tells him goodbye, and kisses him. Afterwards, Kirk comes in and tells Chekov that he's the best officer of Starfleet. Chekov dies, and then he and his younger self walk down a corridor and then disappear. Closing credits appear...

Special Act[]

...but Chekov awakes, young, laughs, and says that he seems to have drunk a lot of vodka and all has been a dream.

Memorable quotes[]

"I was never that young."
— Ambassador Morgan referring to Chekov.
"You know what I think? I'm dying, and you're here. And this is all starting to get wery Russian."
— The aged Pavel Chekov to his younger self.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Guest cast[]

Background information[]

02 To Serve All My Days Poster

Alternate poster

  • This was the first episode of Star Trek: New Voyages to be filmed in 16x9 widescreen. It was also the first episode of the series to have its own musical score.
  • A brand new opening titles sequence was designed for this episode.
  • At the end of the episode a "Next Voyage" section was included featuring a trailer for "World Enough and Time".
  • "To Serve All My Days" sparked some controversy over its apparent violation of official Star Trek canon. In response to the uproar, James Cawley posted this on the STNV discussion forum:
"New Voyages is STRICTLY adhering to "CANON" Trek, which is the episodes that have been produced by Paramount for the last 40 years and that includes the animated series (at least in our book!)
I know that some are put off or confused by the ending of TSAMD, but, do you honestly think, some very serious conversations did not take place before we filmed it? I would ask all of you to take a deep breath and think........ Was Scotty killed in "The Changeling"? Did Spock remain dead in the features? Did the Enterprise get destroyed and not rebuilt in the features? Were these things wrapped up? I set out to tell a tale that would be meaningful, and thought-provoking without diluting the ending. It has sparked some genuine debate, and gotten a few very riled up. I have accomplished what Gene Roddenberry loved to do. We made you think. We provoked a reaction. That is MORE than anything that Canon Trek has done in several years!
Now that I have you thinking let me say this. Chekov IS in the next episode and I am sure that somewhere in that one hour if you pay attention, you will smile. After all, I AM THE BIGGEST FANBOY OF THEM ALL!"
His claim that Chekov will appear in "World Enough and Time" is further clarified by his (brief) appearance in the "Next Voyage" section included at the end of TSAMD.
  • This episode and its successor are available as a Rifftrax commentary under the Rifftrax Presents line of commentaries.
PhaseII Star Trek: Phase II
Episodes: Released: "Come What May" | "In Harm's Way" | "To Serve All My Days" | "World Enough and Time" | "Blood and Fire, Part 1" | "Blood and Fire, Part 2" | "Enemy: Starfleet" | "The Child" | "Kitumba" | "Mind-Sifter" | "The Holiest Thing"
Unfinished: "Origins: The Protracted Man" | "Bread and Savagery" | "Torment of Destiny"
Vignettes: "Center Seat" | "No-Win Scenario" | "Going Boldly"
Related Media: Star Trek: First Voyages | Star Trek: New Voyages eMagazine | Star Trek: New Voyages podcast
Characters: James T. Kirk | Spock | Leonard McCoy | Hikaru Sulu | Montgomery Scott | Pavel Chekov | Nyota Uhura | Vincent DeSalle | Janice Rand | Christine Chapel | Kargh
Actors: James Cawley | Brian Gross | Jeff Quinn | Ben Tolpin | Brandon Stacy | John Kelley | Charles Root | Andy Bray | Jonathan Zungre | John Lim | J.T. Tepnapa | Julienne Irons | Kim Stinger | Ron Boyd | Meghan King Johnson | Shannon Giles

External links[]

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