The Original Series 1x14 "Balance of Terror"

In the Star Trek TOS episode “Balance of Terror,” we get our first glimpse of Romulans…who bear a striking resemblance to Vulcans. Does this make Spock a traitor? Let’s find out.

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“The Balance of Terror”

Marriage on the Enterprise

In what I believe is the chapel of the Enterprise (which I don’t think we’ve seen before), we see Rand lighting candles at an altar. Scotty is setting up a camera. As Kirk enters, McCoy tells him there is a call from the bridge.

As a side note, does the Enterprise have a fixed chapel, or is this a random room that was repurposed for a marriage ceremony? I’m sure religion, etc will be explored further in other Star Trek episodes. But I digress.

When Kirk calls the bridge, he learns that they have been unable to make contact with Earth Outpost #2, and Earth Outpost #3 has gone silent. Kirk tells them to maintain course to Earth Outpost #4 and keep him informed.

Scotty walking Martine down the aisle. — Why is Scotty walking Martine down the aisle?

As it turns out, two crew members – Angela Martine and Robert Tomlinson – are getting married and Kirk is officiating. As far as I can recall, this is the first time we’ve seen either Martine or Tomlinson. In my short time with Star Trek, one of the things I learned is that scenes like this are setting up some tragedy to come.

In the midst of the ceremony, there is an alert from Sulu: the Earth Colony is under attack.

Captain’s Log

In the Captain’s Log, we learn that there is a neutral zone between Romulus and Remus. It sounds like there was some sort of conflict at one point to necessitate a neutral zone.

On the Bridge

Kirk confirms that Earth Outpost #4 is under attack, so the Enterprise speeds to assist them.

Stiles (left) and Sulu (right) — Stiles and Sulu on the bridge.

Kirk asks if there’s any indication of who’s attacking. A crew member – I think his name is Stiles (?) says there’s no doubt of who’s attacking. The senior crew kind of blew off this comment at first.

The senior crew study a map of their current location.

Kirk makes an announcement explaining some of the backstory. There was a war between earth and the Romulans. Neither side knows what the other looks like. Earth sees the Romulans as warlike. A neutral zone was established; if either side enters this zone, it’s seen as an act of war. Kirk was given orders: they may defend themselves, but at the end of the day, the Enterprise is considered expendable.

Stiles explains to Kirk that he had family die in the previous war. I guess that explains the animosity. Kirk tells Stiles that it wasn’t his war, it was his family’s war.

Earth Outpost #2 comes into view. This was the first Earth Outpost to go silent; #3 went silent an hour later. Both of these Earth Ouposts seem to be gone.

Kirk tells Uhura to connect with the nearest command base. Sulu is told to cal battle stations.

Meanwhile, Martine and Tomlinson flirt.

A message from Hanson of Earth Outpost #4

Hanson tells us that Earth Outposts #2, 3, and 8 are gone. They were hit with an unknown weapon; the defector shield is on max. Kirk asks what hit them. All Hanson can say is that it disappeared.

We see video of Hanson: everything is on fire, and he appears to be burned. There’s a high energy blast and then Hanson disappears. Earth Outpost #4 is gone; the intruder that made the fatal shot disappears.

So, what’s going on?

Whatever this ship it is, it seems as though they can make themselves invisible – but need to become visible in order to use their weapon. We learn that remaining invisilbe probably takes a lot of power; in order to keep themselves invisible, they probably can’t see the Enterprise either.

This mysterious ship is going the exact route a Romulan ship would take. Kirk orders that they fly parallel to this ship.

Stiles, meanwhile, suggests there may be a spy onboard. Sulu agrees. I’m not entirely sure what this belief is based on; but clearly this exchange happens in order to set up what’s to come.

The Romulan commander — This Romulan sure looks like a Vulcan…

The Enterprise is able to spy on the bridge of the Romulan ship, and are able to get a look at what the Romulans look like. As it turns out, Romulans clearly have some shared ancestry with the Vulcans. What’s up with that?

Stiles suggest that Spock is able to decode any messages from the Romulans. Kirk tells Stiles to leave his bigotry in his quarters.

Uhura has a recording of a Romulan transmission.

The Enterprise continues to fly parallel to the Romulans.

Meanwhile, on the Romulan Bridge…

We learn some things about the Romulans. For example, the cloaking device they have does, infact, take a substantial amount of power.

The Romulans are aware of the Enterprise. As the Romulan ship heads towards the neutral zone, the leader – whose name I didn’t catch – insists the Enterprise is following them in order to study them.

A Romulan crew member suggests sending a message in code to let others know of their mission. This crew member is demoted two ranks. Another crew member reminds the leader that this crewman has friends. I was expecting more from this story, but I don’t think we got it.

The Romulan commander seems reluctant for more war. We also learn that the commander’s friend and confident is called the Centurion.

Back on the Enterprise

The Bridge

In this scene, we learn that:

The Enterprise is still following the Romulan ship.
They will enter the neutral zone in about an hour.
Stiles is the navigator – this might be obvious to everyone watching, but I wanted to point it out.

Conference Room

We get a look at a piece of Earth Outpost #4’s protective shield – made of the hardest substance known to their science. It was destroyed by the Romulans. This suggests that the Romulans have more advanced technology.

So what do they do?

Stiles: wants to attack while both ships are still on the right side of the neutral zone.
Sulu: points out that they don’t have a visible target.
Spock: agrees with Stiles – they should fight.
McCoy: Points out that this will lead to galactic war.

The Romulans are heading towards Comet Icarus 4. This comet leaves a trail of frozen particles. When an object passes through this trail, even if the object is invisible, it will leave a visible trail. Kirk decides this is their chance to attack and sends everyone to their battle stations.

On the Bridge, Kirk orders they plot a course of the comet.

On the Romulan Bridge

The Romulans discuss their plan: obscure themselves and then turn around to face the Enterprise.

Then, they notice that they’re not longer being followed by the Enterprise. The commander demands they do an escape menouver.

On the Enterprise Bridge

The crew is standing by for the Romulan ship to go through the comet trail. They realize that the Romulans guessed their move; Kirk comments that this is what he would’ve done. Kirk orders them to fire blind.

On the Romulan Ship

They suffer damage; the Centuran is knocked to the ground. They decided to divert all their power to weapons – which will make them visible.

On the Enterprise Bridge

Spock attempts to fix the circuit. — Spock hard at work.

There is a control circut burnout that Spock goes to fix.

They see that the Romulan ship becomes visible; the Romulans fire and then disappear.

Sulu says he believes they can destroy the Romulan ship with one phaser shot; Spock can’t get the phasers working.

Rand enters the bridge to ask a question, but Kirk basically tells her to shut up. Oh, Kirk.

Rand and Kirk hold each other as there’s another impact, but fortunately the Enterprise doesn’t explode.

The Romulans go back to their old course. Spock gets the phasesers working and the Enterprise follows the Romulans.

On the Romulan Ship

The Romulan Centurion isn't doing so well. — The Romulan Centurion isn’t doing so well.

Centurion isn’t doing so well. The Romulans are shocked that the Enterprise isn’t gone.

“It’s commander isn’t one to repeat a mistake,” comments the Romulan commander.

On the Enterprise Bridge

Stiles continues to glare at Spock.

Meanwhile, the crew debates about whether to violate the treaty. Kirk wants to get the Romulans before they enter the neutral zone.

The Enterprise crew knows that the Romulans have to become visible in order to fire a weapon.

Stiles comments that they’d be lucky to hit the Romulans.

Lots More Back and Forth

On the Romulan Ship

The commander orders evasive action.

On the Enterprise

They fire on the Romulans.

Kirk tells Uhura to contact command – in his opinion, there is no other option than to enter the neutral zone.

On the Romulan Ship

We learn that the Centurion is dead. The commander refues to fire. Instead, he orders debris be sent out the disposal tubes, including the Centurion body. I guess this is meant to confuse the Enterprise.