If you were tasked with devising the most uninspiring title for a potential Star Trek adventure, "Shuttle to Kenfori" might cross your mind. Ironically, this unassuming moniker belies a narrative brimming with intrigue. (After all, it echoes a cinematic tradition where titles like 3:10 to Yuma might initially seem unremarkable, yet their film adaptations, based on Elmore Leonard's tale, prove thoroughly captivating.) Indeed, each component of this title holds significance. Kenfori is no destination one would eagerly embrace, and venturing there in a mere shuttle, rather than a more substantial vessel, is hardly advisable.
Pike's introductory monologue similarly primes the audience for a lackluster journey. As hinted at in the previous episode, Batel, presumed recovered from the Gorn eggs implanted within her, stands on the brink of departing to assume her own command. However, a sudden twist emerges when Pike discovers her collapsed in their quarters, revealing that the Gorn tissue has resurfaced with a vengeance. Batel's solitary beacon of hope shines in the form of a chimera blossom, an exceptional flower offering a slim chance at salvation. This elusive cure is exclusive to Kenfori, a planet that once housed a Federation research facility but now lies within a restricted zone, abandoned by both sides amidst the aftermath of the Federation-Klingon War. Officially, treading upon its soil is strictly prohibited.
Yet, this deterrence will not deter Pike, who concurs with Spock's proposal to dispatch a two-person team to Kenfori but disagrees on Spock accompanying Dr. M'Benga. At Pike's insistence, he himself will undertake the mission alongside M'Benga. As ever, the remainder of the Enterprise faces minimal scruples in bending the rules for their captain. Ortegas, in particular, relishes the prospect of navigating through, or rather, around, the contested Klingon territory. They will stealthily traverse the no-fly zone, awaiting Pike and M'Benga's swift and efficient mission completion on Kenfori. What seems simpler?
The voyage provides Pike and M'Benga an opportunity to reminisce and share vintage tales, a moment in Strange New Worlds that underscores the deep-rooted histories and friendships these characters possess, predating the series' events. As they draw nearer, a Klingon signal prompts Pike to tap into another facet of M'Benga's past – his military service – to decipher an unfamiliar communication. It's a cautionary message urging them to turn back, though its rationale remains obscure. "It is of no consequence," Pike asserts, adding, "Turning back is not an option."
Upon reaching Kenfori's surface, their mission seems almost trivially straightforward. The decrepit, long-abandoned research facility lies just a stone's throw through the dense jungle, and the planet's barrenness of animal life, despite its verdant plant bounty, at least spares them the specter of animal attacks. (Although, it must be noted, the absence of fauna is somewhat peculiar.) As they trek onward, Pike, perhaps exhibiting a captain's genuine concern for his crew or simply indulging in a bit of gossip, seeks M’Benga's perspective on Chapel's nascent romance, during which it is revealed that M’Benga has had no fewer than three, perhaps even four, ex-wives. A revelation that raises a few eyebrows, to say the least. “I prefer to view myself as a continuous work in progress,” M’Benga remarks, a statement that rings oddly truthful.
The idle chatter ceases abruptly when they stumble upon a Klingon skeleton, its remains suggesting a fatal encounter with a nonexistent predator. This grim discovery casts a dark pallor over their approach to the facility, which stands eerily deserted. They swiftly locate the delicate chimera blossoms they seek, handling them with utmost care. It is at this juncture that Pike, his demeanor betraying a hint of vulnerability and dread, inquiries whether this will indeed offer Batel a fighting chance. M’Benga’s response is cautiously honest: “This is her sole hope.” He speaks no falsehood, yet neither does he divulge the entirety of the situation. Soon after, Pike uncovers another harrowing sight: a desiccated human leg. Concurrently, aboard the Enterprise, an equally unsettling revelation unfolds: a Klingon battle cruiser looms menacingly in the vicinity, just as silently as the Enterprise herself.
It isn't long before these foreboding omens escalate into genuine peril. Initially, Pike and M’Benga witness a Klingon vessel obliterate their shuttle. Then, they are compelled to flee as Bytha (Christine Horn), leading a trio of Klingons in search of hated humans, swiftly pins them down. Matters take a drastic turn for the worse when a horde of flesh-consuming zombies, lacking a more appropriate moniker, emerges to assault everything within their sight.
To compound their woes, they are locked in a desperate race against time. Aboard the Enterprise, Batel's suffering intensifies to unbearable levels, rendering painkillers ineffective. In response, Spock suggests imparting a Vulcan meditation technique designed to block pain. He even proposes employing a mind meld to expedite the learning process. This decision has unintended ramifications, as both Batel and Spock share a vision that plunges Spock into a blind rage. (He even strikes the innocent Nurse Gamble.) When the vision ceases, both remain unsure of what they witnessed, yet suspect it might be tied to the Gorn.
Spock's meltdown subsided swiftly, yet another crew member's predicaments seemed far less trivially resolvable. During a staff meeting that Una chaired, she sought a strategy to reach Pike and M’Benga within transporter range. Spock's suggestion of a cautious approach fell flat with Erica, who bluntly declared, "That simply won't suffice for me." Her alternative: to warp into the planet's orbit and warp back out again. Though Scotty devised a method to accomplish this feat, Erica's proposal garnered scant support, leaving her furious and storming out. This prompted a worried discussion between La’An and Una regarding her suitability for duty.
Now, to the matter of the zombies. M’Benga entreated Pike not to use that term, reminding him, "They were once esteemed Federation scientists." Their accomplishments were impressive, having cultivated a resilient, all-weather super-crop from an immortality-granting moss strain. Alas, the Klingon invasion not only halted their research but allowed the moss's indelible genomes to escape the confines of the lab, leading Pike to utter the dreadful "Z-word."
Adding insult to injury, this revelation dawned on Pike that Batel, M’Benga, and Spock's proposed solution to save Batel might involve hybridizing her genes with those of the Gorns, resulting in a human-Gorn chimera. Pike found this prospect hardly reassuring, yet M’Benga had a retort that left the captain speechless: "She made her choice."
Pike's contemplation of this grim news was abruptly halted by an occurrence guaranteed to silence all discourse: the arrival of a zombie horde. They were, sort of, rescued by Bytha, the sole surviving Klingon. Bytha guided them to the planet's surface, where their plight took a turn for the worse. Her shuttle landed, but Pike had already succumbed to the zombie plague. Taking refuge within a containment field, the trio was betrayed when Bytha stabbed Pike in the leg, subsequently revealing her relentless pursuit's motive. She was Dak’Rah's daughter, the Klingon ambassador whom M’Benga had, in a season two episode titled "Under the Cloak of War," indirectly caused his demise.
Perhaps 'murder' was a harsh word. In summary, Dak’Rah was the Klingon M’Benga knew to be culpable for numerous civilian deaths, despite his denials. Their altercation left only one standing, and it wasn't Dak’Rah. M’Benga had justified it as self-defense, though ambiguity lingered. Surely, Bytha sought vengeance for her father's death? Instead, she harbored a deep hatred for him, whose actions and Federation appeasement had brought disgrace upon her family. Her father's assassination could have been a mitigating circumstance. Unfortunately for M’Benga, Bytha saw his hand in her father's death, and she believed her only path to restoring honor lay in his demise.
As the dramatic unfolds, the crew of the Enterprise adopts a cautious strategy to evade detection by the Klingons. Yet, despite their precautions, they are soon spotted nonetheless. What went awry? The culpability rests solely on Ortegas's shoulders, who deliberately accelerated their course, knowingly inviting the Klingons' attention to the Federation vessel. Although her shipmates are initially oblivious to her intentions, her irritable demeanor is impossible to overlook. When the moment of truth arrives and she is called upon to rectify the situation she created, Ortegas rises to the challenge by skillfully guiding the Enterprise into the planet's atmosphere.
Meanwhile, with Bytha holding Pike at knifepoint, M’Benga confesses the truth: he did indeed kill Dak’Rah, and he wouldn't hesitate to do so again if given the chance. This confession only fuels Bytha's rage, who challenges M’Benga to a fight, though he is reluctant. Their battle ensues but remains inconclusive. M’Benga refuses to take Bytha's life after overpowering her. Suddenly, the creatures—who prefer not to be called zombies—begin breaching the barrier, prompting Bytha to offer herself as a sacrifice, thereby allowing Pike and M’Benga to flee.
In a synchronized effort, Ortegas maneuvers the Enterprise within transporter range, facilitating Pike and M’Benga's escape and steering them clear of danger. With the mission accomplished, M’Benga prepares to work on the chimera blossom, but first, he seeks assurance from Pike about his fate. Whether Pike will betray him hinges, M’Benga suggests, on whether he is speaking to "my friend or my captain." Pike generously absolves him, stating, "You're not a monster, Joseph. Just a man. And my friend," effectively closing the door on M’Benga's past actions.
On the other hand, Ortegas discovers that Una is far less forgiving, especially after she lies about her reasons for altering their speed. "Look me in the eye and tell me I'm wrong," Una demands, accusing Ortegas of disobedience. The pilot is unable to meet her gaze, acknowledging her insubordination. Consequently, she is relieved of duty for two weeks and may face additional punishment in the form of "chain-of-command training," a prospect that sounds daunting. As she departs, Ortegas offers an apology, but the underlying tension suggests that this saga is far from resolved.
Nor, indeed, does Pike's dissatisfaction diminish concerning Batel's decision to undergo the radical treatment, a procedure that threatened to intertwine her DNA with that of the Gorns. Both are terror-stricken and openly confess their fears to one another. As they embrace tightly, the episode slowly but surely comes to a poignant close.
This particular installment was a gripping spectacle, poised to cast an even wider shadow than last week's, which merely steered the course of Spock and Chapel's bond in a new direction. Foremost on the horizon is Batel's health—a matter that seemingly found resolution mere days ago. Now, she clutches at a slim, desperate straw, one that promises dire Gorn-like repercussions, even should she somehow survive. Moreover, Ortegas's downward trajectory appears to be accelerating, growing ever more alarming. And then there's Pike's casual dismissal of M'Benga's confession, treating it as a justifiable act of homicide rather than the grave issue it truly is. Was it really justifiable? And is it truly admirable for a captain to turn a blind eye in such circumstances? While it's conceivable that Strange New Worlds may never revisit this issue, the appearance of Dak'Rah's daughter was equally unforeseen—wasn't it?
Regardless, this was an exhilarating journey. It seemed implausible that the realms of Star Trek and zombie cinema could converge, yet writers Onitra Johnson and Bill Wolkoff seamlessly blend them through the lens of interstellar science. (Is a deathless moss truly that disparate from the Cordyceps plaguing The Last of Us?) It stands as a clever illustration of how Star Trek, and Strange New Worlds specifically, can effortlessly navigate through various genres (even transforming into a musical for an episode, as proven last season).
