The Robot Masters

Author:	Unknown
Publisher:	Peter Pan Records
Series:	Star Trek Story Records #9
Published:	1979
Running Time:	Approx. 15 Minutes
Comic Pages:	22
Year:	2260s
Stardate:	95.9066

Summary

Captain's log, stardate 95.9066. The Romulans, that war-mongering race that lives just outside the known galaxy, and the Klingons, the sworn enemies of the Federation, have not shown their evil faces or tried to attack any civilized outpost for weeks. The Enterprise basks in the unusual peace. But in its place, the crew finds other things to occupy themselves with...

Scotty reports to Kirk that the shipment of robots, that he ordered two months ago, has not arrived. Meanwhile, Commodore Steve Decker calls from Starbase 10 in the Vega system. He tells Kirk the disturbing news, that Romulan pirates are stealing robots and training them to be a vicious mechanical army!

In an attempt to catch the pirates, Spock sets up a decoy robot shipment in the Vega system. Just as he predicts, the pirates attack the decoy freighter and the Enterprise speeds in at nearly warp factor nine.

The pirates are captured, and Kirk, along with Scotty, Chekov, and Frank Tanka, disguise themselves with the uniforms of the prisoners and put the pirate ship on autopilot, headed for unknown for the super secret robot base.

On the way, Kirk orders Scotty to re-program the leader robot so that it will not fight, Scotty goes to work.

They find the super secret robot outpost on a small moon on the edge of the Federation galaxy. There they meet Pragmar, the Romulan who is in command of the Romulan robot army. Still pretending to be pirates, Jim Kirk introduces himself as "Jimkirk, leader of these pirates", and Scotty presents Pragmar with the leader robot, which he quickly and cleverly names "Mastero" on the spot. Pragmar is impressed with the mighty metal man.

In private, Scott informs Kirk that he is not sure if he was successful in the reprogramming, and disturbingly they later watch a speech given by Mastero to his army in which he proclaims that the Federation will be destroyed.

Then, Pragmar reveals that he knows that Jimkirk is really James Kirk, and informs them that they will all be killed by Mastero and the other robots.

When Pragmar orders Mastero to kill the Federation spies, Mastero attacks the Romulans instead. Scotty reminds him to only capture the Romulans, not kill them.

Back on the Enterprise, Spock admits he admires the logical robots, so Scott brings in Mastero to meet him.

Memorable Quotes

"What?"

- James Kirk, very surprised to hear from Steve Decker Listen ^file info

"I would calculate that we should hear something at any moment."
"Any moment, Mr. Spock? Isn't that guess rather optimistic?"
"Captain Kirk, please report to security, the decoy ship has been attacked. Capt. Kirk report to security immediately."
"As I was saying, any moment, Captain."
"Mr. Spock, your Vulcan logic never fails to amaze me."

- Spock and Kirk, with a brief interruption from Mr. Tanka

"Captain! We have just entered unknown, unexplored regions outside the galaxy!"
"Don't worry Ensign, the ship will bring us to our destination safely."
"But what happens when we get there, Jim? I bet the place'll be crawling with Romulans."
"Crawling? With those bloodthirsty beats? By the stars Captain, will we ever get out alive?"
"If my plan works, Mr. Chekov."

- Chekov, Kirk, and Spock, as Kirk expresses great amounts of confidence in himself

"Easy there, Mastero, easy. Don't hurt him, just capture him, capture all the Romulans."
"Capture-the-Romulans. It-will-be-done... friend Scotty."

- Scotty and Mastero

Background Information

• Chekov mistakenly says Klingons when he means Romulans.
• Unlike the earlier comics in this series, Uhura and Chekov are both pictured properly.

Releases

• This story was released a total of three times during the Peter Pan Records run. It could be found on Records #15, #21, #22.

Characters

Canon characters listed below are linked to the main article about them. Non-canon characters are not linked, but those that recurred, appearing or being mentioned in more than one story, are defined further in Peter Pan Records characters.

James T. Kirk

Enterprise captain.

Scotty

Chief Engineer of the Enterprise.

Uhura

Enterprise communications officer.

Spock

Enterprise exec and science officer.

Pavel Chekov

Enterprise navigator, refered to as an Ensign.

Commodore Steve Decker

Commander of Starbase 10.

Pragmar

Evil Romulan leader.

Mister Frank Tanka

Crewmember of the Enterprise.

Mastero

A large robot with "almost human arms, legs, and head." He was the leader of the robots on the pirate ship.

References

Robots

Shiny, marching metal men.

Vega system

A primary attraction for the Robot-stealing pirates.

Starbase 10

A starbase in the Vega system commanded by Commodore Steve Decker.

Priority One call

Very important.

212 frequency

A frequency.

Pirate Ship Romulus II

A Romulan Pirate ship with a crew of five; captured by Kirk and used in a grand ruse against the evil Romulan savages.

Laser Rifles

Weapon used by the Romulans against the robot army.

Water pistols

A weak weapon.

Previous audio production: "The Man Who Trained Meteors"

Peter Pan Records Audio

Next audio production: "Dinosaur Planet"