Eleventh UK Story Arc " Despite an uneasy peace treaty that had lasted for several years , the warlike powers of the Klingon Empire had secretly longed for the means of smashing their sworn enemies in the Space Federation . Now , at last , their ruthless leaders were ready for a supreme act of treachery . . . " Summary . Prepared for a dramatic encounter , a Klingon Strike Raider intercepts the starship " Enterprise " , provoking Captain James T . Kirk with hit - and - run weapons fire . Kirk , incensed by the Klingons ' audacity , orders return fire , while a few officers remark that the Klingons are attempting to start another war . Kirk orders a pursuit course , taking the Klingons ' bait . Uhura deduces that they are heading for Seggor , an uninhabited planet that the Klingons may be using as a base . The Raider arrives almost a half hour ahead , and lands in a hidden underground hangar . The " Enterprise " sends down a shuttlecraft , and the landing party spread out . Observing everything from their secret lab below , the Klingons abduct crewman Hoskins . One of the other men report back to Kirk that he has disappeared , and Kirk suggests there may be a hidden underground complex , explaining where the Raider and Hoskins had gone . Down below , the Klingons continue to observe , unimpressed with Kirk . Having completed their plans for Hoskins , they lift him on a platform , strapped into restraints , and doors in the ceiling open to reveal him to his fellow officers . Relieved but wary , Kirk slowly walks over to Hoskins and touches him , only for Hoskins to crumble to dust . Clearly disturbed , Kirk orders the rest of the landing party to return to the " Enterprise " to prevent further casualties , though Sulu stays behind with the captain . Kirk decides to scoop up Hoskins ' dust for Spock to analyze , but a group of armed Klingon warriors appear . Kirk and Sulu put up a valiant struggle , but are soon overcome by sheer numbers . The Klingon commander orders Hoskins ' dust collected , and Kirk and Sulu are taken underground . The Klingons fire their " granulator " at the dust , and Hoskins re - materializes . The commander reveals that the Klingons have the ability to destroy and create matter at will , and gives Kirk the ultimatum to return to Earth and surrender or be destroyed . Providing another demonstration , the commander directs attention to Kirk ' s shuttle , on the surface , protected by a force field . Snapping his fingers , a gun - like apparatus springs to the surface , and tears the shuttle into a pile of smoldering powder . Aghast at the Klingons ' destructive power , the commander sends him back to the " Enterprise " via transporter , warning him against any tricks . Bitter and dejected , Kirk calls an immediate conference of all senior officer s . Crestfallen , Kirk refuses suggestions , announcing that they are powerless and must do as they are told . Scotty protests that there must be something , but Kirk snaps back that there is nothing and orders an immediate course set for home . Walking through the corridors with Doctor McCoy , Scott questions Kirk ' s thinking . Knowing how devious the Klingons can be , he suggests that the captain could have been hypnotized . McCoy says that Sulu also saw the same demonstrations of power , and Scott refuses to listen . Inspired by the fortitude of his ancestors , Scott beams down to Seggor , ignoring McCoy ' s protests . The Doctor immediately informs Kirk , who is further upset , reasoning that they all have only moments to live , explaining that the granulator ' s rage is limitless and there is nowhere the " Enterprise " can move to for safety . On Seggor , Scott manages to find a way into the hidden base , and knocks out several Klingons . He sees those of high rank watching the " Enterprise " on their scanners , musing that Kirk must be planning something . They hail the ship , nudging it to move along or face destruction . Sick at heart over having to abandon Scott , Kirk reasons that whatever happens to Scott is his own fault , and engages the ship on its course to Earth . Scott makes his way to the large granulator , and rewires its circuitry . Finishing his task , Scott makes his way back to the surface , fighting off the Klingons who have regained consciousness . He is found out by another Klingon while escaping and hails the " Enterprise " for an emergency beam - out . The Klingon commander orders the " Enterprise " s destruction just as Scott is rescued , and the underground complex explodes , taking with it a dozen square miles of the planet ' s surface . Back on the " Enterprise " , Scott says that he jammed the doors so that the weapon fired back on itself . Kirk says that he was going to have Scott court martial ed , but has changed his mind . Scott says that , this time , he will accept his captain ' s decision . Memorable quotes . " " These Klingons never give up in trying to provoke the Federation into another war ! " " " " Aw , the skipper will lodge a complaint , and it ' ll get buried in as usual ! " " " " For Pete ' s sake , Scott ! You can ' t afford to be so emotional ! " " " " There they go ! On their way to tell the universe that the Klingons are the masters ! " " " " You know , I would have expected Kirk to try something . He has quite a reputation , that man ! " " Background information . Publishing history . None of the UK weekly stories had titles . Each installment was two pages in length . The last two pages of this story were published in black and white , a first for the weekly UK story arcs .