Alien Spotlight : The Gorn Summary . Captain Terrell sits aboard the shuttlecraft " Kepler " with Commander Chekov , Dr . Wilder , and two crewmen from the " Reliant " , Skiles and Bates . They are returning from a medical mission and headed to Starbase 34 when a plasma wave in the primary power transfer causes the warp drive to fail , taking communications down with it . With only ten minutes of life support remaining , they make their way as quickly as possibly to a nearby Class M planet oid , crash - landing in the jungle there . A blip come up on a RADAR , and a Gorn , Monitor Two brings it to his commander ' s attention . Something has struck the planet in sector thirty - eight . They scan it and cross - reference it with their library , recognizing that it is a Federation shuttlecraft . Monitor Two prepares to send out a war party , but his commander overrules him , reminding him of the events fifteen years earlier , when a Human captain spared the life of a Gorn . He notes that they cannot let the Gorn Hegemony appear inferior and sends out a medical and rescue party . Back at the shuttlecraft , everyone is shaken , but unhurt . Leaving the shuttle , Wilder detects a large number of serpent - like lifeform s at a distance . Some quick exploring nearby reveals that they are not alone on the planet as a trap made of two tree trunks kills Skiles . Terrell suggests that they find strategic high ground and they establish a defensive position . Just as they settle in , they spot the approaching Gorn , many on foot , several in flying machines . Chekov confirms the suspicions and Bates begins to panic , commenting that on Cestus III before James T . Kirk fought them , " " they wiped out that entire station like it was " nothing " ! " " As the Gorn approach , Chekov and Terrell fire at them , but intentionally well short of their positions . The Gorn talk among themselves , trying to figure out how to convey their peaceful intentions , but their translators only work within a five meter radius . One of them chooses to go around behind and get close enough to them to talk . At the defensive position , Bates is preparing to relieve Chekov when he hears a " snap " behind him in the jungle . He turns to see a giant lizard standing there and it begins to speak , " " ssssaluta – " " Bates screams and fires at the creature , hitting him in the midsection . Dr . Wilder checks him and discovers that he is carrying a diagnostic scanner and a cellular regenerator . She also notes that he appears to still be alive . Chekov and Bates pick up the creature , and they begin to carry him toward the " Kepler " . Back at the Gorn headquarters , the news is confirmed , and the commander sends out a war party to punish the Humans . Having arrived at the shuttle , Dr . Wilder begins to try to treat the Gorn , commenting that " " his cells are already regenerating at an amazing rate & ndash I ' ve never seen anything like it . " " The others set up outside the shuttle , intending to buy her as much time as possible to heal the creature . As Wilder continues to work on him , he wakes up and introduces himself as Thak . Bates hurries inside and helps Thak out to the door , apologizing for his previous actions . Thak speaks to the war party , telling them to stop their actions , telling them that " " my injury wasss the result of an error in judgment . " " The leader of the war party introduces himself as General Rellk and explains that their intent originally was to render assistance . Terrell tells him that he regrets the misunderstanding and that he is honored to meet the General . Rellk apologizes for being unable to help Skiles , telling the captain that the planet is a training ground for young Gorn warriors . Terrell thanks him and tells him that they ' ll be gone soon , once a ship responds to their rescue beacon . Memorable quotes . " " Lots of vegetation . High humidity . I hate this hot weather . " " " " Seems tolerable enough to me . Still , this place gives me the creeps . " " " " That ' s pathetic ! This is the most excitement we ' ve had in months . " " " " I don ' t " feel " pathetic . . . " " " " That ' s not an assault team out there – It ' s a rescue party , and we just shot the doctor . " " " " If thisss isss how the Humansss reward mercy , today will be jussst the firssst of many mercilessss daysss to come . . . " " " " I for one will be glad when thessse Humansss are gone . " " " " I agree . These mammals give me the creeps . " "