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The U.S.S.
Enterprise is
investigating
Beta III, where the U.S.S. Archon disappeared over 100 years before.
When the
landing party exhibits strange behavior, Kirk sends another
party
down to investigate. They find the culture on Beta III is quiescent,
with no creative tendencies. The entire culture is controlled by a
group of 'lawgivers' known as "The Body" which is, in turn, controlled
by the omniscient Landru. The inhabitants change from normal, peaceful
people to a violent mob at the coming of the Red Hour. This 'Festival'
is the society's only outlet for the tyrannical hold that Landru has
over them at all other times.
Meanwhile,
the
U.S.S. Enterprise is being pulled from its orbit, its crew to be
absorbed into the Body. This, they discover, is what happened to the
U.S.S. Archon, so many years before.
Archon
survivors
have formed an underground of sorts to fight the Body, and they help
Kirk and Spock
reach Landru. Landru turns out to be an incredibly complex computer
built by Landru, a scientist who lived 6,000 years before, who wanted
to guide his people into a peaceful, civilized progress.
Landru
had affected the computer with his scientific thoughts and memories,
but not his wisdom. For centuries the computer, 'Landru,' has been
interpreting his suggestions to the point that no one is allowed
independent thought. Kirk tells the computer that instead of helping to
nurture the culture of Beta III, it has harmed it. Landru destroys
itself, leaving the Betans to work toward the sort of culture Landru
had wanted so many centuries before. With the promise of Federation
help on the way, Kirk and his crew beam back to the U.S.S. Enterprise.
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