 Capt Kirk is informed by an old friend, a colonial governor, that a Shakespearean acting troupe on his world is led by man once known as Kodos the Executioner. Kodos had most of his colony killed when food supplies ran short rather than have so many starve. The only living witnesses to his actual appearance are Kirk, his friend, and a young crewman on the Enterprise. Kirk dismisses his friend s accusations until his friend is murdered, and his crewman nearly so. But Kodos (now Karidian) denies his identity. Is he telling the truth, and if so, who is behind the murders?