"The Corbomite Maneuver" is the tenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek.

[1] This was the first regular episode produced after the two pilots and the first to include DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy, Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura (in a yellow uniform rather than red) and Grace Lee Whitney as Yeoman Rand.

The USS Enterprise, commanded by Captain James T. Kirk, finishes a third day of star mapping when novice navigator Lt. Dave Bailey spots a large multi-colored cube spinning in space.

First Officer Spock obtains a visual of Balok, a blue-skinned humanoid with constantly shifting facial features.

When Kirk refuses, a small tug ship detaches from the Fesarius and tows the Enterprise deep into First Federation space.

Intuiting that the tug ship's tractor beam cannot be as powerful as that of the Fesarius, Kirk orders the Enterprise to engage the engines at right angles to their course.

This apparently disables the alien vessel; the crew picks up a distress call which its mother ship does not answer.

Balok expresses a desire to learn more about human culture, and suggests allowing a member of their crew to remain on his ship as an emissary of the Federation.

[12] Howard was very impressed with the acting opportunities in the franchise, having appeared multiple times in other Star Trek series: "Oh, sure.

Virtually every job offer gets a legitimate consideration from me, but the fact that it's Star Trek is a yes at the drop of a hat.

When auditioning for George Lucas the filmmaker immediately cited Howard's role as Balok years earlier, amazing the actor.