“From Iowa, With Love” - Kirk receives a private subspace communication that he won't share within anyone else. As McCoy, Spock, and Scott are openly teases Kirk by speculating amongst themselves about it, an emergency subspace signal comes in—planet in distress.
The Enterprise arrives at the planet in distress, a new Federation member, Mu Ceti IV, a planet of humanoids. Upon beaming down, Kirk learns that the crisis is that the planetary President's daughter, Adrya, has run away. State security is unable to locate her. Kirk is annoyed, but Spock points out that the situation is potentially volatile and has interplanetary implications, as dissidents on Mu Ceti V are suspected. Kirk agrees to get involved, with Spock taking charge of the investigation.
Spock uploads the Adrya's computer memories and can find no clue as to what has happened to her. Uhura studies Adrya's diary and reports that the young lady seemed profoundly depressed at losing her friends when her mother was thrust into politics after having been merely a popular activist. The President is urging the Enterprise to head for Mu Ceti V to investigate the dissidents, but Kirk has other ideas. Kirk gets Spock to confirm it highly unlikely that Adrya has left Mu Ceti IV through computer analysis of all departing craft and orders Spock and McCoy to beam down with him disguised as locals to the neighborhood where Adrya's old friends are. They visit the house of her best friend Zeann, under color of presidential authority on behalf of Adrya, on pretense to contact her on personal business for the first daughter. Zeann's mother is suspicious but cooperative given their credentials which she has had confirmed. She tells Kirk and company that Zeann lives near the university. The three depart and Kirk now has a working theory, that Adrya is with Zeann.
They arrive near the university and discover a police scene. Police have surrounded a skyscraper and the President is on the ground. She comes to meet Kirk. Adrya is on a ledge on the skyscraper, threatening to jump. "My god," Kirk gasps. The President deduced Kirk's trail when his credentials were validated by Zeann's mother. Adrya refuses to see her mother. Spock informs Kirk that the Cetians lack the antigravity technology to assuredly stop Adrya's fall. Kirk agrees to see Adrya and goes up the tower.
He steps out onto the tower's ledge with Adrya.
"I know you can beam me up to your starship," says Adrya. "I'm not stupid, you know. If you stop me this time, I'll just try again, or do something else, sometime in the future."
Kirk is impressed. "All right. I'm just here to talk."
Adrya tells Kirk that her mother cut her off from all of her friends. It was no longer allowed to remain in touch with them, because the dissidents on Mu Ceti V had threatened to get to the first family. Adrya doesn't believe her mother even tried to work out security. She doesn't believe her mother thinks it's important, that she's important. She's begun failing in school, she's profoundly unhappy, and the tutors can't help. Her mother doesn't believe there's a problem.
"People make mistakes," replies Kirk. He tells her about the letter he received from Iowa, from his mother. Winona opposed him entering Starfleet. She knew it was dangerous and she learned from her experience with Sam that she'd have to press Jim very hard to stay out of the service. This hurt James and caused a rift between him and his mother. He pushed himself hard and pushed himself away from her. He came to distrust family. He's never married and he likely never will. The letter is of his mother telling him that she loves him and is proud that he's now the captain of a starship, something he always wanted. She's sorry that she tried to put her own needs ahead of his, that she felt her judgment was best, that it was safest for him to remain on Earth.
Kirk tells Adrya that he knows her mother loves her. She's letting him, a practical stranger, come to speak with her, because she doesn't know what else to do. Adrya's mother appears behind Kirk and tells them both that she is resigning. Adrya will be free to go where she wants again, she will no longer be a pawn of politics. There are many who can lead, but no one can replace her daughter. With Adrya agreeing, Kirk has them beamed to the ship.
Later, Kirk and Spock are present in their Starfleet uniforms, in the office with the president and first daughter as the office is being cleaned out. Adrya thanks Kirk for sharing the letter from his mother and assures Kirk that she will be alright. This piques Spock's interest in the contents of the letter. The former president hugs Kirk. Kirk assures Spock that the contents of the letter will remain private, just between the four of them. Spock raises an eyebrow, and he and Kirk exit.
Next episode: Ninja'd, go with "The Dolor of Tytheros"
