Originally Posted by
genejockey
Transporter malfunction throws Kirk, McCoy, Uhura, and probably some poor red-shirted phaser-fodder into an alternative universe, where the Federation is the Empire, and the way you get promoted is to kill your superior officer.
The Tantalus device, IIRC, allows you to check up on your potential assassins and victims surreptitiously so you know who's about to gork you.
Glad I live in Tejas. All we have to do is look for a NRA bumper sticker or the rack in the back window of the truck. No Tantaluses or special tricks required. Downside is that Scotty is never there to beam us up when it gets dicey.