ArenaStardate: 3045.6Original Airdate: Jan 19, 1967
[Transporter room]
(Enterprise is in orbit of a planet) KIRK: You'll enjoy Commodore Travers. He sets a good table. MCCOY: I wonder if he brought his personal chef along with him to Cestus Three.KIRK: Probably. Rank hath its privileges.MCCOY: How well we both know that. (Intercom whistles) KIRK: Scotty. Kirk here.TRAVERS [OC]: Travers, Jim. We're waiting.KIRK: Good, Commodore. We're on our way.TRAVERS [OC]: Be sure to bring along your tactical people. I've got an interesting problem for them.KIRK: We'll beam down immediately, Commodore. Kirk out.SPOCK: Captain. I wonder why he's insistent that our tactical aides come down.KIRK: This colony is isolated, exposed, out on the edge of now here. He probably wants additional advice.SPOCK: Perhaps, Captain, but nevertheless MCCOY: Spock, isn't it enough the commodore is famous for his hospitality? I, for one, could use a good non-reconstituted meal.SPOCK: Doctor, you are a sensualist.MCCOY: You bet your pointed ears I am. Ready whenever you are, Captain.(Six men, including one red shirt, get on the transporter platform) KIRK: Energise.
[Planet surface]
(There is no one waiting to meet them. Instead, just razed ground and the smoke of a few fires) KIRK: Kirk to Enterprise. Red alert.SULU [OC]: What is it, Captain?KIRK: Cestus Three has been destroyed.(They take cover) KIRK: Full alert. Tricorder readings, Mister Spock. Life detection.SPOCK: Those messages we got, Captain, the one directing us here yesterday. KIRK: Faked. All this happened several days ago. (to a man in a yellow shirt) Lang, over there. Look for survivors. Kelowitz, (blue shirt) that way. (to the red shirt) O'Herlihy, stick with me.SPOCK: Captain, impulses that direction. Very weak, possibly a survivor.KIRK: Come on, Bones.
Captain's log, Stardate 3045.6 The Enterprise has responded to a call from Earth observation outpost on Cestus Three. On landing, we have discovered that the outpost has been destroyed.
[Ruins]
MCCOY: Captain, over there. (They run to a lone survivor amongst a tangle of wreckage) Careful, careful. Shock, radiation burns, internal injuries for certain.MCCOY: Careful, careful. Shock, radiation burns, internal injuries for certain. He's in a bad way, Captain.KIRK: Keep him alive, Bones. I want to know what's been happening here.SPOCK: Getting another life reading, Captain.KIRK: Survivors?SPOCK: Not survivors. Not warm-blooded. Living creatures, but not human.KIRK: Where?SPOCK: Azimuth ninety three degrees, range one five seven zero yards.KIRK: O'Herlihy.(Kirk sends his security guard off to look, but he hasn't gone far before he stands up and says) O'HERLIHY: Captain, I see something.(And promptly gets hit by a beam and vanishes. There's also an incoming whistle and an explosion.) KIRK: Cover! Kirk to Enterprise, lock on transporters. Beam us up.
[Bridge]
SULU: Captain, we're coming under attack. Unidentified ship quartering in.
[Ruins]
SULU [OC]: We can't beam you up. I've just rigged up defensive screens.KIRK: Keep those screens up. Fire all phasers.
[Bridge]
SULU: Firing phasers, Captain. The alien has screens up, too.
[Ruins]
KIRK: Take all action necessary to protect the ship. We'll hold out here.
[Bridge]
SULU: Are you under attack, Captain?
[Ruins]
SULU [OC]: We could drop screens.KIRK: Keep those screens up. Worry about us when the ship is safe.
[Bridge]
KIRK [OC]: Kirk out.
[Ruins]
(More bombs rain down around them) KIRK: If they lower those screens to beam us up, they'll be open to phaser attack.SPOCK: We're hopelessly outnumbered here, Captain. It's those disruptors versus our hand phasers. KIRK: We're stuck with it, Mister Spock. We'll have to make do with what we've got. (Carrying the survivor, the away team heads into better shelter - Life Support Ramp 3 Level K according to the sign) KIRK: Kelowitz, Lang, flank out. Lay down fire on co-ordinates Mister Spock gave you. Even if you don't see them. Keep your heads down.(Lang and Kelowitz leave) KIRK: We're helpless down here. And the Enterprise SPOCK: Sulu is an experienced combat officer.KIRK: It's my ship, Mister Spock. I should be there. We can't even get at them.SPOCK: Nor can they at us at the moment. Not unless they moved their original position. That intervening high ground. KIRK: Can you remember the layout of this place? The arsenal? SPOCK: About one hundred yards in that direction. But after an attack as thorough as this oneKIRK: I'll risk it.(He does an heroic zigzag run amongst the incoming explosions, takes shelter behind an oil drum and calls Enterprise) KIRK: Kirk here. Report.
[Bridge]
SULU: Captain, are you all right?
[Ruins]
KIRK: Never mind about me. What about the ship?
[Bridge]
SULU: We returned fire with all phaser banks. Negative against its deflector screen.
[Ruins]
KIRK: Arm your photon torpedoes.
[Bridge]
SULU: Aye, aye, sir. Arm photon torpedoes. Stand by.
[Ruins]
KIRK: Any identification on the attacking vessel? SULU [OC]: No, sir. Doesn't correspond with any configuration we're familiar with.
[Bridge]
SULU: We can't get visual contact. She's too far away.DEPAUL: Mister Sulu, photon torpedoes locked on.SULU: Photon torpedoes locked on, Captain.
[Ruins]
KIRK; Fire all banks.
[Bridge]
SULU: All banks fired, sir.
[Ruins]
KIRK: Sulu. Sulu, our communications are being interfered with. (An explosion makes him run further on into an old bomb crater) Now get this straight.
[Bridge]
KIRK [OC]: You do anything you think necessary to protect the ship. Leave orbit, maximum warp, anything. Clear? SULU: Clear, Captain, but you
[Ruins]
KIRK: Never mind about me. Protect my ship!
[Bridge]
SULU: Yes, sir. Photon torpedoes negative, Captain. I'm warping out of orbit.
[Ruins]
KIRK: Good. Contact me when you can. Kirk out. (Kirk ducks into a building. Meanwhile, back over at Ramp 3) SPOCK: How is he, Doctor? MCCOY: He'll be dead in half an hour if we don't get him some decent care.SPOCK: They're moving. I've got to get to the Captain. (He joins Kirk in the bomb crater, where a grenade launcher is being set up) SPOCK: Locked on to the enemy, Captain. They're moving toward the high ground. (fizzing sound and smoke) They've locked on to my tricorder. (He throws it away and it goes bang) SPOCK: Very ingenious. They fed back my own impulses and built up an overload.KIRK: We'll see how ingenious they are. Here, give me a hand with this grenade launcher. Lang! SPOCK: Any word from the Enterprise?KIRK: Sulu's taken her out of orbit.KELOWITZ: They got Lang, sir.KIRK: Did you see them?KELOWITZ: No, sir.KIRK: An evaluation, Mister Kelowitz. Where do you think they are?KELOWITZ: If I were them, I'd go to the high ground on the right. I make it twelve hundred yards, azimuth eighty seven. It's pretty close for one of these little jewels, Captain. KIRK: It'll be a lot closer to them. Stand clear. (He drops a blue ball into the launcher, it zooms off and there is a blinding flash and bang. Silence reigns until Kirk's communicator beeps.) KIRK: Kirk here.SULU [OC]: Captain, the alien's withdrawing. She's at extreme range, but our sensors indicate she just activated her transporters.KIRK: Lock on to the alien, Mister Sulu. I don't want to lose her.
[Bridge]
SULU: Aye, aye, sir. Our screens are down. We can beam you up now, sir.
[Ruins]
KIRK: I want a search party of thirty medical personnel beamed down immediately to search for survivors. Notify the transporter room. Lock onto us. We're beaming up.
[Bridge]
SULU: Aye, aye, sir.
Captain's log, supplement. We have beamed back to the Enterprise and immediately set out in pursuit of the alien vessel. It appears to be headed toward a largely unexplored section of the galaxy.
[Sickbay]
KIRK: Can you tell me what happened?MAN: Scanners reported a ship approaching. We get them now and then. They're all welcome to use our facilities. You know that. KIRK: Yes, I know.MAN: They came in space normal speed, using our regular approach route, but they knocked out our phaser batteries with their first salvo. From then on we were helpless. We weren't expecting anything! Why should we? We didn't have anything anyone would want.KIRK: Easy. Easy.MAN: They poured it on, like, like phasers, only worse, whatever they were using. I tried to signal them. We called up. Tried to surrender. We had women and children. I told them that! I begged them! They wouldn't listen. They didn't let up for a moment.KIRK: Lieutenant, the Enterprise received two messages, ostensibly from Cestus Three. One for the Enterprise to go there, and the other for myself and my tactical crew to beam down to the surface.MAN: They hit us a full day before you got there, Captain. No messages came from us, Captain. Why did they do it? Why? Why did they do it? There has to be a reason. There has to be a reason!
[Captain's quarters]
KIRK: It was a trap. Getting the Enterprise to come to Cestus Three, getting us and our whole crew to come ashore. SPOCK: Very clever. As to the reason? KIRK: The reason is crystal clear. The Enterprise is the only protection in this section of the Federation. Destroy the Enterprise, and everything is wide open.SPOCK: You allude to invasion, Captain, yet positive proof KIRK: I have all the proof I need on Cestus Three.SPOCK: Not necessarily, sir. Several possible explanations KIRK: How can you explain a massacre like that? No, Mister Spock. The threat is clear and immediate. Invasion.SPOCK: Very well, then. If that's the case, you must make certain that the alien vessel never reaches its home base.KIRK: I intend to. If we can keep them in the dark as to our strength, they'll never dare move against us. Captain to helmsman. SULU [OC]: Sulu here, sir.KIRK: Is the alien still making warp five? SULU [OC]: Affirmative, sir.KIRK: Initiate warp six. SULU [OC]: Affirmative, sir.KIRK: Overtake. Phaser banks, lock on to the enemy vessel. Stand by for firing orders. All hands, this is the Captain. We are going into battle. All hands, battle stations. Red alert. I repeat, red alert. This is no drill. This is no drill.
Captain's log, Stardate 3046.2. We are in hot pursuit of the alien vessel which destroyed the Earth outpost on Cestus Three.
[Bridge]
KIRK: Mister DePaul. DEPAUL: Yes, sir.KIRK: Position.DEPAUL: Twenty two point three parsecs beyond latest chart limit, sir. KIRK: All scanners lock into computer banks. I want a complete record of this. Mister Spock, what do we have on this general area?SPOCK: Virtually nothing, Captain. No records of any explorations. There are rumours of certain strange signals on subspace channels. However, none has ever been recorded.KIRK: Anything on intelligent life forms?SPOCK: Nothing specific, Captain. Unscientific rumours only. More like space legends.KIRK: Mister Sulu, status, alien vessel.SULU: They must be aware we're after them, sir. They've gone to warp six also.KIRK: Warp factor seven.SULU: Aye, aye, sir.KIRK: Something the matter, Mister Spock?SPOCK: A sustained warp seven speed will be dangerous, Captain.KIRK: Thank you, Mister Spock. I mean to catch them. SCOTT: We'll either catch them or blow up, Captain. They may be faster than we are.KIRK: They'll have to prove it. Yes, Mister Spock?SPOCK: You mean to destroy the alien ship, Captain? KIRK: Of course.SPOCK: I thought perhaps the hot pursuit alone might be sufficient. Destruction might be unnecessary.KIRK: Colony Cestus Three has been obliterated, Mister Spock. SPOCK: The destruction of the alien vessel will not help that colony, Jim.KIRK: If the aliens go unpunished, they'll be back, attacking other Federation installations.SPOCK: I merely suggested that a regard for sentient life KIRK: There's no time for that. It's a matter of policy. Out here, we're the only policemen around. And a crime has been committed. Do I make myself clear?SPOCK: Very clear, Captain.KIRK: I'm delighted, Mister Spock. Report, Mister Sulu.SULU: Alien ship maintaining interval, Captain. Now at warp seven.KIRK: Warp factor eight. (Everyone looks surprised. Scotty is aghast.)SULU: Aye, aye, sir.KIRK: Captain to phaser banks. All components at battle ready. All banks primed.CREWMAN [OC]: Aft phaser to Bridge. Alert status. All weapons at operational ready.(Later, the ship has not blown up, and Sulu has a grin on his face) SULU: Captain. KIRK: Yes, Mister Sulu.SULU: Closing on target, sir.KIRK: Good. Mister DePaul. DEPAUL: Yes, sir. KIRK: Our position.DEPAUL: Two two seven nine pl, sir. Uncharted solar system at two four six six pm.KIRK: Is it on the alien's course?DEPAUL: No, sir. He's headed away from it.UHURA: Captain, sensors report we're being scanned.KIRK: By the alien ship?UHURA: No, sir. It's from that solar system ahead.KIRK: Any interference? Resistance?UHURA: No, sir, Just scanning beams. It's on an unusual wave length.KIRK: Mister Spock?SPOCK: It would appear someone is curious about us.KIRK: Mister Sulu, is the alien still heading away from that solar system?SULU: Yes, sir. We're closing, sir.KIRK: Lieutenant Uhura, anything further on those scanning beams?UHURA: There's no hostility, sir. They're not tractors or weapons of any sort, Just increasing in intensity. Steady. Regular. It's growing stronger, sir.SULU: Captain!KIRK: Yes, what is it?SULU: The alien. It's slowing down. Warp five, four, two. It's going sublight, sir. Sir? It's stopped dead in space.KIRK: He may be turning to fight.SULU: No, sir. They're just dead out there.KIRK: Are you sure? SULU: Yes, sir. Unmoving.KIRK: Then we've got them. Go to Red Alert. Prepare to fire phaser banks. Sensors, lock on. Mister Sulu, continue closing. Mister Spock, lock phasers into computer. Computers will control attack.SPOCK: Computer lock ready, Captain. All systems standing by.SULU: Range is one eight one zero. One seven six zero. Range is one seven zero zero. One six four zero. Range is one five nine zero. One five five zero and closing, sir. (Suddenly, the ship decelerates, and everyone hangs on to something as the lights dim.) SULU: Warp six, warp five, four, warp three, warp one. Sublight, Captain. We're stuck, Captain. It's impossible, but. It's impossible.KIRK: From warp eight? Have you lost your mind? SPOCK: Same as the alien, Captain.KIRK: Mister Scott, report. SCOTT: We're dead, Captain. Locked up. Frozen tight. All propulsion systems read zero.KIRK; Life systems?SCOTT: They're all normal, sir. Atmosphere, heat, light. No variance.KIRK: Phaser banks. Report.CREWMAN [OC]: We're all inoperative here, Captain. No power at all. No faulty circuits I can find. Just no power.KIRK: Damage Control, report.SPOCK: All systems report normal, Captain. No ascertainable damage.KIRK; Then what is it?SCOTT: I don't know, sir, but whatever it is, we canna move.SPOCK: We're being held in place, Captain, apparently from that solar system.KIRK; This far out? That's impossible.SPOCK: We are being held.KIRK: Tractor beam?SPOCK: No, sir. An unidentifiable power. (The lights flicker and the viewscreen goes psychedelic.) METRON [OC]: We are the Metrons. You are one of two crafts which have come into our space on a mission of violence. This is not permissible. Yet we have analysed you and have learned that your violent tendencies are inherent. So be it. We will control them. We will resolve your conflict in the way most suited to your limited mentalities. Captain James Kirk.KIRK: This is Kirk.METRON [OC]: We have prepared a planet with a suitable atmosphere. You will be taken there, as will the Captain of the Gorn ship which you have been pursuing. There you will settle your dispute.KIRK: I don't understand.METRON [OC]:You will be provided with a recording-translating device, in hopes that a chronicle of this contest will serve to dissuade others of your kind from entering our system, but you will not be permitted to communicate with your ship. You will each be totally alone.KIRK: What makes you think you can interfere with METRON [OC]: It is you who are interfering. We are simply putting a stop to it. The place we have prepared for you contains sufficient elements for either of you to construct weapons lethal enough to destroy the other, which seems to be your intention. The winner of the contest will be permitted to go his way unharmed. The loser, along with his ship, shall be destroyed in the interests of peace. The contest will be one of ingenuity against ingenuity, brute strength against brute strength. The results will be final. KIRK: Just a minute METRON [OC]: There will be no discussion. It is done. (Kirk vanishes, and Uhura screams) SULU: He's gone.
[Planet surface]
(A dinosaur- like being with multifaceted eyes and a multicoloured tunic greets us with a roar. Kirk is now wearing a belt with the recorder/translator on it) KIRK [OC]: The Enterprise is dead in space, stopped cold during her pursuit of an alien raider by mysterious forces, and I have been somehow whisked off the bridge and placed on the surface of an asteroid, facing the Captain of the alien ship. Weaponless, I face the creature the Metrons called a Gorn. Large, reptilian. Like most humans, I seem to have an instinctive revulsion to reptiles. I must fight to remember that this is an intelligent, highly advanced individual, the Captain of a starship, like myself, undoubtedly a dangerously clever opponent. (The Gorn breaks a branch of a tree with great ease. Kirk struggles to break off a twig. Their first physical engagement is uneven. Kirk is more agile than the reptile but nowhere near as strong. He boxes the Gorn's ears to get out of a bear-hug and runs up into the rocks looking for weapons. He throws a heavy rock at the Gorn, but it just bounces off his chest. When a boulder gets flung at him in return, Kirk retreats. Quickly.)
[Bridge]
(Spock goes over to the Engineering Station) SPOCK: Have you tried overload?SCOTT: Aye, sir. It does no good.SPOCK: How about bypassing the transformer banks? Feed the impulse engines directly. SCOTT: I tried that, sir. Nothing.SPOCK: Lieutenant Uhura, have sensors learned anything about the nature of the force which holds us here?UHURA: No, sir. They report they definitely emanate from that solar system ahead. SPOCK: No indication of its composition? Gravimetric? Magnetic? Electronic? UHURA: Nothing, sir.
[Planet surface]
(Standing on rocks, silhouetted against a clear blue sky, Kirk makes an entry on his recorder for posterity.) KIRK: This is Captain James Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. Who ever finds this please get it to Starfleet Command. I'm engaged in personal combat with a creature apparently called a Gorn. (We see that the recording is also being transmitted and translated by the Gorn's device too) KIRK [OC]: He's immensely strong. Already he has withstood attacks from me that would have killed a human being. Fortunately, though strong, he is not agile. The agility and, I hope, the cleverness, is mine. (Back on the rock) KIRK: The Metrons, the creatures that sent us both here, said that the surface of the planet provides the raw material to construct weapons. There's very little here. Scrub brush, rocks, an abundance of mineral deposits, but no weapons in the conventional sense. Still, I need to find one. Bare-handed against the Gorn, I have no chance.
[Bridge]
SPOCK: Leave channel one open, Lieutenant, just in case.UHURA: Aye, aye, sir.MCCOY: What are you going to do, Mister Spock?SPOCK: I'm going to wait, Doctor. There's little else I can do.MCCOY: What about the Captain?SPOCK: If I could help him, I would. I cannot.MCCOY: Now, you're the one that's always talking about logic. What about some logic now? Where's the Captain, Mister Spock?SPOCK: He's out there, Doctor. Out there somewhere in a thousand cubic parsecs of space, and there's absolutely nothing we can do to help him.
[Planet surface]
(Running up a slope, Kirk comes across a clump of mature bamboo. Good, solid, hollow stems, but he doesn't regard them as suitable clubs. He carries on gaining height. Meanwhile, the Gorn is using trailing vines to construct something. Kirk comes across an outcrop of minerals, and decides to tell us what they are.) KIRK: A large deposit of diamonds on the surface. Perhaps the hardest substance known in the universe. Beautifully crystallized and pointed, but too small to be useful as a weapon. An incredible fortune in stones yet I would trade them all for a hand phaser, or a good solid club. Yet the Metrons said there would be weapons, if I could find them. Where? What kind? (From his vantage point on the ridge, Kirk watches the Gorn at work, then spots a lone rock neatly balanced on a pinnacle above his adversary. He pushes it over, the Gorn looks up, then we get the cloud of dust and a view of the reptile under the rock, lying still. Confident, Kirk comes down to check on his kill, just in time to see the Gorn move, grasp his stone dagger, and get up again. The rock continues on its way down the slope. The mammal runs away, straight into reptiles trap of vines and rocks. Now Kirk is pinned under a boulder, and at his enemy's mercy. But the Gorn has to move the boulder to be able to stab him, so once again Kirk is able to dodge away, albeit with a limp.
[Bridge]
SPOCK: This is the U.S.S. Enterprise calling the Metrons. Our channels are open. Come in, please. We urgently desire a conference. Please answer.
[Planet surface]
(Kirk hobbles up to a rock face with bright yellow powder spread across it, and takes a rest. We keep cutting to the Gorn, who can hear everything he says, remember.) KIRK: This may be my last entry. I am almost exhausted. Unless I find the weapon the Metron mentioned I have very little time left. Native sulphur, diamonds. This place is a mineralogist's dream. Yet there is something about sulphur. Something very old. Something? If only I could remember. (The Gorn's roar comes closer, and he moves on)
[Bridge]
MCCOY: The ship, our engines, our weapons. It's just inconceivable that we are immobilised.SPOCK: But it has happened, Doctor.(Dimmed lights and swirly viewscreen again) METRON [OC]: We are the Metrons. Your Captain is losing his battle. We would suggest you make whatever memorial arrangements, if any, which are customary in your culture. We believe you have very little time left.MCCOY: We appeal to you in the name of civilisation. Put a stop to this.METRON [OC]: Your violent intent and actions demonstrate that you are not civilised. However, we are not without compassion. It is possible you may have feelings toward your Captain. So that you will be able to prepare yourself, we will allow you to see and hear what is now transpiring.(There on the viewscreen is their first sight of a Gorn, then Kirk and yet another mineral deposit.) MCCOY: If there were only some way we could contact him.SPOCK: Yes, indeed, Doctor, if only there were. Notice the substance encrusting that rock. Yes. Unless I'm mistaken, it's potassium nitrate. MCCOY: So?SPOCK: Perhaps nothing, Doctor. (Kirk tastes the mineral and spits it out) Perhaps everything. (The bridge crew watch as enlightenment dawns and Kirk goes off in search of his other mineral discoveries.) GORN [OC]: Earthling! Captain!KIRK [on viewscreen]: Who is this, the Metron?GORN [OC]: This is your opponent, Earthling. I have heard every word you have said.KIRK [on viewscreen]: All right. What do you want? GORN [on viewscreen]: I'm weary of the chase. Wait for me. I shall be merciful and quick.KIRK [on viewscreen]: Like you were at Cestus Three?GORN [OC]: You were intruding! You established an outpost in our space.KIRK [on viewscreen]: You butchered helpless human beingsGORN [OC]: We destroyed invaders, as I shall destroy you!MCCOY: Can that be true? Was Cestus Three an intrusion on their space?SPOCK: It may well be possible, Doctor. We know very little about that section of the galaxy.MCCOY: Then we could be in the wrong.SPOCK: Perhaps. That is something best decided by diplomats.MCCOY: The Gorn simply might have been trying to protect themselves.SPOCK: Yes. (They watch as Kirk returns to the bamboo clump and picks out a short, wide stem.) SPOCK: Fascinating. Good. Good. (Kirk cuts vines to length against a rock) He knows, Doctor. He has reasoned it out.(Potassium nitrate gets shoveled into the bamboo) SPOCK: Yes. Yes.MCCOY: What is it, Spock?SPOCK; An invention, Doctor. First potassium nitrate, and now if he can find some sulphur and a charcoal deposit or ordinary coal. (Kirk is at the outcrop of sharp diamonds, and putting them into the bamboo too.) MCCOY: What's he doing?SPOCK; Diamonds. The hardest known substance. Impelled by sufficient force, they would make formidable projectiles.MCCOY: What force?SPOCK: Recall your basic chemistry, Doctor. Gunpowder. GORN [OC]: Captain, let us be reasonable. GORN [on viewscreen]: You have lost. Admit it to yourself. Stop running. (Now the sulphur goes into the cannon, and finally he finds a vein on coal.) SPOCK; Coal. (Now Kirk settles down to empty the bamboo, crush the coal, make a hole in the bamboo for a fuse and then mix his ingredients a little more precisely.) MCCOY: Can he do it?SPOCK: If he has the time, Doctor. If he has the time.(The cannon is strengthened with the vine tied around it, and the gunpowder gets rammed home with a small branch. Finally the diamonds go in, and a piece of torn trouser will serve as a fuse, once he can raise a spark from a stone and the translating device. Fire is created as the Gorn approaches him from behind. Seeing the danger, he braces the cannon and fires it. The explosion blows the bamboo apart, and also incapacitates his opponent. Kirk picks up his fallen stone dagger and puts the point to the Gorn's windpipe, but cannot administer the coup de grace.) KIRK: No. No, I won't kill you. Maybe you thought you were protecting yourself when you attacked the outpost. (He throws the dagger away, stands up and shouts to the sky) KIRK: No, I won't kill him! Do you hear? You'll have to get your entertainment someplace else!(The Gorn disappears, and a young blond boy in a white shift appears instead.) KIRK: You're a Metron?METRON: Does my appearance surprise you, Captain?KIRK: You seem more like a boy.METRON: I am approximately fifteen hundred of your Earth years old. You surprise me, Captain.KIRK: How?METRON: By sparing your helpless enemy who surely would have destroyed you, you demonstrated the advanced trait of mercy, something we hardly expected. We feel there may be hope for your kind. Therefore, you will not be destroyed. It would not be civilised.KIRK: What happened to the Gorn?GORN: I sent him back to his ship. If you like, I shall destroy him for you.KIRK: No. That won't be necessary. We can talk. Maybe reach an agreement.METRON: Very good, Captain. There is hope for you. Perhaps in several thousand years, your people and mine shall meet to reach an agreement. You are still half savage, but there is hope. We will contact you when we are ready.
[Bridge]
(Kirk suddenly appears in front of the crew, who all leap to their feet.) UHURA: Captain! Are you all right?KIRK: I don't know. I don't know. All right, everybody. Back to your posts. Let's get out of here.(He takes his seat.) SULU: Captain.KIRK: Mister Sulu.SULU: It's impossible, but there's Sirius over there when it should be here. And Canopus. And Arcanis. We're. All of a sudden, we're clear across the galaxy, five hundred parsecs from where we are I mean, were. I meanKIRK: Don't try and figure it out, Mister Sulu. Just plot a course for us back to Cestus Three.SULU: Aye, aye, sir.(McCoy leaves) SPOCK: After you touched off your primitive cannon, Captain, we lost the picture the Metron was sending us.KIRK; You saw what happened down there? SPOCK: Most of it. I would be interested in knowing what finally happened.KIRK: We're a most promising species, Mister Spock, as predators go. Did you know that?SPOCK: I've frequently had my doubts.KIRK: I don't. Not anymore. And maybe in a thousand years or so, we'll be able to prove it. Never mind, Mister Spock. It doesn't make much sense to me either. Take us back to where we're supposed to be, Mister Sulu. Warp factor one.SULU: Warp factor one.SPOCK: A thousand years, Captain?Well, that gives us a little time.
Friday, November 28, 2008
The Squire of Gothos
The Squire of GothosStardate: 2124.5Original Airdate: Jan 12, 1967
[Bridge]
(A Yeoman is distributing coffees when McCoy enters) DESALLE: All clear ahead, Captain. The sensors indicate zero register. KIRK: Forward readings, Mister Spock. SPOCK: Gravimetric readings, no significant change, zero space density. KIRK: Ahead warp factor three, Mister Sulu. Colony Beta Six wants their supplies. Let's get across this void in a hurry. MCCOY: Void, star desert. The word conjures up pictures of dunes, oases, mirages. KIRK: Sunlight, palm trees. We're nine hundred light years from that kind of desert, Bones. SPOCK: The precise meaning of the word desert is a waterless, barren wasteland. I fail to understand your romantic nostalgia for such a place. MCCOY: That doesn't surprise me, Mister Spock. I can't imagine a mirage ever disturbing those mathematically perfect brain waves of yours. SPOCK: Thank you, Doctor McCoy. Moving on schedule into quadrant nine oh four. Beta Six is eight days distant. KIRK: Something, Mister Spock? SPOCK: Unusual, Captain. I'm now getting a sizable space-displacement reading. KIRK: Can you verify that, Navigator? DESALLE: No, sir. Forward sweeps are negative. Wait. Verified, sir. We must be in some sort of light warp or we'd have picked it up earlier. KIRK: Put it on visual. (A purple globe appears on the viewscreen) DESALLE: Iron-silica body, planet sized, magnitude one E. We'll be passing close. SPOCK: Inconceivable this body has gone unnoted on all our records. KIRK: And yet, here it is. No time to investigate. Science stations, gather data for computer banks. Uhura, notify the discovery on subspace radio. UHURA: Strong interference on subspace, Captain. The planet must be a natural radio source. KIRK: Let's get out of its range. Veer forty degrees to starboard, Mister Sulu. SULU: Forty degrees. (He reaches for the switch, and sways as if dizzy, then stands up and vanishes) KIRK: Sulu! (He dashes to Sulu's station, then suddenly stops and disappears too) DESALLE: Mister Spock, they're gone! SPOCK: Emergency! Full reverse power!
Ship's log Stardate 2124.5. First Officer Spock reporting for Captain James Kirk. We are orbiting the lone unrecorded planet in the star desert. For four hours, we have made every possible instrument sweep, but Captain Kirk and Helmsman Sulu remain unaccounted for. I have placed the ship on red alert.
[Bridge]
(Enterprise is now orbiting a red planet with white whispy clouds) SCOTT: We've searched again from stem to stern. If they're not down on that planet, they're nowhere. DESALLE: No sign of human life on the surface, sir. Unless the instruments aren't functioning. SPOCK: Function is normal. Continuous sensor sweeps. Lieutenant Uhura, have you checked all wave bands? UHURA: All of them, Mister Spock. No response. DESALLE: With due respect, sir. Request permission to transport to the surface immediately and carry out a search. MCCOY: I second DeSalle's request. What are we waiting for? SPOCK: The decision will be mine, Doctor. I have the responsibility for your safety. (to Sulu's replacement) Mister Jaeger, describe your geophysical findings for the surface below. JAEGER: No detectable soil or vegetation. Extremely hot, toxic atmosphere swept by tornadic storm. Continuous volcanic eruptions. Deadly to any lifeforms such as we know it without oxygen and life-support systems. SPOCK: Estimate survival time of two unprotected individuals down there. JAEGER: Not very long. UHURA: Mister Spock. Look. (Words are appearing on the monitor above her head, in gothic script. Spock reads them out loud) SPOCK: Greetings and felicitations. Hmm. Send this, Lieutenant. USS Enterprise to signaler on planet surface. Identify self. (The reply comes up on the monitor) SPOCK: Hip hip hoorah? And I believe it's pronounced tally ho. DESALLE: Some kind of a joke, sir? SPOCK: I'll entertain any theories, Mister DeSalle. Any at all. MCCOY: One thing is certain. Obviously there's life on that planet. SPOCK: You're quite correct, Doctor. Prepare transporter room. SCOTT: Request assignment to the search party, sir. SPOCK: No, Mister Scott. Neither you nor I can be spared here. Mister DeSalle, equip the landing party with full communications, armament, and life-support gear. Mister Jaeger, your geophysical knowledge may be crucial down there. Doctor McCoy will accompany. If those peculiar signals are coming from Captain Kirk or Lieutenant Sulu, their rationality is in question. Dismissed.
[Transporter room]
UHURA [OC]: No more messages from below, sir, but I've locked onto their original source. SPOCK: Very good. Transmit coordinates to Mister Scott. Once on the planet's surface, you'll establish contact with us immediately. Use the laser beacon if necessary. Ready, Scott? SCOTT: Ready, Mister Spock. SPOCK: Activate.
[Planet surface]
(The landing party arrive on grass, amidst trees and shrubs. Jaeger starts scanning immediately.) MCCOY: Where are your storms, Jaeger? JAEGER: Atmosphere exactly the same as ours. (He takes of his oxygen mask, sniffs, and signals that the other two can do the same.) DESALLE: DeSalle to Enterprise. DeSalle to Enterprise. It doesn't function. We're cut off. MCCOY: (trying his own communicator) No response. DESALLE: (to Jaeger) Keep trying with yours. Something's blocking the beacon. I've got to find open ground. (He wanders off through the shrubs) DESALLE: Mister Jaeger! McCoy! (They join him to see a stone building in the gothic style, with an iron-bound oak door. They approach cautiously, and enter)
[Drawing Room]
(The place is stuffed full of things. A bust of Napoleon on a stand, a suit of armour, a globe, tapestry and swords and shields on the walls, an open fire, a harpsichord and a large mirror) MCCOY: In the name of heaven, where are we? (They head down steps into the room, past the Salt Monster in an alcove) DESALLE: Look. (Sulu and Kirk are displayed in a mini-minstrel's gallery. McCoy scans them.) MCCOY: There's no reading. They're like waxworks figures. (The main door slams shut, and there's a man in an embroidered coat playing the harpsichord) TRELANE: I must say, they make a perfectly exquisite display pair, but I suppose you want them back now. (He waves his hand and the two men come back to life) SULU: Where are we? TRELANE: Welcome to an island of peace on my stormy little planet of Gothos. KIRK: What happened? Fill me in. MCCOY: You disappeared from the bridge after Sulu. We've been looking for you for four hours. TRELANE: You must excuse my whimsical way of fetching you here, but when I saw you passing by I simply could not resist. KIRK: I'm Captain James Kirk of the United Starship Enterprise. TRELANE: Ah, so you're the Captain of these brave lads. My greetings and felicitations, Captain. So good of you and your officers to drop in. Absolutely smashing. KIRK: Who are you? Where do you come from? General Trelane, retired. At your service, sirs. My home is your home. (He goes back to his playing) DESALLE: We've lost contact with the ship, Captain. We're trapped here. TRELANE: I can't tell you how delighted I am to have visitors from the very planet that I've made my hobby. Yes, but according to my observations, I didn't think you capable of such voyages. JAEGER: Notice the period, Captain. Nine hundred light years from Earth. It's what might be seen through a viewing scope if it were powerful enough. TRELANE: Ah, yes. I've been looking in on the doings on your lively little Earth. KIRK: Then you've been looking in on the doings nine hundred years past. TRELANE: Oh, really? Have I made an error in time? How fallible of me. Oh, I did so want to make you feel at home. I'm quite proud of the detail. KIRK: General Trelane. TRELANE: Retired, sir. Just Squire Trelane now. And you may call me Squire. Yes, I rather fancy that. KIRK: For what purpose have you imprisoned us here? TRELANE: Imprisoned? Nonsense. You're my guests. You see, I just finished my studies of your curious and fascinating society. You came by at the most propitious moment. I want to know all about your campaigns, your battles, your missions of conquest. KIRK: Our missions are peaceful, not for conquest. When we do battle, it is only because we have no choice. TRELANE: Ah, but that's the official story, eh? KIRK: I must ask you to let us go back to our ship. TRELANE: I wouldn't hear of it. You shall join me in a repast. I want to learn all about your feelings on war and killing and conquest. That sort of thing. Do you know that you're one of the few predator species that preys even on itself? (Kirk returns to the main group, where DeSalle has his hand on his phaser) KIRK: Not yet. Put it on stun, not to kill, DeSalle. TRELANE: DeSalle, did you say? Un vrai Francais? DESALLE: My ancestry is French, yes. TRELANE: Ah, monsieur. Vive la gloire. Vive Napoleon. You know, I admire your Napoleon very much. KIRK: This is Mister DeSalle, our navigator. Doctor McCoy, our medical officer. Mister Sulu, our helmsman, and Carl Jaeger, meteorologist. TRELANE: Welcome, good physicianer and honourable sir. (bows low) SULU: Is he kidding? TRELANE: Und Offizier Jaeger, und der deutsche Soldat, nein? (gives a little Prussian salute then marches around) Eins, zwei, drei, vier. Gehen vir mit dem Schiessgewehr. JAEGER: I'm a scientist, not a military man. TRELANE: Oh come now. We're all military men under the skin. And how we do love our uniforms. (Trelane is admiring himself in his mirror when he spots DeSalle raising his weapon, and with a wave of the hand, stops him)TRELANE: What an interesting weapon you've got there. Do let me see it. (He takes it out of DeSalle's hand, and he can move again) TRELANE:: Yes. Now let me see. How does this work? Ah, yes. This won't kill, and this will. (He fires it at the Salt Monster, who is disintegrated) TRELANE: Oh, how marvellous! (destroys another exhibit) Devastating! Why, this could kill millions. (Kirk takes it off him) KIRK: Who will you start with, my crew? Are we your next targets? TRELANE: Oh, how absolutely typical of your species. You don't understand something, so you become fearful. Now, do let me anticipate your next question. You want to know how I've managed all of this. KIRK: That's correct. TRELANE: We, meaning I and others, have, to state the matter briefly, perfected a system by which matter can be transferred to energy and back to matter again. KIRK: Like the transporter system aboard the Enterprise. TRELANE: Oh, a crude example of an infinitely more sophisticated process. You see, we not only transport matter from place to place, but we can alter its shape at will. KIRK: This drawing room, did you create it by rearranging matter on this planet? TRELANE: Quite. KIRK: I see. How did you manage TRELANE: Dear Captain, your inquiries are becoming tiresome. I want you to be happy. Free yourself of care. Let's enjoy ourselves in the spirit of martial good fellowship. KIRK: Come on, let's go. We're getting out of here. TRELANE: Tut, tut, tut. You're being quite rude. You can't go. Apparently, you need another demonstration of my authority. Yes, quite. (Kirk vanishes from the room and is in the natural atmosphere of the planet, choking on the fumes. Everyone in the room can hear him. Trelane brings him back) Now, that's a sample of the atmosphere of this planet outside my kindly influence. Now, you will behave yourself hereafter, won't you? Or I shall be very, very angry.
Captain's Log Stardate 2125.7. Science Officer Spock reporting for Captain Kirk. We have completed fourteenth orbit of this planet without establishing contact with our missing officers or the parties sent to find them. Subspace communications remain blocked. However, by diverting impulse power to our sensors, we have made them operable, and we have detected one small area on the surface which seems relatively stable.
[Bridge]
SCOTT: Aye, it's there, Mister Spock. Peaceful as Earth, but how do you explain it? SPOCK: I don't, Mister Scott. It simply exists. Artificial perhaps, or a freak of nature. The fact remains that life can exist in that area. SCOTT: Aye, it could, but it couldn't move around much. SPOCK: Apply a fine tuning on our sensors. Locate any life forms in that stable area. SCOTT: If we find any, it doesn't follow that it would be our people. SPOCK: Affirmative. But if the Captain is down there and alive, that's where he'll have to be. We'll attempt to transport up any living beings our sensors detect. SCOTT: Shooting in the dark, Mister Spock? SPOCK: Or stand by and do nothing, Mister Scott.
[Drawing Room]
(Trelane is showing off his decor) And this, of course, is an array of your battle flags and pennants dating back to the Crusades, to Hannibal's invaders, the Grecian war galleys, and the hordes of Persia. Can't you imagine it, Captain? The thousands of men marching off to their deaths, singing beneath these banners. Doesn't it make your blood run swiftly? (Then he goes back to his music) SULU: Captain, where could he possibly come from? Who is this maniac? MCCOY: Better say, what is he? I monitored him, and what I found was unbelievable. KIRK: Not alive? MCCOY: Not in the way we define life. No trace. Zero. SULU: You mean, it shows he's dead? MCCOY: It doesn't even show that he exists at all, alive or dead. JAEGER: Notice the wood fire, Captain? Burning steadily, ember bed glowing, and it doesn't give off any heat at all. KIRK: Fire without heat, mistaking all this for present day Earth without taking into account the time differential. Whatever we're dealing with, he certainly isn't all knowledgeable. He makes mistakes. TRELANE: Discussing deep laid plans, I'll wager. I cannot wait to see them evolve. KIRK: Trelane, we haven't planned TRELANE: Tut tut. Do not think that I deplore your martial virtue of deception and stratagem. Quite the contrary. I have nothing but admiration for your whole species. KIRK: If your admiration is genuine, you must have respect for our sense of duty too. Our ship has need of us. We have tasks to perform. TRELANE: Oh, I can't let you go now. I was getting a bit bored until you came. You must stay. I insist. KIRK: For how long? TRELANE: Until this is over, of course. KIRK: Until what is over? TRELANE: Dear Captain, so many questions. Make the most of an uncertain future. Enjoy yourself today. Tomorrow may never come at all. KIRK: Trelane, even if we wanted to stay, our companions are missing us. TRELANE: Yes, I must experience your sense of concern, your grief at the separation. KIRK: There are four hundred men and women aboard that ship. TRELANE: Women? Do you mean that you actually have members of the fairer sex among your crew? Oh, how charming. And they must be all very beautiful. And I shall be so very gallant to them. Here, let me fetch them down at once. KIRK: (grabbing his arm) No. TRELANE: No? KIRK: This game has gone on long enough. Those are crucial operating personnel. You can't TRELANE: I can do anything I want. I should think you would have realised that by now. MCCOY: Captain, receiving a transporter signal. TRELANE: Transporter signal? What does he mean? You must tell me! KIRK: It means, Trelane, the party's over, thanks to Mister Spock. TRELANE: (as the group is beamed away) Wait! I won't have this! I haven't dismissed you yet. Stop! I won't have this!
[Transporter room]
KIRK: Everyone to stations. Report, Mister Spock. How were our scanners able to penetrate that radiation field? SPOCK: They didn't, Captain. Not clearly. We merely beamed up all life forms in a given area. MCCOY: Which means Trelane is not a life form as we know it, or he'd be beaming through now. KIRK: Prepare to warp out of here at once. Maximum speed.
[Bridge]
ROSS: (a blonde yeoman) Oh, Captain, I was so worried. KIRK: Scotty, we're going to need every ounce of your engines. We're going to put a hundred million miles between us and that madman. SCOTT [OC]: Aye aye, sir. MCCOY: I'm quaking, but I don't know if it's from laughter or terror. UHURA: Doctor, what was it? What was down there? MCCOY: Well, it was a. Oh, forget it. ROSS: Look. (Trelane has appeared on the Bridge) TRELANE: Where are all your weapons, Captain? Don't you display your weapons? KIRK: Trelane. TRELANE: Don't fret, Captain. I'm only a bit upset with you, but this Mister Spock you mentioned, the one responsible for that unseemly, impudent act of taking you from me, which is he? SPOCK: I am Spock. TRELANE: Surely not an officer. He isn't quite human, is he? SPOCK: My father is from the planet Vulcan. TRELANE: And are its natives predatory? SPOCK: Not generally. But there have been exceptions. TRELANE: Really? You will see to his punishment? KIRK: On the contrary. I commend his action. TRELANE: But I don't like him. KIRK: Get off my ship. TRELANE: Oh, rot! You're all going back with me. KIRK: We're not going anywhere. TRELANE: Nonsense. I have an absolutely enchanting sojourn on Gothos planned for all of you, and you shan't spoil it for me. Anyway, the decor of my drawing room is much more appropriate
[Drawing Room]
(A lot of the clutter in the middle of the room has been replaced by a fully furnished dining table and six high-backed chairs. Sulu and DeSalle are already seated)TRELANE: And tasteful. Don't you agree? SULU: No. TRELANE: But so much more fitting, honourable sir. DESALLE: (getting up) You KIRK: DeSalle. (Trelane 'stops' him) TRELANE: Oh, what primitive fury. Why, he's the very soul of sublime savagery. KIRK: Trelane, let him go. (he does, and Sulu grabs DeSalle) SULU: We haven't even got our phasers. TRELANE: Yes, of course. I forget that I shouldn't frighten you too much. But I warn you, you can't provoke me again. Come, everyone. Let's forget your bad manners. Let's be full of merry talk and sallies of wit. We have victuals to delight the palate and brave company to delight the mind. Come, Doctor, do partake. Ah, you've been quite derelict in your social duties, Captain. You haven't introduced me to the charming contingent of your crew. KIRK: This is General Trelane. TRELANE: Retired. But if you prefer, you may address me as the lonely Squire of Gothos, dear ladies. KIRK: Lieutenant Uhura of communications. TRELANE: Ah a Nubian prize. (he kisses her hand) Taken on one of your raids of conquest, no doubt, Captain. KIRK: No doubt. TRELANE: She has the melting eyes of the queen of Sheba. The same lovely colouring. And this. Is this the face that launched a thousand ships and burnt the topless towers of Ilium? Fair Helen, make me immortal with a kiss. KIRK: (holding Trelane back) Yeoman Teresa Ross. I believe you have met our science officer Mister Spock. TRELANE: You do realise, don't you, that it's in deference to the Captain that I brought you here? SPOCK: Affirmative. TRELANE: I don't know if I like your tone. It's most challenging. That's what you're doing, challenging me? SPOCK: I object to you. I object to intellect without discipline. I object to power without constructive purpose. TRELANE: Oh, Mister Spock, you do have one saving grace after all. You're ill-mannered. The human half of you, no doubt. (to Ross) Ah, come, my little wood nymph. Won't you dance with your swain? (to Uhura) Give us some sprightly music, my dear girl. UHURA: I don't know how to play this. TRELANE: Of course you do. (And she does, as Trelane dances with Ross) SULU: Captain, how far do we go along with this charade? KIRK: Until we can think our way out. Meanwhile, we accept his hospitality. MCCOY: You should taste his food. Straw would taste better than his meat, and water a hundred times better than his brandy. Nothing has any taste at all. SPOCK: It may be unappetizing, Doctor, but it is very logical. MCCOY: There's that magic word again. Does your logic find this fascinating, Mister Spock? SPOCK: Fascinating is a word I use for the unexpected. In this case, I should think interesting would suffice. KIRK: You don't find this unexpected, Mister Spock? SPOCK: That his food has no taste, his wine no flavour? No. It simply means that Trelane knows all of the Earth forms, but none of the substance. KIRK: And if he's fallible, he can't be all powerful. Which means he has something helping him. SPOCK: Evidently. KIRK: A machine? A device? Something which does these things for him. TRELANE: Ah, my dear, don't we make a graceful pair? Except for one small detail. That dress hardly matches this charming scene. (Suddenly she's wearing an empire line dress with feathers in her hair. Idealised Jane Austen) TRELANE: Ah, yes, that's more what we want. The dashing warrior and his elegant lady. KIRK: That mirror. It's part of his audience, his ego. He never wanders from it. SPOCK: Is it ego, or something else? KIRK: Explain. SPOCK: The mirror. KIRK: What about it? SPOCK: You noted yourself he never gets very far from it. I suppose it could be vanity. KIRK: No, no, Mister Spock, that's not the reason. What kind of a machine could do these things? SPOCK: A machine with the ability to turn energy into matter guided by thought waves. It would have a very complex memory bank, and would be extremely sophisticated. KIRK; Like a computer, only much more. Could the machine that maintains the environment in this immediate area be kept in this house? SPOCK: I think not. A device capable of keeping out this planet's natural atmosphere would be immense. KIRK: Good. I agree. That leaves me free . SPOCK: Free, Captain? KIRK: If I'm not mistaken, Mister Spock, I think I can turn his lights off at the source. (raises his voice) Don't be too upset by what you see, gentlemen. After all, his actions are those of an immature, unbalanced mind. TRELANE: I overheard that remark, Captain. I'm afraid I'll have to dispense with you. KIRK: You only heard part of it. I just started. TRELANE: Oh? KIRK: Yes. I want you to leave my crewmen alone. I want you to leave my crewwomen alone too. (to Ross) You're not to dance with him. I don't like it. TRELANE: Does it actually make you angry, Captain? KIRK: (removing one of her long gloves) I don't want you accepting his gifts, either. ROSS: Captain, please don't do this. TRELANE: Well, I do believe the dear Captain is jealous of me. KIRK: I don't care what you believe, just keep your hands off her! TRELANE: Oh, how curiously human. How wonderfully barbaric. KIRK: I've had enough of your insulting attentions to her. TRELANE: Of course you have. After all, that's the root of the matter, isn't it? You fight for the attention, the admiration, the possession of women. KIRK: If it's fighting that you want, (slaps Trelane) you may have it. TRELANE: Are you challenging me to a duel? KIRK: If you have the courage. TRELANE: Oh, this is better than I'd planned. I shall not shirk an affair of honour. (He gets a box from the mantle-shelf. It contains a pair of duelling pistols) TRELANE: A matched set. Just like the pair that slew your heroic Alexander Hamilton. And Captain, I never miss.
Captain's Log, stardate 2126.1. Delayed report. The whole bridge crew are the unwilling guests of the creature who calls himself Trelane. We are weaponless, powerless, and our only hope of escape with the Enterprise lies in playing his games. I've decided to make my move with the field of honour game, and everything depends on my one chance with the ancient duelling pistol.
[Drawing room]
TRELANE: Oh, how fascinating. I'm party to an actual human duel. KIRK: Are you ready? TRELANE: Quite ready, sir. We shall test each other's courage and then, and then we shall see. KIRK: Enough talk. Let's get on with it. TRELANE: As you will, sir. Honour will be served, eh? Oh, wait! As the one challenged, I claim the first shot. KIRK: We shoot together. TRELANE: It's my game and my rules, but if you need to be persuaded. (aims at Spock) KIRK: All right. SPOCK: Captain. (Trelane takes aim, then fires his pistol at the ceiling instead) TRELANE: And now, Captain, how do you have the expression? My fate is in your hands. (So Kirk shoots the mirror and everything goes hay-wire in the room) TRELANE: You've ruined everything! SPOCK: The machine. DESALLE: Captain, subspace interference is clearing. KIRK: Try to contact the ship. TRELANE: Oh, the remarkable treachery of the species. KIRK: Go on, Trelane. Look at it. It's over. Your power is blanked out. You're finished. TRELANE: You've earned my wrath. Go back. Go back to your ship, all of you, and prepare. You're all dead men. You especially, Captain. (He goes to his mirror, and vanishes) KIRK: Trelane! Everyone, we're getting out of here. Now. This is the Captain. Commence beaming up. Maximum speed.
[Bridge]
(The men are already at their posts when the women arrive, and Yeoman Ross hasn't even got changed yet) KIRK: Set course for Colony Beta Six. SULU: Laid in, sir. KIRK: Full power acceleration from orbit, Mister Scott. SCOTT [OC]: Full power, sir. KIRK: Emergency warp at the earliest possible moment, Mister Sulu. SULU: Standing by to warp, sir. UHURA: Shall I make a full report to Spacefleet Command, sir? KIRK: Not yet. They may trace our beam. Wait until we're well out of range. SPOCK: Can we know his range is, Captain? KIRK: We can take an educated guess. At the point we entered their solar system. UHURA: Still no sign of pursuit. Instruments clear, sir. KIRK: Good. ROSS: May I take a moment to change? KIRK: Yes, I think you might. Turn in your glass slippers. The ball is over. ROSS: Gladly, Captain. KIRK: Hard to believe it ever happened. SULU: Captain, we're about to warp. DESALLE: Large body ahead. (The planet swims back onto the viewscreen) SPOCK: Collision course. KIRK: Hard to port, Mister Sulu. SPOCK: That was the planet Gothos, Captain. KIRK: Gothos? Mister Sulu, have we been going in circles? SULU: No, sir. All instruments show on course. SPOCK: Gothos again, Captain. KIRK: Hard over, Mister Sulu. SPOCK: Cat and mouse game. KIRK: With us as the mouse. DESALLE: There it is again. Dead ahead. KIRK: Ninety degrees to starboard, Mister Sulu. SULU: Turning, Captain. Nut not veering off from it. KIRK: Ninety degrees sub-port, Mister Sulu. Adjust. SULU: Turn completed, and still accelerating toward the planet. SPOCK: Or it toward us. KIRK: Decelerate into orbit. Prepare transporter room. MCCOY: Captain, you're not beaming down. KIRK: Yes, I am, Doctor McCoy. I am going to see our playful Mister Trelane and whatever it takes to make him give up our ship. Stand by communications. Mister Spock. If you don't receive a message from me within the hour, leave the vicinity at once. No turning back.
[Courtroom]
(The bright drawing-room is now an austere courtroom, with Trelane as the gowned and be-wigged judge) TRELANE: The prisoner may approach the bench. KIRK: Trelane. TRELANE: Any attempt at demonstrations will weigh against you with the court, and this time my instrumentality is unbreakable. (A silhouette of a noose appears on the wall behind Kirk) KIRK: I've had enough of your games. TRELANE: Oh, the absurdity of these inferior beings. (reading from the charge sheet) And now, Captain James Kirk, you stand accused of the high crime of treason against a superior authority, conspiracy, and the attempt to foment insurrection. How do you plead? KIRK: I haven't come to plead in your court, Trelane. TRELANE: I warn you. Anything you might say has already been taken down in evidence against you. KIRK: I've come for one purpose. To get back my ship. TRELANE: Irrelevant. KIRK: We've made you angry with our will to survive, haven't we? TRELANE: Uncalled for. KIRK: Then vent your anger on me alone. I was the one who led the others. I was the one who shot out your mirror machine. TRELANE: And did you really think that was the only medium of instrumentality at my command? KIRK: I took that chance. I'm willing to pay the price for chancing wrong. TRELANE: Oh, then you do admit to the charge? KIRK: Yes, anything! Just allow the Enterprise to continue its journey. You pompous TRELANE: Immaterial! (Kirk leaves the dock and goes nose to nose with Trelane) KIRK: Those people have done you no harm. TRELANE: Inadmissible! KIRK: We're living beings, not playthings for your amusement. TRELANE: Silence! This trial is over. You are guilty. On all counts, you are guilty. And according to your own laws, this court has no choice in fixing punishment. You will hang by the neck, Captain, until you are dead, dead, dead!
Captain's Log, Stardate 2126.3. First Officer Spock reporting. Still no word from Captain Kirk on the surface below us. Waiting time is almost up. I will soon be forced to attempt departure as per instructions.
[Courtroom]
TRELANE: Until a moment ago, I didn't think it possible, but it was. (takes off his robes and wig) I did it. I was angry. I actually experienced genuine rage. This experiment has been successful. KIRK: I'm glad you weren't disappointed. TRELANE: Why, Captain, you're still angry. Would that I could have sustained that moment. Ah, no matter. Do you have a last request? KIRK: Trelane, if you think I'm going to cheerfully and obediently stick my head in that noose TRELANE: You still haven't learned. You have no choice. Oh, this is becoming quite tiresome. It's all so very easy. KIRK: That's your problem, Trelane. Everything is easy. It's given you a bad habit. You're not aware of it, but you have it. You don't think, Trelane. That's your problem. You miss opportunities, like your anger before and mine right now. Oh, you enjoy it, but you couldn't have accomplished it without me, and you know why? Because you're a bumbling, inept fool. TRELANE: Take care, now. KIRK: Here you have an opportunity to experience something really unique, and you're wasting it. You want to commit murder? Go ahead, but where's the sport in a simple hanging? TRELANE: The sport? KIRK: Yes. The terror of murder. The suspense. The fun. TRELANE: Oh, I'm intrigued. Go ahead, Captain. What do you suggest? KIRK: A personal conflict between us. Not like the duel before, but the real thing. The stakes, a human life. Mine. TRELANE: (waving a sword around) Yes! Yes! KIRK: That's the idea. TRELANE: Oh, then you approve? KIRK: Yes, but you can do better than that. There's still not enough sport in just killing me with a sword. TRELANE: I know. That will be dull. We'll have to have something more fanciful. Let me see. A hunt. A royal hunt. Predator against predator. Now, you may go hide in the forest anywhere you like and I shall seek. How does that strike you, Captain? KIRK: It strikes me very well. But you'll have to make it worth my while, Trelane. Why not up the stakes? TRELANE: The stakes? KIRK: Yes. While we're playing our game, free my ship. Let it continue on its way. In return, I'll give you a contest you'll remember. TRELANE: Always back to your ship. Oh well. If it will add spice to the pursuit, I accept your terms, Captain.
[Planet surface]
(Kirk is outside the building) TRELANE [OC]: Remember, you must try not to let me find you too quickly. KIRK: Let me notify the Enterprise that it can go. TRELANE [OC]: At your convenience. KIRK; Enterprise. Enterprise, this is Kirk. Can you hear me? (static) Get the ship away as fast as you can. I'll try and give you the time you need. Can you hear me? (Trelane appears out of thin air) TRELANE: Ah-ha! (Kirk dodges him and runs into the shrubs) KIRK; Enterprise. TRELANE: Ah ha! Captain Kirk. You must try harder, Captain. This is too easy. (They keep dodging amongst the shrubs) KIRK: Enterprise. Enterprise, can you hear me? (Kirk takes an opportunity to get Trelane's sword off him, but when he takes a swing at his foe he just disappears and reappears again) TRELANE: Touche, Captain. Touche. I must confess you scored first. But after all, I never played this game before. (A sword appears in his hand) TRELANE: And now let's have at it again! (Kirk fences Trelane with a branch, but it breaks and he has to run off, leaving Trelane laughing)
[Outside the building]
(The door will not open) KIRK: Enterprise. Enterprise. TRELANE: Ah-ha! Tallyho! (iron grids pen Kirk in) You made a noble fight of it, Captain. KIRK: Remember, Trelane. You promised to let my ship go. TRELANE: Yes, but this is such sport. I must fetch all the others back to play. So this is victory. It has a sweet taste. Down, Captain. On your knees! KIRK: You haven't won, Trelane. TRELANE: I have. I could run you through! KIRK: But you haven't won anything. TRELANE: On your knees, Captain! KIRK: No! Does it still taste as sweet? TRELANE: I order you. You've been beaten. KIRK: But I'm not defeated. TRELANE: I order you! I order you! (Kirk disarms him and snaps the sword across his knee) You broke it! You broke my sword! KIRK: You've got a lot to learn about winning, Trelane. TRELANE: You dare to defy me! KIRK: In fact, you've got a lot to learn about everything, haven't you? (Kirk slaps his face) TRELANE: I'll fix you for that! You cheated! You haven't played the game right. I'll show you! MOTHER: Trelane. (Two green flashing lights appear, and Trelane steps into their spotlight) TRELANE: No! No. You said I could have this planet. FATHER: This has gone far enough. TRELANE: You always stop me when I'm having fun. FATHER: You're disobedient and cruel. We've told you before. MOTHER: Time to come in now, Trelane. TRELANE: But I don't want to come in, and I won't. I'm a general, and I won't listen to you. FATHER: Enough, Trelane. Come along. TRELANE: But why? I didn't do anything wrong. I was just playing. FATHER: We said, come along. TRELANE: But I haven't finished studying my predators yet. FATHER: This is not studying them. MOTHER: If you cannot take proper care of your pets, you cannot have them at all. TRELANE: Oh, but I was winning. I was winning. FATHER: They're beings, Trelane. They have spirit. They're superior. TRELANE: No, no. You saw. MOTHER: You'll grow up, Trelane. You'll understand. Now come along. TRELANE: Oh, but you said I could. You promised. I never have any fun. FATHER: Stop that nonsense at once, or you'll not be permitted to make any more planets. TRELANE: Oh, but you saw. I was winning. I would have won. Honest. FATHER: No, Trelane. MOTHER: No, Trelane. (The spotlight contracts, and Trelane gradually vanishes) TRELANE: I would have. I would have. I would have. I would. I would. I would. I would. FATHER: Captain, we regret that the life paths of yourself and your companions have been disturbed. KIRK: Who are you? Who is Trelane? MOTHER: You must forgive our child. The fault is ours for indulging him too much. He will be punished. FATHER: We would not have let him intercept you had we realised your vulnerability. MOTHER: Forgive us, Captain. We will maintain your life-support conditions while you return to your ship. Please accept our apologies. (The lights disappear) KIRK: Captain to Enterprise. Captain to Enterprise. SPOCK [OC]: Captain, we're receiving you. KIRK: Beam me up, Mister Spock. We're free to go.
[Bridge]
SULU: Warping down, Captain. Our warp factor four. DESALLE: Approach channels clear, Captain. UHURA: Colony Beta Six clears us for normal approach, sir. KIRK: Normal orbit approach procedures, Mister Sulu. SPOCK: Captain. KIRK: Mister Spock. Still thinking about Trelane, is that it? SPOCK: For the record, how do we describe him? Pure mentality? Force of intellect? Embodied energy? Superbeing? He must be classified, sir. KIRK: God of war, Mister Spock. SPOCK: I hardly find that fitting. KIRK: Then a small boy, and a very naughty one at that. SPOCK: It will make a strange entry in the library banks. KIRK: Then he was a very strange small boy. One the other hand, he was probably doing things comparable to the same mischievous pranks you played when you were a boy. SPOCK: Mischievous pranks, Captain? KIRK: Yes. Dipping little girls' curls in inkwells. Stealing apples from the neighbours' trees. Tying cans on (He's stopped by the look of horrified incredulity on Spock's face.) KIRK: Forgive me, Mister Spock. I should have known better. SPOCK: I shall be delighted, Captain.
[Bridge]
(A Yeoman is distributing coffees when McCoy enters) DESALLE: All clear ahead, Captain. The sensors indicate zero register. KIRK: Forward readings, Mister Spock. SPOCK: Gravimetric readings, no significant change, zero space density. KIRK: Ahead warp factor three, Mister Sulu. Colony Beta Six wants their supplies. Let's get across this void in a hurry. MCCOY: Void, star desert. The word conjures up pictures of dunes, oases, mirages. KIRK: Sunlight, palm trees. We're nine hundred light years from that kind of desert, Bones. SPOCK: The precise meaning of the word desert is a waterless, barren wasteland. I fail to understand your romantic nostalgia for such a place. MCCOY: That doesn't surprise me, Mister Spock. I can't imagine a mirage ever disturbing those mathematically perfect brain waves of yours. SPOCK: Thank you, Doctor McCoy. Moving on schedule into quadrant nine oh four. Beta Six is eight days distant. KIRK: Something, Mister Spock? SPOCK: Unusual, Captain. I'm now getting a sizable space-displacement reading. KIRK: Can you verify that, Navigator? DESALLE: No, sir. Forward sweeps are negative. Wait. Verified, sir. We must be in some sort of light warp or we'd have picked it up earlier. KIRK: Put it on visual. (A purple globe appears on the viewscreen) DESALLE: Iron-silica body, planet sized, magnitude one E. We'll be passing close. SPOCK: Inconceivable this body has gone unnoted on all our records. KIRK: And yet, here it is. No time to investigate. Science stations, gather data for computer banks. Uhura, notify the discovery on subspace radio. UHURA: Strong interference on subspace, Captain. The planet must be a natural radio source. KIRK: Let's get out of its range. Veer forty degrees to starboard, Mister Sulu. SULU: Forty degrees. (He reaches for the switch, and sways as if dizzy, then stands up and vanishes) KIRK: Sulu! (He dashes to Sulu's station, then suddenly stops and disappears too) DESALLE: Mister Spock, they're gone! SPOCK: Emergency! Full reverse power!
Ship's log Stardate 2124.5. First Officer Spock reporting for Captain James Kirk. We are orbiting the lone unrecorded planet in the star desert. For four hours, we have made every possible instrument sweep, but Captain Kirk and Helmsman Sulu remain unaccounted for. I have placed the ship on red alert.
[Bridge]
(Enterprise is now orbiting a red planet with white whispy clouds) SCOTT: We've searched again from stem to stern. If they're not down on that planet, they're nowhere. DESALLE: No sign of human life on the surface, sir. Unless the instruments aren't functioning. SPOCK: Function is normal. Continuous sensor sweeps. Lieutenant Uhura, have you checked all wave bands? UHURA: All of them, Mister Spock. No response. DESALLE: With due respect, sir. Request permission to transport to the surface immediately and carry out a search. MCCOY: I second DeSalle's request. What are we waiting for? SPOCK: The decision will be mine, Doctor. I have the responsibility for your safety. (to Sulu's replacement) Mister Jaeger, describe your geophysical findings for the surface below. JAEGER: No detectable soil or vegetation. Extremely hot, toxic atmosphere swept by tornadic storm. Continuous volcanic eruptions. Deadly to any lifeforms such as we know it without oxygen and life-support systems. SPOCK: Estimate survival time of two unprotected individuals down there. JAEGER: Not very long. UHURA: Mister Spock. Look. (Words are appearing on the monitor above her head, in gothic script. Spock reads them out loud) SPOCK: Greetings and felicitations. Hmm. Send this, Lieutenant. USS Enterprise to signaler on planet surface. Identify self. (The reply comes up on the monitor) SPOCK: Hip hip hoorah? And I believe it's pronounced tally ho. DESALLE: Some kind of a joke, sir? SPOCK: I'll entertain any theories, Mister DeSalle. Any at all. MCCOY: One thing is certain. Obviously there's life on that planet. SPOCK: You're quite correct, Doctor. Prepare transporter room. SCOTT: Request assignment to the search party, sir. SPOCK: No, Mister Scott. Neither you nor I can be spared here. Mister DeSalle, equip the landing party with full communications, armament, and life-support gear. Mister Jaeger, your geophysical knowledge may be crucial down there. Doctor McCoy will accompany. If those peculiar signals are coming from Captain Kirk or Lieutenant Sulu, their rationality is in question. Dismissed.
[Transporter room]
UHURA [OC]: No more messages from below, sir, but I've locked onto their original source. SPOCK: Very good. Transmit coordinates to Mister Scott. Once on the planet's surface, you'll establish contact with us immediately. Use the laser beacon if necessary. Ready, Scott? SCOTT: Ready, Mister Spock. SPOCK: Activate.
[Planet surface]
(The landing party arrive on grass, amidst trees and shrubs. Jaeger starts scanning immediately.) MCCOY: Where are your storms, Jaeger? JAEGER: Atmosphere exactly the same as ours. (He takes of his oxygen mask, sniffs, and signals that the other two can do the same.) DESALLE: DeSalle to Enterprise. DeSalle to Enterprise. It doesn't function. We're cut off. MCCOY: (trying his own communicator) No response. DESALLE: (to Jaeger) Keep trying with yours. Something's blocking the beacon. I've got to find open ground. (He wanders off through the shrubs) DESALLE: Mister Jaeger! McCoy! (They join him to see a stone building in the gothic style, with an iron-bound oak door. They approach cautiously, and enter)
[Drawing Room]
(The place is stuffed full of things. A bust of Napoleon on a stand, a suit of armour, a globe, tapestry and swords and shields on the walls, an open fire, a harpsichord and a large mirror) MCCOY: In the name of heaven, where are we? (They head down steps into the room, past the Salt Monster in an alcove) DESALLE: Look. (Sulu and Kirk are displayed in a mini-minstrel's gallery. McCoy scans them.) MCCOY: There's no reading. They're like waxworks figures. (The main door slams shut, and there's a man in an embroidered coat playing the harpsichord) TRELANE: I must say, they make a perfectly exquisite display pair, but I suppose you want them back now. (He waves his hand and the two men come back to life) SULU: Where are we? TRELANE: Welcome to an island of peace on my stormy little planet of Gothos. KIRK: What happened? Fill me in. MCCOY: You disappeared from the bridge after Sulu. We've been looking for you for four hours. TRELANE: You must excuse my whimsical way of fetching you here, but when I saw you passing by I simply could not resist. KIRK: I'm Captain James Kirk of the United Starship Enterprise. TRELANE: Ah, so you're the Captain of these brave lads. My greetings and felicitations, Captain. So good of you and your officers to drop in. Absolutely smashing. KIRK: Who are you? Where do you come from? General Trelane, retired. At your service, sirs. My home is your home. (He goes back to his playing) DESALLE: We've lost contact with the ship, Captain. We're trapped here. TRELANE: I can't tell you how delighted I am to have visitors from the very planet that I've made my hobby. Yes, but according to my observations, I didn't think you capable of such voyages. JAEGER: Notice the period, Captain. Nine hundred light years from Earth. It's what might be seen through a viewing scope if it were powerful enough. TRELANE: Ah, yes. I've been looking in on the doings on your lively little Earth. KIRK: Then you've been looking in on the doings nine hundred years past. TRELANE: Oh, really? Have I made an error in time? How fallible of me. Oh, I did so want to make you feel at home. I'm quite proud of the detail. KIRK: General Trelane. TRELANE: Retired, sir. Just Squire Trelane now. And you may call me Squire. Yes, I rather fancy that. KIRK: For what purpose have you imprisoned us here? TRELANE: Imprisoned? Nonsense. You're my guests. You see, I just finished my studies of your curious and fascinating society. You came by at the most propitious moment. I want to know all about your campaigns, your battles, your missions of conquest. KIRK: Our missions are peaceful, not for conquest. When we do battle, it is only because we have no choice. TRELANE: Ah, but that's the official story, eh? KIRK: I must ask you to let us go back to our ship. TRELANE: I wouldn't hear of it. You shall join me in a repast. I want to learn all about your feelings on war and killing and conquest. That sort of thing. Do you know that you're one of the few predator species that preys even on itself? (Kirk returns to the main group, where DeSalle has his hand on his phaser) KIRK: Not yet. Put it on stun, not to kill, DeSalle. TRELANE: DeSalle, did you say? Un vrai Francais? DESALLE: My ancestry is French, yes. TRELANE: Ah, monsieur. Vive la gloire. Vive Napoleon. You know, I admire your Napoleon very much. KIRK: This is Mister DeSalle, our navigator. Doctor McCoy, our medical officer. Mister Sulu, our helmsman, and Carl Jaeger, meteorologist. TRELANE: Welcome, good physicianer and honourable sir. (bows low) SULU: Is he kidding? TRELANE: Und Offizier Jaeger, und der deutsche Soldat, nein? (gives a little Prussian salute then marches around) Eins, zwei, drei, vier. Gehen vir mit dem Schiessgewehr. JAEGER: I'm a scientist, not a military man. TRELANE: Oh come now. We're all military men under the skin. And how we do love our uniforms. (Trelane is admiring himself in his mirror when he spots DeSalle raising his weapon, and with a wave of the hand, stops him)TRELANE: What an interesting weapon you've got there. Do let me see it. (He takes it out of DeSalle's hand, and he can move again) TRELANE:: Yes. Now let me see. How does this work? Ah, yes. This won't kill, and this will. (He fires it at the Salt Monster, who is disintegrated) TRELANE: Oh, how marvellous! (destroys another exhibit) Devastating! Why, this could kill millions. (Kirk takes it off him) KIRK: Who will you start with, my crew? Are we your next targets? TRELANE: Oh, how absolutely typical of your species. You don't understand something, so you become fearful. Now, do let me anticipate your next question. You want to know how I've managed all of this. KIRK: That's correct. TRELANE: We, meaning I and others, have, to state the matter briefly, perfected a system by which matter can be transferred to energy and back to matter again. KIRK: Like the transporter system aboard the Enterprise. TRELANE: Oh, a crude example of an infinitely more sophisticated process. You see, we not only transport matter from place to place, but we can alter its shape at will. KIRK: This drawing room, did you create it by rearranging matter on this planet? TRELANE: Quite. KIRK: I see. How did you manage TRELANE: Dear Captain, your inquiries are becoming tiresome. I want you to be happy. Free yourself of care. Let's enjoy ourselves in the spirit of martial good fellowship. KIRK: Come on, let's go. We're getting out of here. TRELANE: Tut, tut, tut. You're being quite rude. You can't go. Apparently, you need another demonstration of my authority. Yes, quite. (Kirk vanishes from the room and is in the natural atmosphere of the planet, choking on the fumes. Everyone in the room can hear him. Trelane brings him back) Now, that's a sample of the atmosphere of this planet outside my kindly influence. Now, you will behave yourself hereafter, won't you? Or I shall be very, very angry.
Captain's Log Stardate 2125.7. Science Officer Spock reporting for Captain Kirk. We have completed fourteenth orbit of this planet without establishing contact with our missing officers or the parties sent to find them. Subspace communications remain blocked. However, by diverting impulse power to our sensors, we have made them operable, and we have detected one small area on the surface which seems relatively stable.
[Bridge]
SCOTT: Aye, it's there, Mister Spock. Peaceful as Earth, but how do you explain it? SPOCK: I don't, Mister Scott. It simply exists. Artificial perhaps, or a freak of nature. The fact remains that life can exist in that area. SCOTT: Aye, it could, but it couldn't move around much. SPOCK: Apply a fine tuning on our sensors. Locate any life forms in that stable area. SCOTT: If we find any, it doesn't follow that it would be our people. SPOCK: Affirmative. But if the Captain is down there and alive, that's where he'll have to be. We'll attempt to transport up any living beings our sensors detect. SCOTT: Shooting in the dark, Mister Spock? SPOCK: Or stand by and do nothing, Mister Scott.
[Drawing Room]
(Trelane is showing off his decor) And this, of course, is an array of your battle flags and pennants dating back to the Crusades, to Hannibal's invaders, the Grecian war galleys, and the hordes of Persia. Can't you imagine it, Captain? The thousands of men marching off to their deaths, singing beneath these banners. Doesn't it make your blood run swiftly? (Then he goes back to his music) SULU: Captain, where could he possibly come from? Who is this maniac? MCCOY: Better say, what is he? I monitored him, and what I found was unbelievable. KIRK: Not alive? MCCOY: Not in the way we define life. No trace. Zero. SULU: You mean, it shows he's dead? MCCOY: It doesn't even show that he exists at all, alive or dead. JAEGER: Notice the wood fire, Captain? Burning steadily, ember bed glowing, and it doesn't give off any heat at all. KIRK: Fire without heat, mistaking all this for present day Earth without taking into account the time differential. Whatever we're dealing with, he certainly isn't all knowledgeable. He makes mistakes. TRELANE: Discussing deep laid plans, I'll wager. I cannot wait to see them evolve. KIRK: Trelane, we haven't planned TRELANE: Tut tut. Do not think that I deplore your martial virtue of deception and stratagem. Quite the contrary. I have nothing but admiration for your whole species. KIRK: If your admiration is genuine, you must have respect for our sense of duty too. Our ship has need of us. We have tasks to perform. TRELANE: Oh, I can't let you go now. I was getting a bit bored until you came. You must stay. I insist. KIRK: For how long? TRELANE: Until this is over, of course. KIRK: Until what is over? TRELANE: Dear Captain, so many questions. Make the most of an uncertain future. Enjoy yourself today. Tomorrow may never come at all. KIRK: Trelane, even if we wanted to stay, our companions are missing us. TRELANE: Yes, I must experience your sense of concern, your grief at the separation. KIRK: There are four hundred men and women aboard that ship. TRELANE: Women? Do you mean that you actually have members of the fairer sex among your crew? Oh, how charming. And they must be all very beautiful. And I shall be so very gallant to them. Here, let me fetch them down at once. KIRK: (grabbing his arm) No. TRELANE: No? KIRK: This game has gone on long enough. Those are crucial operating personnel. You can't TRELANE: I can do anything I want. I should think you would have realised that by now. MCCOY: Captain, receiving a transporter signal. TRELANE: Transporter signal? What does he mean? You must tell me! KIRK: It means, Trelane, the party's over, thanks to Mister Spock. TRELANE: (as the group is beamed away) Wait! I won't have this! I haven't dismissed you yet. Stop! I won't have this!
[Transporter room]
KIRK: Everyone to stations. Report, Mister Spock. How were our scanners able to penetrate that radiation field? SPOCK: They didn't, Captain. Not clearly. We merely beamed up all life forms in a given area. MCCOY: Which means Trelane is not a life form as we know it, or he'd be beaming through now. KIRK: Prepare to warp out of here at once. Maximum speed.
[Bridge]
ROSS: (a blonde yeoman) Oh, Captain, I was so worried. KIRK: Scotty, we're going to need every ounce of your engines. We're going to put a hundred million miles between us and that madman. SCOTT [OC]: Aye aye, sir. MCCOY: I'm quaking, but I don't know if it's from laughter or terror. UHURA: Doctor, what was it? What was down there? MCCOY: Well, it was a. Oh, forget it. ROSS: Look. (Trelane has appeared on the Bridge) TRELANE: Where are all your weapons, Captain? Don't you display your weapons? KIRK: Trelane. TRELANE: Don't fret, Captain. I'm only a bit upset with you, but this Mister Spock you mentioned, the one responsible for that unseemly, impudent act of taking you from me, which is he? SPOCK: I am Spock. TRELANE: Surely not an officer. He isn't quite human, is he? SPOCK: My father is from the planet Vulcan. TRELANE: And are its natives predatory? SPOCK: Not generally. But there have been exceptions. TRELANE: Really? You will see to his punishment? KIRK: On the contrary. I commend his action. TRELANE: But I don't like him. KIRK: Get off my ship. TRELANE: Oh, rot! You're all going back with me. KIRK: We're not going anywhere. TRELANE: Nonsense. I have an absolutely enchanting sojourn on Gothos planned for all of you, and you shan't spoil it for me. Anyway, the decor of my drawing room is much more appropriate
[Drawing Room]
(A lot of the clutter in the middle of the room has been replaced by a fully furnished dining table and six high-backed chairs. Sulu and DeSalle are already seated)TRELANE: And tasteful. Don't you agree? SULU: No. TRELANE: But so much more fitting, honourable sir. DESALLE: (getting up) You KIRK: DeSalle. (Trelane 'stops' him) TRELANE: Oh, what primitive fury. Why, he's the very soul of sublime savagery. KIRK: Trelane, let him go. (he does, and Sulu grabs DeSalle) SULU: We haven't even got our phasers. TRELANE: Yes, of course. I forget that I shouldn't frighten you too much. But I warn you, you can't provoke me again. Come, everyone. Let's forget your bad manners. Let's be full of merry talk and sallies of wit. We have victuals to delight the palate and brave company to delight the mind. Come, Doctor, do partake. Ah, you've been quite derelict in your social duties, Captain. You haven't introduced me to the charming contingent of your crew. KIRK: This is General Trelane. TRELANE: Retired. But if you prefer, you may address me as the lonely Squire of Gothos, dear ladies. KIRK: Lieutenant Uhura of communications. TRELANE: Ah a Nubian prize. (he kisses her hand) Taken on one of your raids of conquest, no doubt, Captain. KIRK: No doubt. TRELANE: She has the melting eyes of the queen of Sheba. The same lovely colouring. And this. Is this the face that launched a thousand ships and burnt the topless towers of Ilium? Fair Helen, make me immortal with a kiss. KIRK: (holding Trelane back) Yeoman Teresa Ross. I believe you have met our science officer Mister Spock. TRELANE: You do realise, don't you, that it's in deference to the Captain that I brought you here? SPOCK: Affirmative. TRELANE: I don't know if I like your tone. It's most challenging. That's what you're doing, challenging me? SPOCK: I object to you. I object to intellect without discipline. I object to power without constructive purpose. TRELANE: Oh, Mister Spock, you do have one saving grace after all. You're ill-mannered. The human half of you, no doubt. (to Ross) Ah, come, my little wood nymph. Won't you dance with your swain? (to Uhura) Give us some sprightly music, my dear girl. UHURA: I don't know how to play this. TRELANE: Of course you do. (And she does, as Trelane dances with Ross) SULU: Captain, how far do we go along with this charade? KIRK: Until we can think our way out. Meanwhile, we accept his hospitality. MCCOY: You should taste his food. Straw would taste better than his meat, and water a hundred times better than his brandy. Nothing has any taste at all. SPOCK: It may be unappetizing, Doctor, but it is very logical. MCCOY: There's that magic word again. Does your logic find this fascinating, Mister Spock? SPOCK: Fascinating is a word I use for the unexpected. In this case, I should think interesting would suffice. KIRK: You don't find this unexpected, Mister Spock? SPOCK: That his food has no taste, his wine no flavour? No. It simply means that Trelane knows all of the Earth forms, but none of the substance. KIRK: And if he's fallible, he can't be all powerful. Which means he has something helping him. SPOCK: Evidently. KIRK: A machine? A device? Something which does these things for him. TRELANE: Ah, my dear, don't we make a graceful pair? Except for one small detail. That dress hardly matches this charming scene. (Suddenly she's wearing an empire line dress with feathers in her hair. Idealised Jane Austen) TRELANE: Ah, yes, that's more what we want. The dashing warrior and his elegant lady. KIRK: That mirror. It's part of his audience, his ego. He never wanders from it. SPOCK: Is it ego, or something else? KIRK: Explain. SPOCK: The mirror. KIRK: What about it? SPOCK: You noted yourself he never gets very far from it. I suppose it could be vanity. KIRK: No, no, Mister Spock, that's not the reason. What kind of a machine could do these things? SPOCK: A machine with the ability to turn energy into matter guided by thought waves. It would have a very complex memory bank, and would be extremely sophisticated. KIRK; Like a computer, only much more. Could the machine that maintains the environment in this immediate area be kept in this house? SPOCK: I think not. A device capable of keeping out this planet's natural atmosphere would be immense. KIRK: Good. I agree. That leaves me free . SPOCK: Free, Captain? KIRK: If I'm not mistaken, Mister Spock, I think I can turn his lights off at the source. (raises his voice) Don't be too upset by what you see, gentlemen. After all, his actions are those of an immature, unbalanced mind. TRELANE: I overheard that remark, Captain. I'm afraid I'll have to dispense with you. KIRK: You only heard part of it. I just started. TRELANE: Oh? KIRK: Yes. I want you to leave my crewmen alone. I want you to leave my crewwomen alone too. (to Ross) You're not to dance with him. I don't like it. TRELANE: Does it actually make you angry, Captain? KIRK: (removing one of her long gloves) I don't want you accepting his gifts, either. ROSS: Captain, please don't do this. TRELANE: Well, I do believe the dear Captain is jealous of me. KIRK: I don't care what you believe, just keep your hands off her! TRELANE: Oh, how curiously human. How wonderfully barbaric. KIRK: I've had enough of your insulting attentions to her. TRELANE: Of course you have. After all, that's the root of the matter, isn't it? You fight for the attention, the admiration, the possession of women. KIRK: If it's fighting that you want, (slaps Trelane) you may have it. TRELANE: Are you challenging me to a duel? KIRK: If you have the courage. TRELANE: Oh, this is better than I'd planned. I shall not shirk an affair of honour. (He gets a box from the mantle-shelf. It contains a pair of duelling pistols) TRELANE: A matched set. Just like the pair that slew your heroic Alexander Hamilton. And Captain, I never miss.
Captain's Log, stardate 2126.1. Delayed report. The whole bridge crew are the unwilling guests of the creature who calls himself Trelane. We are weaponless, powerless, and our only hope of escape with the Enterprise lies in playing his games. I've decided to make my move with the field of honour game, and everything depends on my one chance with the ancient duelling pistol.
[Drawing room]
TRELANE: Oh, how fascinating. I'm party to an actual human duel. KIRK: Are you ready? TRELANE: Quite ready, sir. We shall test each other's courage and then, and then we shall see. KIRK: Enough talk. Let's get on with it. TRELANE: As you will, sir. Honour will be served, eh? Oh, wait! As the one challenged, I claim the first shot. KIRK: We shoot together. TRELANE: It's my game and my rules, but if you need to be persuaded. (aims at Spock) KIRK: All right. SPOCK: Captain. (Trelane takes aim, then fires his pistol at the ceiling instead) TRELANE: And now, Captain, how do you have the expression? My fate is in your hands. (So Kirk shoots the mirror and everything goes hay-wire in the room) TRELANE: You've ruined everything! SPOCK: The machine. DESALLE: Captain, subspace interference is clearing. KIRK: Try to contact the ship. TRELANE: Oh, the remarkable treachery of the species. KIRK: Go on, Trelane. Look at it. It's over. Your power is blanked out. You're finished. TRELANE: You've earned my wrath. Go back. Go back to your ship, all of you, and prepare. You're all dead men. You especially, Captain. (He goes to his mirror, and vanishes) KIRK: Trelane! Everyone, we're getting out of here. Now. This is the Captain. Commence beaming up. Maximum speed.
[Bridge]
(The men are already at their posts when the women arrive, and Yeoman Ross hasn't even got changed yet) KIRK: Set course for Colony Beta Six. SULU: Laid in, sir. KIRK: Full power acceleration from orbit, Mister Scott. SCOTT [OC]: Full power, sir. KIRK: Emergency warp at the earliest possible moment, Mister Sulu. SULU: Standing by to warp, sir. UHURA: Shall I make a full report to Spacefleet Command, sir? KIRK: Not yet. They may trace our beam. Wait until we're well out of range. SPOCK: Can we know his range is, Captain? KIRK: We can take an educated guess. At the point we entered their solar system. UHURA: Still no sign of pursuit. Instruments clear, sir. KIRK: Good. ROSS: May I take a moment to change? KIRK: Yes, I think you might. Turn in your glass slippers. The ball is over. ROSS: Gladly, Captain. KIRK: Hard to believe it ever happened. SULU: Captain, we're about to warp. DESALLE: Large body ahead. (The planet swims back onto the viewscreen) SPOCK: Collision course. KIRK: Hard to port, Mister Sulu. SPOCK: That was the planet Gothos, Captain. KIRK: Gothos? Mister Sulu, have we been going in circles? SULU: No, sir. All instruments show on course. SPOCK: Gothos again, Captain. KIRK: Hard over, Mister Sulu. SPOCK: Cat and mouse game. KIRK: With us as the mouse. DESALLE: There it is again. Dead ahead. KIRK: Ninety degrees to starboard, Mister Sulu. SULU: Turning, Captain. Nut not veering off from it. KIRK: Ninety degrees sub-port, Mister Sulu. Adjust. SULU: Turn completed, and still accelerating toward the planet. SPOCK: Or it toward us. KIRK: Decelerate into orbit. Prepare transporter room. MCCOY: Captain, you're not beaming down. KIRK: Yes, I am, Doctor McCoy. I am going to see our playful Mister Trelane and whatever it takes to make him give up our ship. Stand by communications. Mister Spock. If you don't receive a message from me within the hour, leave the vicinity at once. No turning back.
[Courtroom]
(The bright drawing-room is now an austere courtroom, with Trelane as the gowned and be-wigged judge) TRELANE: The prisoner may approach the bench. KIRK: Trelane. TRELANE: Any attempt at demonstrations will weigh against you with the court, and this time my instrumentality is unbreakable. (A silhouette of a noose appears on the wall behind Kirk) KIRK: I've had enough of your games. TRELANE: Oh, the absurdity of these inferior beings. (reading from the charge sheet) And now, Captain James Kirk, you stand accused of the high crime of treason against a superior authority, conspiracy, and the attempt to foment insurrection. How do you plead? KIRK: I haven't come to plead in your court, Trelane. TRELANE: I warn you. Anything you might say has already been taken down in evidence against you. KIRK: I've come for one purpose. To get back my ship. TRELANE: Irrelevant. KIRK: We've made you angry with our will to survive, haven't we? TRELANE: Uncalled for. KIRK: Then vent your anger on me alone. I was the one who led the others. I was the one who shot out your mirror machine. TRELANE: And did you really think that was the only medium of instrumentality at my command? KIRK: I took that chance. I'm willing to pay the price for chancing wrong. TRELANE: Oh, then you do admit to the charge? KIRK: Yes, anything! Just allow the Enterprise to continue its journey. You pompous TRELANE: Immaterial! (Kirk leaves the dock and goes nose to nose with Trelane) KIRK: Those people have done you no harm. TRELANE: Inadmissible! KIRK: We're living beings, not playthings for your amusement. TRELANE: Silence! This trial is over. You are guilty. On all counts, you are guilty. And according to your own laws, this court has no choice in fixing punishment. You will hang by the neck, Captain, until you are dead, dead, dead!
Captain's Log, Stardate 2126.3. First Officer Spock reporting. Still no word from Captain Kirk on the surface below us. Waiting time is almost up. I will soon be forced to attempt departure as per instructions.
[Courtroom]
TRELANE: Until a moment ago, I didn't think it possible, but it was. (takes off his robes and wig) I did it. I was angry. I actually experienced genuine rage. This experiment has been successful. KIRK: I'm glad you weren't disappointed. TRELANE: Why, Captain, you're still angry. Would that I could have sustained that moment. Ah, no matter. Do you have a last request? KIRK: Trelane, if you think I'm going to cheerfully and obediently stick my head in that noose TRELANE: You still haven't learned. You have no choice. Oh, this is becoming quite tiresome. It's all so very easy. KIRK: That's your problem, Trelane. Everything is easy. It's given you a bad habit. You're not aware of it, but you have it. You don't think, Trelane. That's your problem. You miss opportunities, like your anger before and mine right now. Oh, you enjoy it, but you couldn't have accomplished it without me, and you know why? Because you're a bumbling, inept fool. TRELANE: Take care, now. KIRK: Here you have an opportunity to experience something really unique, and you're wasting it. You want to commit murder? Go ahead, but where's the sport in a simple hanging? TRELANE: The sport? KIRK: Yes. The terror of murder. The suspense. The fun. TRELANE: Oh, I'm intrigued. Go ahead, Captain. What do you suggest? KIRK: A personal conflict between us. Not like the duel before, but the real thing. The stakes, a human life. Mine. TRELANE: (waving a sword around) Yes! Yes! KIRK: That's the idea. TRELANE: Oh, then you approve? KIRK: Yes, but you can do better than that. There's still not enough sport in just killing me with a sword. TRELANE: I know. That will be dull. We'll have to have something more fanciful. Let me see. A hunt. A royal hunt. Predator against predator. Now, you may go hide in the forest anywhere you like and I shall seek. How does that strike you, Captain? KIRK: It strikes me very well. But you'll have to make it worth my while, Trelane. Why not up the stakes? TRELANE: The stakes? KIRK: Yes. While we're playing our game, free my ship. Let it continue on its way. In return, I'll give you a contest you'll remember. TRELANE: Always back to your ship. Oh well. If it will add spice to the pursuit, I accept your terms, Captain.
[Planet surface]
(Kirk is outside the building) TRELANE [OC]: Remember, you must try not to let me find you too quickly. KIRK: Let me notify the Enterprise that it can go. TRELANE [OC]: At your convenience. KIRK; Enterprise. Enterprise, this is Kirk. Can you hear me? (static) Get the ship away as fast as you can. I'll try and give you the time you need. Can you hear me? (Trelane appears out of thin air) TRELANE: Ah-ha! (Kirk dodges him and runs into the shrubs) KIRK; Enterprise. TRELANE: Ah ha! Captain Kirk. You must try harder, Captain. This is too easy. (They keep dodging amongst the shrubs) KIRK: Enterprise. Enterprise, can you hear me? (Kirk takes an opportunity to get Trelane's sword off him, but when he takes a swing at his foe he just disappears and reappears again) TRELANE: Touche, Captain. Touche. I must confess you scored first. But after all, I never played this game before. (A sword appears in his hand) TRELANE: And now let's have at it again! (Kirk fences Trelane with a branch, but it breaks and he has to run off, leaving Trelane laughing)
[Outside the building]
(The door will not open) KIRK: Enterprise. Enterprise. TRELANE: Ah-ha! Tallyho! (iron grids pen Kirk in) You made a noble fight of it, Captain. KIRK: Remember, Trelane. You promised to let my ship go. TRELANE: Yes, but this is such sport. I must fetch all the others back to play. So this is victory. It has a sweet taste. Down, Captain. On your knees! KIRK: You haven't won, Trelane. TRELANE: I have. I could run you through! KIRK: But you haven't won anything. TRELANE: On your knees, Captain! KIRK: No! Does it still taste as sweet? TRELANE: I order you. You've been beaten. KIRK: But I'm not defeated. TRELANE: I order you! I order you! (Kirk disarms him and snaps the sword across his knee) You broke it! You broke my sword! KIRK: You've got a lot to learn about winning, Trelane. TRELANE: You dare to defy me! KIRK: In fact, you've got a lot to learn about everything, haven't you? (Kirk slaps his face) TRELANE: I'll fix you for that! You cheated! You haven't played the game right. I'll show you! MOTHER: Trelane. (Two green flashing lights appear, and Trelane steps into their spotlight) TRELANE: No! No. You said I could have this planet. FATHER: This has gone far enough. TRELANE: You always stop me when I'm having fun. FATHER: You're disobedient and cruel. We've told you before. MOTHER: Time to come in now, Trelane. TRELANE: But I don't want to come in, and I won't. I'm a general, and I won't listen to you. FATHER: Enough, Trelane. Come along. TRELANE: But why? I didn't do anything wrong. I was just playing. FATHER: We said, come along. TRELANE: But I haven't finished studying my predators yet. FATHER: This is not studying them. MOTHER: If you cannot take proper care of your pets, you cannot have them at all. TRELANE: Oh, but I was winning. I was winning. FATHER: They're beings, Trelane. They have spirit. They're superior. TRELANE: No, no. You saw. MOTHER: You'll grow up, Trelane. You'll understand. Now come along. TRELANE: Oh, but you said I could. You promised. I never have any fun. FATHER: Stop that nonsense at once, or you'll not be permitted to make any more planets. TRELANE: Oh, but you saw. I was winning. I would have won. Honest. FATHER: No, Trelane. MOTHER: No, Trelane. (The spotlight contracts, and Trelane gradually vanishes) TRELANE: I would have. I would have. I would have. I would. I would. I would. I would. FATHER: Captain, we regret that the life paths of yourself and your companions have been disturbed. KIRK: Who are you? Who is Trelane? MOTHER: You must forgive our child. The fault is ours for indulging him too much. He will be punished. FATHER: We would not have let him intercept you had we realised your vulnerability. MOTHER: Forgive us, Captain. We will maintain your life-support conditions while you return to your ship. Please accept our apologies. (The lights disappear) KIRK: Captain to Enterprise. Captain to Enterprise. SPOCK [OC]: Captain, we're receiving you. KIRK: Beam me up, Mister Spock. We're free to go.
[Bridge]
SULU: Warping down, Captain. Our warp factor four. DESALLE: Approach channels clear, Captain. UHURA: Colony Beta Six clears us for normal approach, sir. KIRK: Normal orbit approach procedures, Mister Sulu. SPOCK: Captain. KIRK: Mister Spock. Still thinking about Trelane, is that it? SPOCK: For the record, how do we describe him? Pure mentality? Force of intellect? Embodied energy? Superbeing? He must be classified, sir. KIRK: God of war, Mister Spock. SPOCK: I hardly find that fitting. KIRK: Then a small boy, and a very naughty one at that. SPOCK: It will make a strange entry in the library banks. KIRK: Then he was a very strange small boy. One the other hand, he was probably doing things comparable to the same mischievous pranks you played when you were a boy. SPOCK: Mischievous pranks, Captain? KIRK: Yes. Dipping little girls' curls in inkwells. Stealing apples from the neighbours' trees. Tying cans on (He's stopped by the look of horrified incredulity on Spock's face.) KIRK: Forgive me, Mister Spock. I should have known better. SPOCK: I shall be delighted, Captain.
The Galileo Seven
The Galileo SevenStardate: 2821.5Original Airdate: Jan 5, 1967
Captain's Log, stardate 2821.5. On route to Makus Three with a cargo of medical supplies. Our course leads us past Murasaki 312, a quasar-like formation, vague, undefined. A priceless opportunity for scientific investigation. On board is Galactic High Commissioner Ferris, overseeing the deliver of the medicines to Makus Three.
[Bridge]
KIRK: Captain to shuttlecraft Galileo. Stand by, Mister Spock. FERRIS: I remind you, Captain, I'm entirely opposed to this delay. Your mission is to get those emergency medical supplies to Makus Three in time for their transfer to the New Paris colonies. KIRK: No problem, Commissioner. And may I remind you that I have standing orders to investigate all quasars and quasar-like phenomena wherever they may be encountered. Besides, it's three days to Makus. And the rendezvous doesn't take place for five. FERRIS: I don't like to take chances. The plague is out of control on New Paris. We must get those drugs there on time. KIRK: No problem. Captain to Galileo. All systems cleared for take off.
[Shuttlecraft]
(The NCC1701/7 is in the hangar bay preparing to launch.) SPOCK: Power up. All instruments activated. All readings normal. All go.
[Bridge]
KIRK: Launch shuttlecraft. (The curved doors at the stern of the engineering deck open, and the little vessel heads out into space)
[Shuttlecraft]
MEARS: Readings normal. Acceleration normal. Phase one separation normal. SPOCK: Position? LATIMER: Three point seven. Sir, I SPOCK: Make up your mind please, Mister Latimer. LATIMER: Sir, this indicator's gone crazy. BOMA: That's to be expected, Mister Spock. Quasars are extremely disruptive. Just how much, we don't know. SPOCK: Considerably, Mister Boma. MEARS: Mister Spock, radiation is increasing. SPOCK: Stop forward momentum, Mister Latimer. LATIMER: I can't, sir. Nothing happens. SPOCK: Galileo to Enterprise. Galileo to Enterprise. Come in, please. BOMA: Ionic interference, Mister Spock. MCCOY: We're being drawn right into it. SPOCK: Galileo to Enterprise. Galileo to Enterprise. We are out of control, being pulled directly into the heart of Murasaki three one two. Being hit by violent radiation on outer hull. Course three point two five
[Bridge]
KIRK: Anything at all? UHURA: Nothing clear, Captain. Just a few words about being pulled off course. KIRK: Try and get me a fix on the Galileo. SULU: Scanners are blank, Captain. We're getting a mass of readings I've never seen. Nothing makes sense. (Kirk switches on Spock's science computer) COMPUTER: Negative ionic concentration one point six four times ten to the ninth power metres, Radiation wave length three hundred seventy angstroms. Harmonics upward along entire spectrum. FERRIS: What is it, Captain? KIRK: That thing out there has ionized this complete sector. None of our instruments work. At least four complete solar systems in the immediate vicinity. And out there somewhere, a twenty four foot shuttlecraft, off course, out of control. Finding a needle in a haystack would be child's play.
Captain's Log, stardate 2821.7. The electromagnetic phenomenon known as Murasaki Three Twelve whirls like some angry blight in space, a depressive reminder that seven shipmates still have not been heard from. Equally bad, the effect has rendered our normal searching systems useless. Without them, we are blind and almost helpless.
[Bridge]
(A Yeoman is delivering cups of coffee) FERRIS: I was opposed to this from the very beginning. Our flight to Makus Three is of the very highest priority. KIRK: I'm aware of that, Commissioner. At the same time I have certain scientific duties I must perform, and investigating the Murasaki effect is one. FERRIS: Yes, but you've lost your crew. KIRK: We have two days to find them. FERRIS: Two days? ln all that? Two days? KIRK: What would you have me do, turn around and leave them there? FERRIS: You shouldn't have sent them out in the first place. UHURA: Captain, there's one planet in this solar system capable of sustaining human life. It's type M, oxygen, nitrogen, and it's listed as Taurus Two. It's unexplored. As far as we can determine with our equipment malfunction, it's just about dead-centre of the Murasaki effect. KIRK: Thank you, Lieutenant. Mister Sulu. SULU: Yes, sir. KIRK: Set course for Taurus Two. SULU: Aye, aye, sir.
[Shuttlecraft]
(Shuttlecraft Galileo appears to have landed in one piece in a rocky landscape. It's contents have been rather shaken about and many are holding their heads.) MCCOY: You all right? GAETANO: (Holding his right wrist) Yes. MCCOY: Scotty? Boma? BOMA: Now that's what I call a ride. MCCOY: Yeoman? MEARS: Yes. I just got a little bump on the head. MCCOY: (helping her back into her seat) Upsy-daisy. MEARS: Thank you. MCCOY: What happened? BOMA: I can't be sure, but I'd say that, the magnetic potential of the effect was (McCoy gives him a tissue for his nose bleed) Thank you. Was such that, as we gathered speed, it was multiplied geometrically. And we were simply shot into the centre of the effect. Like a projectile. SPOCK: I'd say your evaluation is reasonable, Mister Boma. SCOTT: What a mess. SPOCK: Picturesque descriptions will not mend broken circuits, Mister Scott. I think you'll find your work is cut out for you. Galileo to Enterprise. Galileo to Enterprise. Come in, please. SCOTT: You don't really expect to get an answer, do you? SPOCK: I expect nothing, Mister Scott. It is merely logical to try all the alternatives. Doctor McCoy, a reading on the atmosphere, please. MCCOY: Partial pressure of oxygen, seventy millimetres of mercury. Nitrogen one forty. Breathable, if you're not running in competition. SPOCK: Just the facts, Doctor. MCCOY: Traces of argon, neon, krypton, all in acceptable quantities. However, I wouldn't recommend this place as a summer resort. SPOCK: Thank you for your opinion. It will be duly noted. You're recording this, Yeoman? MEARS: Of course, Mister Spock. SPOCK: Mister Scott, if you'll make a survey of the damage, please. SCOTT: Logical. SPOCK: Gentlemen, I think we should move outside, make room for Mister Scott to do his work. Mister Latimer, Mister Gaetano, you'll arm yourselves and scout out the area, keeping in visual contact with the ship. LATIMER: Aye, aye, sir. (The two men go outside, and the doors close behind them) MCCOY: What do you think our chances are of contacting the Enterprise? SPOCK: Under present conditions, extremely poor. MCCOY: But they'll be looking for us. SPOCK: If the ionisation effect is as widespread as I believe it is, Doctor, they'll be searching for us without instrumentation, by visual contact only. On those terms, this is a very large planet. MCCOY: Then you don't think they'll find us. SPOCK: Not as long as we're grounded. We may be here for a very long time, Doctor.
[Bridge]
(Enterprise is orbiting a sickly green swirled planet, and Commissioner Ferris is lounging by the door, watching Uhura working.) UHURA: Nothing, Captain. KIRK: Mister Sulu. SULU: Yes, Captain? KIRK: Anything on your scanners? SULU: Totally inoperative, sir. No readings at all. KIRK: Have you tried tying in to the auxiliary power? SULU: Yes, sir. No change. KIRK: Transport room, this is the captain speaking. Are the transporters beaming up yet? CHIEF [OC]: Not one hundred percent, Captain. We beamed down some inert material, but it came back in a disassociated condition. We wouldn't dare try with people. KIRK: Thank you. This is the captain speaking. Flight deck, prepare Columbus for immediate exit, for a search of the planet surface. Correlate co-ordinates with Mister Sulu. Thank you. Anything, Uhura? UHURA: All wavelengths dominated by ionisation effects, sir. Transmission is blocked, reception impossible. FERRIS: Well, Captain? KIRK: We have until 2823.8 to continue the search, Commissioner. FERRIS: You don't really think you'll have any luck, do you? KIRK: Look, these people are my friends and my shipmates. I intend to continue the ship's search for them until the last possible moment. FERRIS: Very well, Captain, but not one second beyond that moment. Is that clear? If it isn't, I suggest you look at book nineteen, section four thirty three, paragraph twelve. KIRK: I'm familiar with the regulations, Commissioner. I know all about your authority. Launch shuttlecraft Columbus.
[Outside the shuttlecraft]
(Spock is scanning one of it's small nacelles when McCoy comes out to join him.) MCCOY: Well, I can't say much for the circumstances, but at least it's your big chance. SPOCK: My big chance? For what, Doctor? MCCOY: Command. Oh, I know you, Mister Spock. You've never voiced it, but you've always thought that logic was the best basis on which to build command. Am I right? SPOCK: I am a logical man, Doctor. MCCOY: It'll take more than logic to get us out of this. SPOCK: Perhaps, Doctor, but I know of no better way to begin. I realise command does have its fascinations, even under circumstances such as these. But I neither enjoy the idea of command, nor am I frightened of it. It simply exists. And I will do whatever logically needs to be done. Excuse me. (he heads back inside)
[Shuttlecraft]
SCOTT: Very bad, Mister Spock. SPOCK: In what way? SCOTT: We've lost a great deal of fuel. We have no chance at all to reach escape velocity. And if we ever hope to make orbit, we'll have to lighten our load by at least five hundred pounds. SPOCK: The weight of three grown men. SCOTT: Aye, you could put it that way. MCCOY: Or the equivalent weight in equipment. SPOCK: Doctor McCoy, with very few exceptions we use virtually every piece of equipment aboard this craft in attaining orbit. There's very little excess weight, except among the passengers. BOMA: You mean three of us must stay behind. SPOCK: Unless the situation changes radically, yes. BOMA: And who's to choose? SPOCK: As commanding officer, the choice will be mine. BOMA: You wouldn't be interested in drawing lots? SPOCK: A very quaint idea, Mister Boma, but I do believe I'm better qualified to make the selection than any random drawing of lots. BOMA: All right, Mister Spock. Who? SPOCK: My choice will be a logical one, arrived at through logical means. MCCOY: Mister Spock, life and death are seldom logical. SPOCK: But attaining a desired goal always is, Doctor. Now gentlemen, I suggest we move outside to make a further examination of the hull in the event we've overlooked any minor damage. (Spock leaves) BOMA: If any minor damage was overlooked, it was when they put his head together. MCCOY: Not his head, Mister Boma, his heart. His heart.
[Rocky ledge]
(Latimer and Gaetano are investigating a strange scraping sound, but the mist is obscuring their vision.) LATIMER: What is it? GAETANO: II don't know. It's from up there. LATIMER: No, it's from back there. GAETANO: It's everywhere. It's all around us! LATIMER: Let's get out of here. (They go to the top of the ridge, and Latimer stands up. Someone throws a large flint-tipped spear into his back, and he falls. The scream is heard back at the shuttlecraft)
[Outside shuttlecraft]
SPOCK: Come on, Boma.
[Bottom of the ledge]
(Gaetano fires his phaser at several different enemies. The spear in Latimer's back is taller than a man) SPOCK: What was it? GAETANO: It was something huge, terrible. Up there. I think I hit it. BOMA: Did you see what it was? GAETANO: Vaguely. It was like a giant ape. BOMA: Poor Latimer. GAETANO: At least it was quick for him. BOMA: We'll get off all right. SPOCK: (returns from investigating) Nothing there. GAETANO: I tell you there was. SPOCK: I don't doubt your word. GAETANO: But there must be something. I swear I hit it. SPOCK: (pulling the bloody spear from Latimer's body and examining it) Folsom Point. BOMA: Sir? SPOCK: There's a remarkable resemblance to the Folsom Point discovered in 1925, old world calendar, New Mexico, North America. A bit more crude about the shaft, I believe. Not very efficient. BOMA: Not very efficient? Is that all you have to say? SPOCK: Am I in error, Mister Boma? BOMA: You? Error? Impossible. SPOCK: Then what, Mister Boma? BOMA: There's a man lying there dead, and you talk about stone spears. What about Latimer? SPOCK: My concern for the dead will not bring him back to life, Mister Boma. GAETANO: Mister Spock. In the interest of efficiency, I don't think we should leave his body here. SPOCK: Bringing him back to the ship should not interfere with our repair efforts. If you need assistance, I GAETANO: We'll do it. Give me a hand with Latimer, will you?
Captain's Log, stardate 2822.3. We continue to search, but I find it more difficult each moment to ward off a sense of utter futility and great loss.
[Bridge]
UHURA: Captain, the Columbus has returned from searching quadrant seven seven nine X by five three four M. Results negative. KIRK: Have them proceed to the next quadrant. Any word from engineering on our sensors? UHURA: They're working on them, sir. Still inoperable. KIRK: What about the transporters? UHURA: They're still reported unsafe. KIRK: Thank you, Lieutenant. FERRIS: Captain. KIRK: Yes, Commissioner? FERRIS: I don't relish the thought of abandoning your crewmen out there, however I must remind you KIRK: I haven't forgotten, Commissioner. FERRIS: You're running out of time. KIRK: I haven't forgotten that, Commissioner. This is the captain. Try using overload power on the transporters. We've got to get them working. CHIEF [OC]: Aye, aye, Captain. KIRK: Uhura, order the Columbus to open its course two degrees on every lap from now on. SULU: But Captain, two degrees means they'll be overlooking more than a dozen terrestrial miles on each search loop. KIRK: It also means we have a fighting chance to cover the majority of the planet's surface. Mind your helm, Mister Sulu. SULU: Yes, sir. FERRIS: (stepping into the turbolift) Twenty four more hours, Captain.
[Shuttlecraft]
SPOCK: Perhaps if you were to channel the second auxiliary tank through the primary intake valve. SCOTT: It's too delicate. It may not be able to take the pressure as it is. MCCOY: (coming in from rear compartment) This should save us at least fifty pounds, Mister Spock. SPOCK: Excellent, Doctor. MEARS: We should be able to scrape up another hundred pounds. SPOCK: Which would still leave us at least one hundred and fifty pounds overweight. MCCOY: I can't believe you're serious about leaving someone behind. Now whatever it is that's out there SPOCK: It is more rational to sacrifice one life than six, Doctor. MCCOY: I'm not talking about rationality. SPOCK: You might be wise to start. BOMA: (looking in from outside) Mister Spock. we're ready. SPOCK: For what? BOMA: The services for Latimer. SPOCK: Mister Boma, we're working against time. BOMA: The man's dead. He deserves a decent burial. You're the captain. A few words. SPOCK: Doctor, perhaps you know the correct words for such an occasion. MCCOY: Mister Spock, that's your place. SPOCK: My place is here. If you please, Doctor. MCCOY: Now look. We may all die here. At least let us die like men, not machines. SPOCK: By dealing with first things first, I hope to increase our chances of staying alive. Well, Mister Scott. SCOTT: If you'll give me a hand with this conduit. (Boma closes the door and leaves them to it) (later) SCOTT: Pressure's dropping. We're losing everything. SPOCK: What happened? SCOTT: One of the lines gave. The strain of coming through the atmosphere and the added load when we tried to bypass. Yes, that's done it. We have no fuel. SPOCK: That would seem to solve the problem of who to leave behind. Consider the alternatives, Mister Scott. SCOTT: We have no fuel! What alternatives? SPOCK: Mister Scott, there are always alternatives. MCCOY: Mister Spock! Something's happening outside.
[Outside the shuttlecraft]
(They crouch down behind a rock while Spock stands and listens to that scraping sound) MCCOY: What do those supersensitive ears make of that, Mister Spock? SPOCK: Wood rubbing on some kind of leather. GAETANO: They're getting ready. They'll attack. BOMA: Not necessarily. It could be a simple tribal rite, assuming a tribal culture. SPOCK: Not a tribal culture. Their artefacts are too primitive. More likely a loose association of some sort. MEARS: If we knew more about them BOMA: We know enough. If they're tribal, they'll have a sense of unity. We can use that. SPOCK: How, Mister Boma? BOMA: By hitting them hard. Give them a bloody nose. Make them think twice about attacking us. GAETANO: Yes, I agree. If we stand by and do nothing, we're just giving them an invitation to come down and slaughter us. SPOCK: I'm frequently appalled by the low regard you Earthmen have for life. GAETANO: Well, we're practical about it. I say we hit them before they hit us. SPOCK: Mister Boma? BOMA: Absolutely. SPOCK: Doctor McCoy? MCCOY: Seems logical to me. SPOCK: It does, indeed. It seems logical to me, also. But to take life indiscriminately, GAETANO: The majority. SPOCK: I am not interested in the opinion of the majority, Mister Gaetano. Components must be weighed. Our danger to ourselves as well as our duties to other life forms, friendly or not. There's a third course. GAETANO: That could get us killed. SPOCK: I think not. Doctor McCoy. MCCOY: Yes. SPOCK: You and Yeoman Mears return to the ship. Assist Mister Scott in any way possible. We'll be back shortly. MCCOY: Right. (Mears and McCoy leave) SPOCK: Gentlemen, you'll follow my orders to the letter, firing only when so instructed, and at my designated targets. GAETANO: Now you're talking. SPOCK: We'll fire to frighten, Mister Gaetano, not to kill. GAETANO: Oh, for the. You saw what they did to Latimer! SPOCK: I am in command, Mister Gaetano. The orders and the responsibility will be mine. Follow me.
[Rocks]
(The trio are paddling through dry ice when a giant spear is thrown across their path. Spock fires at one assailant, who throws his shield at them too. They move on a little way.) BOMA: The mists. I can't see them. SPOCK: I hear them. They're directly ahead of us. Several, I believe. Direct your phasers to two o'clock and to ten o'clock. GAETANO: I say we hit them dead on. SPOCK: Yes, I know. But fortunately, I'm giving the orders. Take aim please, and fire when I give a signal. (He climbs partway up a rock, for a better view.) SPOCK: Fire. (several seconds of sustained phaser beam) Cease fire. (It's gone quiet) They should think twice before bothering us again. GAETANO: I still say we should have killed them. SPOCK: It was not necessary. Fear will do for us what needs to be done. Mister Boma, you will return with me to the Galileo. Mister Gaetano, you remain on guard here. Keep in contact with the ship. (Boma says a silent goodbye to his colleague, and the noise starts up again)
[Shuttlecraft]
MEARS: Did you find them? SPOCK: Yes, we found them. They won't bother us again. MCCOY: I hope not. Scotty has an idea. SCOTT: It's dangerous, but it might work. SPOCK: Go, Mister Scott. SCOTT: I can adjust the main reactor to function with a substitute fuel supply. SPOCK: That's all very well, but we don't have a substitute supply. SCOTT: Aye, we do. Our phasers. I can adapt them and use their energy. It'll take time, but it's possible. MCCOY: Trouble is, they happen to be our only defence. SPOCK: They would also seem to be our only hope. SCOTT: Aye. SPOCK: (after brief thought) Yeoman, your phaser. MEARS: But what if the creatures attack again? SPOCK: They won't attack for at least several hours. By then, with luck, we'll be gone. SCOTT: If I can get a full load, we should be able to achieve orbit with all hands. Not that we can maintain it long. SPOCK: We don't have to maintain it very long, Mister Scott. In less than twenty four hours, the Enterprise will be forced to abandon its search in order to make a rendezvous. If we can't maintain orbit after that time, it won't make any difference. If we burn up in a decaying orbit or die here on the planet's surface, we shall surely die. Doctor, your phaser. Go to work, Mister Scott. SCOTT: Aye, aye, sir.
[Transporter room]
(A bunch of boxes is beamed aboard) CHIEF: They came back all right, sir. In my opinion, the transporters are now safe for human transport. KIRK: Good. This is the captain. Landing parties one, two, and three, report to transporter room for immediate beaming down to surface of the planet. Ordinance condition One A. CHIEF: Captain, it's a big planet. It'll be sheer luck if our landing parties find anything. KIRK: I'm depending on luck, Lieutenant. It's almost the only tool we have that'll work.
[Rocks]
(Gaetano has worked himself up into a panic when a rock knocks his phaser out of his hand. Then a spear is thrown, and finally the giant creature comes for the helpless man)(Spock, Boma and McCoy arrive on the scene a little later, and examine the marks in the ground. Spock picks up the dropped phaser) SPOCK: Take this back to Mister Scott for conversion, please Doctor. BOMA: Nobody knows what's happened to Gaetano, and you hand over his phaser like nothing's happened at all. SPOCK: (handing over his own phaser) And give this to Mister Scott in the event I don't return. MCCOY: Just where are you going? SPOCK: I have a certain scientific curiosity about what's become of Mister Gaetano. Return to the ship, please. (Spock leaves) MCCOY: I don't know. He'll risk his neck locating Gaetano and if he finds him, he's just as liable to order him to stay behind. You tell me. BOMA: Do you really think the ship will ever leave? MCCOY: Well, it won't unless we get these phasers back. (Further on, Spock finds Gaetano's body draped over a rock. He picks him up in a fireman's lift and heads back to the shuttlecraft with him. Spears are thrown. McCoy and Boma help him get the body inside.)
[Shuttlecraft]
(Scott is still lying in the middle of the floor, working) MCCOY: Well, Mister Spock, they didn't stay frightened very long, did they? SPOCK: Most illogical reaction. We demonstrated our superior weapons. They should have fled. MCCOY: You mean they should have respected us? SPOCK: Of course. MCCOY: Mister Spock, respect is a rational process. Did it ever occur to you they might react emotionally, with anger? SPOCK: Doctor, I am not responsible for their unpredictability. MCCOY: They were perfectly predictable to anyone with feeling. You might as well admit it, Mister Spock, your precious logic brought them down on us. MEARS: Why haven't they done anything? SPOCK: They're studying us, for the moment. BOMA: Another prediction, Mister Spock? SPOCK: My opinion, Mister Boma. (The shuttlecraft shakes as one of the locals starts battering it with a rock) SPOCK: Seal the windows! MCCOY: Studying us, Mister Spock? They seem to learn rather quickly. BOMA: All right, Spock, you have all the answers. What now? SPOCK: Mister Boma, your tone is increasingly hostile. BOMA: My tone isn't the only thing that's hostile, Mister Spock! SPOCK: Curious. Most illogical. BOMA: I'm sick and tired of your logic! MEARS: We could use a little inspiration. SPOCK: Strange. Step by step, I have made the correct and logical decisions. And yet two men have died. MCCOY: And you've brought our furry friends down on us. SPOCK: I do seem to have miscalculated regarding them, and inculcated resentment on your parts. The sum of the parts cannot be greater than the whole. MCCOY A little less analysis and more action. That's what we need, Mister Spock. SPOCK: How much longer, Mister Scott? SCOTT: Another hour, maybe two. MCCOY: That won't be long enough. SCOTT: Doctor, a phaser can only drain so fast. BOMA: How long do you think those plates will hold out under this? We've got to do something! SCOTT: You've got your hands full.
Captain's Log, stardate 2823.1. Our landing parties are on the surface of Taurus Two. We continue to hope. Instruments are slowly returning to an operable condition as the ion storm slowly disperses. On the ship, we can only wait helplessly.
[Bridge]
KIRK: What word from the sensor section? UHURA: At last report they were getting some readings KIRK: I'm not interested in the last report. I want to know now. UHURA: Yes, sir. FERRIS: You have two hours and forty three minutes, Captain. KIRK: I'm perfectly aware of how much time I have left. FERRIS: I'm delighted. However I shall continue to remind you. KIRK: You do that. UHURA: Sir, sensor section reporting. Static interference still creating false images. Estimates eighty percent undependable. KIRK: What about radio communication? UHURA: Clearing slowly. Still incapable of transmission or reception. FERRIS: What do you intend to do? KIRK: Do? I intend to continue the search. Foot by foot, inch by inch, by candlelight if necessary, until the last possible moment. And if you'd keep your nose off my bridge, I'd be thankful. FERRIS: I'm sure the authorities will be pleased by your diligence, Captain. I'm not sure they'll appreciate the way you address a High Commissioner. KIRK: I'm in command here, Mister Ferris. FERRIS: You are, Captain. For another two hours and forty two minutes.
[Shuttlecraft]
SPOCK: Mister Scott, how much power do we have left in the ship's batteries? SCOTT: They're in good shape, but they won't lift us off, if that's what you're getting at. SPOCK: Will they electrify the exterior of this ship? SCOTT: That they will, Mister Spock! (He dashes to the rear compartment and puts on big rubber gloves) SPOCK: Get to the centre of the ship. Don't touch the plates. Be sure you're insulated. Stand by. Are you ready, Scott? SCOTT: Ready, Mister Spock. SPOCK: All right. Go. (Scott uses a spanner or something to short out the battery connections) Again! Again! (It goes quiet and still outside) SCOTT: I daren't use any more. Not and be sure of ignition. SPOCK: I believe we've used enough. Mister Scott. I suggest you continue draining the phasers. SCOTT: Aye. MCCOY: It must've worked. SPOCK: For the moment. BOMA: For the moment? SPOCK: The moment they discover they're not seriously hurt, they'll be back. Meanwhile, please check the aft compartment. See if there's anything you can unload to lighten the ship. BOMA: Mister Gaetano's body's back there. SPOCK: It will of course have to be left behind. BOMA: Not without a burial. SPOCK: I wouldn't recommend it. The creatures won't be far away. BOMA: Not without a burial, Mister Spock. SPOCK: It would expose members of this crew to unnecessary peril. BOMA: I'll take that chance. You see, Mister Spock, I would insist upon a decent burial even if your body was back there. MCCOY: Mister Boma. BOMA: I'm sick and tired of this machine! SCOTT: That's enough! SPOCK: Gentlemen. All right, Mister Boma, you'll have your burial, provided the creatures will permit it.
[Bridge]
UHURA: Captain Kirk, landing party number two has been beamed back aboard ship. They have casualties. One dead, two injured. KIRK: (going to Spock's station) Put Lieutenant Kelowitz on visual. KELOWITZ [on monitor]: Kelowitz, Captain. (His uniform is dirty and he sounds tired) KIRK: Report. KELOWITZ [on monitor]: We were attacked, Captain. Huge, furry creatures. I checked with astral anthropology, and they're order 480G, anthropoid. Similar to life forms discovered on Hansen's Planet, but much larger. Ten, twelve feet in height. KIRK: There are casualties? KELOWITZ [on monitor]: Ensign O'Neal got a spear through the body before we even knew they were around. Lieutenant lmmamura has a dislocated shoulder and severe lacerations, but he'll make it all right. Captain, the creatures are all over the place. If the Galileo is down on that planet, I KIRK: Thank you, Lieutenant. You'd better report to Sickbay yourself. KELOWITZ [on monitor]: Aye, aye, Captain. (Commissioner Ferris enters) FERRIS: Captain Kirk, check your chronometer. You'll see that it is 2823.8. Your time is up. KIRK: But they're still out there. FERRIS: So are the plague victims on New Paris. I'm sorry, Captain. I now assume authority granted me under Title fifteen, Galactic Emergency Procedures, and I order you to abandon search. KIRK: The Columbus hasn't returned yet. I still have two search parties out. FERRIS: You're procrastinating, Captain. You have your orders. Recall your search parties and proceed to Makus Three immediately. KIRK: Lieutenant. UHURA: Yes, sir. KIRK: Order the transporter room to immediately beam up the two search parties from the surface. Attempt to contact the Columbus. UHURA: I'm in partial contact with them now, sir. KIRK: Then have them return immediately. Mister Sulu, prepare to abandon search. Set course for Makus Three.
Captain's log, supplement. The search parties have returned to the ship, and the Columbus is on its way back. I have been compelled to abandon the search.
[Bridge]
UHURA: Captain, the sensor section says the beams are working again. KIRK: What about the other systems? UHURA: No, sir. Too much interference. SULU: Captain, course set for Makus Three. KIRK: Stand ready, Mister Sulu. How long before the Columbus comes on board? UHURA: Twenty three minutes, sir. KIRK: Twenty three minutes.
[Shuttlecraft]
MEARS: Enterprise, this is Galileo. Come in, please. Enterprise. Nothing, sir. Just ionic interference. SCOTT: That's it. SPOCK: How about weight? SCOTT: If we shed every ounce, we might be able to achieve orbit. SPOCK: And how long can we hold it? SCOTT: A few hours, no longer. But if we time it right, we can cut out of orbit and save enough fuel for a controlled re=entry. SPOCK: To land here again? Not a very attractive possibility. SCOTT: We have very few alternatives, Mister Spock. SPOCK: Doctor McCoy. Mister Boma. When can we lift off, Scott? SCOTT: Maybe eight minutes if the weight's right. (McCoy appears from the aft compartment) SPOCK: Gentlemen, The ship will lift off in exactly ten minutes. You have that long to bury Mister Gaetano. Now, it appears to be clear outside, at least for the moment. I'll assist you. Hurry.
[Bridge]
UHURA: The Columbus is aboard, sir. The flight hatch is closed. Transporter room reports last of the landing parties have beamed safely up. All systems report secured for warp factors. KIRK: Mister Sulu, proceed on course for Makus Three, at space normal speed. SULU: Space normal, sir? KIRK: Those are my orders. Lieutenant Uhura, order all sensor sections to direct beams aft. Full function, continuous operation until further orders. UHURA: Yes, sir.
{Shuttlecraft]
(From our viewpoint inside, we see the three men standing by two mounds of soil when giant spears start landing near them) SPOCK: Get into the ship! Immediate lift off! (He throws a spear back, then gets pinned against a rock outcrop by a thrown boulder) SPOCK: No! Go back! Lift off! Go back! No! (But Boma and McCoy ignore his orders and free him) SPOCK: All right, All right! Go! Go! Go! Go! (They all get safely into the shuttlecraft) SPOCK: Go, Scott! SCOTT: Aye, aye, sir. SPOCK: I told you to lift off! MCCOY: Don't be a fool, Mister Spock. We couldn't leave you out there. SPOCK: Get us off, Scott! SCOTT: We should be moving, but we're not. SPOCK: Quite right, Mister Scott. There's somebody holding us down. All systems are go, but we're not moving. (Throws switches on the pilot's panel) SCOTT: What are you doing? SPOCK: Our boosters. SCOTT: We'll never be able to hold orbit. SPOCK: Would you rather stay here? SCOTT: No, Mister Spock. (They swap seats) MEARS: We're moving! BOMA: They let go! MCCOY: We got off! SPOCK: May I remind you we have yet to achieve orbit, nor can we maintain it long. An hour from now we may be right back where we started from. (The Galileo leaves the sickly yellow and green atmosphere of the planet) SPOCK: Gentlemen, by coming after me, you may well have destroyed what slim chance you had for survival. The logical thing for you to have done was to have left me behind. MCCOY: Mister Spock, remind me to tell you that I'm sick and tired of your logic. SPOCK: That is a most illogical attitude. Orbit in one minute, Mister Scott. Fuel status? SCOTT: Fifteen pounds psi. Approximately enough for one orbit, sir. MCCOY: After that? SCOTT: Tapping our boosters ended our last chance for a soft landing. BOMA: You mean a burn-up? SPOCK: It is the usual end of a decaying orbit. MEARS: I don't want to die up here. SPOCK: Infinitely preferable to the kind of death we'd be granted on the planet's surface, I should think. BOMA: I admire your ability to make so measured a choice. SCOTT: Mister Spock, you said a while ago that there were always alternatives. SPOCK: Did l? I may have been mistaken. MCCOY: Well, at least I lived long enough to hear that. Is there anything we can do? SPOCK: The Enterprise is surely on course for Makus Three by now. I for one do not believe in angels. MCCOY: Well, Mister Spock, so ends your first command. SPOCK: Yes. My first command. SCOTT: Orbit attitude, Mister Spock. With our present fuel, that gives us about forty five minutes. SPOCK: Galileo to Enterprise. Galileo to Enterprise, come in, please. Galileo to Enterprise. Come in, please. (He ponders for a moment, then flicks the Fuel Jettison button) SCOTT: Mister Spock! (There's a jolt as two long plumes of flame streak out from the nacelles) MEARS: What happened? SCOTT: He jettisoned the fuel and ignited it. BOMA: We need that fuel to maintain orbit. Are you out of your mind? SPOCK: Perhaps, Mister Boma. MCCOY: How long have we got now, Scotty? SCOTT: The orbit'll start decaying as soon as the fuel's exhausted. Say six minutes.
[Bridge]
(The air is full of pointless status reports over the comm. when suddenly) SULU: Captain, there's something there on screen, at Taurus Two. (On the viewscreen, a long trail of yellow crosses the green of the planet) KIRK: Sensors, a meteorite? SULU: No. It's holding a lateral line. There it is again. Holding steady, Captain. KIRK: A hundred and eighty degrees about, Mister Sulu. Lieutenant Uhura, contact transporter room. All beams ready. Full normal speed.
[Shuttlecraft]
SCOTT: A distress signal? It's like sending up a flare. Mister Spock, that was a good gamble. Perhaps it was worth it. SPOCK: No one out there to see it. (The plume of flame fades out) SCOTT: Orbit decaying, Mister Spock. Ten seconds to atmosphere. MCCOY: It may be the last action you'll ever take, Mister Spock, but it was all human. SPOCK: Totally illogical. There was no chance. MCCOY: That's exactly what I mean. (The front of the little craft starts to glow red, and instrumentation begins to smoke and crackle.) MEARS: It's getting hot.
[Bridge]
UHURA: Transporters locked in, sir. KIRK: Activate beams. (Our last view inside Galileo is of lots of smoke, then transporter beams) SULU: Whatever it was, Captain, it just burned up in the atmosphere. UHURA: Captain, transporter room just beamed up five persons. Alive and well. KIRK: Mister Sulu, proceed on course to Makus Three. Ahead warp factor one. SULU: Aye, aye, sir. Warp factor one. (later, everyone is back on duty) KIRK: Mister Spock. SPOCK: Captain. KIRK: There's really something I don't understand about all of this. Maybe you can explain it to me. Logically, of course. When you jettisoned the fuel and ignited it, you knew there was virtually no chance of it being seen, yet you did it anyhow. That would seem to me to be an act of desperation. SPOCK: Quite correct, Captain. KIRK: Now we all know, and I'm sure the doctor will agree with me, that desperation is a highly emotional state of mind. How does your well-known logic explain that? SPOCK: Quite simply, Captain. I examined the problem from all angles, and it was plainly hopeless. Logic informed me that under the circumstances, the only possible action would have to be one of desperation. Logical decision, logically arrived at. KIRK: I see. You mean you reasoned that it was time for an emotional outburst. SPOCK: Well, I wouldn't put it in exactly those terms, Captain, but those are essentially the facts. KIRK: You're not going to admit that for the first time in your life, you committed a purely human emotional act? SPOCK: No, sir. KIRK: Mister Spock, you're a stubborn man. SPOCK: Yes, sir.
Captain's Log, stardate 2821.5. On route to Makus Three with a cargo of medical supplies. Our course leads us past Murasaki 312, a quasar-like formation, vague, undefined. A priceless opportunity for scientific investigation. On board is Galactic High Commissioner Ferris, overseeing the deliver of the medicines to Makus Three.
[Bridge]
KIRK: Captain to shuttlecraft Galileo. Stand by, Mister Spock. FERRIS: I remind you, Captain, I'm entirely opposed to this delay. Your mission is to get those emergency medical supplies to Makus Three in time for their transfer to the New Paris colonies. KIRK: No problem, Commissioner. And may I remind you that I have standing orders to investigate all quasars and quasar-like phenomena wherever they may be encountered. Besides, it's three days to Makus. And the rendezvous doesn't take place for five. FERRIS: I don't like to take chances. The plague is out of control on New Paris. We must get those drugs there on time. KIRK: No problem. Captain to Galileo. All systems cleared for take off.
[Shuttlecraft]
(The NCC1701/7 is in the hangar bay preparing to launch.) SPOCK: Power up. All instruments activated. All readings normal. All go.
[Bridge]
KIRK: Launch shuttlecraft. (The curved doors at the stern of the engineering deck open, and the little vessel heads out into space)
[Shuttlecraft]
MEARS: Readings normal. Acceleration normal. Phase one separation normal. SPOCK: Position? LATIMER: Three point seven. Sir, I SPOCK: Make up your mind please, Mister Latimer. LATIMER: Sir, this indicator's gone crazy. BOMA: That's to be expected, Mister Spock. Quasars are extremely disruptive. Just how much, we don't know. SPOCK: Considerably, Mister Boma. MEARS: Mister Spock, radiation is increasing. SPOCK: Stop forward momentum, Mister Latimer. LATIMER: I can't, sir. Nothing happens. SPOCK: Galileo to Enterprise. Galileo to Enterprise. Come in, please. BOMA: Ionic interference, Mister Spock. MCCOY: We're being drawn right into it. SPOCK: Galileo to Enterprise. Galileo to Enterprise. We are out of control, being pulled directly into the heart of Murasaki three one two. Being hit by violent radiation on outer hull. Course three point two five
[Bridge]
KIRK: Anything at all? UHURA: Nothing clear, Captain. Just a few words about being pulled off course. KIRK: Try and get me a fix on the Galileo. SULU: Scanners are blank, Captain. We're getting a mass of readings I've never seen. Nothing makes sense. (Kirk switches on Spock's science computer) COMPUTER: Negative ionic concentration one point six four times ten to the ninth power metres, Radiation wave length three hundred seventy angstroms. Harmonics upward along entire spectrum. FERRIS: What is it, Captain? KIRK: That thing out there has ionized this complete sector. None of our instruments work. At least four complete solar systems in the immediate vicinity. And out there somewhere, a twenty four foot shuttlecraft, off course, out of control. Finding a needle in a haystack would be child's play.
Captain's Log, stardate 2821.7. The electromagnetic phenomenon known as Murasaki Three Twelve whirls like some angry blight in space, a depressive reminder that seven shipmates still have not been heard from. Equally bad, the effect has rendered our normal searching systems useless. Without them, we are blind and almost helpless.
[Bridge]
(A Yeoman is delivering cups of coffee) FERRIS: I was opposed to this from the very beginning. Our flight to Makus Three is of the very highest priority. KIRK: I'm aware of that, Commissioner. At the same time I have certain scientific duties I must perform, and investigating the Murasaki effect is one. FERRIS: Yes, but you've lost your crew. KIRK: We have two days to find them. FERRIS: Two days? ln all that? Two days? KIRK: What would you have me do, turn around and leave them there? FERRIS: You shouldn't have sent them out in the first place. UHURA: Captain, there's one planet in this solar system capable of sustaining human life. It's type M, oxygen, nitrogen, and it's listed as Taurus Two. It's unexplored. As far as we can determine with our equipment malfunction, it's just about dead-centre of the Murasaki effect. KIRK: Thank you, Lieutenant. Mister Sulu. SULU: Yes, sir. KIRK: Set course for Taurus Two. SULU: Aye, aye, sir.
[Shuttlecraft]
(Shuttlecraft Galileo appears to have landed in one piece in a rocky landscape. It's contents have been rather shaken about and many are holding their heads.) MCCOY: You all right? GAETANO: (Holding his right wrist) Yes. MCCOY: Scotty? Boma? BOMA: Now that's what I call a ride. MCCOY: Yeoman? MEARS: Yes. I just got a little bump on the head. MCCOY: (helping her back into her seat) Upsy-daisy. MEARS: Thank you. MCCOY: What happened? BOMA: I can't be sure, but I'd say that, the magnetic potential of the effect was (McCoy gives him a tissue for his nose bleed) Thank you. Was such that, as we gathered speed, it was multiplied geometrically. And we were simply shot into the centre of the effect. Like a projectile. SPOCK: I'd say your evaluation is reasonable, Mister Boma. SCOTT: What a mess. SPOCK: Picturesque descriptions will not mend broken circuits, Mister Scott. I think you'll find your work is cut out for you. Galileo to Enterprise. Galileo to Enterprise. Come in, please. SCOTT: You don't really expect to get an answer, do you? SPOCK: I expect nothing, Mister Scott. It is merely logical to try all the alternatives. Doctor McCoy, a reading on the atmosphere, please. MCCOY: Partial pressure of oxygen, seventy millimetres of mercury. Nitrogen one forty. Breathable, if you're not running in competition. SPOCK: Just the facts, Doctor. MCCOY: Traces of argon, neon, krypton, all in acceptable quantities. However, I wouldn't recommend this place as a summer resort. SPOCK: Thank you for your opinion. It will be duly noted. You're recording this, Yeoman? MEARS: Of course, Mister Spock. SPOCK: Mister Scott, if you'll make a survey of the damage, please. SCOTT: Logical. SPOCK: Gentlemen, I think we should move outside, make room for Mister Scott to do his work. Mister Latimer, Mister Gaetano, you'll arm yourselves and scout out the area, keeping in visual contact with the ship. LATIMER: Aye, aye, sir. (The two men go outside, and the doors close behind them) MCCOY: What do you think our chances are of contacting the Enterprise? SPOCK: Under present conditions, extremely poor. MCCOY: But they'll be looking for us. SPOCK: If the ionisation effect is as widespread as I believe it is, Doctor, they'll be searching for us without instrumentation, by visual contact only. On those terms, this is a very large planet. MCCOY: Then you don't think they'll find us. SPOCK: Not as long as we're grounded. We may be here for a very long time, Doctor.
[Bridge]
(Enterprise is orbiting a sickly green swirled planet, and Commissioner Ferris is lounging by the door, watching Uhura working.) UHURA: Nothing, Captain. KIRK: Mister Sulu. SULU: Yes, Captain? KIRK: Anything on your scanners? SULU: Totally inoperative, sir. No readings at all. KIRK: Have you tried tying in to the auxiliary power? SULU: Yes, sir. No change. KIRK: Transport room, this is the captain speaking. Are the transporters beaming up yet? CHIEF [OC]: Not one hundred percent, Captain. We beamed down some inert material, but it came back in a disassociated condition. We wouldn't dare try with people. KIRK: Thank you. This is the captain speaking. Flight deck, prepare Columbus for immediate exit, for a search of the planet surface. Correlate co-ordinates with Mister Sulu. Thank you. Anything, Uhura? UHURA: All wavelengths dominated by ionisation effects, sir. Transmission is blocked, reception impossible. FERRIS: Well, Captain? KIRK: We have until 2823.8 to continue the search, Commissioner. FERRIS: You don't really think you'll have any luck, do you? KIRK: Look, these people are my friends and my shipmates. I intend to continue the ship's search for them until the last possible moment. FERRIS: Very well, Captain, but not one second beyond that moment. Is that clear? If it isn't, I suggest you look at book nineteen, section four thirty three, paragraph twelve. KIRK: I'm familiar with the regulations, Commissioner. I know all about your authority. Launch shuttlecraft Columbus.
[Outside the shuttlecraft]
(Spock is scanning one of it's small nacelles when McCoy comes out to join him.) MCCOY: Well, I can't say much for the circumstances, but at least it's your big chance. SPOCK: My big chance? For what, Doctor? MCCOY: Command. Oh, I know you, Mister Spock. You've never voiced it, but you've always thought that logic was the best basis on which to build command. Am I right? SPOCK: I am a logical man, Doctor. MCCOY: It'll take more than logic to get us out of this. SPOCK: Perhaps, Doctor, but I know of no better way to begin. I realise command does have its fascinations, even under circumstances such as these. But I neither enjoy the idea of command, nor am I frightened of it. It simply exists. And I will do whatever logically needs to be done. Excuse me. (he heads back inside)
[Shuttlecraft]
SCOTT: Very bad, Mister Spock. SPOCK: In what way? SCOTT: We've lost a great deal of fuel. We have no chance at all to reach escape velocity. And if we ever hope to make orbit, we'll have to lighten our load by at least five hundred pounds. SPOCK: The weight of three grown men. SCOTT: Aye, you could put it that way. MCCOY: Or the equivalent weight in equipment. SPOCK: Doctor McCoy, with very few exceptions we use virtually every piece of equipment aboard this craft in attaining orbit. There's very little excess weight, except among the passengers. BOMA: You mean three of us must stay behind. SPOCK: Unless the situation changes radically, yes. BOMA: And who's to choose? SPOCK: As commanding officer, the choice will be mine. BOMA: You wouldn't be interested in drawing lots? SPOCK: A very quaint idea, Mister Boma, but I do believe I'm better qualified to make the selection than any random drawing of lots. BOMA: All right, Mister Spock. Who? SPOCK: My choice will be a logical one, arrived at through logical means. MCCOY: Mister Spock, life and death are seldom logical. SPOCK: But attaining a desired goal always is, Doctor. Now gentlemen, I suggest we move outside to make a further examination of the hull in the event we've overlooked any minor damage. (Spock leaves) BOMA: If any minor damage was overlooked, it was when they put his head together. MCCOY: Not his head, Mister Boma, his heart. His heart.
[Rocky ledge]
(Latimer and Gaetano are investigating a strange scraping sound, but the mist is obscuring their vision.) LATIMER: What is it? GAETANO: II don't know. It's from up there. LATIMER: No, it's from back there. GAETANO: It's everywhere. It's all around us! LATIMER: Let's get out of here. (They go to the top of the ridge, and Latimer stands up. Someone throws a large flint-tipped spear into his back, and he falls. The scream is heard back at the shuttlecraft)
[Outside shuttlecraft]
SPOCK: Come on, Boma.
[Bottom of the ledge]
(Gaetano fires his phaser at several different enemies. The spear in Latimer's back is taller than a man) SPOCK: What was it? GAETANO: It was something huge, terrible. Up there. I think I hit it. BOMA: Did you see what it was? GAETANO: Vaguely. It was like a giant ape. BOMA: Poor Latimer. GAETANO: At least it was quick for him. BOMA: We'll get off all right. SPOCK: (returns from investigating) Nothing there. GAETANO: I tell you there was. SPOCK: I don't doubt your word. GAETANO: But there must be something. I swear I hit it. SPOCK: (pulling the bloody spear from Latimer's body and examining it) Folsom Point. BOMA: Sir? SPOCK: There's a remarkable resemblance to the Folsom Point discovered in 1925, old world calendar, New Mexico, North America. A bit more crude about the shaft, I believe. Not very efficient. BOMA: Not very efficient? Is that all you have to say? SPOCK: Am I in error, Mister Boma? BOMA: You? Error? Impossible. SPOCK: Then what, Mister Boma? BOMA: There's a man lying there dead, and you talk about stone spears. What about Latimer? SPOCK: My concern for the dead will not bring him back to life, Mister Boma. GAETANO: Mister Spock. In the interest of efficiency, I don't think we should leave his body here. SPOCK: Bringing him back to the ship should not interfere with our repair efforts. If you need assistance, I GAETANO: We'll do it. Give me a hand with Latimer, will you?
Captain's Log, stardate 2822.3. We continue to search, but I find it more difficult each moment to ward off a sense of utter futility and great loss.
[Bridge]
UHURA: Captain, the Columbus has returned from searching quadrant seven seven nine X by five three four M. Results negative. KIRK: Have them proceed to the next quadrant. Any word from engineering on our sensors? UHURA: They're working on them, sir. Still inoperable. KIRK: What about the transporters? UHURA: They're still reported unsafe. KIRK: Thank you, Lieutenant. FERRIS: Captain. KIRK: Yes, Commissioner? FERRIS: I don't relish the thought of abandoning your crewmen out there, however I must remind you KIRK: I haven't forgotten, Commissioner. FERRIS: You're running out of time. KIRK: I haven't forgotten that, Commissioner. This is the captain. Try using overload power on the transporters. We've got to get them working. CHIEF [OC]: Aye, aye, Captain. KIRK: Uhura, order the Columbus to open its course two degrees on every lap from now on. SULU: But Captain, two degrees means they'll be overlooking more than a dozen terrestrial miles on each search loop. KIRK: It also means we have a fighting chance to cover the majority of the planet's surface. Mind your helm, Mister Sulu. SULU: Yes, sir. FERRIS: (stepping into the turbolift) Twenty four more hours, Captain.
[Shuttlecraft]
SPOCK: Perhaps if you were to channel the second auxiliary tank through the primary intake valve. SCOTT: It's too delicate. It may not be able to take the pressure as it is. MCCOY: (coming in from rear compartment) This should save us at least fifty pounds, Mister Spock. SPOCK: Excellent, Doctor. MEARS: We should be able to scrape up another hundred pounds. SPOCK: Which would still leave us at least one hundred and fifty pounds overweight. MCCOY: I can't believe you're serious about leaving someone behind. Now whatever it is that's out there SPOCK: It is more rational to sacrifice one life than six, Doctor. MCCOY: I'm not talking about rationality. SPOCK: You might be wise to start. BOMA: (looking in from outside) Mister Spock. we're ready. SPOCK: For what? BOMA: The services for Latimer. SPOCK: Mister Boma, we're working against time. BOMA: The man's dead. He deserves a decent burial. You're the captain. A few words. SPOCK: Doctor, perhaps you know the correct words for such an occasion. MCCOY: Mister Spock, that's your place. SPOCK: My place is here. If you please, Doctor. MCCOY: Now look. We may all die here. At least let us die like men, not machines. SPOCK: By dealing with first things first, I hope to increase our chances of staying alive. Well, Mister Scott. SCOTT: If you'll give me a hand with this conduit. (Boma closes the door and leaves them to it) (later) SCOTT: Pressure's dropping. We're losing everything. SPOCK: What happened? SCOTT: One of the lines gave. The strain of coming through the atmosphere and the added load when we tried to bypass. Yes, that's done it. We have no fuel. SPOCK: That would seem to solve the problem of who to leave behind. Consider the alternatives, Mister Scott. SCOTT: We have no fuel! What alternatives? SPOCK: Mister Scott, there are always alternatives. MCCOY: Mister Spock! Something's happening outside.
[Outside the shuttlecraft]
(They crouch down behind a rock while Spock stands and listens to that scraping sound) MCCOY: What do those supersensitive ears make of that, Mister Spock? SPOCK: Wood rubbing on some kind of leather. GAETANO: They're getting ready. They'll attack. BOMA: Not necessarily. It could be a simple tribal rite, assuming a tribal culture. SPOCK: Not a tribal culture. Their artefacts are too primitive. More likely a loose association of some sort. MEARS: If we knew more about them BOMA: We know enough. If they're tribal, they'll have a sense of unity. We can use that. SPOCK: How, Mister Boma? BOMA: By hitting them hard. Give them a bloody nose. Make them think twice about attacking us. GAETANO: Yes, I agree. If we stand by and do nothing, we're just giving them an invitation to come down and slaughter us. SPOCK: I'm frequently appalled by the low regard you Earthmen have for life. GAETANO: Well, we're practical about it. I say we hit them before they hit us. SPOCK: Mister Boma? BOMA: Absolutely. SPOCK: Doctor McCoy? MCCOY: Seems logical to me. SPOCK: It does, indeed. It seems logical to me, also. But to take life indiscriminately, GAETANO: The majority. SPOCK: I am not interested in the opinion of the majority, Mister Gaetano. Components must be weighed. Our danger to ourselves as well as our duties to other life forms, friendly or not. There's a third course. GAETANO: That could get us killed. SPOCK: I think not. Doctor McCoy. MCCOY: Yes. SPOCK: You and Yeoman Mears return to the ship. Assist Mister Scott in any way possible. We'll be back shortly. MCCOY: Right. (Mears and McCoy leave) SPOCK: Gentlemen, you'll follow my orders to the letter, firing only when so instructed, and at my designated targets. GAETANO: Now you're talking. SPOCK: We'll fire to frighten, Mister Gaetano, not to kill. GAETANO: Oh, for the. You saw what they did to Latimer! SPOCK: I am in command, Mister Gaetano. The orders and the responsibility will be mine. Follow me.
[Rocks]
(The trio are paddling through dry ice when a giant spear is thrown across their path. Spock fires at one assailant, who throws his shield at them too. They move on a little way.) BOMA: The mists. I can't see them. SPOCK: I hear them. They're directly ahead of us. Several, I believe. Direct your phasers to two o'clock and to ten o'clock. GAETANO: I say we hit them dead on. SPOCK: Yes, I know. But fortunately, I'm giving the orders. Take aim please, and fire when I give a signal. (He climbs partway up a rock, for a better view.) SPOCK: Fire. (several seconds of sustained phaser beam) Cease fire. (It's gone quiet) They should think twice before bothering us again. GAETANO: I still say we should have killed them. SPOCK: It was not necessary. Fear will do for us what needs to be done. Mister Boma, you will return with me to the Galileo. Mister Gaetano, you remain on guard here. Keep in contact with the ship. (Boma says a silent goodbye to his colleague, and the noise starts up again)
[Shuttlecraft]
MEARS: Did you find them? SPOCK: Yes, we found them. They won't bother us again. MCCOY: I hope not. Scotty has an idea. SCOTT: It's dangerous, but it might work. SPOCK: Go, Mister Scott. SCOTT: I can adjust the main reactor to function with a substitute fuel supply. SPOCK: That's all very well, but we don't have a substitute supply. SCOTT: Aye, we do. Our phasers. I can adapt them and use their energy. It'll take time, but it's possible. MCCOY: Trouble is, they happen to be our only defence. SPOCK: They would also seem to be our only hope. SCOTT: Aye. SPOCK: (after brief thought) Yeoman, your phaser. MEARS: But what if the creatures attack again? SPOCK: They won't attack for at least several hours. By then, with luck, we'll be gone. SCOTT: If I can get a full load, we should be able to achieve orbit with all hands. Not that we can maintain it long. SPOCK: We don't have to maintain it very long, Mister Scott. In less than twenty four hours, the Enterprise will be forced to abandon its search in order to make a rendezvous. If we can't maintain orbit after that time, it won't make any difference. If we burn up in a decaying orbit or die here on the planet's surface, we shall surely die. Doctor, your phaser. Go to work, Mister Scott. SCOTT: Aye, aye, sir.
[Transporter room]
(A bunch of boxes is beamed aboard) CHIEF: They came back all right, sir. In my opinion, the transporters are now safe for human transport. KIRK: Good. This is the captain. Landing parties one, two, and three, report to transporter room for immediate beaming down to surface of the planet. Ordinance condition One A. CHIEF: Captain, it's a big planet. It'll be sheer luck if our landing parties find anything. KIRK: I'm depending on luck, Lieutenant. It's almost the only tool we have that'll work.
[Rocks]
(Gaetano has worked himself up into a panic when a rock knocks his phaser out of his hand. Then a spear is thrown, and finally the giant creature comes for the helpless man)(Spock, Boma and McCoy arrive on the scene a little later, and examine the marks in the ground. Spock picks up the dropped phaser) SPOCK: Take this back to Mister Scott for conversion, please Doctor. BOMA: Nobody knows what's happened to Gaetano, and you hand over his phaser like nothing's happened at all. SPOCK: (handing over his own phaser) And give this to Mister Scott in the event I don't return. MCCOY: Just where are you going? SPOCK: I have a certain scientific curiosity about what's become of Mister Gaetano. Return to the ship, please. (Spock leaves) MCCOY: I don't know. He'll risk his neck locating Gaetano and if he finds him, he's just as liable to order him to stay behind. You tell me. BOMA: Do you really think the ship will ever leave? MCCOY: Well, it won't unless we get these phasers back. (Further on, Spock finds Gaetano's body draped over a rock. He picks him up in a fireman's lift and heads back to the shuttlecraft with him. Spears are thrown. McCoy and Boma help him get the body inside.)
[Shuttlecraft]
(Scott is still lying in the middle of the floor, working) MCCOY: Well, Mister Spock, they didn't stay frightened very long, did they? SPOCK: Most illogical reaction. We demonstrated our superior weapons. They should have fled. MCCOY: You mean they should have respected us? SPOCK: Of course. MCCOY: Mister Spock, respect is a rational process. Did it ever occur to you they might react emotionally, with anger? SPOCK: Doctor, I am not responsible for their unpredictability. MCCOY: They were perfectly predictable to anyone with feeling. You might as well admit it, Mister Spock, your precious logic brought them down on us. MEARS: Why haven't they done anything? SPOCK: They're studying us, for the moment. BOMA: Another prediction, Mister Spock? SPOCK: My opinion, Mister Boma. (The shuttlecraft shakes as one of the locals starts battering it with a rock) SPOCK: Seal the windows! MCCOY: Studying us, Mister Spock? They seem to learn rather quickly. BOMA: All right, Spock, you have all the answers. What now? SPOCK: Mister Boma, your tone is increasingly hostile. BOMA: My tone isn't the only thing that's hostile, Mister Spock! SPOCK: Curious. Most illogical. BOMA: I'm sick and tired of your logic! MEARS: We could use a little inspiration. SPOCK: Strange. Step by step, I have made the correct and logical decisions. And yet two men have died. MCCOY: And you've brought our furry friends down on us. SPOCK: I do seem to have miscalculated regarding them, and inculcated resentment on your parts. The sum of the parts cannot be greater than the whole. MCCOY A little less analysis and more action. That's what we need, Mister Spock. SPOCK: How much longer, Mister Scott? SCOTT: Another hour, maybe two. MCCOY: That won't be long enough. SCOTT: Doctor, a phaser can only drain so fast. BOMA: How long do you think those plates will hold out under this? We've got to do something! SCOTT: You've got your hands full.
Captain's Log, stardate 2823.1. Our landing parties are on the surface of Taurus Two. We continue to hope. Instruments are slowly returning to an operable condition as the ion storm slowly disperses. On the ship, we can only wait helplessly.
[Bridge]
KIRK: What word from the sensor section? UHURA: At last report they were getting some readings KIRK: I'm not interested in the last report. I want to know now. UHURA: Yes, sir. FERRIS: You have two hours and forty three minutes, Captain. KIRK: I'm perfectly aware of how much time I have left. FERRIS: I'm delighted. However I shall continue to remind you. KIRK: You do that. UHURA: Sir, sensor section reporting. Static interference still creating false images. Estimates eighty percent undependable. KIRK: What about radio communication? UHURA: Clearing slowly. Still incapable of transmission or reception. FERRIS: What do you intend to do? KIRK: Do? I intend to continue the search. Foot by foot, inch by inch, by candlelight if necessary, until the last possible moment. And if you'd keep your nose off my bridge, I'd be thankful. FERRIS: I'm sure the authorities will be pleased by your diligence, Captain. I'm not sure they'll appreciate the way you address a High Commissioner. KIRK: I'm in command here, Mister Ferris. FERRIS: You are, Captain. For another two hours and forty two minutes.
[Shuttlecraft]
SPOCK: Mister Scott, how much power do we have left in the ship's batteries? SCOTT: They're in good shape, but they won't lift us off, if that's what you're getting at. SPOCK: Will they electrify the exterior of this ship? SCOTT: That they will, Mister Spock! (He dashes to the rear compartment and puts on big rubber gloves) SPOCK: Get to the centre of the ship. Don't touch the plates. Be sure you're insulated. Stand by. Are you ready, Scott? SCOTT: Ready, Mister Spock. SPOCK: All right. Go. (Scott uses a spanner or something to short out the battery connections) Again! Again! (It goes quiet and still outside) SCOTT: I daren't use any more. Not and be sure of ignition. SPOCK: I believe we've used enough. Mister Scott. I suggest you continue draining the phasers. SCOTT: Aye. MCCOY: It must've worked. SPOCK: For the moment. BOMA: For the moment? SPOCK: The moment they discover they're not seriously hurt, they'll be back. Meanwhile, please check the aft compartment. See if there's anything you can unload to lighten the ship. BOMA: Mister Gaetano's body's back there. SPOCK: It will of course have to be left behind. BOMA: Not without a burial. SPOCK: I wouldn't recommend it. The creatures won't be far away. BOMA: Not without a burial, Mister Spock. SPOCK: It would expose members of this crew to unnecessary peril. BOMA: I'll take that chance. You see, Mister Spock, I would insist upon a decent burial even if your body was back there. MCCOY: Mister Boma. BOMA: I'm sick and tired of this machine! SCOTT: That's enough! SPOCK: Gentlemen. All right, Mister Boma, you'll have your burial, provided the creatures will permit it.
[Bridge]
UHURA: Captain Kirk, landing party number two has been beamed back aboard ship. They have casualties. One dead, two injured. KIRK: (going to Spock's station) Put Lieutenant Kelowitz on visual. KELOWITZ [on monitor]: Kelowitz, Captain. (His uniform is dirty and he sounds tired) KIRK: Report. KELOWITZ [on monitor]: We were attacked, Captain. Huge, furry creatures. I checked with astral anthropology, and they're order 480G, anthropoid. Similar to life forms discovered on Hansen's Planet, but much larger. Ten, twelve feet in height. KIRK: There are casualties? KELOWITZ [on monitor]: Ensign O'Neal got a spear through the body before we even knew they were around. Lieutenant lmmamura has a dislocated shoulder and severe lacerations, but he'll make it all right. Captain, the creatures are all over the place. If the Galileo is down on that planet, I KIRK: Thank you, Lieutenant. You'd better report to Sickbay yourself. KELOWITZ [on monitor]: Aye, aye, Captain. (Commissioner Ferris enters) FERRIS: Captain Kirk, check your chronometer. You'll see that it is 2823.8. Your time is up. KIRK: But they're still out there. FERRIS: So are the plague victims on New Paris. I'm sorry, Captain. I now assume authority granted me under Title fifteen, Galactic Emergency Procedures, and I order you to abandon search. KIRK: The Columbus hasn't returned yet. I still have two search parties out. FERRIS: You're procrastinating, Captain. You have your orders. Recall your search parties and proceed to Makus Three immediately. KIRK: Lieutenant. UHURA: Yes, sir. KIRK: Order the transporter room to immediately beam up the two search parties from the surface. Attempt to contact the Columbus. UHURA: I'm in partial contact with them now, sir. KIRK: Then have them return immediately. Mister Sulu, prepare to abandon search. Set course for Makus Three.
Captain's log, supplement. The search parties have returned to the ship, and the Columbus is on its way back. I have been compelled to abandon the search.
[Bridge]
UHURA: Captain, the sensor section says the beams are working again. KIRK: What about the other systems? UHURA: No, sir. Too much interference. SULU: Captain, course set for Makus Three. KIRK: Stand ready, Mister Sulu. How long before the Columbus comes on board? UHURA: Twenty three minutes, sir. KIRK: Twenty three minutes.
[Shuttlecraft]
MEARS: Enterprise, this is Galileo. Come in, please. Enterprise. Nothing, sir. Just ionic interference. SCOTT: That's it. SPOCK: How about weight? SCOTT: If we shed every ounce, we might be able to achieve orbit. SPOCK: And how long can we hold it? SCOTT: A few hours, no longer. But if we time it right, we can cut out of orbit and save enough fuel for a controlled re=entry. SPOCK: To land here again? Not a very attractive possibility. SCOTT: We have very few alternatives, Mister Spock. SPOCK: Doctor McCoy. Mister Boma. When can we lift off, Scott? SCOTT: Maybe eight minutes if the weight's right. (McCoy appears from the aft compartment) SPOCK: Gentlemen, The ship will lift off in exactly ten minutes. You have that long to bury Mister Gaetano. Now, it appears to be clear outside, at least for the moment. I'll assist you. Hurry.
[Bridge]
UHURA: The Columbus is aboard, sir. The flight hatch is closed. Transporter room reports last of the landing parties have beamed safely up. All systems report secured for warp factors. KIRK: Mister Sulu, proceed on course for Makus Three, at space normal speed. SULU: Space normal, sir? KIRK: Those are my orders. Lieutenant Uhura, order all sensor sections to direct beams aft. Full function, continuous operation until further orders. UHURA: Yes, sir.
{Shuttlecraft]
(From our viewpoint inside, we see the three men standing by two mounds of soil when giant spears start landing near them) SPOCK: Get into the ship! Immediate lift off! (He throws a spear back, then gets pinned against a rock outcrop by a thrown boulder) SPOCK: No! Go back! Lift off! Go back! No! (But Boma and McCoy ignore his orders and free him) SPOCK: All right, All right! Go! Go! Go! Go! (They all get safely into the shuttlecraft) SPOCK: Go, Scott! SCOTT: Aye, aye, sir. SPOCK: I told you to lift off! MCCOY: Don't be a fool, Mister Spock. We couldn't leave you out there. SPOCK: Get us off, Scott! SCOTT: We should be moving, but we're not. SPOCK: Quite right, Mister Scott. There's somebody holding us down. All systems are go, but we're not moving. (Throws switches on the pilot's panel) SCOTT: What are you doing? SPOCK: Our boosters. SCOTT: We'll never be able to hold orbit. SPOCK: Would you rather stay here? SCOTT: No, Mister Spock. (They swap seats) MEARS: We're moving! BOMA: They let go! MCCOY: We got off! SPOCK: May I remind you we have yet to achieve orbit, nor can we maintain it long. An hour from now we may be right back where we started from. (The Galileo leaves the sickly yellow and green atmosphere of the planet) SPOCK: Gentlemen, by coming after me, you may well have destroyed what slim chance you had for survival. The logical thing for you to have done was to have left me behind. MCCOY: Mister Spock, remind me to tell you that I'm sick and tired of your logic. SPOCK: That is a most illogical attitude. Orbit in one minute, Mister Scott. Fuel status? SCOTT: Fifteen pounds psi. Approximately enough for one orbit, sir. MCCOY: After that? SCOTT: Tapping our boosters ended our last chance for a soft landing. BOMA: You mean a burn-up? SPOCK: It is the usual end of a decaying orbit. MEARS: I don't want to die up here. SPOCK: Infinitely preferable to the kind of death we'd be granted on the planet's surface, I should think. BOMA: I admire your ability to make so measured a choice. SCOTT: Mister Spock, you said a while ago that there were always alternatives. SPOCK: Did l? I may have been mistaken. MCCOY: Well, at least I lived long enough to hear that. Is there anything we can do? SPOCK: The Enterprise is surely on course for Makus Three by now. I for one do not believe in angels. MCCOY: Well, Mister Spock, so ends your first command. SPOCK: Yes. My first command. SCOTT: Orbit attitude, Mister Spock. With our present fuel, that gives us about forty five minutes. SPOCK: Galileo to Enterprise. Galileo to Enterprise, come in, please. Galileo to Enterprise. Come in, please. (He ponders for a moment, then flicks the Fuel Jettison button) SCOTT: Mister Spock! (There's a jolt as two long plumes of flame streak out from the nacelles) MEARS: What happened? SCOTT: He jettisoned the fuel and ignited it. BOMA: We need that fuel to maintain orbit. Are you out of your mind? SPOCK: Perhaps, Mister Boma. MCCOY: How long have we got now, Scotty? SCOTT: The orbit'll start decaying as soon as the fuel's exhausted. Say six minutes.
[Bridge]
(The air is full of pointless status reports over the comm. when suddenly) SULU: Captain, there's something there on screen, at Taurus Two. (On the viewscreen, a long trail of yellow crosses the green of the planet) KIRK: Sensors, a meteorite? SULU: No. It's holding a lateral line. There it is again. Holding steady, Captain. KIRK: A hundred and eighty degrees about, Mister Sulu. Lieutenant Uhura, contact transporter room. All beams ready. Full normal speed.
[Shuttlecraft]
SCOTT: A distress signal? It's like sending up a flare. Mister Spock, that was a good gamble. Perhaps it was worth it. SPOCK: No one out there to see it. (The plume of flame fades out) SCOTT: Orbit decaying, Mister Spock. Ten seconds to atmosphere. MCCOY: It may be the last action you'll ever take, Mister Spock, but it was all human. SPOCK: Totally illogical. There was no chance. MCCOY: That's exactly what I mean. (The front of the little craft starts to glow red, and instrumentation begins to smoke and crackle.) MEARS: It's getting hot.
[Bridge]
UHURA: Transporters locked in, sir. KIRK: Activate beams. (Our last view inside Galileo is of lots of smoke, then transporter beams) SULU: Whatever it was, Captain, it just burned up in the atmosphere. UHURA: Captain, transporter room just beamed up five persons. Alive and well. KIRK: Mister Sulu, proceed on course to Makus Three. Ahead warp factor one. SULU: Aye, aye, sir. Warp factor one. (later, everyone is back on duty) KIRK: Mister Spock. SPOCK: Captain. KIRK: There's really something I don't understand about all of this. Maybe you can explain it to me. Logically, of course. When you jettisoned the fuel and ignited it, you knew there was virtually no chance of it being seen, yet you did it anyhow. That would seem to me to be an act of desperation. SPOCK: Quite correct, Captain. KIRK: Now we all know, and I'm sure the doctor will agree with me, that desperation is a highly emotional state of mind. How does your well-known logic explain that? SPOCK: Quite simply, Captain. I examined the problem from all angles, and it was plainly hopeless. Logic informed me that under the circumstances, the only possible action would have to be one of desperation. Logical decision, logically arrived at. KIRK: I see. You mean you reasoned that it was time for an emotional outburst. SPOCK: Well, I wouldn't put it in exactly those terms, Captain, but those are essentially the facts. KIRK: You're not going to admit that for the first time in your life, you committed a purely human emotional act? SPOCK: No, sir. KIRK: Mister Spock, you're a stubborn man. SPOCK: Yes, sir.
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