02x12 - The Deadly Years

[bunniefuu]

Where is everyone?

Perhaps they weren't expecting us.

Our arrival was scheduled
well in advance, doctor.

The annual check
of every scientific expedition is routine.

I had a subspace contact
with a Robert Johnson,

the leader of this expedition,
not an hour ago.

Well, did he report anything wrong?

No. Yet there was something wrong.
I can't quite pin it down.

His conversation was disjointed,
his thoughts a little foggy, unrelated.

Chekov! Check that building.
Mr. Spock and I will check this one.

The rest of you, take a look around.
See if you can find anyone.

Captain!

Captain!

Captain! Captain!

A man, sir, in there. A dead man.

Exactly what it looks like.

- Death by natural causes, old age.
- That's quite impossible, doctor.

I ran a personnel check on this entire
expedition before we beamed down.

I assure you that none of them were...

They've come
to pay their respects to Alvin.

- I'm Captain Kirk of...
- You'll have to speak louder.

I say, I'm Captain Kirk
of the USS Enterprise.

Who are you?

I'm Robert Johnson.

And this is my wife, Elaine.

How old are you?

How old are you?

I'm... Let me see.

I am 29. And Elaine is...

I'm 27.

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages
of the starship Enterprise.

Its five-year mission:
To explore strange, new worlds,

to seek out new life
and new civilizations,

to boldly go where no man
has gone before.

Captain's log, stardate 3478.2.

On a routine mission to resupply

the experimental colony
at Gamma Hydra IV,

we discovered
a most unusual phenomenon.

Of the six members of the colony,
none of whom were over 30,

we found four had d*ed,
and two were dying... of old age.

Mr. Johnson, can you hear me?

I can hear you.
I'm not deaf yet, you know.

Not yet.

Can you tell me what happened?

What happened?

Did your instruments show anything?

Elaine was so beautiful.

So beautiful.

So beautiful.

He can hear you, Jim,
but he doesn't understand.

Let's let him rest.

If they seem lucid,
I'll be in the Briefing Room.

Stay seated. Commodore Stocker,

I've asked you
to be a part of this briefing

because Gamma Hydra IV falls
within your administrative area.

I appreciate that, sir.

Dr. Wallace,
as an expert in endocrinology,

I'd appreciate you working
very closely with Dr. McCoy.

- Yes, captain.
- And Dr. McCoy,

would you fill them in?

Well, the expedition is suffering
from extreme old age

and they're growing older
by the minute, much older.

My examinations have turned up
absolutely nothing.

In fact, I don't have a clue.

What about the atmosphere
and environment, Mr. Spock?

Sensors reveal nothing
which is inimical to human life.

The atmosphere screens out the
usual amount of harmful cosmic rays.

We're close to the neutral zone

between our Federation
and the Romulan Empire.

It's possible
the Romulans have a new w*apon

and are using this colony
as guinea pigs.

I have already begun investigation
into that possibility, captain.

Good. I want you all to check out
everything in your own departments.

No matter how remote, how far-fetched
the notion, I want it run down.

We'll stay in orbit
until we have the answer. Thank you.

I'm sure you understand that
I am anxious to get to Starbase 10

- to assume my new post.
- Yes, commodore.

We'll do everything we can
to make your due date.

Thank you, sir.

Doctor, is there something
I can do for you?

Well, be a little less
the cool, efficient captain,

and a little more the old friend.

How long has it been?

Six years, four months
and an odd number of days.

You mean you don't know?

A long time.

Things wouldn't change if it
started all over again, would it?

You have your job, I have my ship.
And neither one of us will change.

You said it, I didn't.

In all those years,
I only heard from you once.

A stargram when my husband d*ed.

You know, you never asked me
why I got married after we called it off.

Well, I supposed that
you met someone you loved.

I met a man I admired, a great man.

In the same field as you.
You didn't have to give up a thing.

No. Just you.

Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock would like
to see you on the Bridge.

I'm on my way.

- Standard orbit, captain.
- Maintain.

I've rechecked the sensors, captain.

Gamma Hydra IV checks out
as a Class-M planet

with a conventional oxygen-nitrogen
atmosphere, normal mass.

I can find nothing at all
out of the ordinary.

And the comet
that Astrophysics reported?

We're running checks on it.
I've reached no conclusions yet.

The comet was a rogue
and has never been investigated.

- Captain Kirk?
- Yes, commodore?

Facilities at Starbase 10
are much more complete

than those onboard ship.

Seems to me your investigations would
be facilitated if we proceeded there.

- I assure you all cooperation.
- Thank you.

I know you're anxious
to get to the base,

but we have a few facilities
of our own here.

The Enterprise will do quite nicely.
I'll be in Engineering, Mr. Spock.

Maintain standard orbit, Mr. Sulu.

You already gave that command, sir.

Well, follow it.

Lieutenant Galway.

Doctor, may I speak to you
for a moment, please?

Of course. Go right ahead.

Well, I know this
is going to sound foolish,

but, well, I seem to be having
a little trouble hearing.

Well, it's probably nothing important.

I never had trouble before.

Well, don't worry about it.

Perhaps a little hypersonic treatment
might clear it up.

Thank you.

Progress report, Mr. Spock.

All research lines negative, captain.

Astronomical section reports a comet
recently passed by. Check into that.

I am doing that, captain,
as per your previous order.

We discussed that earlier.

Oh, yes. Let me know what you
come up with. I'll be in the Sickbay.

Acknowledged.

The last one.
Robert Johnson, cause of death:

- Old age.
- You did what you could.

Which adds up to absolutely nothing.

Dr. McCoy? This is Scott.
May I come up and see you?

All you need are vitamins.
But you can come up anyhow.

Bones, I believe you're getting grey.

You take over my job
and see what happens to you.

- I see what you mean.
- What's your problem, Jim?

Shoulder. Just a twinge.
Probably muscular strain.

You're probably right, doctor.

By the way, I don't like the way
you've been running this ship lately.

All right, reprimand received.
Go ahead.

Jim, I think we'd better run
a complete physical on you.

Why?

Just muscular strain, isn't it?

No, Jim. It's advanced arthritis,
and it's spreading.

- That's impossible.
- I can run it through again,

but I'll come up with the same thing.

Scotty!

Captain's log, stardate 3579.4.

Of the Enterprise personnel who
beamed down to the planet's surface,

Dr. McCoy, Engineer Scott,
Mr. Spock,

Lieutenant Galway and myself
are all showing definite signs of aging.

Only Ensign Chekov
appears to be normal.

Report, Bones.

All of us who went down to the
surface, with the exception of Chekov,

are aging at various rates.

Approximately 30 years for each day.

I don't know what's causing it,

virus, bacteria or evil spirits,
but I'm trying to find out.

Spock? I asked for some figures.

Based on what Dr. McCoy gave me,

I estimate that physically
we each have less than a week to live.

Also,

since our mental faculties
are aging faster than our bodies,

we will be little better
than mental vegetables

in a considerably lesser time.

Total senility?

Yes, captain. In a very short time.

What a way to die.

All right.

I want all the research facilities,
all the scientific technicians

to start round-the-clock research
immediately.

I want the answers,
and I want the remedy!

You might start by finding out
why Chekov hasn't been affected.

I'm doing what I can.

- You're perfectly healthy.
- I must differ with you, doctor.

I'm having difficulty concentrating,
which is most disturbing.

My eyesight appears to be failing.

The normal temperature of the ship
seems to me to be increasingly cold.

I did not say you weren't affected,
Mr. Spock.

You are perfectly healthy.

That is, for any normal Vulcan
on the high side of 100.

Captain, can I go back to my station?

- Do you feel up to it, Scotty?
- Of course I do.

I just need a wee bit of rest, that's all.

You can leave too, Lieutenant Galway.

Lieutenant Galway.

What? You spoke to me, doctor?

Yes, I spoke to you.
I said that you could leave too.

Now, why don't you go on down
to your quarters and get some sleep?

No, I don't wanna sleep.

Can't you understand?

If I sleep,
what will I find when I wake up?

Lieutenant Galway,

assume your position
and start your duties.

Thank you, sir.

That's a stupid place to hang a mirror.

She's 10 years younger than I am.
She looks...

People age
normally at different speeds.

Why hasn't he aged?

- I don't know.
- Well, I wanna know!

Is it his youth, his blood type,
his heritage, his glands, his genes?

"His genes."

All right, nurse, prepare Chekov
for another complete physical.

Come along, ensign.
This won't hurt... much.

Promises.

A few years ago on Aldebaran III,

my husband and I tried
various carbohydrate compounds

to slow down
the degeneration of plant life.

Well, then try that, Dr. Wallace.

- Try anything, but do it quickly.
- Yes, sir.

I'll be on the Bridge.
Keep me posted as to Chekov.

I thought you were on your way
to the biochemistry lab, doctor.

We're both going the same direction.

So we do.

Look, we know the problem.
We know the progress of the affliction.

Therefore, once we find
the proper line of research,

it's only logical we find a solution.

You sound like my first officer.

No problem is insoluble, not even ours.

That didn't spring from logic.

Our situation
doesn't have its roots in logic.

The heart is not a logical organ.

When I married Theodore Wallace,
I thought I was over you.

I was wrong.

When did you realise that? Today?

What?

How much older was your husband?

- What difference does that make?
- Answer me.

Twenty-six years.

- That's quite a difference.
- Jim, he was a brilliant man.

We were stationed on a lonely outpost.
We were working together.

I don't wanna talk about him.
I wanna talk about us.

Look at me.

Look at me.

What do you see?

I see Captain James Kirk.

A man of morality, decency,
handsome and strong...

And old.

- And rapidly growing older.
- Jim, please.

What are you offering me, Jan?

Love? Or a going-away present?

"Give us some more blood, Chekov.

The needle won't hurt, Chekov.
Take off your shirt, Chekov.

Roll over, Chekov.
Breathe deeply, Chekov.

Blood sample, Chekov.
Marrow sample, Chekov.

Skin sample, Chekov."

If... If I live long enough,
I'm going to run out of samples.

You'll live.

Oh, yes, I'll live, but I won't enjoy it.

Maintaining standard orbit, captain.

Increase orbit
to 20,000 perigee, Mr. Sulu.

Aye, aye, sir.

Will you sign this, sir?

Yeoman.

Do you have a reason for being
on the Bridge, Commodore Stocker?

I had hoped for a few words with you
at your convenience.

I have very little time.

If I may say so, sir,
we have a due date at Starbase 10.

We're going to be late.

I don't intend to leave this area until
we've found a solution for this problem.

Captain, I am watching
four very valuable,

one almost irreplaceable, members
of the Starfleet failing before my eyes.

I want to do something to help.

Since you're so concerned,
I'll send a message to Starbase 10.

Captain,

you sent such a message
this morning.

Yeoman! Where's that...

- Sir?
...fuel consumption report?

I gave it to you, sir. You signed it.

If I had signed it,
I wouldn't ask for it, now, would I?

Your signature, captain.

Captain, I believe...

Captain? Captain?

- Spock, I was just thinking.
- Yes, sir. Quite understandable.

- You have something to report?
- Yes, sir.

I believe we have
the cause of the affliction.

- What is it?
- The orbit of Gamma Hydra IV

carried the planet
directly through the comet's trail.

On conventional radiation settings,
we discovered nothing.

When resetting our sensors to
the extreme lower range of the scale,

undetected radiation appeared.

Below normal radiation levels,
but definitely present,

and undoubtedly residue
from the comet.

Good, Spock. Well done.

Let's get this
to Dr. McCoy immediately.

Lieutenant, take a message
to Starfleet Command.

- Aye, sir.
- Due to the proximity of the Romulans,

better use Code 2.

But, captain, the Romulans
have broken Code 2.

- If you remember the last bulletin...
- Then use Code 3.

- Yes, sir, Code 3.
- Message:

Key to affliction may be comet
which passed by Gamma Hydra IV.

Said comet is now...

- Quadrant 448, sir.
- Quadrant...

All units are to be alerted
for complete analysis of radiation

and means found to neutralise it.
The comet is highly dangerous.

Kirk, commanding Enterprise.

- Immediately, lieutenant. Let's go.
- Aye, sir.

Oh, Mr. Sulu,

increase orbit to 20,000-mile perigee.

You mean another 20,000, captain?

I fail to understand why each one
of my commands is being questioned.

Now, do as you're told, Mr. Sulu.

Mr. Sulu, what is our present position?

Orbiting at 20,000, sir.

- Maintain.
- Maintaining, sir.

Radiation.
Well, that's as good an answer as any,

but why didn't we
know about it earlier?

Possibly, doctor,
because my thinking processes

are not as efficient as before.

Run this through, doctor.

All right, Bones. I'm going up
to the Bridge. Keep me posted. Spock.

I have a question for the doctor.

Doctor, the ship's temperature
is increasingly uncomfortable for me.

I've adjusted the environment
in my quarters to 125 degrees,

which is at least tolerable. However, l...

Well, I see I'm not gonna be
making any house calls on you.

I wondered if perhaps
there was something

which could
lower my sensitivity to cold.

I'm not a magician, Spock,
just an old country doctor.

Yes. As I always suspected.

Dr. McCoy,
none of our usual radiation therapies

will have any effect
on this radiation sickness.

Well, then we just start over, that's all.
We work harder,

faster, and we start
completely from scratch if we have to.

But we find something.

Spock, can I have a word with you?

- Commodore?
- Mr. Spock, a starship can function

with a chief engineer
and a chief medical officer,

even a first officer,
under physical par.

But it is disastrous
to have a commanding officer

whose condition is
any less than perfection.

- I am aware of that.
- Please understand me.

My admiration for Captain Kirk
is unbounded. He is a great officer.

But, Mr. Spock, I need your help
and your cooperation.

For what, sir?

I would like you to take over
command of the Enterprise.

On what grounds, commodore?

On the grounds that the captain,
because of his affliction,

is unable to perform his duties.

Need I remind you, sir, that I too
have contracted the same affliction?

Yes, but you're a Vulcan.
You have a much greater life span.

You show the effects
to a much smaller degree.

I am half human, sir.

My physical reflexes are down,
my mental capacities reduced,

I tire easily.

No, sir. I am not fit for command.

Well, if you are not
with your Vulcan physique,

then obviously Captain Kirk cannot be.

Sir, I do have duties to perform.

Mr. Spock.

I do not like what I am about to say
but regulations demand it,

and as a Starfleet flag officer,
I must follow regulations.

As second-in-command
of the Enterprise,

you must convene
an extraordinary competency hearing.

I resist that suggestion, commodore.

It's not a matter of choice.

When a captain is unfit
physically or mentally,

a competency hearing is mandatory.

Don't make me quote a regulation
which you know as well as I do.

Very well, sir.

The hearing shall convene
at 1400 hours.

- Now, this isn't gonna hurt a bit.
- That's what you said the last time.

- Did it hurt?
- Yes.

Doctor...

Bones.

She's dead.

Her metabolism caused her to age
more rapidly than the rest of us,

but the same thing's
gonna happen to us unless...

How long have we got, Bones?

A matter of days,

perhaps hours.

Let it read that this competency hearing
was ordered by Commodore Stocker

and reluctantly called by myself.

Let it also read
that I consider it invalid.

Mr. Spock, may I make a statement?

I have had to resort to these legal
grounds in order to save the lives

of some very valuable members
of the Starfleet.

I have tried to convince Captain Kirk

of the necessity of proceeding
to Starbase 10,

but have been overruled in each case.

The responsibility
of this hearing is mine.

On the contrary, commodore,

as presiding officer and
second-in-command of the Enterprise,

the responsibility is mine.

Captain Kirk,
would you like to make a statement?

Yes, I would like to make a statement.

I am the captain of this ship and
I'm totally capable of commanding her.

Let's call this whole thing off
and get back to work.

It's quite impossible, captain.
The regulations are quite specific.

You are entitled
to direct examination of all witnesses

immediately after the board
has questioned them.

That's very kind of you, Spock.

Mr. Sulu, how long have you served
with Captain Kirk?

- Two years, sir.
- To your knowledge,

has he ever had any difficulty
making decisions?

No, sir.

Did he order you to maintain standard
orbit around Gamma Hydra IV?

Yes, sir.

Did he not, several minutes later,
repeat that order?

Yes, sir.

- Did he order you to increase orbit?
- Yes, sir.

Did he not, several minutes later,
repeat that order?

He did not!

When I give an order,
I expect it to be obeyed.

I don't have to repeat myself.

Mr. Sulu,

you'll please answer the question.

Yes, sir. Captain Kirk
repeated his order.

Thank you, Mr. Sulu.

Atkins.

You handed Captain Kirk
a fuel-consumption report

in the presence of witnesses,
which he read and signed.

Is that correct?

Sir, he had more important things
on his mind.

- The present...
- Yeoman,

you will simply answer the question.

L... I guess he forgot he'd signed it.

You guess?

He forgot he'd signed it.

Thank you, yeoman. You may leave.

Lieutenant Uhura.

I have here a bulletin
from Starfleet Command

which states that the Romulans
had broken Code 2.

Are these your initials
which appear at the bottom?

They are.

And whose initials are those
which appear directly below yours?

Those of Captain Kirk.

Did Captain Kirk ask you
to send a message about the comet

which passed Gamma Hydra IV?

- He did.
- Using Code 2?

Oh, yes, but he
changed it to Code 3.

After you reminded him that
the Romulans had broken Code 2.

- Yes.
- Thank you, lieutenant.

Dr. McCoy.

Dr. McCoy.

Yeah. Yes, Mr. Spock, what is it?

Several hours ago,
at the request of this board,

you ran a complete
physical examination of Captain Kirk.

I did.

Medical banks. Compute,
describe subject's physical age,

using established norms
as comparative base.

Working. Subject's physical age,
based on physiological profile,

between 60 and 72, aging rapidly.

Oh, I'm thirty-f... I'm 34 years old.

The computer differs with you, captain.

- Dr. McCoy.
- Yes?

Will you give us
your professional evaluation

of Captain Kirk's present
physical condition?

Captain Kirk is suffering from

a peculiar physical degeneration

which strongly resembles aging.

Is not his mental capacity
degenerating even more rapidly?

- Yes, but he's a better man now...
- Doctor,

you heard the computer's analysis
of Captain Kirk's physical age.

Do you agree with it?

Blasted machines. Spock,
you can't argue with a machine.

Do you agree with it, doctor?

Yes. Yes, I do agree.

And I am sorry, Jim.

This board has no further questions.

Unless you, Commodore Stocker,
have something you would like to add.

No. I am quite satisfied, Mr. Spock.

Do you wish to call any witnesses,
Captain Kirk?

I'm perfectly capable of speaking
in my own defence, Mr. Spock.

- Captain, I would suggest...
- No, it's all right, Spock. It's all right.

There's only one reason,
and one reason alone

for having this hearing.
I refuse to leave Gamma Hydra II.

Gamma Hydra IV, captain.

Yes. A slip of the tongue.

Captain, your inability to remember
having given commands,

reading and signing important orders
and then forgetting them,

your physical analysis as compiled
by your own chief surgeon,

all of these things would appear
to be irrefutable proof

of failing
physical and mental condition.

So I'm a little confused.
Who wouldn't be at a time like this?

My ship's in trouble,
my senior officers are ill,

and this nonsense
about a competency hearing

is enough to mix up any man.

Trying to relieve a captain
of his command is...

Why, that's... That's...

Spock.

I wouldn't have believed it of you.

Go ahead. Ask me questions.

I'll show you what I'm capable of.
Nothing wrong with my memory.

Go ahead, ask me anything.

We're in orbit
around Gamma Hydra II, right?

Anyhow, it doesn't matter.

There's a lot more
to running a starship

than answering
a lot of fool questions.

A lot more.

- Go ahead, ask me a question.
- We have no more questions, captain.

Ask me anything.

Anything.

There will be no more questions,
captain.

If you would leave the room
so the board can vote...

Good idea.
Get this stupid voting over with

so I can get back to running the ship.

Worst fool thing I ever heard of.

Competency hearing
when there's work to be done.

I'll be in my quarters
awaiting your decision.

Well, since the senior officers
are incapable,

and I am of flag rank, I am forced
by regulations to assume command.

Sir, you have never
commanded a starship.

What would you have, Mr. Spock,

a junior officer
with far less experience than I have?

- The danger from the Romulans...
- We have to save these people.

Mr. Sulu.

Set a direct course for Starbase 10.
Warp 5.

- Across the neutral zone?
- Immediately, Mr. Sulu.

All officers are to return to their posts.

Spock?

Yes, captain.

So I've been relieved.

- I'm sorry, captain.
- Yes.

You should have been
a prosecuting attorney.

- Regulations required...
- Regulations.

Don't give me regulations.

You've wanted command all along.
The first little excuse you get...

- Captain, I've not assumed command.
- I hope you're proud of the...

What do you mean,
you've not assumed command?

- I suffer the same affliction as you.
- If you're not in command, who is?

- Commodore Stocker.
- Stocker?

Are you crazy?

- He's never had a field command.
- Mr. Scott was unfit for command.

Commodore Stocker,
as ranking officer...

Don't... Don't talk to me about rank!

The man's a
chair-bound paper-pusher!

- I order you to take command.
- I cannot, captain.

- Are you refusing a direct order?
- No, sir.

Only Commodore Stocker can give
a command order onboard this ship.

You traitorous...

...disloyal...

You s*ab me in the back
the first chance you get.

Spock.

Get out.

I never wanna have to
look at you again.

Jan.

Oh, Jim, I'm sorry. Truly, I am.

I made a fool of myself in there.

I shouldn't have let them confuse me,
rattle me.

Everybody understood.

But I'm not old, Jan. I'm not.

A few muscular aches
doesn't make a man old.

You don't run a starship with your
arms, you run it with your head.

And my brain's
as sharp as it ever was.

A simple case of radiation poisoning,
they relieve me of my command?

I admit I'm getting a little grey,
but radiation will do that to you.

- Forgive me, I have some work to do.
- Jan.

You know me. Look at me closely.

Tell me,

am I getting old?

What are you doing here?

It would seem to be the place
where I can be of the most use.

Maybe you'd like to relieve Dr. McCoy?

- What about Chekov?
- Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Bones, there has to be. There has
to be. We beamed down together.

We were on the surface together
on the same spot.

- We were together all the time.
- No, not all the time, captain.

- He left us for a few moments.
- He left us? He left us.

He went into the building.

Spock, something happened.

Yes. Yes, indeed, captain.

Doctor, you will remember...

He was scared. He saw the dead body.

And he ran out of the building
and he was scared to death.

Yes. Yes, now that... That could be.

Frightened, scared.

Heart beats faster, breath gets short,

and has cold sweats. Adrenaline flows.

Adrenal activity.

Now, hold on just a minute now.
There's something that I read once.

It was ancient history,

just after the atomic age.

Used for radiation sickness.

Adrenaline!

Doctor, hyronalin is the specific
accepted for all radiation sickness.

Yes. Yes, now.

But before, adrenaline.
Highly promising.

Early research.

But they abandoned it
when hyronalin was discovered.

Quite possible, doctor.

Perhaps a sufficiently efficacious
compound could be developed.

Don't just stand there jawing, Spock.
You and Dr. Wallace get cracking!

Entering Romulan Neutral Zone, sir.

All sensors on maximum.

Thank you, Mr. Sulu.

Lieutenant Uhura, let me know
if we contact any Romulan.

I think we just made contact, sir.

Romulans approaching
from both sides, sir.

- We're bracketed, sir.
- Engineering wants instructions, sir.

Commodore Stocker,
what are your orders?

Commodore!

- I'm going up to the Bridge.
- No, Jim, you can't do it.

I've got to go. We're under att*ck.

Nurse! Dr. Wallace!

- Let me go.
- Jim, you can't.

We're under att*ck.
I have to go to the Bridge.

I've got to go to the Bridge.

- Keep trying to raise the Romulans.
- I'm trying, commodore.

If I could talk to them,

explain to them
why we violated the neutral zone...

The Romulans are notorious
for not listening to explanations, sir.

Lieutenant Uhura is right, sir.
We've tangled with them before.

Greenhorn up there, ruining my ship.

- Jim, if I have to give you a sh*t...
- No.

Jim, boy, you just lay quiet.

You can't do no good.
We're both through.

No.

No. My ship.

My ship.

Doctor, make the necessary
computations and produce this serum.

It is crude and dangerous.
We had no time for refinements.

All right. Let's... Let's go.

It could cure or k*ll, doctor.

Don't give me
any Vulcan details, Spock.

- Just give me the sh*t.
- No.

- I'll take the first sh*t.
- You can't.

How long do you think
this ship can take the pounding?

I've got to get up there.

- Jim, it could k*ll you.
- I'll die anyway.

Do it.

Dr. Wallace, give him the sh*t.

Quickly.

Quickly.

Sir, they fired another.

Well, well, what's happening?

The aging process has stopped.

His bodily functions
are getting stronger.

Sir, I've tried all known hailing
frequencies. They simply ignore us.

Opinion, Mr. Sulu.

They know they have us.

They know our shields will give out.

Well, then we have no alternative
but to surrender.

Sir, the Romulans
do not take captives.

- We're losing power, sir.
- What am I going to do?

I've got to do something.

Report, Mr. Sulu.

We're surrounded by Romulan
vessels, maximum of 10.

Range: 50 to 100,000 kilometres.

Engineering, this is the captain.
I want full emergency power.

I want everything
within about two minutes.

I want the warp-drive engines
on full standby. Kirk out.

Open up a special channel
to Starfleet Command.

- Aye, sir.
- Code 2.

But, captain, Code...

That's an order, lieutenant. Code 2.

- Yes, captain, Code 2.
- Message:

From Enterprise
to Starfleet Command, this sector.

Have inadvertently encroached
upon Romulan Neutral Zone.

Surrounded and under
heavy Romulan att*ck.

Escape impossible, shields failing.

Will implement destruct order using
corbomite device recently installed.

Since this will result in the destruction
of the Enterprise

and all matter
within a 200,000-kilometre diameter,

and establish
a corresponding dead zone,

all Federation ships will avoid this area
for the next four solar years.

expl*si*n will take place in one minute.
Kirk, commanding Enterprise. Out.

Mr. Sulu, course:
1-8-8 degrees, mark 14.

Speed: Warp factor 8.

- Stand by.
- Standing by, sir.

Romulans giving ground, captain.

Obviously they tapped in
as you expected them to.

A logical assumption, Spock.
Are they still retreating?

- Yes, sir.
- Good.

All hands, stand by.

Warp factor 8, now.

The Romulans were
caught off-guard, captain.

- They're falling behind.
- Are we out of range, Mr. Sulu?

- Yes, sir. And out of the neutral zone.
- Secure from red alert.

Adjust to new course.
2-5-7 degrees, mark 3,

heading for Starbase 10.

2-5-7 degrees, mark 3.

Captain, I just wanted to assure you
that I did what I thought best

- to save both you and the men.
- Noted.

You should know, however,

that there's very little a starbase can do
that a starship can't.

If I may say so, captain, I am now
quite aware of what a starship can do

with the right man at the helm.

You're looking good, doc.

I'm feeling fine. So is Scotty.
The serum worked.

He pulled a muscle during the reaction,
but otherwise he's feeling fine.

- And yourself?
- Oh, very well.

A few bruises here and there.

Anytime you're ready, Mr. Spock.

I am quite ready now, doctor.

Because of your Vulcan physique,

I've prepared
an extremely potent sh*t for you.

I thought you might like to know I've
removed the breakables from Sickbay.

That is very considerate of you, doctor.

I thought you'd be pleased to hear that.

Gentlemen, all in all, an experience
we'll remember in our old age,

which won't be for some while, I hope.

Take over, Mr. Sulu.
Steady as she goes.

- Steady as she goes, captain.
- I thought I said that.