02x03 - Ask Not

[bunniefuu]

Yellow alert.

Yellow alert.

This is Ops to Inventory Two.

Starbase 28 is under att*ck.

This is Inventory Two to Ops.

Can anyone give me
a status report?

We've sustained breaches

on decks four, five,
seven and nine.

Fire's uncontained.

Cadet Sidhu, on your feet.

Yes, sir.

This starbase is under att*ck.

There's damage on deck four.
We can't get to the brig.

Until we can, this prisoner
is your responsibility.

We need medical on deck four.

Are we clear?

Yes, sir.

Wh-What happened?

Mutiny.

He doesn't get out of this room.

Understood? Understood, sir.

Why the mask?

The crew doesn't need to see
that this guy turned.

Can we trust you with
this intelligence?

Ms. Sidhu!

Can you do this?
Are you clear?

Absolutely, sir.

Captain Pike?

Open comms right now.

I need to know what the hell's
going on out there.

Engineering, what is your ETA?

You're...

- I said open comms.
- You're a prisoner.

Your-your... your orders
carry no weight any-anymore.

As you can gather,

we're in the middle
of a situation.

Take a seat, Captain,

and I'll ask you
to remain silent.

There are lives at stake.

- That's not silent.
- A few hours ago,

the Enterprise picked up
a distress call

from the USS Bouman.

The Bouman?
Is she...

She's in danger.

Cadet Sidhu,

I need you
to let me out of here.

- And risk court-martial?
- Listen.

We approached.

The ship looked
dead in the water.

An admiral on board sent
an encrypted hail.

A group of Tholians
had seized the Bouman.

They knew that we were
in the same sector

- and we'd come to her aid.
- It was a trap.

The Tholians wanted
the Enterprise.

The admiral ordered me
to steer clear.

I couldn't abandon that crew.

As soon as we got
the admiral out of there,

she aborted the rescue mission,

then attempted
to relieve me of duty.

I resisted, but...
it didn't go so well.

They followed you
here, didn't they?

- The Tholians.
- You, uh...

You have people
on the Bouman, huh?

Family?

Yeah, I remember your file.

You-you wanted a position
in engineering, right?

I was rejected.

My husband and I both
applied for the Enterprise,

but he got the Bouman,
and I wound up here.

Your husband.

Yes, that-that's right, the...
the two of you were

the sole survivors
of the Tholian att*ck

on Berellium
just a couple of years ago.

You can ensure your husband

survives them a second time.

If you let me go,

maybe we can pull off
some miracle

and get him out of there.

The Tholians, Th-Th-they...

they just want the Enterprise.

I could lead them away, uh,

beam the Bouman crew to safety,

then blow the Tholians to hell.

It's what they deserve.

What do you say, Cadet?

I...

I...

No. We follow protocol.

The starbase and the Enterprise
remain a united front.

Regulation 191, article 14,
states that when in combat,

command falls to the vessel
with tactical superiority.

That would be the Enterprise,
not the starbase.

The admiral
relieved you of duty.

But you can enact
the reserve activation clause.

Yes. "An officer
in good standing

"may reinstate
a discharged officer

in cases of emergency."

A loophole. Not my style.

Directive 010 says,

before engaging in battle,
any and all attempts

to achieve a nonmilitary
resolution must be made.

You want to negotiate

with the bastards
using torpedoes on us?

Tactical force is always
a last resort,

and vengeance
should never be a factor.

I am all for arguing principles,

but that crew
is in mortal danger!

And they're running out of time.

So is your husband.

My husband knew
what he signed up for

when he joined Starfleet.

- So did I.
- Cadet!

I am giving you
a direct order to release me.

And I am telling you no.

Now, sit down, sir, please.

Then I cite regulation 208,
paragraph two.

I'm overriding the orders
of your senior officers.

Let me go.

That regulation only applies

to an active captain.

Now, sit down, sir.

I won't forget this, Cadet.

When this is all done,

you will never see the inside
of a starship again.

Step away from the door, sir!

Don't you dare point that phaser
at me. Put it down!

Step away from the door, sir.
Now!

Oh, we're good.

She's-she's... very good.

Copy that, sir.

You can put that down.
It's all right.

You did great.

Simulation complete.

This was a test?

Your-your husband's fine.
That wasn't...

None of that was real.

Uh, sorry I had to put you
through all that.

In fact, we've arranged for
him to have a brief leave.

He's on his way to see you now.

May I?

I know that a
challenge like this

might seem extreme,

even inhumane.

But w*r is both of those things.

We need to know
that you'll honor

your commitment to Starfleet

even when those you hold
dear are on the line.

Even when old wounds
are triggered and...

loopholes appear.

But why you?

I mean...

you're pretty busy, sir.

Why don't you get yourself
cleaned up, Cadet,

and meet me in the
transporter room.

Transporter room to bridge.

Captain Pike
has returned aboard.

She's... beautiful, sir.

Well, Cadet, you just completed
your approval process.

So you'll be serving
on the Enterprise

for the rest of the semester.

The rejection was just...

All part of the
test. My plan.

We've all learned to expect
no mercy from Number One.

Welcome to the Enterprise,
Cadet Sidhu.

Pleasure to have you aboard.

Thank you.

You won't regret this.
I promise.

Wow.

This is even more
amazing than I imagined.

Yeah.

Now, in battle, any crewmember

might be faced with
a life-or-death choice.

But if you can hold on to
yourself like you did today,

you'll be just fine.

I'll remember that, sir.

Welcome to engineering.

Oh, and-and, Captain,

the phaser I had
during the test...

was it operational?

See you around the ship, Cadet.

Captioning sponsored by CBS