Original subtitles

Captain's log, stardate 31 92.1 .

The Enterprise is en route to star cluster NGC 321 .

Objective, to open diplomatic relations with the civilisations there.

We have sent a message to Eminiar Vll informing them of our friendly intentions.

We are awaiting an answer.

- Nothing yet? - Nothing. Hailing frequencies open.

Have you received an answer yet?

Nothing yet. We're awaiting a reply. We know they've picked up our signal.

Captain, message coming in from Eminiar Vll.

- Sir, it's code 7 1 0. - Are you sure?

- Positive. lt repeats. - ls that supposed to mean something?

lt means under no circumstances are we to approach that planet.

- No circumstances whatsoever. - You will disregard that signal.

lt is their planet.

ln the past 20 years, thousands of lives have been lost.

Lives that could have been saved if we had a treaty port here.

We mean to have that port and l'm here to get it.

By disregarding code 7 1 0, you might involve us in a war.

- l'm prepared to take that risk. - You are!

l'm thinking about this ship. My crew.

l have my orders and now you have yours.

Proceed on course. Achieve orbit status and leave the rest to me.

You're aware that my mission gives me the power of command.

l now exercise it. You will proceed on course. That's a direct order.

- ln view of code 7 1 0, may l suggest... - Yes.

This is the captain. Yellow Alert. Phaser crews, stand by. Shields up.

We're going in. Peacefully, l hope. But peacefully or not, we're going in.

Space - the final frontier.

These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise.

lts five-year mission, to explore strange new worlds,

to seek out new life and new civilisations,

to boldly go where no man has gone before.

Captain's log, stardate 31 92.5.

Now in orbit around planet Eminiar Vll.

My orders are clear. We must establish diplomatic relations at all cost.

Preparing to beam to the surface.

Their civilisation is advanced.

They've had space flight for centuries but they've never ventured far.

When first contacted 50 years ago, Eminiar Vll was at war with a neighbour.

Anything else?

The Earth expedition making the report failed to return from its mission.

The USS Valiant.

- Listed as missing in space. - Kirk, are you going alone?

- Not alone. l'm taking security people. - lt is my prerogative...

l can't risk beaming you down until l know how you'll be received.

Your safety is my responsibility. Those are my orders.

- Transporter room standing by. - What coordinates?

We've selected a site near an official establishment.

- Final sensor readings? - No hostility towards us.

No notice taken of us at all, which seems strange.

They did scan us when we assumed orbit. They know we're here.

- Ship's defences? - Screens down.

But all defensive details on general alert status.

Landing party will pick up phasers 1 . Keep them inconspicuous.

The ship is yours. Take care of her until l come back.

- And have a bonny trip. - We'll do our best.

Let's go.

They will materialise there. Remember your instructions.

They are to be treated correctly. Nothing more.

l'm Captain James T Kirk, representing the United Federation of Planets.

l know. l'm Mea 3. l congratulate you on your instrumentation.

You've come to the division of control. lf you'll follow me, please.

- Captain, l wish... - Yes?

- You were warned not come here. - l had orders to come here.

- Why did you tell us to stay away? - lt was for your own safety.

- l see no danger. - The danger exists.

Nevertheless, you are here.

lt would be incorrect not to extend our hospitality.

Anan 7 and members of the High Council await you. Come this way, please.

l'm Captain Kirk. This is my first officer, Mr Spock.

Lieutenants Galloway, Osborne, Yeoman Tamula.

Welcome to Eminiar Vll.

Well, Captain, what can we do for you?

My mission is to establish diplomatic relations between your people and mine.

- That is impossible. - Would you tell me why?

- Because of the war. - You're still at war?

We have been at war for 500 years.

You conceal it very well. Mr Spock?

Sir, we have scanned your planet.

We find it highly advanced, prosperous in a material sense,

comfortable for your people and peaceful in the extreme.

Yet you say you're at war. There is no evidence of this.

Casualties among our civilian population

total from one to three million dead each year from direct enemy attack.

That is one reason why we told you to stay away.

As long as your ship is in orbit, it is in severe danger.

- With whom are you at war? - The third planet in our system.

Vendikar. Originally settled by our people and now a ruthless enemy.

Highly advanced technologically.

Excuse me. Vendikar is attacking.

Mea, care for our guests.

- Strange. - To say the least.

- lt will not last long. - Don't you take shelter?

- There is no shelter. - Are these attacks frequent?

Yes and we will retaliate immediately.

Oh!

- What is it? - A hit right here in the city.

Do you hear any explosions?

None. Yeoman Tamula, tricorder readings.

Radiation, disturbances of any kind.

Working, sir. No evidence.

Mea.

lf this is an attack, may l ask what weapons the enemy is using?

Fusion bombs, materialised by the enemy over their targets.

Kirk to bridge. Scotty? Scanners operative on the planet's surface?

Of course, sir. As per orders.

- Anything unusual? - Nothing, sir. All quiet.

Thank you. Kirk out.

- Look, Anan. - Yes, l see it. They were warned.

Just as it happened 50 years ago.

Alert a security detachment. They may be needed.

lt's a vicious attack, extremely destructive.

Fortunately, our defences are firming, but our casualties are high.

Sir, l have been in contact with my ship,

which has had this entire planet under surveillance.

All during this so-called attack of yours, we have been monitoring you.

There's been no attack, no explosions, no disturbances whatsoever.

lf this is some sort of a game...

This is no game. Half a million people have just been killed.

Activate the attack units. Launch immediate counterattack.

Computers. They fight their war with computers. Totally.

Yes, of course.

Computers don't kill half a million people.

Deaths have been registered. They have 24 hours to report.

- To report? - To our disintegration machines.

You must understand, Captain. We have been at war for 500 years.

Under ordinary conditions, no civilisation could withstand that.

- But we have reached a solution. - Then the attack was theoretical.

No, quite real. An attack is mathematically launched.

l lost my wife in the last attack.

Our civilisation lives. The people die, but our culture goes on.

You mean to tell me...

...your people walk into a disintegration machine when they're told to?

We have a high consciousness of duty.

- There is a scientific logic. - l'm glad you approve.

l do not approve. l understand.

Good. Then you will recall l warned you not to come here.

You chose to ignore my warning.

- l'm sorry, but it's happened. - What has happened?

Once your ship was in orbit about our planet, it became a legitimate target.

lt has been classified destroyed by a tricobalt satellite explosion.

All persons aboard have 24 hours to report to our disintegration machines.

ln order to ensure their cooperation,

l have ordered you and your party held in custody until they surrender.

lf possible, we shall spare your ship, but its crew is already dead.

Captain's log, delayed.

The Enterprise, in orbit about Eminiar Vll,

has been declared a casualty of an incredible war fought by computers.

l and my landing party, not included as casualties,

are confined on the planet's surface, awaiting what?

l've been sent to ask if you require anything.

We require a great deal. l wish to speak to Anan 7.

He is coordinating casualty lists.

He'll have more casualty lists if he doesn't talk to me.

Don't you understand? Our duty...

Your duty doesn't include stepping into a disintegrator and disappearing.

l'm afraid mine does. l have been declared a casualty.

l must report to a disintegrator by noon tomorrow.

ls that all it means to you? To report and die?

My life is as dear to me as yours is to you.

- How can you... - Don't you see?

lf l refuse to report, and others refuse,

then Vendikar would have to launch real weapons.

We would have to do the same to defend ourselves.

More than people would die then.

A whole civilisation would be destroyed.

Surely you can see that ours is the better way.

No, l don't see that at all.

lt's been our way for almost 500 years.

- ls there anything l can bring you? - Yes. Anan 7.

- We should have heard something. - That we should, but we haven't.

And we can't raise them.

lf there'd been trouble, they should have got the word back to us.

- We can't just sit here. - What do you suggest?

l'm a doctor. lf l were an...

- Would you have me open fire? - Of course not.

Mr Scott, message coming in from the captain.

- Scott here. - Good news.

They have agreed to establish diplomatic relations.

Mr Fox will be glad to hear that.

They've also invited all personnel to come ashore.

They've assured me that our people will have a wonderful time.

- Captain, all personnel? - All personnel.

We'll transport up trained Eminians to assume support positions.

Those are my orders, Mr Scott.

Aye, aye, Captain. l'll start forming shore parties. Scott out.

Well, now, what do you think of that?

- l don't know. - Well, l do.

Computer, last message received and recorded from Captain Kirk.

- ln place. - Run it through analyser.

Question. ls it or is it not the captain's voice?

Negative. A close copy.

- A voice duplicator? - 98% probability.

They've got them and now they're trying to get us.

Are you sure you can do it?

Limited telepathic abilities are inherent in Vulcanians.

- lt may work. lt may not. - Do your best.

- Thank you. - My pleasure.

- What do we do now? - Try and contact the ship.

- Mr Spock, we'll need more weapons. - l understand.

We'll try to take it easy, but if we're forced to kill...

An entrance, Captain, but no exit. They go in, but they do not come out.

- A disintegration machine. - So l would assume.

- Mea. - Oh!

- What are you doing? - l'm going...

- You're not going in there. - l must. Please.

- Don't worry about me. - Mr Spock, that guard.

l'll cover you.

Sir, there's a multi-legged creature crawling on your shoulder.

All right, you people, clear out of the way.

- What are you doing? - Throwing a monkey wrench at it.

- You can't do this. - l've done it.

Let's get out of here.

The prisoners have attacked their guard and escaped. They are armed.

Disintegration station number 1 2 destroyed, apparently by disruptor fire.

All security personnel, Federation prisoners have escaped.

They are to be found. They are armed.

lf they resist, do what is necessary.

Planetary disrupter banks, calculate orbit of star cruiser now circling.

Stand by to fire. Full power.

Planetary disruptor banks locked onto target. Standing by.

ln ten seconds, open fire. Destroy the star cruiser.

Those are the orders of the Council.

Ship's log, stardate 31 93.0. Chief Engineer Scott recording.

The captain and first officer are missing on the surface of Eminiar Vll.

l have taken precautionary measures while we try to locate them.

All stations reporting. Deflector screens rigged at full power.

Phaser crews ready. Sensors reading zero.

- Correction. Mr Scott. - Yes, Mr DePaul.

Sensor readings just shot off the scale.

They're taking pot shots at us.

- Holding, Mr DePaul? - Screens firm, sir.

Extremely powerful sonic vibrations. Decibels 1 8 to the 1 2th power.

lf those screens weren't up, we'd be disrupted by now.

l guess that answers our questions. They're not very friendly.

Aye, but what about our captain and the landing party down there?

- We get them out. - lf they're alive.

And if we can find them. That's a big planet.

Not too big for the Enterprise.

We can't fire with our screens up

or lower our screens with their disruptors on us.

l could treat them to a few dozen photon torpedoes.

- You'll do no such thing. - We're under attack.

- They're trying to knock us down. - You have taken defensive measures?

lt's a misunderstanding. One of my jobs is to clear up misunderstandings.

- They're holding our captain. - We have no proof.

l'm responsible for this ship.

l'm responsible for the success of this mission and that's more important.

- We will establish diplomatic relations. - But they're looking for a fight.

This is a diplomatic matter.

Check your regulations. You'll find that my orders get priority.

l'll try to contact the planetary officials. Open up a channel.

Tell them to expect a priority 1 message from me.

There will be no punitive measures, gentlemen. Those are my orders.

Diplomats. The best diplomat l know is a fully-activated phaser bank.

Why did we come back here?

They won't look for us where we escaped from.

You have to let me go. My time is up.

- Are you anxious to die? - You don't understand.

- How did the raid work out? - We captured four weapons.

Two outfits of male clothing.

And, most important of all, one communication device.

- Will it reach the ship? - lts range is restricted.

l may be able to alter it, but it will take time.

Get to work on it. We've got to contact the ship.

l want a layout of this complex. How do l get to the war room?

No!

Listen, l'm trying to help you. To save your life. The lives of millions like you.

lf you help me, maybe l can do it.

lf you don't, you'll die, we'll die and the killing will go on.

Or are you that fond of the war?

- What are you going to do? - Try and stop the killing.

We're trying to help. Believe me.

l believe you, but...

Tell me what l want to know. Please.

Time is running out. We have been unable to destroy the Earth ship.

One of our disintegration chambers has been eliminated

and we have fallen far behind in our quota.

This is a grave crisis and l am at a loss to know how to proceed.

Anan, the Earth ambassador is calling with an urgent message.

What is the greater morality -

open honesty or a deception which may save our lives?

Put me through to the ambassador.

A channel is open. You will be speaking to Anan 7,

head of the High Council of the Eminian Union.

This is Robert Fox, ambassador for the United Federation of Planets.

A great honour.

We have approached you to establish friendly relations between our peoples.

But now, for some reason, you have attacked us,

and apparently you're holding several of our representatives.

A mistake. We are at war.

An error in our sensors indicated that your ship was about to attack us.

Our attack will be stopped.

As to your representatives, you have my word that they are alive and well.

Thank you. l thought perhaps it was a mistake.

Mr Scott, disruptor beams are no longer hitting us.

Maintain status, Mr DePaul.

We are most anxious to establish relations with you.

We will make arrangements to receive you.

The minute their screens are down, open fire.

l apologise deeply for the misunderstanding.

- These are trying times for us. - l understand.

l presume that you have our captain on hand when l beam down.

He will be there, sir. l give you my word.

Your planet and our Federation will attain the deepest friendship.

l look forward to seeing you.

Diplomacy, gentlemen, should be a job left to diplomats.

You will, of course, immediately resume a peaceful status.

- l will not. - What did you say?

l'll not lower the screens until the captain tells me to.

You are taking orders from me. Lower the screens as a sign of good faith.

- My authority... - l know about your authority.

But the screens stay up.

Mr Fox, they faked a message from the captain. They launched an attack.

- Now you want us to trust them? - l expect you to obey my orders.

No, sir. l won't lower the screens.

Your refusal to comply with my orders has endangered this mission.

- l can send you to a penal colony. - You can, but l won't lower the screens.

Your name will figure prominently in my report to the Federation Central.

- Well, Scotty, now you've done it. - The haggis is in the fire for sure.

l'll not lower my defences on the word of that mealy-mouthed gentleman.

Not until l know what happened to the captain.

Won't you join me in a drink, Captain?

You'll find our trova most interesting.

l didn't come to drink.

That's what you used to destroy disintegration chamber 1 2?

And l'm not afraid of using it.

My first impression was correct.

- You are a barbarian. - l am?

Don't sound so incredulous. Of course you are. We all are.

A killer first, a builder second.

A hunter, a warrior and let's be honest, a murderer.

That is our joint heritage.

- We're less cold-blooded than you. - What do you want, Captain?

l want to contact my ship.

- Where are my communicators? - ln a safe place.

You take a lot of chances.

You're worried about your ship. l'm trying to save a world.

lf l were you, l'd think about saving my life.

Won't you have a drink, Captain?

And then we can discuss our differences.

l'm not interested in that. You don't realise the risk you're taking.

We don't make war with computers and herd casualties into suicide stations.

We make the real thing, Councilman. l could destroy this planet.

Why do you think l don't let you talk to your ship?

l don't need the ship for that.

You mean all by yourself, with a disruptor, you can destroy this planet?

- That's exactly what l mean. - l had no idea you were so formidable.

You seem to think l'm joking. Where are the communicators?

lf l told you, Captain, would you walk right out and get them?

- Something like that. - Very well, Captain.

They're in the war room. Go left down the corridor. Left again.

They are unguarded.

ls he alive?

Pity. A man like that would have preferred to die fighting.

Take him to the council room.

- Ambassador Fox. - l am Robert Fox.

Have l the honour of addressing Anan 7?

Welcome to Eminiar, Mr Ambassador.

Mr Ambassador, l am truly sorry for what must happen.

l beg your pardon.

You and your party have been declared war casualties.

You will be taken to one of our stations so that your deaths may be recorded.

You mean we are to be killed?

That is correct, Mr Ambassador. l regret it very much.

But there's nothing l can do about it.

- Spock to Enterprise, come in. - Mr Scott, it's Mr Spock.

Scotty here. Go ahead.

ls the ship all right?

We're all right. How about the captain and you?

The captain is overdue. We have no casualties.

Under no circumstances shall anyone beam down from the Enterprise.

They'd be killed on arrival.

That ties it. Fox went down a couple of minutes ago.

- The ambassador? - l knew it had a rotten ring to it.

Orbit out to maximum phaser range and stand by for further orders. Spock out.

- What are you going to do? - Find the ambassador and the captain.

You stay here and prevent this young lady from immolating herself.

Knock her down and sit on her if necessary.

Do what you must to protect yourself.

l'm a representative of the United Federation of Planets!

- A special representative. - Get in line.

Ladies and gentlemen, move away from the chamber or you may be injured.

- What are you doing? - Practising a variety of diplomacy.

l'll take you to a safe place, then find the captain.

They have him. The guards told us.

They took him to the council room under guard.

l'm sure you realise normal diplomatic procedures are ineffective here.

l've never been a soldier, but l learn very quickly.

Very well. We need all the help we can get.

Captain, surely you can see the position we are in.

lf your people do not report to our disintegration chambers,

it is a violation of an agreement that dates back 500 years.

My people are not responsible.

You will be responsible for an escalation that will destroy everything.

Millions of people horribly killed.

Complete destruction of our culture and Vendikar's. Disaster.

Disease, starvation. Horrible, lingering death.

- Pain and anguish! - That seems to frighten you.

- lt would frighten any sane man. - Yes, you're quite right.

Don't you understand? We have done away with all that.

Now you are threatening to bring it down on us again.

Are those 500 people of yours more important

than millions of innocent people on Eminiar and Vendikar?

- What kind of monster are you? - l'm a barbarian. You said it yourself.

- l had hoped l had spoken figuratively. - No, you were accurate.

l plan to prove it to you.

Open a channel to the Enterprise.

You give me no choice.

We are not bandits. But you force us to act as bandits.

- This is the USS Enterprise. - Scotty, General Order 24!

ln two hours!

Enterprise, this is the First Councilman of the High Council of Eminiar.

We hold your captain, your ambassador and his party prisoners.

Unless you start transportation of all personnel aboard your ship,

the hostages will be killed. You have 30 minutes.

l mean it, Captain.

l won't be here for the destruction. You heard me give General Order 24.

That means in two hours, the Enterprise will destroy Eminiar Vll.

Planetary defence system, open fire on the Enterprise.

l'm sorry. The target has moved out of range.

You wouldn't do this. Hundreds of millions of people.

l didn't start it, Councilman, but l'm liable to finish it.

Councilman, l received a message from Vendikar.

Our quota is short. They accuse us of reneging on the treaty.

You see? lt's started.

You're wrong. lt hasn't begun.

Disintegrator station 1 1 has been destroyed.

Guard positions in tunnels 8 and 1 0 fail to answer.

Earth party reported seen in corridor 4A.

You have less than two hours.

What l want has nothing to do with it. Escalation is automatic.

- You can stop it! - Stop it? l'm counting on it.

Open a channel, Lieutenant.

This is the commander of the USS Enterprise.

All cities and installations on Eminiar Vll have been located, identified

and fed into our fire-control system.

ln one hour and 45 minutes, the entire surface of your planet will be destroyed.

You have that long to surrender your hostages.

What can l do? Somebody, please tell me.

Hold it.

Over there. You, over there. Move.

Now we'll talk.

l had assumed you needed help. l see l'm in error.

No, l need the help.

ln there, Mr Spock.

- Kirk to Enterprise. Come in. - Captain, are you all right?

Everything's secure. Maintain position.

lf everything goes according to plan, beam us up in ten minutes.

lf you don't hear from us, carry out General Order 24 on schedule.

Aye, aye. ls there anything else we can do?

Cross your fingers. Kirk out.

Death, destruction, disease, horror. That's what war is all about, Anan.

That's what makes it a thing to be avoided.

You've made it neat and painless.

So neat and painless, you've had no reason to stop it.

And you've had it for 500 years.

Since it seems to be the only way l can save my crew and my ship,

l'm going to end it for you, one way or another.

- Mr Ambassador. - Yes, Captain.

Would you take these people out into the corridor and hold them there?

Gentlemen, if you please.

You, come with me. Mr Osborne.

Our communicators, weapons.

- All right? - These are the attack computers.

That one is defence. That one computes casualties.

They're all tied in with a unit

which keeps them in contact with the Vendikans.

lf contact is broken, it abrogates the agreement between the parties.

- What are you going to do? - This one is the key.

The circuit is now locked. Destroy this one and they'll all go.

- Get him out of here. - Wait a minute. Please!

Let's go.

Against the wall!

- Do you realise what you've done? - Yes, l do.

l've given you back the horrors of war.

The Vendikans will assume that you're preparing to wage real war.

They'll want to do the same.

Only the next attack will do more than count up numbers on a computer.

They'll devastate your planet. You will want to retaliate.

lf l were you, l'd start making bombs. You have a real war on your hands.

You can either wage it with real weapons,

or you might consider an alternative.

Put an end to it.

- Make peace. - There can be no peace.

We've admitted it to ourselves.

We're a killer species. lt's the same with you. Your General Order 24...

All right, it's instinctive. But the instinct can be fought.

We're human beings with the blood of a million savage years on our hands.

But we can stop it.

We can admit that we're killers, but we're not going to kill today.

That's all it takes. Knowing that we're not going to kill today.

Contact Vendikar.

You'll find they're just as terrified and horrified as you are.

They'll do anything to avoid the alternative. Peace or destruction.

lt's up to you.

As a third party interested only in peace

and the establishment of normal relations,

l shall be glad to offer my services as negotiator between you.

l've had some small experiences in such matters.

There may be a chance.

We have a direct channel with Vendikar's High Council.

- lt hasn't been used in centuries. - Then it's long overdue. Shall we go?

There's a chance it may work, Captain.

- Kirk to Enterprise. Scotty? - Scott here.

Cancel implementation of General Order 24.

Alert transporter room. We're ready to beam up.

Lay in a course for Argona ll.

- Mr Scott. - Space details set, Captain.

Message from Eminiar Vll.

Fox reports negotiations are under way with Vendikar.

- Outlook hopeful. - Good.

Captain, you took a big chance.

Did l? They've been killing three million people a year for 500 years.

An actual attack wouldn't have killed any more people.

But it would have ended their ability to make war permanently.

But you didn't know that it would work.

No. lt was a calculated risk.

Still, the Eminians keep a very orderly society.

And actual war is a very messy business.

A very, very messy business.

l had a feeling that they would do anything to avoid it, even talk peace.

A feeling is not much to go on.

Sometimes a feeling, Mr Spock, is all we humans have to go on.

Captain, you almost make me believe in luck.

Why, Mr Spock, you almost make me believe in miracles.