Original subtitles

We've reached the position to scan the coded directive tape.

We guessed right.

Negotiations with the Klingons are on the verge of collapse.

Starfleet Command anticipates a surprise attack.

We are to proceed to Organia

and take whatever steps necessary to stop the Klingons using it as a base.

Strategically sound. Organia is the only Class-M planet in the disputed area.

ldeally located for use by either side.

Organia's description, Mr Spock.

lnhabited by humanoids. A very peaceful, friendly people.

Primitive, little of value. Class D-minus on Richter's scale of cultures.

- Another Armenia, Belgium... - Sir?

The weak innocents who always seem to be on invasion routes.

The automatic deflectors just came on - body approaching.

Configuration?

Phaser banks, lock on. Return fire!

Maintain firing rate, 1 00% dispersal pattern.

We've hit him. He's hurt.

- Damage control, report to first officer. - The other ship doesn't register.

Only drifting debris. We got him.

All hands, maintain general alert. Hold battle stations.

- Damage report. - Minor. We were most fortunate.

Some blast damage, minor buckling in the antimatter pods, casualties light.

- Maintain surveillance. - No contact. He blew up all right.

We've been anticipating an attack. l'd say this very nearly qualifies.

Yes, it would seem to be an unfriendly act.

All-points relay from Star Fleet Command...

...code one.

Well, there it is. War. We didn't want it, but we've got it.

Curious how often you humans obtain what you do not want.

We still have a job to do - denying Organia to the Klingons.

With the outbreak of war, that may not be easy.

- Lay in a course for Organia, Mr Sulu. - Aye, sir.

Negotiating with the Organians will be time-consuming.

- And time is what we have the least of. - We won't get it by talking about it.

The trigger's been pulled. We must get there before the hammer falls.

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 98.4.

We have reached Organia and are orbiting. No signs of hostile activity.

Unit XY-7584 7 report a fleet of Klingon ships in their sector.

- What bearing? - Unknown.

Mr Sulu, have the phaser crews stand by. Full power deflector screens.

Mr Spock and l will go down. You have command.

Your responsibility is to the Enterprise.

- ls that clear? - Perfectly.

The Klingon fleet is in this quadrant. We know Organia will be a target.

- lf they emerge... - We'll handle them.

...you will evaluate the situation.

lf there is a fleet of them, you'll get out of here.

- But Captain... - No ''buts''.

You'll get to safety and alert the fleet. You will not attack alone.

Mr Spock and l will be all right.

Mr Spock, let's you and l pay the Organians a visit.

lt's as if people beamed down every day.

Yes, curious lack of interest.

- Notice the ruins. Quite large. - Yes, a fortress, perhaps. A castle.

lt seems inconsistent with the reports we've had on this culture.

Welcome.

- Reception committee? - lt would seem so.

You are our visitors. Welcome, welcome.

l'm Ayelborne.

l am Captain Kirk of the starship Enterprise,

representing the United Federation of Planets.

- My first officer, Mr Spock. - You are most welcome, my friend.

l'd like to speak to someone in authority.

We don't have anybody in authority,

but l am the chairman of the Council of Elders. Would l do?

You people are in danger. ls there someplace we can talk?

Yes, our council chambers are nearby. Please.

Captain...

lf you don't mind, l'd like to wander about and make some studies.

Of course, my friend. Our village is yours.

Captain?

Gentlemen, my government expects the Klingons to move against your planet

to make it a base of operation against the Federation.

My mission, frankly, is to keep them from doing it.

You're saying we have a choice

between dealing with you or your enemies.

No, sir. With the Federation you have a choice.

With the Klingons you have none. They are a military dictatorship.

War is their way of life.

Life under Klingon rule would be very unpleasant. We offer you protection.

We thank you for your altruistic offer, but we do not need your protection.

We are a simple people. We have nothing anybody could want.

You have this planet and its strategic location.

lf you don't take action to prevent it,

the Klingons will move against you.

We will help you build defences.

We have no defences, nor are any needed.

Gentlemen...

...l have seen what the Klingons do to planets like yours.

They are organised into vast slave labour camps.

No freedoms. Your goods will be confiscated,

hostages taken and killed, your leaders confined.

You'd be far better off on a penal planet.

We see that your concern is genuine. We are moved.

But we are in absolutely no danger.

lf anybody is in danger, you are, and that concerns us greatly.

You should return to your ship at once.

You keep insisting there's no danger. Would you mind telling me...

- lt is our way of life. - That's the first thing that would be lost.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

l'm soldier, not a diplomat. l can only tell you the truth.

lf you will excuse us, we will discuss your kind offer.

Certainly.

Our information on these people and their culture was not correct.

This is not a society moving towards mechanisation.

They are totally stagnant. There is no evidence of progress at all.

- That doesn't seem likely. - lt is true.

For thousands of years there has been no advancement,

no change in their physical environment.

This is a laboratory specimen of an arrested culture.

Thank you. That might be useful.

We have discussed your offer.

Our opinion is unchanged. We are in no danger.

We thank you for your kind offer of assistance,

and strongly recommend you leave Organia before you are endangered.

l must get you to reconsider. We can be of immense help to you.

As well as military aid, we can send you specialists, technicians.

We can show you how to feed thousands of people.

We can help you build schools, teach the latest scientific skills.

Your public facilities are almost non-existent.

We can help you remake your world. End disease, hunger, hardship.

All we ask in return is that you let us help you...now.

l see you do not understand us. Perhaps...

- Excuse me, sir. Kirk here. - A fleet of Klingon ships have arrived.

- They're opening fire. - Positive identification?

Yes. l can't drop screens to beam you up.

Mr Sulu, follow your orders.

Get out of here. Contact the fleet, return if the odds are more equal.

- You kept insisting there was no danger. - That is correct. There is none.

Ayelborne, eight space vehicles are orbiting our planet.

They are activating their material transmission units.

Thank you.

- Can you verify that? - No, but it seems a logical development.

Since it is too late to escape, perhaps we should try to protect you.

- lf you had listened to me... - We must be sure you are not harmed.

Ayelborne, several hundred men have appeared near the citadel.

They bring many weapons.

- How does he know that? - Trefayne is really quite intuitive.

You can be sure that what he says is absolutely correct.

So we're stranded here, in the middle of a Klingon occupation army.

So it would seem. Not a pleasant prospect.

You have a gift for understatement. lt's not a very pleasant prospect at all.

Captain's log, stardate 3201 .7.

Mr Spock and l are trapped on Organia,

which is being occupied by the forces of the Klingon Empire.

The Organians have given us native clothing so we may pass for Organians.

Captain, our phasers are gone.

- Did you take them? - Yes, l took them.

- l must ask you to return them. - l cannot do that.

You might be tempted to use violence, and that we cannot permit.

You, Captain, will pass as an Organian, and Mr Spock...

Mr Spock presents a problem. He does not look Organian.

A Vulcan trader, perhaps. A dealer in kevas and trillium.

Harmless to the Klingons.

They know Vulcan is in the Federation.

Vulcan merchants are not uncommon, Captain. lt is a practical approach.

- What about the rest of you? - We shall continue as before.

- We have nothing to fear. - You have a lot to learn, sir.

And if l know the Klingons, you'll be learning it the hard way.

- This is the ruling council? - l am Ayelborne, its temporary head.

- l bid you welcome. - No doubt you do.

l am Kor, military governor of Organia.

- Who are you? - He is Baroner, a leading citizen.

And he has no tongue?

- l have a tongue. - Good.

You will be taught how to use it.

- Where is your smile? - My what?

The stupid, idiotic smile everyone else seems to be wearing.

A Vulcan.

Do you also have a tongue?

l am Spock, a dealer in kevas and trillium.

You do not look like a storekeeper.

Take him. Vulcans belong to the Federation. He may be a spy.

He's no spy.

Well...

Have we a ram among the sheep?

- Do you object to us taking him? - He's done nothing.

Coming from an Organian, yours is practically an act of rebellion.

Very good.

So you welcome me. Do you also welcome me?

You're here. There's nothing l can do about it.

Good, honest hatred.

Very refreshing.

l do not care whether you welcome me or not. l am here and l will stay.

You are subjects of the Klingon Empire.

There are many rules and regulations. They will be posted.

Violation of the smallest of them will be punished by death.

We shall obey your regulations.

- You disapprove. - Do you need my approval?

l need your obedience.

Nothing more.

Will l have it?

You seem to be in command.

Yes. l am.

l'll need someone to liase between the occupation forces and the population.

Smile and smile.

l don't trust men who smile too much.

- You, Baroner. You're the man. - Me? l don't want the job.

Have l asked whether or not you want it?

We Klingons have a reputation for ruthlessness.

You will find that it is deserved.

Should one Klingon soldier be killed, a thousand Organians will die.

l will have order. ls that clear?

l assure you, our people want nothing but peace. We'll cause you no trouble.

l'm sure you will not.

Take the Vulcan to the examination room.

Come with me. l will familiarise you with your duties.

- And Mr Spock? - You're concerned?

- He is my friend. - You have a poor choice of friends.

He will be examined. lf he is lying, he will die.

lf he is telling the truth, he will find business has taken a turn for the worse.

Take him.

You do not like to be pushed.

Very good.

You may be a man l can deal with, Baroner.

Come with me.

''From this day on, no public assemblages of more than three people.

''All publications to be cleared.

''Neighbourhood controls will be established, hostages selected...''

A somewhat lengthy list of crimes against the state.

You do not like them?

Well?

He is what he claims to be - a Vulcanian merchant named Spock.

His main concern seems to be how to carry out his business under occupation.

- Nothing else? - The usual.

A certain apprehension regarding us. The mind is remarkably disciplined.

- You're sure? - l used force four.

lt is sufficient to break down any pretence.

Very well, Lieutenant.

Would you like to try our little truth-finder?

l don't understand.

lt's a mind-sifter, or a mind-ripper, depending on how much force is used.

We can record every thought, every bit of knowledge in a man's mind.

Of course, when that much force is used, the mind is emptied.

Permanently, l'm afraid. What's left is more vegetable than human.

- And you're proud of it? - lt is a tool, a weapon.

Somewhat drastic but very efficient.

- Are you sure you're all right? - Perfectly, Baroner.

- But it was an interesting experience. - Vulcan, you may go.

But you are an enemy alien. You will be under scrutiny at all times.

- lf l have to warn you... - Not necessary, Commander.

l understand you...very well.

Return to your council, Baroner. You will receive our official notifications.

ln the meantime... keep the people in order.

lt is your responsibility.

Or l will be killed.

That is exactly right.

You will be killed.

That mind-sifter can't be all the terror they think it is.

lt should not be underestimated. lt reaches directly into the mind.

We Vulcans have certain mental...

...certain disciplines which enable me to maintain a shield.

- Without them, there'd be no protection. - l'll try and avoid it.

- Out of the way, Organian. - Sorry, sir, we did not notice you.

Keep your eyes open or l'll shut them permanently.

l strongly suggest we direct our energies toward accomplishing our mission here.

- You thought l'd beat his head in? - Yes.

You're right.

- But as you say, we have a job to do. - We'll get no help from the Organians.

Maybe, but eventually they'll start resenting the Klingons.

lf we could show them how to strike back, to keep the Klingons off-balance...

Verbal persuasion seems ineffective.

- Perhaps a more direct approach? - Exactly what l had in mind.

Did l see something that looked like a munitions dump outside Kor's HQ?

- You did. - lt's time for some plain communicating.

- A very meritorious idea. - We're short of tools.

l'm sure the Klingons will provide whatever we need.

lt's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr Spock.

OK so far.

- Sonic grenade? - With a delayed-action fuse.

These crates contain explosives. They should make a satisfactory display.

Six...five...four...three...

You were right, Mr Spock. A most satisfactory display.

- Of course we blew it up. Deliberately. - But that was violence.

You can fight back. You don't have to be sheep.

Terrible, to destroy.

History is full of examples of successful resistance to dictatorships.

We can't destroy the Klingons, but we can tie them up.

Destroy installations and make Organia useless to them.

Our fleet will arrive. ln the meantime, the battle is ours.

lt can be a successful one.

l implore you never to do such a thing again.

Why? Are you afraid of retribution? Does your freedom mean so little?

How little you understand us.

All l understand is you don't have the backbone to stand up and fight.

l speak of courage, gentlemen. Does courage mean so little to you?

You speak of courage.

Obviously you do not know the difference between courage...

...and foolhardiness.

Always it is the brave ones who die.

The soldiers.

l hope you will continue to savour the sweetness of your life.

- You disgust me. - What will you do with him?

What is always done with spies and saboteurs. He will be killed.

After he has had first-hand experience... of our mind-scanner.

There is no need to use your machine. l can tell you his name.

- lt is Captain James T Kirk. - Ayelborne...

Captain of the USS Enterprise!

A starship commander.

And his first officer?

l had hoped to meet you in battle, but...

For some reason, he feels he must destroy you,

just as you feel you must destroy him.

That's going to be rather difficult now, isn't it, Captain?

What an admirable people.

- Do you always betray your friends? - l didn't want you to harm him.

l'm sorry, Captain. lt was for the best. No harm would come of it.

l'm used to the idea of dying.

But l have no desire to die for the likes of you.

l don't blame you, Captain.

Lock up the Vulcan. Take the captain to my office.

We'll have a talk,

before l do what...must be done.

- You'll have a drink with me, Captain? - No, thank you.

l assure you it isn't drugged.

With our mind-scanner, we have no need for such crude methods.

- What do you want from me? - Ooh, a very great deal.

But first l want to talk, just talk.

You think l'm going to sit here and ''just talk'' with the enemy?

You'll talk, either here, now, voluntarily,

or under our mind-scanner.

The fact is, l have a great admiration for your Starfleet. A remarkable instrument.

And l must confess to a certain admiration for you.

l know, of course, that you destroyed our supplies last night.

Something was destroyed? Nothing inconsequential, l hope.

Hardly. They were quite important to us, but they can be replaced.

- You of the Federation are much like us. - We're nothing like you!

We're a democratic body.

l don't mean minor ideological differences,

l mean that we are similar as a species.

Here we are on a planet of sheep.

Two tigers, predators, hunters...killers.

And it is precisely that which makes us great.

And there is a universe to be taken.

lt's a very large universe, full of people who don't like the Klingons.

Excellent. Then it shall be a matter of testing each other's wills and power.

Survival must be earned, Captain.

Tell me about the dispersal of your Starfleet.

Go climb a tree.

l can get what l want through our mind-scanner, but...

there would be little of your mind left.

l have no desire to see you become a vegetable.

This friend of yours, the Vulcan.

He seems to have the ability to block our scanner.

l think perhaps l will find out why. l will have him dissected.

Your friend killed, you a mental vegetable.

Not a pleasant prospect, Captain.

But it lies ahead for you unless you tell me everything l want to know.

Twelve hours, Captain.

- lt will take a lot longer than that. - Longer than that l will not wait.

l respect you, Captain, but this is war,

a game we Klingons play to win.

Take him to the cell with his friend.

And watch him closely.

lt's no use. There's no way out.

How much of the twelve hours do we have left?

Six hours, 43 minutes, if they are punctual.

l think we can count on that.

lf we get out of here, we've got to carry the attack directly to Kor.

- These Organians... - They do not seem to understand.

- Peculiar. - Nevertheless, our orders still stand.

We've got to make some attempt to neutralise the Klingon occupation.

We may not get the chance. These walls are very thick.

And there are guards all down the hall.

There you are, gentlemen. l trust you are in good health?

- Shall we go? - Go?

Yes, your captors plan to do violence to you. That we cannot permit.

- l came to take you away. - You turned us over to them.

- You expect us to trust you now? - ls there really a choice?

l offer you safety.

- This is the first place they'll look. - They'll not come here, believe me.

First you turn us in, then you get us out.

What are you doing now? Waiting to collect the reward?

- How little you understand us. - What happened to the guards?

- Don't concern yourself about them. - What happened to them?

Nothing happened to them, Captain. Nothing at all.

Commander...

- Don't you see l'm busy? - The two prisoners. They're gone.

- They've escaped? - No one was at fault.

Ten guards were on constant watch.

When they opened the cell to give them food, they simply weren't there.

- lf you're lying to me... - l swear.

All right, Lieutenant.

lmplement special occupation order 4... immediately!

Sir.

- ls that all you can do? Smile? - You are free.

- l want to know how l'm free and why. - l have several questions, too.

Your placidity, your refusal to protect yourselves...

We have already answered that question. To us, violence is unthinkable.

Attention all Organians. Attention!

This is Commander Kor. The two Federation prisoners have escaped,

obviously with outside aid.

They will be returned immediately.

So that you will know we mean what we say...

...listen.

Those are Klingon phasers. Take the door. Get down.

ln the courtyard of my headquarters, 200 Organians have just been killed.

200 of them!

ln two hours, 200 more will die,

and 200 more after that,

until the two Federation spies are turned over to us.

This is the order of Kor.

- Did you hear them? - Of course. But nothing has changed.

Well, Mr Spock...

- lt seems it's up to you and me. - lt would appear so.

The Federation is due a return on their investment in us. We have two hours.

- But only two. More Organians will die. - No! No more will die on account of us.

- Where are those phasers? - l cannot tell you.

You've told us a great deal about how you hate violence.

Unless you tell me where those phasers are, you'll have plenty more!

- You mean you'd use force? - lt's entirely up to you.

This is of no matter. Perhaps you should let him have what he wants.

Very well, but it will do you no good.

They're in that cabinet.

Gentlemen, l have no great love for you, your planet, your culture.

Despite that, Mr Spock and l will go out there and quite probably die,

in an attempt to show you that there are some things worth dying for.

But you are only two against an army.

Don't you realise that what you intend to do will be hopeless?

Mr Spock, let's get out of here.

- Brave men. - Yes, but so foolish.

lnteresting, however.

Of course, we cannot allow it. To stop them is very bad.

lt is necessary. They may harm one another.

- Trefayne? - They will wait until darkness.

- And then? - Terrible. lnconceivable. Savage.

We will wait.

Can we get those two guards? What are the odds on our escaping?

Difficult to be precise.

l should say approximately 7,824.7 to one.

Difficult to be precise? 7,824 to one?

7,824.7 to one.

That's a pretty close approximation.

- l aim to be accurate. - You do well.

Set your phaser on stun.

- We want the top dog, not the pack. - Very good.

- But if the situation calls for it, we kill. - Clear, Captain.

l'll take the one on the left.

Fire!

- lt has begun. - Very well.

- lt will be hard. - Prepare yourselves.

- No results. - Nothing?

- l don't understand them. - Don't they know what death is?

They do not seem worried about anything.

Bad enough to be a governor, but to govern a population of sheep!

- Very well, round up 200 more. - Yes, sir.

Fools! Will l have to kill them all?

lf you don't tell me what l want to know, l'll kill you. ls that clear?

Yes!

- ls Kor in his office down there? - Yes.

What about the hostages? Talk!

- l'm to gather 200 more. - To be killed?

Mr Spock...

What are the odds now?

Less than 7,000 to one. lt's remarkable we've got this far.

Less than 7,000 to one... Well, getting better.

Just stay where you are, Commander.

You have done well to get this far.

You'll find several of them are no longer in perfect operating condition.

So, you are here.

You will be interested to know that a Federation fleet is on its way.

- Our fleet is preparing to meet them. - Checkmate, Commander.

Shall we wait and see the results before you kill me?

l don't mean to kill you unless l have to.

Sentimentality, mercy - the emotions of peace.

Your weakness, Captain Kirk. The Klingon Empire shall win.

As we sit here, in space above us,

the destiny of the galaxy will be decided for the next 1 0,000 years.

Can l offer you a drink? We can toast the victory of the Klingon fleet.

You may be premature. There are many possibilities.

Today we conquer.

lf some day we are defeated,

well, war has its fortunes, good and bad.

Do you know why we are so strong? Because we are a unit.

Each of us is part of the greater whole, always under surveillance.

Even a commander like myself, always under surveillance, Captain.

lf you will note...

- Cover, Spock. - Back!

Shoot! Shoot!

- What is it? - Extreme heat.

The weapons and the bodies.

We are terribly sorry to be forced to interfere,

but we can't let you harm yourselves.

- What are you talking about? - We have put a stop to your violence.

You are stopping us? You?

All instruments of violence on this planet

now radiate a temperature of 350 degrees.

- They are inoperative. - My fleet!

The same conditions exist on both starfleets. There will be no battle.

- Ridiculous! - l suggest you contact them.

You too, Captain. Your ship is now in range of your communications device.

- Kirk to Enterprise. - Captain.

l can't explain it. We were just closing in on the Klingon fleet

when every control on our ship became too hot to handle.

Our power's gone. Our phaser banks are dead.

Stand by, Sulu.

My fleet...it's helpless!

What have you done?

As l stand here, l also stand upon the home planet of the Klingon Empire,

and the home planet of your Federation.

l'm going to put a stop to this insane war.

- What? - You're talking nonsense.

lt is being done.

What gives you the right to stop the fleet?

You can't interfere. What happens in space is not your business.

Unless both sides agree to an immediate ceasefire,

all your armed forces, wherever they are, will be immobilised.

We have reason to fight the Klingons.

They invade our territory, kill our citizens

and boast they will take over half the galaxy.

Why not? We're stronger.

You've tried to hem us in, strangle our trade. You've been asking for war!

- You issued the ultimatum to withdraw. - Because these areas are ours.

- And now you step in with some trick? - lt is no trick, Commander.

We have simply put an end to your war.

All your military forces are now completely paralysed.

We find interference in other people's affairs most disgusting.

But you have given us no choice.

You should be on our side. 200 hostages killed!

No one has been killed, Captain.

No one has died here in uncounted thousands of years.

You're liars! You're meddling in things that are none of your business.

Even if you have some power that we don't understand,

- you have no right to dictate to us... - Or us!

...how to handle our interstellar relations.

- We have the right... - To wage war?

To kill millions of innocent people? To destroy life on a planetary scale?

ls that what you're defending?

Well, no one wants war.

But there are proper channels.

People have a right to handle their own affairs.

Eventually we would have...

Oh, eventually you will have peace, but only after millions have died.

lt is true that in the future you and the Klingons will become fast friends.

- Never! - Your emotions are most discordant.

We do not wish to seem inhospitable, but you must leave.

Yes, please leave us.

The mere presence of beings like yourselves is intensely painful to us.

What do you mean, ''beings like yourselves''?

Millions of years ago, we were humanoid like yourselves.

But we have developed beyond the need of physical bodies.

That of us which you see is mere appearance...

...for your sake.

Captain, it's a trick.

We can handle them. l have an army.

Fascinating. Pure energy, pure thought.

Totally incorporeal. Not life as we know it at all.

What about this planet? The fields, the buildings, this citadel?

Conventionalisations, l should say. Useless to the Organians,

created so visitors like us could have conventional points of reference.

- But is all this possible? - We have seen it with our own eyes.

l should say the Organians are as far above us on the evolutionary scale

as we are above the amoeba.

Well, l guess that takes care of the war.

Obviously, the Organians won't let us fight.

A shame, Captain. lt would have been glorious.

All engines show green.

Environmental control.

- Engineering control. - Environmental control, affirmative.

Environmental control, all systems green.

You've been most restrained since we left Organia.

l'm embarrassed.

l was furious with the Organians for stopping a war l didn't want.

We think we're the most powerful beings in the universe.

lt's unsettling to discover that we're wrong.

Captain, it took millions of years for the Organians to evolve into what they are.

Even the gods did not spring into being overnight.

We have no reason to be embarrassed. We did, after all, beat the odds.

Oh, no, we didn't beat the odds. We didn't have a chance.

The Organians raided the game.