Captain.
- Mr. Decker?
- I advise caution, Captain.
We can't withstand another attack.
That thing is 20 hours
away from Earth.
- We know nothing about it as yet.
- Precisely the point, Captain.
We don't know what it'll do.
Moving into that cloud
at this time...
is an unwarranted gamble.
How do you define ''unwarranted''?
You asked my opinion, sir.
Viewer. Standard ahead.
Navigator, maintain course.
Helmsman...
steady as she goes.
No vessel could generate
a power field of this magnitude.
Spock.
Instruments fluctuating,
Captain.
Patterns unrecognizable.
Transmit image of alien
to Starfleet.
Advise we are attempting
further communication.
Unable to make contact
with Starfleet, Captain.
Any attempt to transmit out of
the cloud is being reflected back.
We are closing on it
rapidly, Captain.
Reduce magnification
factor four, Mr. Sulu.
We are already
two settings below that, sir.
Mr. Sulu...
bring us into
a parallel course...
over the alien...
at 500 meters.
Five hundred meters?
Then take us out
to 100 kilometers distance...
adjusting parallel course.
Aye, sir.Mr. Sulu...
bring us into
a parallel course...
over the alien...
at 500 meters.
Five hundred meters?
Then take us out
to 100 kilometers distance...
adjusting parallel course.
Aye, sir.
Viewer astern.
Reverse angle on the view,
Captain.
Five hundred meters.
Viewer ahead, sir.
Hold relative position here.
Mr. Spock!
Can that be one of their crew?
A probe from their vessel,
Captain.
Plasma-energy combination.
Don't interfere with it.
Absolutely, I will not interfere.
No one interfere.
It doesn't seem interested in us.
Only the ship.
Computer off.
It's taking control
of the computer.
It's running our records-
Earth defenses, Starfleet strength.
Ilia!
Ilia!
This is how I define "unwarranted."
Activate auxiliary computer circuits
through manual shutoff.
Captain, we've been
seized by a tractor beam.
Get someone up here
to take the navigator's station.
- Engineering.
- Chief DiFalco, to the bridge.
- Emergency power.
- Going to full emergency.
But, Captain, if we don't break free
in 15 seconds, she'll burn up.
We cannot break free, Captain.
We have only a fraction
of the power necessary.
Engineering, belay that order.
Disengage all main drive systems.
Chief DiFalco,
take over Lieutenant Ilia's station.
DiFalco, disengage engine
navigation relays now.
Aye, sir.
Force field circuits
E-10 through 14...
show ready for reactivation.
Confirm, please.
Scotty, drive systems
should be free now.
Commander?
Ready to launch
remote communications drone...
with complete ship's records...
including
our present situation, sir.
Delay launching
as long as possible.
Our drone can't escape as long
as we're held in their tractor.
Aye.
Captain, a maximum phaser strike
directly at the beam...
might weaken it just enough
for us to break free.
Break free to where, Commander?
Any show of resistance
would be futile, Captain.
We don't know that, Mr. Spock.
Why are you opposed to trying?
Why bring us inside?
Not to destroy us.
They could have done that outside.
They still can.
Curiosity, Mr. Decker.
Insatiable curiosity.
Captain, photic sonar readings
indicate the aperture is closing.
We're trapped, sir.
Reverse angle on the viewer,
Captain.
Tractor beam has released us,
Captain.
Confirmed.
Vessel is floating free.
No forward momentum.
Viewer ahead.
Viewer ahead, sir.
Maneuvering thrusters, Mr. Sulu.
Ahead one third.
Thrusters ahead one third.
Let's take a look.
Full sensor scan, Mr. Spock.
They can't expect us
not to look them over now.
Now that we're
looking down their throat.
Right, now that we've got them
just where they want us.
It's closing up.
Hold position.
Captain.
All our scans
are being reflected back.
Sensors are useless.
Damn.
What do you make of all this?
I believe the closed orifice
leads to another chamber...
undoubtedly part of
the