Lieutenant Ilia
reporting for duty, sir.
Welcome aboard, Lieutenant.
- Hello, Ilia.
- Decker.
I was stationed on the lieutenant's
home planet some years ago.
Commander Decker?
Yes, our exec and science officer.
Captain Kirk has
the utmost confidence in me.
And in you, too, Lieutenant.
My oath of celibacy
is on record, Captain.
- May I assume my duties?
- By all means.
Starfleet reports our last six
crew members are ready to beam up...
but one of them is refusing
to step into the transporter.
Oh? I'll see to it
that he beams up.
Transporter room.
Well, for a man who swore
he'd never return to Starfleet--
Just a moment, Captain, sir.
I'll explain what happened.
Your revered Admiral Nogura
invoked a little-known...
seldom-used
reserve activation clause.
In simpler language, Captain,
they drafted me!
They didn't.
This was your idea.
This was your idea, wasn't it?
Bones, there's a thing out there.
Why is any object we don't
understand always called a thing?
Headed this way. I need you.
Damn it, Bones, I need you.
Badly!
Permission to come aboard.
Permission granted, sir.
Well, Jim,
I hear Chapel's an MD now.
Well, I'm going
to need a top nurse...
not a doctor who will argue
every little diagnosis with me.
And they probably redesigned
the whole sick bay too!
I know engineers.
They love to change things.
Dock control reports ready, sir.
- Helm ready, sir.
- Orbital departure on plot, sir.
Yard command signaling clear, sir.
- Maneuvering thrusters, Mr. Sulu.
- Maneuvering thrusters, sir.
Hold station.
Thrusters at station-keeping, sir.
Thrusters ahead, Mr. Sulu.
Take us out.
Intermix set, Bridge.
Impulse power at your discretion.
Impulse power, Mr. Sulu.
Ahead warp .5.
Departure angle on viewer.
Departure angle.
- Viewer ahead.
- Viewer ahead.
Captain 's Log.:
Stardate 7412.6...
1.8 hours from launch.
In order to intercept the intruder
at the earliest possible time...
we must now risk engaging warp drive
while still within the solar system.
Captain, assuming we have
full warp capability...
accelerating to warp 7
on leaving the solar system...
will bring us to IP with
the intruder in 20.1 hours.
Science Officer competition.
Confirm, Sir
Well, Bones, do the new medical
facilities meet with your approval?
They do not. It's like working
in a damn computer center.
- Programming ready?
- Set for standard warp entry.
But I still recommend
further simulation study.
Mr. Decker, every minute brings
that object closer to Earth.
Engineering,
stand by for warp drive.
Captain, we need further warp
simulation on the flow sensors.
Engineer, we need warp speed now!
Jim, you're pushing.
Your people know their jobs.
That's it, sir.
I can't do any better.
Aye, lad.
It's borderline on the simulator.
I cannot guarantee she'll hold up.
Warp drive, Mr. Scott.
- Ahead warp 1 , Mr. Sulu.
- Accelerating to warp 1 , sir.
Warp .7, .8.
Warp 1 , sir.
Mr. Decker--
Wormhole. Get us back
on impulse power. Full reverse.
Negative helm control, Captain.
Going reverse on impulse power.
Subspace frequencies jammed, sir!
Wormhole effect!
Negative control from inertial lag
will continue 22.5 seconds...
before forward velocity
slows to sublight speed.
Unidentified small object has been
pulled into the wormhole with us.
- Directly ahead.
- Force fields up full.
Put object on viewer.
- Go manual override on helm.
- No manual response, sir.
Navigational deflectors
coming up, sir.
Wormhole distortion has overloaded
the main power systems.
Navigational deflectors
inoperative, Captain.
Directional control
also inoperative.
Time to impact?
Twenty seconds.
Mr. Chekov, stand by on phasers.
No!
Belay that phaser order!
Arm photon torpedoes!
Photon torpedoes...
armed!
Object is an asteroid.
Reading mass .7.
Targeting...
asteroid!
Impact in ten seconds.
Impact in eight seconds.
- Fire torpedoes!
- Six!
Torpedoes away!
Five!
Helm control