that was
a logical assumption, Captain.
Mr. Sulu, hold present position.
Holding present position, sir.
Tactical plot on viewer.
Course projection
on tactical, sir.
Opinion, Mr. Spock.
Recommend we proceed, 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.Tactical
Visual
This is com station Epsilon 9
calling USS Columbia.
Come in, Columbia.
Respond, please.
This is Scout Columbia, Epsilon 9.
Could you boost your transmission?
This is Epsilon 9, Columbia.
Am boosting output.
How read you this?
Fine, fine. Thank you, Epsilon 9.
Receiving your transmission.
Scout Columbia, NCC-62 1...
to rendezvous with
Scout Revere, NCC-595...
on stardate 741 1.4.
Further orders
will be relayed at that time.
Signed Commodore Prober
to Starfleet.
- End of transmission.
- Received. Thank you.
Our sensor drone is
intercepting this on Quad L-1 4.
That's within Klingon boundaries.
Who are they fighting?
Unknown, sir.
I have an exterior visual.
We've plotted a course
on that cloud, Commander.
It will pass into Federation space
fairly close to us.
Heading?
Sir, it's on
a precise heading for Earth.
Commander Sonak.
You received your appointment
as Enterprise science officer?
Based, I am told, on your
recommendation, Admiral. Thank you.
Then why aren't you aboard?
Captain Decker requested I complete
final science briefing here before--
- Here?
- we leave on our mission.
At Starfleet?
The Enterprise is in
final preparation to leave dock.
Which will require
20 more hours at minimum--
Twelve.
I'm on my way to a meeting
with Admiral Nogura...
which will not last
more than three minutes.
Report to me on the Enterprise
in one hour.
Report to you, sir?
It is my intention to be
on that ship following that meeting.
Report to me in one hour.
- Admiral!
- Mr. Scott.
Those departure orders-- 12 hours.
Starfleet cannot be serious.
Why aren't the Enterprisetransporters operating, Mr. Scott?
A wee problem, sir.
Just temporary.
Admiral, we have just
finished 1 8 months...
redesigning and refitting
the Enterprise.
How in hell do they expect me
to have her ready in 1 2 hours?
Take me over, please.
She needs more work, sir.
A shakedown!
Mr. Scott, an alien object of
unbelievable destructive power...
is less than three days away
from this planet.
The only starship in interception
range is the Enterprise.
Ready or not,
she launches in 1 2 hours.
The crew haven't had
near enough transition time...
with all the new equipment.
And the engines-- They're
not even tested at warp power.
And an untried captain.
Two-and-a-half years as
chief of Starfleet Operations...
may have made me
a little stale, but I...
wouldn't exactly
consider myself untried.
- They gave her back to me, Scotty.
- Gave her back, sir?
I doubt it was that easy
with Nogura.
You're right.
Well, any man who could
manage such a feat...
I would not dare