up fast.
- I cannot.
We have a complete power failure.
We're on emergency battery power.
- What happened?
- I can't explain it, sir,
but the matter and antimatter
are in red zone proximity.
- What caused that?
- There's no knowing...
and there's
no stopping it either.
The shielding is breaking down,
and I estimate four hours
before it goes completely.
Four hours before
the ship blows up.
The estimate is quite correct.
Your ship will blow itself
to bits within four hours...
unless you defeat the others
before then.
Is that cause enough
to fight for?
What if they defeat us?
To save your ship and your crew,
you have to win.
Scotty, inform
Starfleet Command.
Disengage nacelles,
Jettison if possible.
Mr. Spock, assist them.
Advise and analyze.
- [ Communicator Chirps ]
- Scotty! Scotty!
Your communicators
no longer function, Captain.
You may proceed
with the spectacle.
James, the war
is forced upon us.
History repeats itself.
Supplemental Log :
Star date 5906.5.
Engineer Scott reporting.
The Enterprise is doomed
to explode in two hours...
if Captain Kirk is defeated by the
enemy on the surface of the planet.
The enormous power of the Enterprise
has been neutralized...
and we sit here watching,
unable to assist.
- Did you set the traps?
- Yes.
What'd you find out?
What are they doing?
They've done nothing.
They've not armed themselves...
nor prepared
for any kind of defense.
I say attack now
and finish them.
- With what? These?
- Better than what they have.
No, it's not
advantage enough.
I want to make sure
the odds are in our favor.
Overwhelm and devastate--
that's the way to get power...
and to hold it,
and I mean to do that.
There's nothing immoral about
fighting an illusion, Mr. Spock.
We play their game-- fight, or lose
the ship and all the crewmen aboard.
And if they’re real,
Captain?
We'll use this...
as a base.
It's defensible.
They can't approach
without being seen.
- Are we fighting a defensive war?
- No, we don't have time.
But if things go against us,
I want a place to retreat.
What I want to do now
is scout them out,
find their weaknesses
and attack.
- Mmm. Do you drink whiskey?
- Occasionally. Why?
Because you have qualities very much
like those of another man...
I admire greatly--
General Grant.
Thank y--
[ Chuckles ]
Thank you.
Mr. Spock, we'll need weapons.
The ancient Vulcan’s...
- made something like a boomerang?
- Yes, Captain.
And slings and spears.
Slings.
Mr. President, you
used a sling as a boy.
- Indeed, I did.
- [Spock] Captain.
Logic dictates that
we consider another course.
We don't have
much time, Spock.
In my time on Vulcan, we also
faced these same alternatives.
We'd suffered
devastating wars...
which nearly
destroyed our planet.
Another was
about to begin.
We were torn.
But out of our suffering some of us
found the discipline to act.
We sent emissaries
to our opponents to propose peace.
The first were killed,
but others followed.
Ultimately, we achieved peace,
which has lasted since then.
Circumstances were
different then, Surak.
The face of war has
never changed, Captain.
Surely it is more logical
to heal than kill.
I'm afraid that kind of logic
doesn't apply here.
That is precisely why
we should not fight.
My ship is at stake!
I will not harm others,
Captain.
His convictions are
most profound in this matter.
So are mine, Spock.
If I believed there was
a peaceful way out of this--
The risk will be mine alone.
If I fail, you lose nothing.
After all,
I'm no warrior.
The captain knows that I have
fought at his side before...
and will do so now,
if need be.
However, l, too, am a Vulcan,
bred to peace.
Let him attempt it.
You saw how
treacherously they acted.
Oh, yes.
But perhaps it's
our belief in peace...
that is actually
being tested.
Hmm.
I have no authority over you.
You may do as you think best.
[ Sighs ]
Thank you.
May you live