command.
Now the years I spent studying every
detail of the ship's operation...
will be tested.
With a little experience,
l will be invulnerable to suspicion.
At last I attain what is
my just due-- command of a starship.
All the months of preparation
now come to fruition.
[Man On Intercom] Engineering
to Bridge. Engineering Control.
[Man On Intercom]
Environmental Control.
- Forward phaser, affirmative.
- Course, Mr. Chekov.
1-2-7, mark 8.
Mr. Sulu, set speed
at warp factor two.
Warp factor two, sir.
[Man On Intercom]
Aft phaser, affirmative.
Engineering to Bridge.
Engine, green.
Port scanner to Bridge, green.
- Engineering Control.
- Aft scanner to Bridge, green.
Environmental Control, affirmative.
Forward phaser, affirmative.
Bridge, all systems show green.
Security Control cleared.
Mr. Chekov, plot a course
for the Benecia Colony.
Direct course to Benecia,
3-7-3, mark 8.
How long to the colony
at our present speed?
Forty-eight hours, sir.
Mr. Sulu, set course
for the colony.
- 3-7-3, mark 8.
- Aye, sir. 3-7-3, mark 8.
Captain, that will delay
our work at Beta Aurigae.
- It means reversing course.
- Yes, it can't be helped.
We must take Dr. Lester
where she can be treated.
May I point out that Star base 2...
is on the direct route
to our destination.
- How long to Star base 2?
- Seventy-two hours, Captain.
It's 24 hours too long. Dr. Lester's
condition is increasingly serious.
- Continue present course.
- Aye, sir.
If the diagnosis of Dr. Lester's
illness is the critical problem,
then the Benecia Colony
is definitely not the place for her.
Their medical facilities
are the most primitive.
- They will have to serve.
- Star base 2 is fully equipped...
and staffed with
the necessary specialists...
to determine exactly what
is wrong with the doctor.
Is that not crucial
to your decision?
Thank you, Mr. Spock.
But the facilities will be
of little use if Dr. Lester's dead.
Time is of the essence.
Continue present course.
At maximum speed,
Star base 2 would still
meet the emergency.
Captain, shall I advise Starfleet
Command of the change of plan?
No change of plan
has been ordered, Lieutenant.
Our arrival at Beta Aurigae
will merely be delayed.
Our gravitational studies of
that binary system will not suffer,
and a life may be saved!
That is not unusual procedure
for the Enterprise.
Sir, I believe Starfleet
will have to be notified...
that our rendezvous with
the starship Potemkin...
will not take place as scheduled.
If you’d concentrate on the areas
for which you are responsible,
Starfleet Command would've
been informed already.
Since the captain usually deals
with Starfleet in these matters,
I assume that my suggestions
might be deemed interference.
Inform Starfleet of the delay,
Lieutenant.
- Aye, sir.
- Continue present course.
Increase speed to warp factor six.
I'll let my record speak for me.
Why are you being so defensive?
There's no implied criticism...
of you in my order to remove
you from the case.
That is not the reason I'm here.
I'm here because Dr. Coleman's
record states that he's incompetent.
That's the opinion
of an individual.
No, sir. That is the opinion
of Starfleet Command.
I checked with them. Dr. Coleman
was removed from his post...
as chief medical officer of his ship
for administrative incompetence.
There are no administrative
duties required here.
As well as flagrant
medical blunders.
Promotions and demotions can
be politically maneuvered.
- You know that, Bones.
- Not in Starfleet Headquarters.
And certainly not in
the surgeon general's office.
I'm afraid the order
will have to stand.
I can only say...
that Dr. Coleman's experience
with what happened on the planet...
had to be the deciding factor here.
I’m sure that you can
appreciate that.
I appreciate the fact that
you had a decision to make.
I also find myself
in that position now, Jim,
and I'm asking you to
report