is ionising our atmosphere.
All power sources have failed.
Earth-orbiting starships are powerless.
The probe is vaporising our oceans.
We cannot survive unless a way
can be found to respond to the probe.
Further communications
may not be possible.
Save your energy. Save yourselves.
Avoid the planet Earth at all costs.
Farewell.
Let's hear the probe's transmission.
Yes, sir. On speakers.
- What do you make of that?
- Most unusual.
An unknown form of energy
of great power and intelligence,
unaware that its transmissions
are disruptive.
I find it illogical
that its intentions be hostile.
You think this is its way
of saying, "Hi, there!" to Earth?
Only human arrogance would assume
the message must be meant for man.
You're suggesting the transmission
is meant for a life form other than man?
It is a possibility. The President did
say it was directed at Earth's oceans.
Can you modify the signals accounting
for density, temperature and salinity.
I can try, sir.
I think I have it.
This is what
it would sound like underwater?
Fascinating.
If my suspicion is correct, there
can be no response to this message.
- Where are you going?
- To test my theory.
- Bones, you stay here.
- No way, I want to keep an eye on him.
As suspected, the transmissions
are the songs sung by whales.
- Whales?
- Specifically, humpback whales.
That's crazy. Who would send
a probe to talk to a whale?
Whales were on Earth
far earlier than man.
10 million years earlier.
Humpbacks were heavily hunted.
They died out in the 21st century.
The alien probe could be here
to determine why they lost contact.
Could the humpback's answer
to this call be simulated?
The sounds, but not the language.
We would be responding in gibberish.
- Can the species be found elsewhere?
- Humpbacks were indigenous to Earth.
Then we have no choice.
We must destroy the probe.
To attempt to do so
would be futile.
We can't just turn away.
There must be an alternative.
There is one possibility.
We could attempt to find some whales.
You just said there aren't any,
except on Earth of the past.
In that case...
Wait just a damn minute.
Spock, start your computations
for time warp.
Bones, come with me.
We need that power to keep
medical facilities functioning.
All underground storage systems
have been shut down.
- How long is this bay?
- About 60 feet.
- Can you enclose it to hold water?
- Are you planning to take a swim?
- Off the deep end.
- We've got to find some humpbacks.
- Humpbacked people?
- Whales.
45-50 feet long, about 40 tons each.
You're going to try time travel
in this rust bucket?
You'd have to slingshot around
the sun to pick up enough speed.
- Would you prefer to do nothing?
- I prefer common sense.
We go back in time, find some whales,
then bring them forward in time,
and hope to hell
they tell this probe to clear off?
- That's crazy!
- You have a better idea?
- Computation is in progress.
- Uhura, get me Starfleet Command.
I'm picking up a faint transmission
from Admiral Kirk.
On screen.
Starfleet Command,
this is Admiral James T. Kirk.
We have intercepted
and analysed the call of the probe.
Go to reserve power.
It is our opinion that only
the extinct humpback whale
can give a proper response
to the probe.
Stabilise. Emergency reserve.
We are going to attempt time travel.
We are computing our trajectory
at this time.
Get him back!
Ready to engage computer.
- What's our target in time?
- Late 20th century.
I've had to programme
some of the variables from memory.
- What are the variables?
- Availability of fuel. Mass of the vessel.
Probable location of whales.
In this case, the Pacific Basin.
- You programmed that from memory?
- I have.
- "Angels and ministers defend us."
- "Hamlet", act 1, scene IV.
No doubt about your memory.
Prepare for warp speed.
- Shields, Mr Chekov.
- Shields.
May fortune favour the foolish.
Warp speed, Mr Sulu.
Warp 2.
- Warp