probe is vaporizing 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.
Can you let us hear
the probe's transmission?
Yes, sir.
On speakers.
Spock, what do you make of that?
Most unusual.
An unknown form of energy
of great power and intelligence,
evidently unaware
that its transmissions
are destructive.
I find it illogical
that its intentions are hostile.
Is this its way of saying " Hi there"
to the people of the Earth?
There are other forms
of intelligence
on Earth, Doctor.
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.
At least a possibility, Admiral.
The president did say
it was directed at Earth's oceans.
Uhura, can you modify
the probe signals
accounting for density
and temperature
and solidity factors?
I can try, sir.
I think I have it, sir.
This is what it would
sound like underwater?
Yes, sir.
Fascinating.
If my suspicion is correct,
there can be no response
to this message.
Excuse me.
Where are you going?
To test my theory.
Bones, you stay here.
No way.
Somebody's got to
keep an eye on him.
Spock?
As suspected.
The probe's transmissions
are the songs sung by whales.
Whales.
Specifically, humpback whales.
That's crazy.
Who would send a probe
hundreds of light-years
to talk to whales?
Whales have been on earth
far earlier than man.
1 0 million years earlier.
Humpbacks were
heavily hunted by man.
They've been extinct
since the 21st century.
It's possible that
an alien intelligence
sent the probe to determine
why they lost contact.
My God.
Spock...
could the humpback's
answer to this call
be simulated?
The sounds, but not the language.
We'd be responding in gibberish.
Does the species exist
on any other planet?
Negative.
Humpbacks were indigenous to Earth,
Earth of the past.
Well...
We have no choice.
We must destroy the probe
before it destroys earth.
That would be futile.
The probe could render us
neutral easily.
We can't just turn away.
There must be an alternative.
There is one possibility,
but I cannot guarantee success.
We could attempt to find
some humpback whales.
You said there aren't any,
except on Earth of the past.
That is exactly what I said.
Well, in that case...
Now wait just a damn minute.
Spock...
start your computations
for time warp.
Bones, you come with me.
Red alert.
Red alert.
Red alert.
We need that power
to keep medical
facilities functioning.
All underground
storage systems
have been shut down
due to contamination.
Red alert.
Red alert.
Hey, Tom, get those
steel plates in here!
Red alert.
Red alert.
Scotty, how long is this bay?
About 60 feet, Admiral.
Can you enclose it to hold water?
I suppose I could.
Planning to take a swim?
Off the deep end.
We've got to find some humpbacks.
Humpbacked people?
Whales, Mr. Scott. Whales.
About 45 to 50 feet long.
About 40 tons each.
You're trying time travel
in this rust bucket?
We've done it before.
Slingshot around the sun.
Don't pick up enough speed
and you're fried.
Prefer to do nothing?
I prefer common sense.
You're proposing that
we go backwards in time
to find humpback whales,
bring them forward in time,
and hope they tell this probe
what to do with itself.
That's the general idea.
That's crazy!
You have a better idea?
Now's the time.
Computations, Mr. Spock?
In progress, Admiral.
Uhura, get through
to Starfleet command.
I'm picking up a faint transmission.
I think it's Admiral Kirk calling.
On screen.
Starfleet command, this
is Admiral James T. Kirk,
on route to earth
aboard a Klingon vessel.
We have intercepted and analyzed
the call of the probe
threatening Earth.
Satellite reserve power. Now.
Only the extinct species
humpback whale
Can