at 0400 hours.
I want to show them
what we're facing.
He wanted her back. He got her.
And Capt Decker? He's been with this
ship every minute of her refitting.
The possibilities of our returning
from this mission in one piece
may have just doubled.
Check Cleary on number six.
(woman)
Space matrix restoration coils.
Dilithium crystals.
I knew it. The transporter
sensor was not activated.
Faulty modules.
(Scott) Cleary, put a new
backup sensor into the unit.
Admiral Kirk. We're getting
a top-brass sendoff.
She'll launch on schedule if we have
to tow her with our hands. Right?
Aye, that we will, sir.
- Let's talk.
- Sure.
- Tell me when the backup's ready.
- Aye, sir.
Sir, I hope this isn't
some kind of pep talk.
- I'm too busy.
- I'm taking over, Will.
You're what?
I'm replacing you
as Captain of the Enterprise.
You'll stay on as Executive Officer.
Temporary grade reduction
to Commander.
You personally are assuming command?
Yeah.
May I ask why?
My experience. Five years out there
dealing with unknowns like this.
My familiarity with the Enterprise,
its crew.
Admiral, this is an almost
totally new Enterprise.
- You don't know her like I do.
- That's why you're staying aboard.
I'm sorry, Will.
No, Admiral, I don't think
you're sorry, not one damn bit.
I remember when
you recommended me for command.
You said how much you hoped you'd
find a way to get a starship again.
Well, sir,
it looks like you found a way.
Report to the bridge, Commander,
immediately.
Aye, sir.
- (alarm)
- Transporter room. Come in.
Red line on the transporter.
- Transporter, do not engage.
- It's too late. They're beaming.
Do you read me, Starfleet?
Override us. Pull them back.
Unable to retrieve their pattern,
Enterprise.
Give it to me.
Starfleet, boost your matter gain.
We need more signal.
More signal.
- We're losing their pattern.
- Oh, no, they're forming.
(screaming)
(screaming)
Starfleet, do you have them?
Enterprise, what we got back
didn't live long, fortunately.
Starfleet, Kirk.
Please express
my condolences to their families.
Cmdr Sonak's can be reached
through the Vulcan Embassy.
There was nothing
you could have done, Rand.
It wasn't your fault.
- Yeoman, turboshaft eight?
- Back that way, sir.
We must replace Cmdr Sonak.
I'd still like a Vulcan if possible.
None available, Captain.
No one's fully rated on this design.
You are, Mr Decker. You'll have
to double as Science Officer.
That's all we know about it,...
..except that it is now 53.4 hours
away from Earth.
Enterprise is the only Federation
starship that stands in its way.
Our orders are to intercept,
investigate,
and take whatever action
is necessary. And possible.
(signal)
Bridge to Captain.
Priority signal from Epsilon IX.
- Put it on viewer.
- On viewer.
Enterprise, the cloud is definitely
a power field ofsome kind.
Measures... my God...
over two AUs in diameter.
Must be something incredible
inside there generating it.
We're transmitting friendship
messages on all frequencies.
- No response.
- Null reading at the centre.
There's something inside,
but all scans are reflected back.
- A power surge.
- Receiving an odd pattern.
They could be viewing our scans
as a hostile act.
- They're reacting to our scans.
- Deflectors, full!
(alarm)
- We are under attack.
- External view.
Viewer off.
Pre-launch countdown
will commence in 40 minutes.
Transporter system fully
repaired and functioning, sir.
Dock signals clear.
Reply we are awaiting
final crew replacements.
Aye, sir.
Transporter personnel reports
the Navigator Lt llia.
She's already aboard
and en route to the bridge, sir.
She's Deltan, Captain.
- Lt llia reporting for duty, sir.
- Welcome aboard, Lieutenant.
- Hello, llia.
- Decker.
I was stationed on the Lieutenant's
home planet some years ago.
Cmdr Decker?
Our Exec and Science Officer.
Capt Kirk
has the utmost confidence in me.
And in you