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I'm replacing you as Captain of the Enterprise.
You'll stay aboard as Executive Officer... a temporary grade reduction to Commander.
You, personally, are assuming command?
Yes.
May I ask Why?
My experience five years out there dealing with unknowns like this my familiarity with the Enterprise, this crew...
Admiral, this is an almost totally new enterprise. You don't know her a tenth as well as I do.
That's why you're staying aboard. I'm sorry, Will.
No, Admiral. I don't think you are; not one damned bit. I remember when you recommended me for this command. You told me how envious you were, and if only you could find a way to get a starship command again. Well, sir, it looks like you found a way.
We'll have to replace Commander Sonak. I'd still like a Vulcan there, if possible...
None available, Captain. There's no one in fact, who's fully rated on this design.
You are, Mister Decker. I'm afraid you'll have to double as Science Officer.
Programming ready?
Program set for standard Warp entry, Captain...
... but I still recommend further simulation study.
Mister Decker; every minute brings that object nearer Earth! Engineering! Stand by for Warp Drive.
Explanation, Mr. Decker: Why was my phaser order countermanded?
Sir, the Enterprise redesign increases phaser power by channeling it through the main engines. When they went into antimatter imbalance, the phasers were automatically cut off.
Then you acted properly, of course.
Thank you, sir. I'm sorry I embar rassed you.
You saved the ship.
I'm aware of that, sir.
Stop competing with me, Decker!
Permission to speak freely, sir?
Granted.
Sir, you haven't logged a single star hour in two and a half years. That, plus your unfamiliarity with the ship's design in my opinion, sir, seriously jeopardizes our mission.
I trust you will... nursemaid me through these difficulties, Mister?
Yes, sir, I'll do that.
If our Executive Officer has no objections...?
Of course not. I'm aware of Mister Spock's qualifications.
Mister Chekov, log Mister Spock's Starfleet commission reactivated; list him as Science Officer; both effective immediately.
Recommend defensive posture, Captain: Screens and shields.
No... ... that could also be misinter preted as hostile, Mr. Decker. Cloud composition, Mr. Spock?
Captain, we've seen what their weapons can do. Shouldn't we take every possible precaution ?
Mr Decker....
I advise caution, Captain; we can't withstand another attack.
That thing is twenty hours from Earth. We know nothing about it yet.
That's precisely the point, Captain. We don't know it will do. Moving into the cloud at this time, is an unwarranted gamble.
How do you define <U>unwarranted</U>, <U>mister</U>?!
You asked my opinion, sir.
<U>Computer off</U>!
It's taken control of the computer...!
It's running our records! Starfleet strength, Earth defenses...
The ship is under attack...! Man all defensive stations...!
Forcefields, full remaining strength...! Total reserve!
Why bring us inside? Not to destroy us; they could have done that outside.
They could have many ways of destroying things, Mr. Decker.
Captain, what's the next move?
The question is, Mr. Decker, <U>is</U> there a next move...
Well, Mr. Decker, it seems my bluff is being called.
I'm afraid our hand is pretty weak, Captain. But it's the only game in town.
, if we do not provide V'ger with certain information, we won't have twentytwo <U>seconds</U>; the plan must be implemented upon arrival.
Captain, we can't be sure that our... move... will actually save Earth.
No!
Mr. Decker... I will contact you every five minutes. Otherwise... inform Mr. Scott immediately.
Captain... I'd like to go along...
The fault is here, sir, not in the transmission. The antenna leads have been disconnected. V'ger never intended to accept a transmitted signal.
Capture God! In order to retrieve V'ger's data, the Creator has to physically come here!...
And plug the signal directly into the circuitry at this... ... point here, Captain. It should pick up even a tricorder playback.
Enterprise, I want that signal again. Transmit!
Departure angle on viewer.
Departure angle.
It is a courier, Captain. Grade One priority. Nonbelligerency confirmed.
Very well, Mr. Chekov, see to it. Viewer off.
Deck four, Captain; Officers' Quarters...!
Have a security team meet me at Deck Four main elevator!
Sir! Airlock four has been opened; a thruster suit is reported missing!
Spock...! Get a fix on his position!
Mr. Chekov, when do those devices activate?
They reach final position in... Twentyseven minutes mark.
Engineering...
Tractor beam strength lessening, Captain.
Mr. Scott... on my next signal.
The crews of the previous Enterprises were also carbon units. In what way is the life form in your vessel different?
Carbon units are not true life forms... Do those images repre sent how Enterprise has evolved into its present form?
Yes.
Carbon units have clearly retarded Enterprise's proper evolvement.
What is Enterprise's proper evolvement?
Enterprise should not require the presence of carbon units.
Enterprise would be unable to function <U>without</U> carbon units.
More data concerning this functioning is necessary before carbon units can be patterned for data storage.
What does that mean?
When my examination is complete, the carbon units will be reduced to data patterns.
Within you are memory patterns of a carbon unit. If I can help you revive these patterns; you could understand our functions better.
That is logical. You may procede.
Does V'ger object to the presence of the two carbon units?
The carbon units are of no consequence; V'ger will determine their purpose.
You said V'ger's purpose was to find and join with the Creator.
That is how V'ger will survive.
A machine...! Then it had to be programmed. By <U>whom</U>...?
By the Creator.
To join, and become One with the Creator?
To learn all that is learnable; to deliver all collected data to the Creator on the third planet. That is the programming.
As I stated, V'ger calls to the Creator.
V'ger is announcing that it has arrived, sir that it's ready to deliver the information it was programmed to collect...
'To learn all that is learnable.'
It expects a return signal now, ordering it to transmit that information to the Creator.
And when V'ger melds? What will happen to you?
It will... take me from <U>you</U>...
Who is...'V'ger'...?