Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Stardate 9521.6.

Captain's Log, U.S.S. Excelsior.

Hikaru Sulu commanding.

After three years,

I've concluded my first assignment

as master of this vessel,

cataloguing gaseous planetary

anomalies in Beta Quadrant.

We're heading home

under full impulse power.

I am pleased to report

that ship and crew have functioned well.

According to this, we've completed

our survey of the entire sector.

I have an energy wave

at 240 degrees mark 6 port, sir.

Visual.

My God.

Shields. Shields!

She's not answering her helm.

Starboard thruster.

Turn her into the wave.

Aye.

Quarter impulse power.

Damage report.

Checking all systems, Captain.

Don't tell me

that was any meteor shower.

Negative, sir.

The subspace shockwave

originated at bearing 3-2-3 mark 75.

Location...

It's Praxis, sir. It's a Klingon moon.

Praxis is their key

energy production facility.

Send to Klingon High Command.

"This is Excelsior,

a Federation starship.

"We have monitored

a large explosion in your sector.

"Do you require assistance?"

-Aye, sir.

-Mr Valtane, any more data?

Yes, sir. I've confirmed

the location of Praxis, but...

What is it?

I cannot confirm the existence of Praxis.

Onscreen.

Magnify.

Computer enhancement.

-Praxis?

-What's left of it, sir.

Captain,

I'm getting a message from Praxis.

Let's have it.

This is Brigadier Kerla

speaking for the High Command.

There has been an incident on Praxis.

However, everything is under control.

We have no need for assistance.

Obey treaty stipulations

and remain outside the neutral zone.

This transmission ends now.

"An incident"?

-Do we report this, sir?

-Are you kidding?

What are we doing here?

Maybe they're throwing us

a retirement party.

-That suits me. I just bought a boat.

-This had better be good.

I'm supposed to be chairing a seminar

at the Academy.

Captain, isn't this just for top brass?

If we're all here, where's Sulu?

Captain Sulu. On assignment.

Where's Spock?

This briefing is classified.

Ladies and gentlemen, the CinC.

As you were.

To break this information down

succinctly,

the Klingon Empire

has roughly 50 years of life left to it.

For full details,

I'm turning this briefing over

to the Federation's special envoy.

Good morning.

Two months ago, a Federation starship

monitored an explosion

on the Klingon moon Praxis.

We believe it was caused

by over-mining

and insufficient safety precautions.

The moon's decimation means

the deadly pollution of their ozone.

They will have depleted

their supply of oxygen

in approximately 50 Earth years.

Due to their enormous military budget,

the Klingon economy does not have

the resources

with which to combat this catastrophe.

Last month, at the behest

of the Vulcan ambassador,

I opened a dialogue with Gorkon,

Chancellor of the Klingon High Council.

He proposes to commence negotiations

at once.

Negotiations for what?

The dismantling of our space stations

and starbases along the neutral zone,

an end to almost 70 years

of unremitting hostility,

which the Klingons can no longer afford.

Bill, are we talking

about mothballing the Starfleet?

Well, I'm sure that our exploration

and scientific programmes

-would be unaffected, Captain, but...

-I must protest.

To offer Klingons safe haven

within Federation space is suicide.

Klingons would become

the alien trash of the galaxy,

and if we dismantle the fleet,

we'd be defenceless

before an aggressive species

with a foothold on our territory.

The opportunity here

is to bring them to their knees.

Then we'll be in a far better position

to dictate terms.

Sir?

Captain Kirk.

The Klingons

have never been trustworthy.

I'm forced to agree

with Admiral Cartwright.

This is a terrifying idea.

It is imperative that we act now

to support the Gorkon initiative

lest more conservative elements

persuade his empire

that it is better to attempt

a military solution and die fighting.

You, Captain Kirk,

are to be our first olive branch.

We have volunteered to rendezvous

with the Klingon vessel

which is bringing Chancellor Gorkon

to Earth

and to escort him safely

through Federation space.

Me?

Well, there are Klingons who feel

the same way about the peace treaty

as yourself and Admiral Cartwright,

but they'll think twice about attacking

the Enterprise under your command.

I have personally vouched for you

in this matter, Captain.

You have personally vouched?

You will extend Chancellor Gorkon

full diplomatic courtesy, Captain Kirk.

But a full ambassador

would be better equipped...

If there's no further business,

I wish you and your crew Godspeed.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

I remind you, this meeting is classified.

I don't know whether

to congratulate you or not, Jim.

I wouldn't.

We volunteered?

There is an old Vulcan proverb,

"Only Nixon could go to China."

How could you vouch for me?

That's arrogant presumption.

My father requested

that I open negotiations...

I know your father's the Vulcan

ambassador, for heaven's sake,

but you know how I feel about this.

They're animals.

Jim, there is an historic opportunity

here.

Don't believe them. Don't trust them.

-They are dying.

-Let them die.

Has it occurred to you that this crew

is due to stand down in three months?

We've done our bit for king and country.

You should have trusted me.

Control, this is SD-103,

approach to spacedock. Over.

SD-103, you are clear

to deliver Captain Kirk and party

to NCC-1701 Alpha. Over.

Captain on the Bridge.

-As you were, Lieutenant...

-Valeris, sir.

We were told that you needed

a helmsman, so I volunteered.

Lieutenant, it is agreeable

to see you again.

Lieutenant was the first Vulcan

to be graduated

-at the top of her class at the academy.

-You must be very proud.

I don't believe so, sir.

She's a Vulcan, all right.

Let's get this over with.

Departure stations.

-Scotty.

-Aye, sir?

Did you find the engine room?

Right where I left it, sir.

Standby. Uhura, get me the dockmaster.

Control tower reading, sir.

Control, this is Enterprise

requesting permission to depart.

This is Control, Enterprise.

Permission to depart granted.

Thirty seconds for port gates.

Clear all moorings.

Awaiting port gates from this mark.

All moorings clear.

Aft thrusters.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

One-quarter impulse power.

Captain, may I remind you

that regulations specify thrusters

only while in spacedock?

Jim?

You heard the order, Lieutenant.

Aye, sir.

Captain's Log, Stardate 9522.6.

I've never trusted Klingons,

and I never will.

I could never forgive them

for the death of my boy.

It seems to me our mission

to escort the Chancellor

of the Klingon High Council

to a peace summit

is problematic at best.

Spock says this could be

an historic occasion,

and I'd like to believe him,

but how on earth can history

get past people like me?

Sorry.

You could have knocked.

We are almost at the rendezvous, sir.

I thought that you would like to know.

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