Captain.
What is it, Webb?
A blip, sir.Just came on the screen.
How do you read it?
Aircraft of some sort.
By the size and speed,
it's not one of ours.
It doesn't read like anything I've ever seen.
What was the approach?
None, sir. It's just like it fell out of the sky.
Current position?
Directly over the Omaha installation. Holding there.
Watch the scope, Webb.
Air Defense will send somebody up for a closer look.
We may have a real U.F.O. on our hands.
[Alarm Blares]
Space-- The final frontier.
These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.
Its five-year mission--
to explore strange new worlds...
to seek out new life and new civilizations...
to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Captain 's log-- Stardate 3113.2.
We were enroute to Starbase 9 for resupply
when a black star of high-gravitational attraction
began to drag us toward it.
It required all warp power in reverse
to pull us away from the star.
But, like snapping a rubber band,
the break away sent us plunging through space,
out of control, to stop here...
wherever we are.
Mr. Spock.
Except for secondary systems, everything is out, sir.
We're on impulse power only.
Auxiliaries?
If Mr. Scott is still with us,
auxiliaries should be on momentarily.
Are you all right, Lieutenant?
Mr. Scott is still with us.
This is the captain.
Damage control parties on all decks, check in.
All departments, tie-in with the record computer.
Report casualties
and operational readiness to the First Officer.
Kirk out.
Lieutenant Uhura,
contact Starfleet Control.
I want them alerted to the position of that black star
that's in the area of Starbase 9.
Captain.
Casualty reports indicate only minor injuries.
Engineering reports warp engines nonoperational.
Mr. Scott overrode the automatic helm setting.
He's holding us in orbit on impulse power.
Orbit where?
Earth, Captain.
We were on a course in this direction
when we were pulled in by the star.
The breakaway threw us on in the same direction.
Screen on.
We're too low in the atmosphere to retain this orbit.
Engineering reports we have sufficient impulse power
to achieve escape velocity.
Give us some altitude, Sulu.
Yes, sir.
Helm answering.
She's sluggish, sir.
Captain,
normal Starfleet channel has nothing but static.
I'm getting something on another frequency,
but it's not Starfleet.
Put it on audio.
[Newscaster] This is the 5.:30 news summary.
Cape Kennedy--the first manned Moon shot
is scheduledfor Wednesday, 6A.M., Eastern Standard Time.
All three astronauts who are making this historic--
Manned Moon shot?
That was in the late 1960s.
Apparently, Captain, so are we.
What?
Whiplash propelled us into a time warp, Captain--backward.
Exact chronometer readings in a few moments.
Captain, I'm getting ground-to-air transmission.
Verified.
Scanners report some type of craft approaching from below,
under cloud cover and closing.
[Ground Control] Bluejay 4, this is Blackjack.
We're tracking you and the U.F. O.
I have him on my screen. Following.
Mr. Sulu, can you gain altitude faster?
I want to outdistance him.
Picking up, sir. She's still slow in responding.
Blackjack, this is Bluejay 4.
U.F.O. is picking up speed and climbing.
I'm going in closer.
Bluejay 4, you should be close enough for visual contact.
I can see it now.
Whatever this is, it's big.
Two cylindrical projections on top,
one below.
Purpose--undetermined.
We have two flights scrambled andon the way.
They should rendezvous in your sector in two minutes.
It won't be here. The U.F.O.'s climbing away.
[Ground Control] Bluejay 4, you're ordered to close
and attempt to force the U.F. O. to land.
We want it brought down
or disabled until the other planes arrive.
[Pilot] Acknowledged. Closing on target.
Positive identification, Captain.
Aircraft is an interceptor,
equipped with missiles, possibly armed with nuclear warheads.
If he hits us with one, he might damage us severely,
perhaps beyond our capacity to repair under current circumstances.
Scotty,
Activate tractor beam.
Lock onto that aircraft and hold it out there.
Captain, this type of aircraft
might be too fragile for our tractor beam.
[Scotty] Tractor beam on.
We have the target.
Aircraft is breaking up, Captain.
Transporter room.
Can you lock onto the cockpit of that aircraft?
Scanning area, sir.
Try and beam that pilot aboard.
Take over, Mr. Spock.
Welcome aboard the Enterprise.
You speak English.
That's right.
You can step off the transporter, uh--
Captain John Christopher, United States Air Force.
Serial number 4857932.
Relax, Captain, you're among friends.
I'm Captain James T. Kirk.
What's going on here?
Where am I?
What happened?
You people-- who are you?
All in good time, Captain.
Meanwhile...
Let me apologize for bringing you aboard this ship so abruptly.
It couldn't be helped.
I didn't know your craft
couldn't take our tractor beam--
Just tell me who you are.
We'll tell you what we decide to tell you shortly.
For now, relax. You're our guest.
You'll find it interesting.
Bridge to Captain Kirk.
What is it, Mr. Spock?
The aircraft has completely broken up.
Shall we turn off the tractor beam?
Affirmative. We have the pilot aboard.
I'll be right up. Kirk out.
Follow me.
Good morning, Captain.
Good morning. Captain.
A woman?
Crewman.
Bridge.
Must have taken quite a lot
to build a ship like this.
There are only 12 like it in the fleet.
I see.
Did the Navy--
We're a combined service, Captain.
Our authority is the United Earth Space Probe Agency.
United Earth?
This is very difficult to explain.
We're from your future.
A time warp placed us here.
It was an accident.
You seem to have a lot of them.
However...
I can't deny the fact that you're here,
with this ship.
I never have believed in little green men.
Neither have I.
Captain Christopher,
this is my First Officer
Lieutenant Commander Spock.
Captain.
Feel free to look around, Captain.
Don't touch anything. You'll find it interesting.
Interesting is a word and a half for it, Captain.
We've achieved a stable orbit out of Earth's atmosphere.
Our deflectors are operative,
enough to prevent our being picked up again as a U.F.O.
Mr. Scott wishes to speak to you about the engines.
Very well, Mr. Spock--
Anything else on your mind?
Captain Christopher.
What about him?
We cannot return him to Earth, Captain.
He already knows too much about us and is learning more.
I do not specifically refer to Captain Christopher,
but suppose an unscrupulous man
were to gain certain knowledge
of man's future?
Such a man could manipulate key industries,
stocks, and even nations.
And, in so doing,
change what must be.
And if it is changed, Captain,
you and I, and all that we know,
might not even exist.
Your logic can be most...
annoying.
That flight suit must be uncomfortable.
Why don't you have the quartermaster
issue him something more suitable?
Then I want to meet you and him in my quarters.
Yes, sir.
Computer on. Record.
[Computer] Recording.
[Doorbell Buzzes]
Come.
Captain's log-- supplemental.
Engineering Officer Scott informs warp engines damaged,
but can be made operational and re-energized.
[Computer] Computed and recorded, dear.
Computer, you will not address me in that manner. Compute.
Computed, dear.
Mr. Spock,
I ordered this computer and its interlinking systems repaired.
I have investigated it, Captain.
To correct the fault will require
an overhaul of the entire computer system
and a minimum of three weeks at a starbase.
I wouldn't mind so much if it didn't get so...
affectionate.
It also has an unfortunate tendency to giggle.
I take it a lady computer is not routine.
We'd put in at Signet 14 for general repairs.
Signet 14 is a planet dominated by women.
They felt the ship's computer system lacked a personality.
They gave it one.
Female, of course.
Ha ha! Well, you people
certainly have interesting problems.
I'd love to stay around to see
how your girlfriend works out, but--
I'm afraid you'll have to.
We can't send you back.
Can't?
Spock said that your transporter can beam down an object,
even from an orbit this high.
It's not the transporter. It's you.
You know what the future looks like.
If anybody else finds out,
they could change its course, destroy it.
Then my disappearance would change something, too.
I have run a check on all historical tapes.
They show no record of any relevant contribution by John Christopher.
Look, Captain, I don't buy all your time-accident story.
The experts can figure out who you are, what you are.
It's my duty to report what I've seen.
What would you do?
I'd...report,
If I could.
We can't take the risk.
I don't want to know about risks.
I have a wife, two children.
What about them?
I'm sorry.
[Scotty] Engine room to Captain Kirk.
Kirk here. What is it, Scotty?
Progress report, sir.
Everything's jerry-rigged, but we're coming along with the repairs.
We could re-energize in about four hours, but, uh...
But what, Scotty?
Well, sir, as I say,
the, uh, the engines are being repaired,
but we've no place to go in this time.
If you--
If--If you see what I mean?
Sir?
Yes, Scotty, carry on.
Too bad, Captain.
Maybe I can't go home, but neither can you.
You're as much a prisoner in time as I am.
Captain 's Log Stardate 3113.7.
Our engines are being repaired,
but we are still locked in time.
And we have aboard a passenger whom we do not want,
and we cannot return.
Recommendation for his disposition, dear.
Maintenance note--
My recording computer has a serious malfunction.
Recommend it either be corrected...
or scrapped. Compute.
Computed.
[Spock] Bridge to Captain Kirk.
Kirk, here.
Have some new information regarding Captain Christopher.
Important I see you both immediately.
Yes, Mr. Spock. Report to my quarters.
I'll contact Captain Christopher.
Yes, sir. Bridge out.
Captain Christopher...
Captain Christopher?
Security, this is the captain.
Security Chief here, sir.
All decks alert.
Captain Christopher is not in his assigned quarters.
He may be trying to escape.
Put a man outside the transporter room immediately.
I'm heading there myself.
All right! Nice and easy.
Now I'm going to step into that thing,
and you're going to transport me back to Earth.
Well, Jim, with the exception of a slight bruise or two,
our captain is as healthy as a proverbial horse.
He'll be coming to in a minute.
He tried to escape.
I know how he feels,
but I can't send him back with what he knows.
Jim, what if we can't go back?
What do we do?
Wait up here for our supplies to run out,
our power to die? It has to eventually,
and we certainly can't go back to Earth.
It would be worse than the Captain being returned.
There are 430 of us.
Now, that means 430 chances of altering the future.
Yes...
We're not in that position yet.
I'm glad to hear it.
And if we do get back to where we belong,
then he won't belong.
We're roughly about the same age.
But in our society, he'd be useless.
Archaic.
Maybe he could be retrained, re-educated.
Now you're sounding like Spock.
If you're going to get nasty, I'm going to leave.
Could he be retrained to forget his family?
His children?
The answer to that is no.
Mmm.
You all right?
Yeah.
I see physical training
is required in your service, too.
Mmm. Crude methods, but effective.
What does he mean by that?
Just a joke, Captain.
You said you had some additional information, Mr. Spock?
I made an error in my computations.
Oh? This could be an historic occasion.
I find that we must return Captain Christopher to Earth after all.
Why? You said I made no relative contribution.
Poor choice of words on my part.
I neglected, in my initial run-through,
to correlate the possible contributions by offspring.
I find, after running a cross-check on that factor,
that your son Colonel Sean Jeffrey Christopher
headed, or will head, the first successful Earth-Saturn probe,
which is a rather significant--
Wait a minute. I don't have a son.
You mean, yet.
The doctor is correct.
Unless we return Captain Christopher to Earth,
There will be no Colonel Sean Jeffrey Christopher
to go to Saturn.
Well, that's it, isn't it?
We'll have to find some way of...
A boy.
I'm going to have a son.
Acknowledging that we must return Captain Christopher,
there are several problems,
prime of which is the explanation of his return.
We tracked his plane wreckage down
after our tractor beam crushed it.
It crashed in an open section of southern Nebraska.
That means those search parties
will be crawling all over that range.
Captain Christopher himself complicated the matter.
When I made visual contact,
I turned on my wing cameras.
I got close enough to take some pretty clear pictures.
Air Defense Command
will be processing that film fast.
And A.D.C. Control was probably recording
my radio transmissions.
If I remember my history,
these things were being dismissed
as weather balloons, sundogs, explainable things--
at least publicly.
Captain, our tractor beam caught and crushed an Air Force plane.
It'll be impossible to explain this
as anything other than a genuine U.F.O.
Possibly alien...
definitely destructive.
What about our problem, Mr. Spock?
Any ideas on how to get us back to our own time?
A theory...
a reverse application of what happened to us.
Logically, it could work.
Also, logically, there are a hundred variables,
any one of which could put us in a worse position
than we're in now.
We're going to have to go back
and get those reports and photos.
If the captain feels duty bound to report what he saw,
there won't be any evidence to support him.
That makes me look like a liar or a fool.
Perhaps.
Not at all.
You'll simply be one of the thousands
who thought he saw a U.F.O.
Captain, I know that base.
I was stationed there a year ago. I'd like to--
No, Captain. Thank you.
But if anything should go wrong,
you might get hurt.
We couldn't risk that.
Neither could you... or your son.
Well, I'd like to help.
I could sketch a layout of the place for you,
show you where the record section
and the photo lab are.
Primitive computer.
I've seen them demonstrated in museums.
Me, too.
If this one's like those,
it'll make the devil's noise if you start it.
I don't intend to start it.
How long have they been down there now?
15 minutes, 28 seconds.
Well, shouldn't they be coming up?
It is a fact, Doctor, that prowling by stealth
is more time-consuming than a direct approach.
In our case--
Shouldn't you be working on
your time warp calculations, Mr. Spock?
I am.
Hold it.
Get your hands up.
Now...one at a time--
Hand me those belts.
And the bag.
It's been too long.
Jim should have at least signaled by now.
You may be correct, Doctor.
Open communicator channel.
[Beep Beep]
What was that?
What was what?
That noise.
I didn't hear anything.
[Beep Beep]
That noise-- It's coming from one of these things.
[Beep Beep]
[Whirring]
The emergency signal.
Stay right where you are.
One emergency signal, sir.
Beam up immediately.
Only one signal. What happened?
We'll know in a moment, Doctor.
[Signal Sounds]
Kirk to Enterprise.
Spock here. Are you all right, Captain?
Yes, I'm all right, but as you can see,
we have...another problem.
Captain 's Log,
Stardate 3113.9.
First Officer Spock recording.
Due to an unfortunate accident,
we have taken aboard another unwanted passenger.
Your surprise package
is an air police sergeant from the base.
Keep him there.
No use in letting him see more of the ship
than is necessary.
I don't believe there'll be trouble in that respect, Captain.
Our guest seems quite satisfied
to remain where he is.
Kirk out.
What was the chronometer reading
when we first sighted Christopher's jet?
5:30 in that time zone--
maybe a little after.
Put it at the end of these tapes, will you?
You've got them all.
[Door Opens]
We'll try the darkroom.
Photo lab.
That's...
That's it.
That's all ofthem.
Signal Mr. Spock that we're almost ready to beam up.
I'll make a check of the files just in case.
Yes, sir.
All right. Where's the other one?
What other one?
Your partner. I saw somebody move in there.
No, no, no.Just me.
Besides, could anyone get out of here without your seeing them?
No. Nobody should have been able to.
Your decision to beam up was quite correct, Mr. Sulu.
Engine room to Mr. Spock.
Spock here.
We've completedre-energizing the warp engines, sir.
We can refire them anytime.
Do so now, engineer.
We'll need all power to test our theory.
Aye, sir. Engine room out.
Hmm.
Poor photography.
Blast your theories and observations, Mr. Spock.
What about Jim? He's down there alone, probably under arrest.
He doesn't have a communicator,
and we can't locate him or beam him back aboard without one.
I am aware of that, Doctor.
This is the first officer.
Captain Christopher to the briefing room.
Now, look, Mister. You and I had better start communicating.
I want to know how you got in here.
That's a simple question.
Nobody saw you.
You got all the way inside without tripping any alarm.
How did you do it?
Believe me, Colonel,
you wouldn't believe me.
Don't try to be funny. How did you get in?
I popped in out of thin air.
You seem to think this is some kind of a game.
No, Colonel. I know it's no game.
What did you say your name was?
For the fourth time,
my name is James T. Kirk.
And how did you get inside
a top security installation, James T. Kirk?
I told you you wouldn't believe me.
Uh...Colonel,
would you mind being careful with that?
That worries you, huh?
Is that a radio, transmitter of some kind?
Of some kind.
You can be more specific than that, Kirk.
I don't like mysteries.
If you don't stop being careless with that,
you'll have one-- a big one.
I'll have it disassembled and examined.
We are not dummies, mister.
We know how to fi nd out things we want to know.
What is that?
Is that a uniform of some kind?
This little thing?
Something I slipped on.
Kirk, maybe you don't realize how serious this is.
Sabotage of a government installation--
Did I sabotage something?
No. We stopped you in time.
But what would you have done if we hadn't found you?
Believe me, Colonel, nothing at all.
Is that what you're here for, nothing at all?
That's what would have happened
if you hadn't interfered.
All right, Kirk. maybe this will make you laugh--
Sabotage, espionage, unauthorized entry, burglary!
How are those for starters?
I can think up lots more
if you don't start talking.
All right, Colonel.
The truth is, I'm a little green man from Alpha Centauri,
a beautiful place.
You ought to see it.
I am going to lock you up for 200 years.
That ought to be Just about right.
He's probably being held in security section.
Even if they've notified the authorities,
it'll take time for someone to get there.
Can you give us the coordinates
to beam down a landing party near those interrogation rooms?
Yes. But you're not going to get them
unless you take me with you.
I can't do that, Captain.
If something went wrong--
Something's already gone wrong.
You could beam down anywhere inside that base,
but it would take time to find him.
Mr. Sulu, you and Captain Christopher
will beam down with me.
The captain will provide the coordinates
for the transporter chief.
Shall I issue phasers?
One for you, one for me,
set on heavy stun force.
Yes, sir.
You don't trust me, Spock.
In fact, I do...
but only to a certain point.
Energize.
Do they do that all the time?
Are you hungry?
Uh-huh.
What would you like?
Maybe some chicken soup.
It is.
Just a minute, sir.
Hold it.
[Knock On Door]
See what that is, airman.
Don't you find that painful, Captain?
Yes, I do. What's he doing here?
He knew the exact beam down coordinates.
It was necessary to bring him along.
I see. No harm done.
Mr. Sulu, did you check out those tapes?
Mr. Spock ran them through. We got them all.
They know you've been here.
They have a mystery and no answers.
Mr. Sulu, signal the transporter chief.
Four to beam up.
Uh-uh. Not me.
Don't be a fool.
You know what's at stake.
You bet I do--
My family. A son that isn't born yet.
You don't have to return me now, Captain.
Spock, come out of there.
You can't explain your presence here.
It's my duty to report everything.
That's explanation enough.
Spock!
You'll go home, Christopher...
but you'll do it our way.
Over my dead body.
I suspected he might not wish to return with us.
Four to beam up, Mr. Sulu.
Yes, sir.
Captain 's Log, Stardate 3114.1.
We must make an attempt to break free of this time,
or we and our reluctant passengers
will remain its prisoners.
All we have is a theory
anda few facts.
Mr. Scott and I both agree
that the only possible solution
is the slingshot effect,
Like the one that put us here.
My computations indicate
that if we fly toward the sun,
seek out its magnetic attraction,
then pull away at full power,
the whiplash will propel us into another time warp.
Slingshot effects are fine for you people.
How do you propose to return the Sergeant and me?
Logically, as we move faster and faster toward the sun,
we'll begin to move backward in time.
We'll actually go back beyond yesterday,
beyond the point when we first appeared in the sky.
Then, breaking free will shoot us forward in time,
and we'll transport you back before any of this happened.
You won't remember anything,
because it never would have happened.
What if you can't pull free of the sun?
We'll not be getting so close
that my engines couldn't pull us out.
What I am worried about, sir--
We may not have much control
when we're thrown forward again.
Helm control?
Braking control, sir. If I can't stop us soon enough,
we may overshoot our time,
and if I stop the engines suddenly,
the strain may tear us apart.
Any way we do it, it's a mighty rough ride.
Well, gentlemen, we all have to take a chance--
especially if one is all you have.
Assume your stations.
Affirmative.
Engineering to bridge.
Environmentalcontrol, negative.
Engineering control, negative.
Ahead warp factor 3, Mr. Sulu.
Warp factor 3, sir.
I never thought I'd make it into space.
I was in line to be chosen for the space program...
but I didn't qualify.
Take a good look around, Captain.
You made it here ahead of all of them.
Sir, our speed is increasing.
We're traveling at warp 8.
Mr. Spock.
Since we've passed Mercury,
the sun's pull on us has increased greatly.
From here, we'll move even faster.
And, Captain, notice the chronometers.
They've started backward.
Minute by minute,
the speed o ftime passage will now increase.
Get your gear. Report to the transporter room.
And Captain Christopher,
you only have about 15 years, so you'd better hurry.
Approaching breakaway point.
On the countdown.
10...
9...8...
7...6...
5...4...
3...2...
Now, Mr. Sulu.
More power, Mr. Sulu.
Maximum now, sir. She's fighting it.
Engineering, can you give a damage report?
Point 5here. Confirm.
Gravity is down to point 8.
We've broken free and heading back.
Gaining speed now, Captain.
We're now at warp 4.
Warp 7.
8.
Off the dial, sir.
Chronometer is moving forward again, Captain.
You have the chronometer reading
and the coordinates to return Captain Christopher and the guard?
Computed.
Bridge to transporter room. Captain Christopher.
This is Christopher.
We're coming up on Earth fast, Captain.
Everything A-okay.
Uh, Captain...
thanks for the look ahead.
Our pleasure, Captain. Bridge out.
20 minutes, sir. It'll be close.
Bridge to transporter room.
Prepare to energize.
10 minutes.
9...
8...
7...
6...
5...4...
3...2...
Energize.
You should be close enough
for a visual contact.
Bluejay 4. Can you see it?
What is it?
Bluejay 4. Come in. We've lost the image.
Blackjack, this is Bluejay 4.
I could have sworn there was some kind of ship, but...
nothing could have moved that fast.
We don't track mirages.
Mark it down as another U.F. O.
Bluejay 4 returning to base.
Out.
Approaching second beaming, Captain.
Bridge to transporter room,
prepare to energize.
Now.
Energize.
Past Pluto, sir.
What's our reading, Mr. Spock?
Approaching our century, Captain.
Braking should begin...
now.
Bridge to engineering.
Begin full braking power.
Pulling away from the sun weakened them, sir.
They may blow apart if I reverse.
No choice, Mr. Scott.
Aye, sir.
50 years to go.
Engines cutting back, sir.
No decrease in speed.
40...
30...
Never mind, Mr. Spock.
The engines!
Engine room to bridge.
Engines are on full reverse,
and they're buckling!
Bridge!
Mr. Scott is still with us.
Captain.
Starfleet Control calling Enterprise.
Come in, Enterprise.
Open a channel, Uhura.
Frequency open, sir.
Starfleet Control, this is the Enterprise.
Captain Kirk speaking.
[Computer] Recordship arrival, dear.
Enterprise, this is Starfleet Control.
Come in, please.
Starfleet Control, repeating message.
The Enterprise is home.
Kirk out.