Plot

Spock kidnaps the disabled Capt. Pike, hijacks the Enterprise, and then surrenders for court martial.

While visiting Starbase 11, the Enterprise is hijacked by Mr. Spock, leaving Captain Kirk behind while abducting the recently crippled Captain Christopher Pike, former commander of the Enterprise. The destination: Talos IV, off limits by Federation order since the Enterprise first visited the planet thirteen years earlier while then under the command of Captain Pike. After Kirk and Commodore Mendez, the Starbase commander, intercept the Enterprise, a court martial against Spock's apparent treachery is convened. Spock's only defense is a video feed showing Pike's capture and imprisonment by the inhabitants of Talos IV.—Alfetta159

The Enterprise is summoned to Starbase 11 only to learn that no one there sent a message to them. The base is home to Fleet captain Christopher Pike, Kirk's predecessor as Captain of the Enterprise. Unfortunately Pike has recently had a serious accident, rendering him unable to speak and confining him to an automated chair. The base Commander, Commodore Mendez, begins to suspect Mr. Spock but Kirk defends his friend. That is until Spock takes command of the Enterprise and heads to Talos IV, a planet for which all Federation personnel are forbidden to visit under pain of death. Kirk and Mendez catch up with the Enterprise in a space shuttle at which time Mr. Spock is arrested. At his trial, he pleads guilty and offers mitigating circumstances in the form of detailed video logs recounting the time the Enterprise visited Talos IV 13 years before with Pike in command and Spock as its science officer.—garykmcd

Enterprise is diverted to Starbase 11, upon Spock's receipt of a message from former Enterprise Captain Pike (Jeffrey Hunter), asking them to arrive there asap. Captain James T Kirk beams down to find out, with Spock and McCoy. Commodor Jose Mendez (Malachi Throne) shows Kirk that Captain Pike is in a wheelchair machine, and only his head can be seen in it, and he can only answer with a blinking light. One blink for yes, two blinks for no.

Kirk learns from Mendez, the commander of the entire star-base, that Captain Pike was injured in a fire (a baffle plate on a old star-ship ruptured), when he rushed in and pulled out all the children cadets that were still alive. The Delta rays from the fire destroyed his entire body and left him like this. Mendez tells Kirk "It is impossible for him to send a message." Spock is hatching a plot. His whole plan is to kidnap Captain Pike and take him to Talos IV.

Talos IV is a planet that is OFF LIMITS for all of Starfleet. Visiting Talos IV means the death penalty. It is the only Death Penalty in Starfleet, other than treason. No one knows why. Spock has prepared fake copies of Kirk's voice and the Starbase voices. He subdues a guard and then transmits the messages to the Enterprise. He returns to the ship, carrying "orders" (fake) from Captain Kirk that Spock is now in command. Pike, who Spock has kidnapped, is kept quietly in a room. McCoy doesn't like it, but orders are orders.

Commodore Mendez and Kirk pursue them, flying in a small shuttle-craft. They almost overtake them, but their craft runs out of fuel. Spock shows mercy and rescues them (before that he feeds a tape of instructions into the computer that keeps the ship on course for Talous IV and the orders cannot be overridden), but then Spock must stand trial for Court Martial aboard the ship. Kirk says we cannot have a Court Martial with only two command rank officers. But then Spock, for an unknown reason, tells them "You have three command rank officers. You have Captain Pike. In the courtroom on the ship, Spock asks to play a "video," which he says will explain his reasons. Mendez and Kirk know they must allow him any evidence in a court martial capital trial, so he is allowed. The video shows Captain Pike's first visit to Talos IV. "Where did you get this video?" demands Mendez. No answer. Then the video plays.

We see the old bridge of the ship. Captain Pike, and Spock, and the first officer Number One, who is a smart, but cold, tall brunette, and other crew men and women. Spock is younger, so he has more emotions.

They receive an automated distress call from Talos IV. The call is from USS Columbia, which was lost in the Talos Star system 18 yrs ago. Talos IV is the 4th planet of this star system and a class M planet. They beam down to a barren, rocky planet and find vibrating plants and a tent-camp full of very old men. These men sent the distress signal many many years ago, when their ship crashed, and are shocked to see humans coming toward them. They cannot believe their eyes. Suddenly a very young and beautiful blonde girl walks toward the men, dressed in rags, but very attractive. Her name is Vina (Susan Oliver). The old men explain that she was only a baby when the crash occurred, and her elderly parents died in the crash.

She is fascinated with the young men who have arrived, especially Captain Pike. "Do you want to see our secret?" she asks him, and Pike takes her hand and follows her. She leads him to a cave, and then BOOM!! She vanishes into thin air. Spock sees this and yells "Look!" Suddenly the entire tent-camp, and all of the old men disappear. It was all an illusion. Spock notifies the ship quickly. 2 old women emerge from the cave and capture Pike as he has been lured away from the main landing party.

Suddenly, the video in the courtroom stops playing, but nobody has turned it off. "What is the meaning of this?" demands Mendez. "Starfleet does not keep these kinds of records, and if you have received these from Talos IV (this video was not a tape, but a transmission), then you have signed your death warrant." Spock says "Commodore, if I am to die, so be it. But you MUST see the rest of this video." Mendez denies Spock's request, and demands that Spock release the controls of the Enterprise. He calls for an immediate vote. "Call for a verdict," says Mendez. "Guilty, yes or no? My vote is yes. It must be unanimous. Captain Kirk?" Kirk looks sad, but knows the law. "Yes" he says quietly. Mendez looks at Pike in his chair. "Yes or no, Captain Pike?" Pike blinks yes. Spock is guilty.

Spock grabs Kirk's arm. "Jim" he says. "Don't stop me. Don't let HIM stop me. You MUST see the rest of the video." Spock is dragged out by guards, and taken to the holding cell. Kirk looks at the blank screen. What the hell happened down there, he thinks.