COMPUTER [OVER PA]: Yellow alert.
[ALARM BLARING]
Yellow alert.
OPS [OVER INTERCOM]: This is Ops to inventory two.
Starbase 28 is under attack.
This is inventory two to Ops. Can anyone give me a status report? Aah!
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[GASPING AND COUGHING]
MAN: …sustained breaches at four, five, seven and nine. Fire's uncontained.
[COUGHING]
[GRUNTS THEN COUGHING]
Cadet Sidhu, on your feet.
Yes, sir.
This starbase is under attack.
There's damage on deck four. We can't get to the brig. Until we can,
- this prisoner is your responsibility. WOMAN: We need Medical on deck four.
- Are we clear? - Yes, sir.
- What happened? - Mutiny.
He doesn't get out of this room. Understood?
Understood, sir. Why the mask?
Crew doesn't need to see that this guy turned.
Can we trust you with this intelligence? Miss Sidhu?
- Can you do this? Are you clear? - Absolutely, sir.
Captain Pike?
Open comms right now. I need to know what the hell's going on out there.
WOMAN: …between decks four and five… Engineering, What is your ETA?
- You're... - I said, open comms.
You're a prisoner. Your orders carry no weight anymore.
[EXPLOSION]
As you can gather, we're in the middle of a situation.
Take a seat, Captain, and I'll ask you to remain silent.
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING IN DISTANCE]
- There are lives at stake. - That's not silent.
A few hours ago, the Enterprise picked up a distress call
from the U.S.S. Bouman.
- The Bouman? Is she— - She's in danger.
Cadet Sidhu, I need you to let me out of here.
- And risk court-martial? - Listen.
We approached, the ship looked dead in the water.
An admiral on board sent an encrypted hail.
A group of Tholians had seized the Bouman.
They knew we were in the same sector and we'd come to her aid.
It was a trap. The Tholians wanted the Enterprise.
The admiral ordered me to steer clear.
I couldn't abandon that crew. Soon as we got the admiral out of there,
she aborted the rescue mission, then attempted to relieve me of duty.
l resisted, but...
Didn't go so well.
They followed you here, didn't they? The Tholians.
You have people on the Bouman, huh? Family?
Yeah, I remember your file.
You wanted a position in Engineering, right?
I was rejected.
My husband and I both applied for the Enterprise,
but he got the Bouman, and I wound up here.
Your husband.
Yes, that's right, that...
The two of you were the sole survivors of the Tholian attack
on Beryllium just a couple of years ago.
You can ensure your husband survives them a second time.
If you let me go,
maybe we can pull off some miracle and get him out.
The Tholians, they just want the Enterprise.
I can lead them away, beam the Bouman crew to safety,
then blow the Tholians to hell.
- It's what they deserve. - Aah!
- What do you say, Cadet? - I...
[WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY IN DISTANCE]
No. We follow protocol.
This starbase and the Enterprise remain a united front.
Regulation 191 article 14 states that when in combat,
command falls to the vessel with tactical superiority.
That would be the Enterprise, not this starbase.
The admiral relieved you of duty.
But you can enact the reserve activation clause.
Yes. "An officer in good standing may reinstate a discharged officer
in cases of emergency." A loophole. Not my style.
Directive Zero-One-Zero says, "Before engaging in battle,
any and all attempts to achieve a nonmilitary resolution must be made."
[EXPLOSION]
You want to negotiate with the bastards using torpedoes on us?
Tactical force is always a last resort.
- And vengeance should never be a factor. - I am all for arguing principles,
but that crew is in mortal danger!
And they're running out of time. So is your husband.
My husband knew what he signed up for when he joined Starfleet.
- So did I. - Cadet!
I am giving you a direct order to release me.
And I am telling you, no. Now, sit down, sir, please.
Then I cite regulation 208, paragraph two.
I'm overriding the orders of your senior officers. Let me go.
That regulation only applies to an active captain.
Now, sit down, sir.
I won't forget this, Cadet. When this is all done,
you will never see the inside of a starship again.
Step away from the doors, sir!
Don't you dare point that phaser at me. Put it down!
Step away from the doors, sir. Now!
Oh, we're good. She's very good.
WOMAN [OVER SPEAKER]: Copy that, sir.
You can put that down. It's all right.
- You did great. COMPUTER: Simulation Complete.
- This was a test? - Your husband's fine. That wasn't...
None of that was real. Sorry I had to put you through all of that.
In fact, we've arranged for him to have a brief leave.
He's on his way to see you now.
May I?
I know that a challenge like this might seem extreme.
Even inhumane.
But war is both of those things.
We need to know that you'll honor your commitment to Starfleet.
Even when those you hold dear are on the line.
Even when old wounds are triggered. And loopholes appear.
But why you? I mean...
You're pretty busy, sir.
Why don't you get yourself cleaned up, Cadet?
And meet me in the transporter room.
WOMAN: Transporter Room to Bridge, Captain Pike has returned aboard.
She's beautiful, sir.
Well, Cadet, you just completed your approval process,
so you'll be serving on the Enterprise for the rest of the semester.
[SIGHS]
- The rejection was just— - All part of the test.
My plan.
We've all learned to expect no mercy from Number One.
- Welcome to the Enterprise, Cadet Sidhu. - Pleasure to have you aboard.
Thank you. You won't regret this. I promise.
Wow.
This is even more amazing than I imagined.
[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT OVER PA]
PIKE: Yeah.
Now, in battle,
any crew member might be faced with a life or death choice.
But if you can hold onto yourself like you did today, you'll be just fine.
- I'II remember that, sir. - Welcome to Engineering.
Oh, and Captain? The phaser I had during the test.
Was it operational?
See you around the ship, Cadet.