The Enterprise Incident

"Military secrets are the most fleeting of all."

"This is Lieutenant Commander Scott. The Enterprise takes no orders except those of Captain Kirk and we will stay right here until he returns and if you make any attempt to board or commandeer the Enterprise, it will be blown to bits along with as many of you as we can take with us."

"Why would you do this to me? What are you that you could do this?"

"First officer of the Enterprise."

"Allow me to rephrase. Will you join me for dinner?

"I am honoured, Commander. Are the guards also invited?"

"You are a superior being. Why do you not command?"

"I do not desire a ship of my own."

"Or is it that no one has offered you, a Vulcan, that opportunity?"

"You must have your own ship."

"Commander, shall we speak plainly? It is you who desperately need a ship. You want the Enterprise."

"Of course. It would be a great achievement for me to bring home the Enterprise intact. It would broaden the scope of my powers greatly. It would be the achievement of a lifetime. And it would open equal opportunities for you."

"Are those Romulan officers still aboard the ship?"

"They're in the brig, sir."

"I'll need a Romulan uniform."

Smiling broadly... "Aye. It'll be a pleasure!"

"You have nothing in Starfleet to which to return. I offer, we offer you an alternative. We will find a place for you, if you wish it."

"A place?"

"With me. Romulan women are not like Vulcan females. We are not dedicated to pure logic and the sterility of non-emotion. Our people are warriors. Often savage. But we are also many other pleasant things."

"Now one final step to make the occasion complete. You will lead a small party of Romulans aboard the Enterprise, and there you will take your rightful place as its commander. And you will lead the ship to a Romulan port, with my flagship at its side."

"Yes, of course. But not just this moment. An hour from now will do even better... would it not, Commander?"

"Yes. Yes, it will."

"We have you under our weapons, Enterprise. You cannot escape."

"This is Captain Kirk. Hold your fire. We have your commander aboard."

"Commander?"

"Destroy this vessel! I gave you a direct command! Tal!"

"Deck two. It is regrettable that you were made an unwilling passenger. It was not intentional. All the Federation wanted was the cloaking device."

"The Federation. And what did you want?"

"It was my only interest when I boarded your vessel."

"And that's exactly all you came away with."

"You underestimate yourself, Commander."