decius, do we have some of the old-style nuclear warheads aboard? yes, commander, but only for self-destruction. place one in with the debris. proximity fuse. yes, commander, at once. more wreckage, sir, scattering across our path. cease fire. debris on our scanners. analysis, quickly. same type as before, sir, except... one metal-cased object. helm, hard over! phasers, fire point-blank! glorious. glorious! now we go home. they're at our mercy. commander... i remind you of your duty. captain to sick bay. mccoy here. casualties? 22, so far. mainly radiation burns, mostly from the ship's outer areas. n. thank you, doctor. report, mr. spock? nuclear device of some kind, sir. mainly overloads and circuit burnouts. weapons status? we've only the forward phaser room. fully operable, scotty? yes, sir, but specialist tomlinson is manning it alone. no standby crew available. sir, my first assignment was in weapons control. go. lieutenant uhura, take over navigation. yes, captain. we have engine power now, captain, if you'd like to move off and make repairs.

my commander sent for decius. you've broron the rule of silence. only in code, commander, to inform our praetor of this glorioususission. your carelessness might have ended this glorious mission. you're reduced two steps in rank. return to post. take care, commander. he has friends, and power is danger. danger and i are old companions. we've seen a hundred campaigns together, and still i do not understand you. i think you do. no need to tell you what happens the moment we reaea home with proof of the earthmen's weakness, and we will have proof. the earth commander will f follow. he must. and when he attacks, we will destroy him. our gift to the homeland-- another war. if we are the strong, is this not the signal for war? must it always be so? how many comrades have we lost in this way? our portion, commander... is obedience. obedience... duty. death and more death. soon even enough for the praetor's taste. centurion... i find myself wishing for destruction worry not. like you, i am too well-trained in my duty to permit it. continue evasive maneuver