THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, THE FUTURE Whilst en-route to the peace conference on Earth, Captain Kirk and party host a dinner celebration for their Klingon guests to mark their respect for the upcoming peace conference, and for getting the peace negotiations rolling. The group is served a glass of Romulan ale each, as suggested by Lt. Valeris. Before they proceed to eat, however, Chancellor Gorkon raises his glass to toast. "I offer a toast... the Undiscovered Country." There is a brief pause. "Our future." Everyone raises their glass and repeats Gorkon's offerings. "The Undiscovered Country," the table echoes. It is Spock who breaks into the usual dinner conversation. He recognizes Gorkon's words as belonging to Hamlet, Act III, Scene IV, one of Shakespear's play. Chancellor Gorkon reminds Spock that he hasn't fully read Shakespear, not at least in the original Klingon translation anyway. Soon, Brigadier Kerla breaks the tension on the table by asking Captain Kirk, "Captain Kirk, I thought Romulan Ale was illegal." Kirk reminds Kerla that it is one of the advantages of being a thousand light years from Federation.

PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW Meanwhile, after the dinner comes to an abrupt end, Kirk and company is about to end their strained relationship. The Klingon crew are about to depart the Enterprise and before they do, Kirk offers one solution, "We must do this again, soon." Kirk is clearly affected by the effects of the Romulan Ale, as he sways back and forth, and his eyes are dreary. Chancellor Gorkon walks up to him, right in his face. "You don't trust me, do you? I don't blame you. If there is to be a brave new world, our generation will have the hardest time living in it." He then greets courteously to Captain Spock and moves toward the transporter pad. Azetbur also greets Spock, but ignores Kirk, and soon it is Chang who comes in to greet the inebriated Kirk. He suggests that "Parting is such sweet sorrow. Have we not heard the chimes at midnight." Kirk laughs off Chang's insults, as Chang is summoned to the transporter pad by Gorkon's cane. Chang speaks something in Klingon to his communicator, and soon the party is transported off the Enterprise. After they leave, the crew stand relieved, with Scotty saying, "Thank God," and leaves the transporter room. Everyone is effected by the Romulan Ale, and soon Uhura and Chekov discuss the Klingon's nasty dinner habit. Spock tries to contain the crews hatred toward the Klingons. "I don't believe our own behavior will distinguish us in the annals of diplomacy." Kirk ends his bickering by saying that he'd like to sleep this off, and informs Spock to inform him if there's any other way they can screw up tonight. McCoy meanwhile blasts that he's going to find himself a pot of black coffee and leaves Spock pondering their illogical behavior.

WE HAVE FIRED ON THE CHANCELLOR'S SHIP After Chekov's tormented gesture, a streak of torpedo crosses and hits the Chancellor's ship. It takes a while for this to sink in with the crew of Enterprise. Onboard the Klingon ship, stunned looks from all corners, as their ship is hit. On the Enterprise, Kirk demands to know what has happened. Spock answers the obvious, "We have fired on the Chancellor's ship." Then, everyone's attention rises, as they try to get a clear picture of what happened. Chekov contacts torpedo bay to get a confirmation on their torpedo status, while Kirk orders Uhura to monitor. Soon, Lt. Valeris reports a direct hit, and Uhura confirms. Another torpedo streaks toward the Klingon ship, as Kirk and crew watch helplessly. On board the Klingon ship they lose their gravity, and everyone starts to float freely. One of the Klingon officers state the obvious, "We've lost gravity." One of the Klingon officer shout that they've been betrayed. Back on the Enterprise, Captain Kirk try to get a picture of what just took place. In the torpedo bay, Scotty rushes to monitor their torpedo status. Over the intercom, Captain Kirk's voice asks, "Torpedo bay, did we fire those torpedoes." Scotty says that all the torpedoes are confirmed as full and they never fired a single shot.

ASSASSINATING THE CHANCELLOR On board the floating Kronos One, two Starfleet-dressed personnel, in environmental suits, beam aboard the ship. The transporter operator is helpless to stop them, and can only say something in Klingon before being shot by one of the officers. In the Chancellor's quarters, Gorkon orders one of his aides to find Chang. On the Enterprise, Kirk orders Uhura to open hailing frequencies. Uhura's comm hail is heard, as the two Starfleet officers continue move through the floating Klingon vessel, wreaking havoc along the way, with the Klingon officers not standing a chance against them. The Starfleet officers soon move to the main dignatary room, where Chancellor Gorkon is. There, they are met by Gorkon's guard, who stands in their way. The Klingon guard says something in his own tongue, before being shot in the right arm. His arm rips off from the elbow socket, and floats freely, along with some blood. The two Starfleet personnel then move into the Chancellor's room, uninterrupted. In the room is the Chancellor and one of his aide. One of the personnel shoots the aide. The two stare at the Chancellor for a very long time, before they shoot him in the chest, sending him toppling, over and over in the free gravity. The two officers then leave the scene of the crime.

NOT A SHRED OF DECENCY On board the Enterprise, Uhura reports that she's having trouble making out what's going on the Kronos. Uhura reports that there's a lot of shouting and shooting. Chekov soon reports that she's spinning out of control, and Kirk confirms that she's listing. On the Kronos, the two Starfleet officers step onto the transporter pad and beams themselves off. They don't realize, however, that a few Klingon blood will beam off with them. After the Starfleet officers leave, a Klingon officer manages to restore their gravity. Back on the Enterprise, Chang gives them a visual communique. "Have you not a shred of decency in you, Kirk? We come in peace and you blatantly defy that peace. For that, I shall blow you out of the stars..." Kirk pleads that they didn't fire, but Spock confirms from his science console that they did, twice. Soon, Lt. Valeris reports that the Klingons are coming about and preparing to fire. Chekov soon suggests that they raise their shields, but Kirk doesn't move, as he is stunned. Valeris pleads to have their shields up. Soon, Kirk orders Uhura to signal their surrender; but Uhura is incredulous, and pleads with the captain. Kirk is firm in his decision to surrender. As Uhura is contacting the Kronos, Chekov reminds the captain that if they fire with their shields down, they won't be able to respond.

DON'T LET IT END THIS WAY Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy beam aboard the battered Klingon ship. They are soon met by an angry Brigadier Kerla who asks them, "Have you lost your minds?" Kirk pleads with him that he doesn't understand what's happened. McCoy soon offers that they're here to help. Soon, Kerla leads them through the devastated corridors. There are bodies everywhere, and soldiers moving the seriously injured on stretchers. Kerla soon leads them to Gorkon's room, where Chang and Azetbur are assisting the injured Chancellor. Kirk asks them what happened, and Chang says, "You feign ignorance?" Chang goes onto inform Kirk that with two direct torpedo hit, two Starfleet crewman beamed aboard in magnetic boots and carried out this atrocity. McCoy asks Chang if they're carrying a surgeon. Chang says they were until this outrage. McCoy soon pleads with Chang to let him help. Only with Azetbur's approval, does Chang allow McCoy to help Gorkon. McCoy soon goes to Gorkon, and feels for a pulse, and informs the others that he's got a pulse and can move him to the table for a light. Klingons, Kirk and Chang lift Gorkon to the table, where there is a light. McCoy orders them to hold him while he stabilizes him. When no one holds him, McCoy sternly orders them again. McCoy uses a Starfleet scanning tool to scan Gorkon. Kirk asks him if he can save him and McCoy replies that he doesn't know Klingon anatomy. McCoy soon uses an equipment to try and seal the wounds on the Klingon, but it doesn't work. Not knowing what McCoy is doing, Kerla exclaims, "He's killing him!" Gorkon soon moans and then goes into sleep. McCoy says that he's gone into an arrest, and tries to resuscitate him in the traditional human manner. The Klingons, not knowing what McCoy's doing, thinks he's killing him. Gorkon soon moves and breathes. He sees Kirk and puts a hand on Kirk's shoulders saying, "Don't let it end this way, Captain." And then, he falls dead.

PRESIDENTIAL MEETING On Earth, Paris, France, three superpower ambassadors have gathered together to discuss the Klingon Chancellor's assassination with the Federation President. There is the Klingon Ambassador, Romulan Ambassador Nanclus, and Sarek, representing the Vulcan Ambassador. The Klingon Ambassador opens by saying that the Chancellor of the Klingon is dead, the result of an unprovoked attack from the Enterprise. He also states that Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy was legally arrested for their crimes, as they boarded Kronos One on their own free will. He reminds them that none of these facts are in dispute. The Federation President tries to diffuse their already volatile situation by saying that he has ordered a full-scale investigation. In the meantime, the Klingon Ambassador expects the Federation President to follow the legality of the interstellar law, which the President is responsible for upholding. He says that Kirk and McCoy will stand trial for the assassination of the Chancellor. The President doesn't like that idea, and turns to Ambassador Sarek's advise to extradite the two men. Ambassador Sarek says that he shares a personal responsibility to this matter, but he agrees with the Klingon Ambassador's view on their legal representation. The President then turns to Romulan Ambassador Nanclus for his assessment. Nanclus simply says, "I must concur with my colleagues." The President is appalled at the Ambassador's blunt assessment of the situation as he says, "Surely you cannot believe James Kirk assassinated the Chancellor of the Klingon High Council." Ambassador Nanclus does not know what to believe, as the Klingon Ambassador awaits his answer. The president reminds the Ambassador that he is not above the law.

OPERATION RETRIEVE As the Klingon Ambassador leaves, the Federation President is given a call saying that Starfleet officials are here to see him. He orders them in, and the CinC, Admiral Cartwright and Colonel West enters. Colonel West carries a large paper board and places it on the stand. As soon as the men sit down, Admiral Cartwright reminds the President that their citizens cannot be arrested. The President reminds Cartwright that he's constrained observed to interstellar law. The CinC suggests to the President that he take a look at this and signals Colonel West. Colonel West opens the paper board, as the President puts on his glasses. Colonel West begins by informing the President that they have drawn up Operation: Retrieve based on the dangers of border dispute. He says that with the acceptable loss of manpower and equipment, they can enter the Klingon borders and rescue their hostages. The President reminds the Colonel that that's precipitating a full-scale war. Colonel West tries to comedically respond by saying, "Then, quite frankly Mr. President, we can clean their chronometers." Admiral Cartwright reminds the President that the longer they wait, the less successful their prisoners will be. The President thanks the gentlemen, and the gentlemen leaves. Before the CinC leaves, he turns to the President. "Those men have literally saved this planet." The President knows, and says that they will save it again, by standing trial.

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