The Ultimate Computer

"The Ultimate Computer" is a season two episode of the American science fiction television series, Star Trek, first broadcast on March 8, 1968, and repeated June 28, 1968. It is episode No. 53, production No. 53, written by D.C. Fontana, based on a story by Laurence N. Wolfe, and directed by John Meredyth Lucas.

In the episode, a skeleton Enterprise crew are assigned to test a revolutionary computer system that is given total control of the ship.

Plot

On stardate 4729.4, the Federation starship Enterprise is summoned to a space station without explanation. Commodore Wesley, commanding a group of Starships from his flagship USS Lexington, explains that the Enterprise will be a test vessel for a revolutionary tactical and control computer called the "M-5 Multitronic System", designed by the brilliant Dr. Richard Daystrom (who had also invented the TOS era computer systems after developing duotronics when he was 24 years old). The M-5 will handle all ship functions without human assistance. While Captain Kirk and Chief Medical Officer Dr. McCoy are unhappy about the test, Science Officer Spock is impressed with M-5. However, Kirk learns that four earlier prototypes were unsuccessful, giving him further doubts.

At first M-5 works well, performing ship functions more quickly and efficiently than a living crew. Later, M-5 exhibits quirks such as turning off power and life support to unoccupied parts of the ship. It draws increased power for unknown reasons. But Daystrom maintains M-5 is working properly.

In a drill, M-5 defends the Enterprise against mock attacks from Starships Excalibur and Lexington. The Enterprise is declared the victor, prompting Commodore Wesley to call Kirk "Captain Dunsail" (pronounced "dunsel"). Spock explains the term is used by midshipmen at Starfleet Academy to describe a part serving no useful purpose. Kirk is visibly shaken by this.

Soon after, M-5 detects the Woden, an unmanned freighter that is not part of the test, and attacks with real weapons, destroying it. Kirk orders M-5 taken offline, but Daystrom continues to believe it is working correctly, and refuses. Kirk tries to disconnect M-5, but discovers it is protecting itself with a powerful force field. Chief Engineer Scott assigns Ensign Harper, a technician, to unplug the main connection, but the crewman is instantly vaporized. Spock and Scott desperately attempt a manual override, but they discover M-5 has bypassed its power source and now draws energy directly from the ship's warp engines. Daystrom persistently defends M-5 and refuses to disconnect it.

Spock questions Daystrom on his computer design. Daystrom reveals that he has programmed human engrams into M-5. Pressed further, Daystrom admits the engrams he used were his own, meaning M-5 thinks similarly to Daystrom himself. Displaying increased stress and anger, Daystrom appears unstable. M-5 now shows similar instability. An attempt by the Enterprise crew to isolate M-5 from the ship fails, as they are duped by a decoy.

Meanwhile, the other Starships in the test continue unaware of the problems with the Enterprise. Next follows a war game against the Enterprise's sister ships Lexington, Potemkin, Excalibur, and Hood. M-5 detects the ships, but does not treat them as part of the trial, instead firing on them with full-strength weapons. Daystrom explains that the M-5 is programmed to preserve itself by any means. Although surprised by M-5's actions, Daystrom simply views them as mistakes made by a learning "child." An angry Kirk asserts that these "mistakes" are costing lives, and the computer must be shut down immediately.

The crew watches in disbelief as M-5 pounds the other ships relentlessly. The Enterprise fires on the Lexington, killing 53, then cripples the Excalibur - killing all aboard and leaving her adrift. From the Lexington, Commodore Wesley contacts Starfleet Command for permission to destroy the Enterprise. Since M-5 has disabled communications, Kirk is unable to contact Commodore Wesley and explain what is happening. Kirk demands that Daystrom act and make the computer stop the attack. Daystrom at first tries to reason with the M-5, but quickly becomes more unstable and vengeful, rambling about proving his worth and cursing colleagues taking credit for his work. McCoy sees a psychotic episode coming, and warns Kirk the scientist is becoming delusional.

Kirk has Daystrom taken to sickbay after Spock fells him with a Vulcan nerve pinch. Kirk then talks to M-5 to see whether he can persuade it to stop the attacks. The M-5 acknowledges Kirk, who asks M-5 what its purpose is. M-5 responds "To save men from the dangerous activities of space exploration." Kirk rejoins that it just acted contrary to its purpose by killing people. M-5 acknowledges that the penalty for murder is death, then terminates its connection and shuts itself down. In so doing, it cripples the Enterprise, setting the ship adrift.

Having permission from Starfleet, the other Federation ships now close on the Enterprise to destroy it. While Scotty frantically attempts to regain control of the ship, Kirk decides to let the ship drift with shields down, hoping that Commodore Wesley will realize what the situation is aboard the Enterprise. The gamble pays off as the Commodore orders his ships to stand down at the last moment.

McCoy says that Daystrom will be committed to a rehabilitation center. Kirk explains that he knew that Bob Wesley would not fire, because he gambled on his humanity. McCoy pointedly comments that compassion is something computers lack. Spock responds that machines are simply more efficient (but not necessarily better) than human beings. He then dryly remarks that if McCoy's engrams were impressed in a computer, the resulting torrential flood of illogic would be most entertaining.

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: "The Ultimate Computer"

• "The Ultimate Computer" at StarTrek.com
• "The Ultimate Computer" on IMDb

• "The Ultimate Computer" at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
• "The Ultimate Computer" at TV.com
• "The Ultimate Computer" Review of the remastered episode at TrekMovie.com

• Dunsel at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)

• Richard Daystrom at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)