STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES
Season 2, Episode 24

The Ultimate Computer

Series: Original Series - (1966-1969)
Season: 2
Episode #: 24
Production #: 60353
Original Airdate: 03/08/1968

Writer(s): D.C. Fontana and Laurence N. Wolfe
Director(s): John Meredyth Lucas

Guest Stars
William Marshall as Dr. Richard Daystrom
Sean Morgan as Ensign Harper
Barry Russo as Commodore Robert ˜Bob’ Wesley

Uncredited Guest Stars
William Blackburn as Lt. Hadley
Frank da Vinci as Lt. Brent
James Doohan as the Voice of Commodore Enwright
James Doohan as the Voice of the M-5 Multitronic Unit
Roger Holloway as Ensign Roger Lemli
Eddie Paskey as Lt. Leslie

Stardate: 4729.4

Synopsis

The U.S.S. Enterprise is chosen to be the test ship for the new M-5 multitronic computer system, a computer meant to be able to run a starship without human intervention. Also aboard for the test is Dr. Richard Daystrom, the inventor of the M-5 and an obsessive and unstable individual.

[ Complete Screencap Index ]

Initially the M-5 performs well, but when it decides to destroy a robot freighter, Kirk orders the test canceled. The M-5, however, protects itself and makes it impossible for it to be disconnected. The computer becomes increasingly erratic, a result of Dr. Daystrom's decision to impress his engram onto the computer as part of its programming. Starting a scheduled war games drill, M-5 uses the full arsenal of the U.S.S. Enterprise to attack four other Federation starships.

In a last-ditch appeal to the M-5, Kirk makes the computer realize that it has committed the sin of murder. Since Dr. Daystrom would be ethically abhorred at such an act, the M-5 is equally penitent and tries to commit suicide by leaving the U.S.S. Enterprise defenseless against a counter-attack by the remaining other starships. At the last moment, Spock and Scott are able to finish disconnecting the M-5 unit. Kirk keeps the shields down, gambling successfully that the attacking ships would not fire on an undefended vessel. Restoring communications next, the fleet is called off.

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