The Menagerie , Part I ( episode ) Spock fakes a message from the " Enterprise " s former commander , Christopher Pike , steals the vessel , and sets it on a locked course for the forbidden planet Talos IV . Summary . Teaser . The arrives at Starbase 11 after a subspace message asks it to divert there . When Captain Kirk , Spock , and Dr . McCoy beam down , they are puzzled when Crewman Piper , assistant to the base ' s commander , Commodore José Mendez , tells Kirk the base sent no such message . Kirk insists that Spock received the urgent request from the former commander of the " Enterprise " , Fleet Captain Pike . Mendez is surprised that Kirk does not know the news about Captain Pike and leads them to the medical section , explaining that , during an inspection tour of a cadet vessel , one of the baffle plate s ruptured . Pike removed the cadets who were still alive , severely exposing himself to delta rays . Now , confined to a wheelchair , Pike is disfigured and cannot speak , though his mind is unimpaired . His sole means of communication is a flashing light with an accompanying beep : once for yes , twice for no . Spock requests a moment alone with his former commanding officer , and says cryptically to him , " " You know why I have come . . . I know it is treachery and it is mutiny , but I must do this . " " Pike can do nothing but repeatedly beep " " No . " " Act One . In Mendez ' s office , Kirk continues to defend Spock ' s claim that the starbase summoned the " Enterprise " . Mendez shows Kirk the record tape s , which show no such transmissions , and emphasizes that the paralyzed Pike could not have made the call – which was heard only by Spock . Kirk says that if Spock wanted to see Pike , Kirk would have granted him shore leave ; moreover , there is no trouble in that sector of space that would have induced aliens to divert the starship as a ruse . Mendez calls the computer center , where Chief Humbolt confirms he has checked and rechecked the data tapes , and the starbase could have sent no message without his knowledge . Humbolt leaves the lab and Spock slips in and begins operating a computer to create a voice transmission to the " Enterprise " . Mendez ' s aide , Miss Piper , enters his office with a report that again denies summoning the starship . She mentions Spock ' s years of service under Pike , and indications of Spock ' s extreme loyalty to Pike . Kirk defends Spock , telling Piper that a Vulcan is incapable of disloyalty . But Piper and Mendez insist that Pike , under constant observation , could not have even asked for that message to be sent . On board the " Enterprise " , Lieutenant Uhura receives a message from starbase operations with new orders – secret , scrambled , and to be fed directly into the ship ' s computers . Lieutenant orders Uhura to request confirmation . Back on the starbase , as Uhura calls for confirmation , Humbolt walks in on Spock and notices Spock ' s alterations to the computer . Humbolt tries to wrestle and punch Spock away from the computer terminal , but Spock nerve - pinches Humbolt into unconsciousness . Uhura then tries to call Kirk , but Spock has now prepared a tape of Kirk ' s voice , confirming the new orders and directing any questions to Spock . Spock then activates an intercom and tells Hansen the ship ' s computers will handle the helm , and forbids Hansen from discussing the orders with ship or starbase personnel . Later , Kirk and McCoy watch Pike on a monitor , still blinking " no " to an unknown question . Kirk and McCoy discuss Pike ' s condition , the frustrating limitations on the art of medicine , the futility of solving the mystery through Pike , and the unimaginable possibility that Spock is lying , despite the fact that Vulcans are capable of exaggerating . McCoy then receives a message from Starbase Transporter Control , claiming a medical emergency aboard the " Enterprise " but providing no details . McCoy grudgingly returns to the ship . Mendez shows Kirk a report on the planet Talos IV marked , " for eyes of Starfleet Command only . " The report is the basis of the well - known General Order 7 : " " No vessel under any condition , emergency or otherwise , is to visit Talos IV , " " the only capital offense left on the books , for reasons known only to top fleet command . But the report does mention that the " Enterprise " was the only Starfleet vessel to have visited Talos IV – while commanded by Captain Christopher Pike with a half - Vulcan science officer named Spock . While discussing the situation , Miss Piper notices that Captain Pike has disappeared from his room on a monitor . Mendez contacts Starbase Operations and is told that the " Enterprise " is leaving orbit and refuses to acknowledge their signal . Act Two . The " Enterprise " departs from Starbase 11 , completely under computer control . Uhura receives a communication signal but Spock tells her not to reply . He announces to the crew that Captain Kirk has been given medical rest leave and that he is assuming command . McCoy hears this upon entering the bridge and asks who made the diagnosis and who called a medical emergency . Spock takes McCoy to a guest quarters , containing Captain Pike , and plays a tape with the voice of Kirk , telling McCoy not to disturb Pike with questions but to follow Spock ' s instructions to the letter and to take care of him . During the recording , Pike again blinks " no " continually . When Spock returns to the bridge , Hansen tells him that a shuttlecraft is approaching , but Spock says they will not make contact . Aboard the shuttlecraft " Picasso " , Kirk and Mendez try to raise the ship and Kirk gets angry when the " Enterprise " doesn ' t respond , as the shuttle has already traveled too far to return to Starbase 11 . The shuttle ' s fuel runs out and it continues coasting forward . Kirk and Mendez contemplate the consequences for Spock and his inexplicable actions . Aboard the " Enterprise " , Spock directs the library computer to execute pre - loaded instructions . The ship reverses engine power and comes to a full stop . Spock summons an armed security team to the bridge , orders the transporter room to beam Captain Kirk aboard , and places Lieutenant Hansen in command . Spock presents himself to McCoy ( as the senior officer present ) for arrest on a charge of mutiny – the orders for Spock to take command of the " Enterprise " were false . The security team arrives and McCoy reluctantly confines Spock to quarters . Kirk and Mendez beam aboard , and Hansen transfers command of the " Enterprise " to Kirk and explains the situation . The engines restart , but the computer retains control and defies Kirk ' s direct order to disengage . The computer controls are tied in to the ship ' s life support systems and cannot be disengaged until the ship reaches Talos IV . Act Three . As the " Enterprise " continues toward Talos IV , arrangements are made for a hearing . But Spock waives his right to the hearing and requests an immediate court martial . Kirk denies his request because , of the three required command - grade officers , there are only Kirk and Mendez on board . But Spock points out that Captain Pike is still on the active duty list . Mendez confirms this : " " We didn ' t have the heart to retire him , Jim . He ' s got you ; whatever he ' s up to , he ' s planned it well . " " The court martial convenes , with Mendez presiding . He reminds Spock that , if the " Enterprise " enters the Talos star group , a further charge involving the death penalty will be held against him , a fact of which Spock confirms he is aware . Mendez asks Spock what purpose it serves to go to Talos , and with Captain Pike , given the severity of the penalty . Spock asks if Mendez ' s comments are part of the record . Mendez says they are , and Spock then says he can only explain with the use of the viewscreen in the briefing room . Mendez ' s query has opened the door for any evidence Spock wishes to present , which Kirk believes is what Spock had in mind . Scott activates the viewscreen . On the screen , the panel views the voyage of the " Enterprise " to Talos IV under the command of Pike , thirteen years prior . ( ) The astonishing video record is much more detailed than were log entries in those days . Questioned by Kirk , Pike signals " yes , " that it is he in the video , but " no , " that such records were not made during the voyage . Spock will not explain how the video was produced , but reminds Mendez that viewing the video is necessary to answer the question Mendez asked him . Mendez says the court isn ' t obliged to view evidence without knowing the source , but Kirk insists on seeing more of it . Later , Mendez interrupts the presentation again to remind Spock they are in a court of space law and not a theater . Spock asks Pike if they are witnessing the actual events of thirteen years previous . Pike beeps " yes . " Spock then offers to release control of the ship if , after watching the complete transmission , the court still wishes to turn back . Mendez calls the situation ridiculous and says it has gone far enough . Kirk votes instead to continue and hear the full story . Mendez votes not to continue and declares a deadlock , but Kirk points out that there is still one member of the trial board to hear from . With that , Mendez asks Pike if the trial should continue . Pike beeps " yes . " Act four . On the viewscreen , the visit of Captain Pike and the " Enterprise " to Talos IV continues . Uhura interrupts the trial with a message from Starfleet informing Commodore Mendez that Starfleet ' s subspace monitors show the " Enterprise " has been receiving transmissions from Talos IV in violation of Starfleet general orders . Spock confirms that the video presentation is coming from Talos IV . Starfleet relieves Kirk of command , and orders Mendez to assume command of the " Enterprise " , disabling it if necessary to prevent further contact . Mendez tells Spock that his contact with Talos IV has invited the death penalty : Spock has not only doomed himself but ended Captain Kirk ' s career as well . Spock protests that Kirk knew nothing about what was happening , but Mendez reminds Spock that a captain is responsible for everything that happens aboard his ship . Mendez then orders Spock to release the ship to manual control , and Spock respectfully declines . Mendez declares the court in recess . As everyone leaves , Kirk confronts Spock , asking him if he has lost his mind . Spock pleads with Kirk that , for his career and Captain Pike ' s life , he must see the rest of the transmission . Kirk orders the security guard to lock Spock up , and remains in the briefing room alone to contemplate the situation . TO BE CONTINUED . . . Memorable quotes . " " A Vulcan can no sooner be disloyal than he can exist without breathing . " " " " We ' ve learned to tie into every Human organ in the body except one . The brain . And the brain is what life is all about . Now , that man can think anything we can , and love , hope , dream as much as we can . But he can ' t reach out and no one can reach in ! " " " " . . . To question Spock of all people ! Me , yes . I could run off half - cocked given a good reason , so could you ! But not Spock . It ' s impossible ! " " " " Probably somebody discovered a hangnail . " " " " Rank hath its privileges . " " " " Spock would have some logical reason for going there . " " " " Maybe . Maybe he ' s just gone mad . " " " " I vote we continue . " " " " And I vote we do not ! Deadlocked ! " " " " Not deadlocked , Commodore . There ' s still one member of the trial board we haven ' t heard from . " " " " Very well . Captain Pike , it ' s up to you . Do we continue under these conditions ? " " " " Yes . ' " " Receiving transmissions from Talos IV ? Then the images we ' ve been seeing . . . " " " " . . . are coming from Talos IV , sir . " " " " Don ' t stop me . Don ' t let him stop me . It ' s your career and Captain Pike ' s life . You must see the rest of the transmission . " " " " Lock him up . " " Background information . Alternate home video release . In 1980 , Paramount Home Video released this episode as the first of five volumes of classic series episodes on VHS as " Television Classics " on VHS and Betamax videocassette . This version however , is slightly edited to present the episode in one part , rather than two parts . The credits at the end of the episode and the closing credits are removed from part I and the opening teaser recounting the events from Part I and the regular opening sequence are removed , instead doing a quick fade - out and cut into the first act of Part II . The 1981 RCA CED Videodisc version presents the episode in the same version , however the fade - out marks the end of side 1 , with side 2 fading in into the first act of Part II . All home video versions in the US since the Laserdisc version in 1984 , present the episode in its proper two part version . Links and references . References . 2236 ; 2254 ; 2265 ; 3XY phagrin level ; Able Seven Baker ; active duty list ; armor ; atmosphere ; baffle plate ; bartender ; battery ; " Bones " ; brain ; brain wave ; cadet vessel ; chief ; Class F shuttlecraft ; class M ; " Columbia " , SS ; coma ; commanding officer ; computer center ; ; commodore ; court martial ; delta radiation ; death penalty ; distress signal ; duranium ; Earth ; first officer ; fleet captain ; fortress ; fuel ; General Order 7 ; geological lab report ; J - class starship ; hangar deck ; hangnail ; heart ; ; helm ; horse ; hull ; ice ; inspection tour ; intensive care area ; ion power ; intercraft ; J - class trainee cadets ; landing party ; logic ; M - 11 ; martini ; mass computer ; medical rest leave ; meteorite beam ; Milky Way Galaxy ; monitor screen ; mutiny ; nitrogen ; Orion ; Orion colony ; oxygen ; patrol ; " Picasso " ; picnic ; radio beam ; radio silence ; record tape ; ; RHIP ; Rigel VII ; scanner ; sensor ; shore leave ; shuttlecraft ; solar system ; space sector ; spectrography ; speed of light ; Starbase 11 ; Starfleet Academy cadet ship ; Starfleet Command ; Starbase Command ; Starbase Operations ; subspace monitor ; survey vessel ; sword ; Talos IV ; Talos star group ; Talosian system ; Talosian s ; tape ; theater ; third quadrant ; time barrier ; trader ; transporter control ; treachery ; Vega colony ; Vernal Galaxy ; voice command ; Vulcan ; Vulcan nerve pinch ; warrior ; wheelchair Library computer references . astronomical unit ; Talos I ; Talos II ; Talos III ; Talos V Unreferenced materials . devil ; heart ; ice cream ; metal cube file - opener ; parasite s ; pie ; praying ; Scottish ; skeleton crew ; Sulu ; surgeon s ; surgery