Star Trek : The Motion Picture " " The Human adventure is just beginning . . . " " " " Ten years ago , a television phenomenon became a part of life , shared in 47 different languages , read in 469 publications , and seen by 1 . 2 billion people . A common experience remembered around the world . Now Paramount Pictures brings the memory to life . " " After an eighteen - month refit process , the is ready to explore the galaxy once again . But when a huge , invincible cloud approaches Earth , Admiral James T . Kirk must assume command of his old ship in order to stop it . Crew members old and new face new challenges , and must work together to triumph over the unknown . Summary . Act One . In Klingon space , three Klingon battle cruiser s are patrolling an area and encounter a huge cloud - like anomaly . On the bridge of , the Klingon captain orders his crew to fire torpedoes at it , but they have no effect . The captain immediately orders retreat . Meanwhile , in Federation space , a listening post , Epsilon IX , picks up a distress signal from one of the Klingon ships . As the three ships are attempting to escape the cloud , a " bolt " of plasma energy emerges and destroys each ship one by one . On Epsilon IX , the crew tracks the course of the cloud . Commander Branch inquires as to its heading . He discovers that it is headed on a precise course for Earth . Meanwhile , on the planet , Spock has been undergoing the " kolinahr " ritual , in which he has been learning how to purge all of his remaining emotions , and is nearly finished with his training . The lead elder tells Spock of how their ancestors had long ago cast out all animal passions on those sands , and says that their race was saved by attaining " kolinahr " , which another elder describes as the final purging of all emotion . The lead elder tells Spock he has labored long and she prepares to give him a symbol of total logic . She is about to give him a necklace , when Spock reaches out and stops her , clearly disturbed by something out in space . She asks for a mind meld to read his thoughts , to which Spock complies . She discovers that the alien intelligence which has called to him from deep space has stirred his Human half . She drops the necklace and states , " " You have not yet achieved " kohlinahr " . " " , and then tells the other elders , " " His answer lies elsewhere . He will not achieve his goal with us . " " Then she bids him farewell , telling him to " " live long and prosper " " . Spock picks up the necklace from the ground and holds it in his hand . Meanwhile , at the Presidio campus of Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco , Admiral James T . Kirk arrives in air tram 3 . As he steps out , he sees Commander Sonak , a Vulcan science officer who is joining the " Enterprise " crew and was recommended for the position by Kirk himself . Kirk is bothered as to why Sonak is not on board yet . Sonak explains that Captain Decker , the new captain of the , wanted him to complete his science briefing at Starfleet Headquarters before departing . The " Enterprise " has been undergoing a complete refit ting for the past eighteen months and is now under final preparations to leave drydock , which would take at least twenty hours , but Kirk informs him that they only have twelve . He tells Sonak to report to him on the " Enterprise " in one hour – he has a short meeting with Admiral Nogura and is intent on being on the " Enterprise " at that time . Following the meeting , Kirk transports to an orbital office complex of the San Francisco Fleet Yards and meets Montgomery Scott , chief engineer of the " Enterprise " . Scott expresses his concern about the tight departure time . After the two men enter a travel pod and the doors seal shut , Kirk explains that an alien object is less than three days away from Earth , and the " Enterprise " has been ordered to intercept it because they are the only ship in range . Scott says that the refit , a process that took eighteen months , can ' t be finished in twelve hours and tries to convince him that the ship needs more work done as well as a shakedown cruise . Kirk firmly insists that they are leaving , ready or not , in twelve hours . Scott activates the travel pod ' s thrusters and they begin the journey over to the drydock in orbit that houses the " Enterprise " . Scott tells Kirk that the crew hasn ' t had near enough transition time with all the new equipment and that the engines haven ' t even been tested at warp power , not to mention that they have an untried captain in command . Kirk tells Scott that two and a half years as the Chief of Starfleet Operations may have made him a little stale , but that he wouldn ' t exactly consider himself untried . Kirk then tells a surprised Scott that Starfleet has given him back his command of the " Enterprise " . Scott comments that he doubts it was so easy with Admiral Nogura , and Kirk tells him he ' s right . While sharing a laugh with Kirk , Scott remarks , " " Any man who can manage such a feat I wouldna dare disappoint . She ' ll launch on time , sir . . . and she ' ll be ready , " " and gently puts his hand on the admiral ' s arm . They arrive at the " Enterprise " held in drydock , and Scott gives Kirk a brief tour of the new exterior of the ship . Upon docking with the ship and entering the " Enterprise " s cargo bay , Scott is immediately called to engineering . Kirk takes a turbolift up to the bridge , and upon arrival , is informed by Lieutenant Commander Uhura that Starfleet has just transferred command from Captain Decker over to him , and she , along with several other crewmembers including Sulu and Chekov , step forward excitedly to greet Kirk , who appreciates the welcome but wishes it were under more pleasant circumstances . Kirk asks the crew where Decker is . " " He ' s in , uh , engineering , sir . He , uh . . . he " doesn ' t " know , " " Sulu says . Kirk makes his way to the new engine room , where Captain Decker is busy assisting Scott with launch preparations . After Kirk takes him aside to talk , he becomes visibly upset when the admiral tells him that he is assuming command . Decker will remain on the ship as executive officer and will receive a temporary demotion to commander . As Decker storms off , an alarm sounds . Someone is trying to beam over to the ship , but the transporter is malfunctioning . Cleary informs Scott that there is a red line on the transporter . Kirk and Scott promptly race over to the transporter room . Transporter chief Janice Rand is frantically trying to tell Starfleet to abort the transport , but it is too late . Commander Sonak and a female officer are beaming in , but their bodies aren ' t re - forming properly in the transporter beam . The female officer screams horrifically , and then their bodies disappear . Starfleet tells them that they have died . With tears beginning to form in his eye s , Kirk tells Starfleet to express his sympathies to their families . He mentions that Sonak ' s can be reached through the Vulcan embassy . " " There was nothing you could have done , Rand , " " Kirk tells the upset transporter operator , " " it wasn ' t your fault . " " In the corridor outside the transporter room , Kirk sees Decker and tells him they will have to replace Commander Sonak . Kirk wants another Vulcan if possible . Decker tells him that no one is available that is familiar with the ship ' s new design . Kirk tells Decker he will have to double his duties as science officer as well . In the " Enterprise " s recreation room , as Kirk briefs the assembled crew on the mission , they receive a transmission from Epsilon IX . Commander Branch tells them they have analyzed the mysterious cloud . It generates an immense amount of energy and measures 82 au ( " only 2 au in the " ) in diameter . Branch also reports that there is a vessel of some kind in the center . They ' ve tried to communicate with it , but there was no response . The lieutenant reports that further scans indicate something inside the cloud , but all scans get reflected back . It seems to think of the scans as hostile and attacks them . Like the Klingon ships earlier , Epsilon IX is destroyed . Ordering Uhura to deactivate the viewer , Kirk informs the crew that the pre - launch countdown will begin in forty minutes and the assembled crew leaves to attend to their duties . Act Two . Later on the bridge , Uhura informs Kirk that the transporter has been fully repaired and is functioning properly now . Lieutenant Ilia , the " Enterprise " s Deltan navigator , arrives . Decker is happy to see her , as they developed a romantic relationship when he was assigned to her home planet several years earlier . Ilia is curious about Decker ' s reduction in rank and Kirk interrupts and tells her about Decker being the executive and science officer . Decker tells her , with slight sarcasm , that " Captain " Kirk has the utmost confidence in him . Ilia tells Kirk that her oath of celibacy is on record and asks permission to assume her duties . Uhura tells Kirk that one of the last six crew members to arrive is refusing to beam up . Kirk goes to the transporter room to ensure that the person " is " beamed up . When told by a yeoman that the crew member insisted on them beaming up first , " " said something about first " seeing how it scrambled " our " molecule s , " " " Kirk tells Starfleet to beam the officer aboard . Dr . McCoy , dressed in civilian attire and wearing a thick beard , materializes on the transporter platform . McCoy is angry that his Starfleet commission was reactivated . He realizes that Kirk is responsible for the draft . His attitude changes , however , when Kirk says he desperately needs him . McCoy leaves to check out the new sickbay , grumbling about all the new changes to the " Enterprise " . The crew finishes its repairs and the " Enterprise " leaves drydock and heads into the solar system at impulse . A clean - shaven Dr . McCoy arrives on the bridge and complains that the new sickbay is now nothing but a " " damned computer center . " " Kirk is anxious to intercept the cloud intruder at the earliest possible opportunity , and orders Hikaru Sulu to take the ship to warp speed . Suddenly , the " Enterprise " enters a wormhole , which was created by an engine imbalance , and is about to collide with an asteroid that has been pulled inside . Kirk orders the " Enterprise " s phaser s to be fired on it , but Decker tells Chekov to fire photon torpedoes instead . With just four seconds to spare before the " Enterprise " is obliterated , the asteroid and the wormhole are destroyed . Annoyed , Kirk wants to meet with Decker in his quarters . McCoy decides to come along . Once in Kirk ' s quarters , Kirk demands an explanation from Decker on why his phaser order was countermanded . Decker pointed out that the redesigned " Enterprise " now channels the phasers through the main engines and because they were imbalanced , the phasers were automatically cut off . Kirk acknowledged that he had saved the ship – however , he accuses Decker of competing with him . Decker tells Kirk that , because of his unfamiliarity with the ship ' s new design , the mission is in serious jeopardy . Kirk sarcastically trusts that Decker will " " nursemaid me through these difficulties , " " and Decker tells the captain that he will gladly help him understand the new design . Kirk then dismisses him from the room . In the corridor , Decker runs into Ilia . Ilia asked if the confrontation was difficult , and he tells her that it was about as difficult as seeing her again , and apologizes . She asked if he was sorry for leaving Delta IV , or for not saying goodbye . He said that if he had seen her again , would she be able to say goodbye ? She quietly says " " no " , " and goes to her quarters nearby . Back in Kirk ' s quarters , McCoy accuses Kirk of being the one who was competing , and the fact that it was Kirk who used the emergency to pressure Starfleet into letting him get command of the " Enterprise " . McCoy thinks that Kirk is obsessed with keeping his command . On Kirk ' s console viewscreen , Uhura informs Kirk that a Starfleet registered shuttlecraft is approaching and that the occupant wishes to dock . Chekov also pipes in and replies that it appears to be a courier vessel , non - belligerency confirmed . Kirk tells Chekov to handle the situation . Turning the viewer off , Kirk asks McCoy is he has anything more to add , to which McCoy quietly states " " that depends on you , " " and leaves Kirk to ponder this , while he stands silently . The shuttle approaches the " Enterprise " from behind , and the top portion of it detaches and docks at an airlock just behind the bridge . Chekov is waiting by the airlock doors with a security officer and is surprised to see Spock come aboard . Moments later , Spock arrives on the bridge , and everyone is shocked and pleased to see him , yet Spock ignores them . He moves over to the science station and tells Kirk that he is aware of the crisis and knows about the ship ' s engine design difficulties . He offers his services as the science officer . McCoy and Dr . Christine Chapel come to the bridge to greet Spock , but he only looks at them coldly and does not reply to them . Uhura tries to speak to Spock , but he ignores her as well and tells Kirk that with his permission , he will go to engineering and discuss his fuel equations with Scott . As Spock walks into the turbolift , Kirk stops him and welcomes him aboard . But Spock makes no reply and continues into the turbolift . Kirk and McCoy both share a look after Spock leaves the bridge . With Spock ' s assistance , the engines are now rebalanced for full warp capacity . The ship successfully goes to warp to intercept the cloud . In the officers lounge , Spock meets with Kirk and McCoy . They discuss Spock ' s " kolinahr " training on Vulcan , and how Spock broke off from his training to join them . Spock describes how he sensed the consciousness of the intruder , from a source more powerful that he has ever encountered , with perfect , logical thought patterns . He believes that it holds the answers he seeks . Uhura tells Kirk over the intercom that they have made visual contact with the intruder . The cloud scans the ship , but Kirk orders no return scans . Spock determines that the scans are coming from the center of the cloud . Uhura reports that she ' s transmitting full friendship messages on all frequencies , but there is no response . Decker suggests raising the shields for protection , but Kirk determines that that might be considered hostile to the cloud . Spock analyzes the clouds composition and discovers it has a 12 - power energy field , the equivalent of power generated by thousands of starship s . Sitting at the science station , Spock awakens from a brief trance . He reveals to Kirk that the alien was communicating with him . The alien is puzzled – it contacted the " Enterprise " – why has the " Enterprise " not replied ? Before they can think further , a red alert sounds , and a plasma bolt beam from within the cloud hits the ship and begins to overload the ship ' s systems . Bolts of lightning surround the warp core and nearly injure some engineering officers , but Chekov was hurt – his hand is badly burned while he was sitting at the weapons station on the bridge . The bolt then finally disappears , and Scott reports deflector power is down seventy percent . A medical team is called to the bridge , and Ilia is able to use her telepathic powers to soothe Chekov ' s pain . Spock confirms to Kirk that the alien has been attempting to communicate . It transmits at a frequency of more than one million megahertz , and at such a high rate of speed , the message only lasts a millisecond . Spock programs to computer to send linguacode messages at that frequency and rate of speed . Another energy beam is sent out , but Spock transmits a message just in time , and the beam disappears . Kirk asks for recommendations , and Spock recommends proceeding inside the cloud to investigate , while Decker advises against it , calling the move an " unwarranted gamble . " Kirk asks Decker what constitutes " unwarranted " to him , while Decker retorts that Kirk asked his opinion . Kirk orders that the ship continue on course through the cloud . They pass through many expansive and colorful cloud layers and upon clearing these , a giant vessel is revealed . Kirk asks for an evaluation and Spock reports that the vessel is generating a force field greater than the radiation of Earth ' s sun . Kirk tells Uhura to transmit an image of the alien to Starfleet , but she explains that any transmission sent out of the cloud is being reflected back to them . Kirk orders Sulu to fly above and along the top of the vessel at a distance of only five hundred meters . As " Enterprise " moves in front of the alien vessel and holds position , an alarm sounds , and yet another energy bolt approaches the ship . The crew struggles to shield their eyes from its brilliant glow . Chekov asks Spock if it is one of the alien ' s crew , and Spock replies that it is a probe sent from the vessel . The probe slowly moves around the room and stops in front of the science station . Bolts of lightning shoot out from it and surround the console – it is trying to access the ship ' s computer . Spock manages to smash the controls to prevent further access , and the probe gives him an electric shock that sends him rolling onto the floor . The probe approaches the navigation console and it scans Ilia . Suddenly , she vanishes , along with the probe , and the tricorder she was holding falls to the floor . Decker retrieves the tricorder and angrily exclaims , " This " is how I define unwarranted ! " " Another alert goes off , reporting helm control has been lost . Spock reports they ' ve been caught by a tractor beam and Kirk orders someone up to take the navigator ' s station . Decker calls for Chief DiFalco to come up to the bridge as Ilia ' s replacement . The ship travels deep into the next chamber . Decker wonders why they were brought inside – they could have been easily destroyed outside . Spock deduces that the alien is curious about them . Uhura ' s monitor shows that the aperture is closing – they are now trapped inside . The ship is released from the tractor beam and suddenly , an intruder alert goes off . Someone has come aboard the ship and is in the crew quarters section . Act Three . Kirk and Spock arrive inside a crewman ' s quarters to discover that the intruder is inside the sonic shower . It is revealed to be Ilia , although it isn ' t really her – there is a small red device attached to her neck . In a mechanized voice , she replies , " " You are the Kirk unit , you will assist me . " " She explains that she has been programmed by an entity called " " V ' ger " " to observe and record the normal functions of the carbon - based units " " infesting " the " Enterprise " . " Kirk opens the shower door and " Ilia " steps out , wearing a small white garment that just materialized around her . Dr . McCoy and security officer Ensign Perez enter the room , and Kirk tells McCoy to scan her with a tricorder . Kirk asks her who " V ' ger " is . She replies , " " " V ' ger " is that which programmed me " . " " " McCoy tells Kirk that Ilia is a mechanism and Spock confirms she is a probe that assumed Ilia ' s physical form . Kirk asks where the real Ilia is , and the probe states that " that unit " no longer functions . Kirk also asks why " V ' ger " is traveling to Earth , and the probe answers that it wishes to find the Creator , join with him , and become one with it . Spock suggests that McCoy perform a complete examination of the probe . In sickbay , the Ilia probe lays on a diagnostic table , its sensors slowly taking readings . All normal body functions , down to the microscopic level , are exactly duplicated by the probe , even eye moisture . Decker arrives and is stunned to see her there . She looks up at him and addresses him as " " Decker " " , rather than " " Decker unit " , " which intrigues Spock . Spock talks with Kirk and Decker in an adjoining room and Spock locks the door . Spock theorizes that the real Ilia ' s memories and feelings have been duplicated by the probe as well as her body . Decker is angry that the probe killed Ilia , but Kirk convinces him that their only contact with the vessel is through the probe , and they need to use that advantage to find out more about the alien . Suddenly , the probe bursts through the door , and demands that Kirk assist her with her observations . He tells her that Decker will do it with more efficiency . After Decker and the probe leave , Spock expresses concern to Kirk of that being their only source of information . Decker and Ilia are seen walking around in the recreation room . He shows her pictures of previous ships that were named " Enterprise " . Decker has been trying to see if Ilia ' s memories or emotions can resurface , but to no avail . Kirk and McCoy are observing them covertly on a monitor from his quarters . Decker shows her a game that the crew enjoys playing . She is not interested and states that recreation and enjoyment have no meaning to her programming . At another game , which Ilia enjoyed and nearly always won , they both press one of their hands down onto a table to play it . The table lights up , indicating she won the game , and she gazes into Decker ' s eyes . This moment of emotion ends suddenly , and she returns to normal . " " This device serves no purpose . " " " " Why does the " Enterprise " require the presence of carbon units ? " " , she asks . Decker tells her the ship couldn ' t function without them . She tells him that more information is needed before the crew can be patterned for data storage . Horrified , he asks her what this means . " " When my examination is complete , all carbon units will be reduced to data patterns . " " He tells her that within her are the memory patterns of a certain carbon unit . He convinces her to let him help her revive those patterns so that she can understand their functions better . She allows him to proceed . Meanwhile , in one of the ship ' s airlock s , Spock slips up behind the airlock technician and nerve pinches him into unconsciousness . Decker , the probe , Dr . McCoy , and Dr . Chapel are in Ilia ' s quarters . Dr . Chapel gives the probe a decorative headband that Ilia used to wear . Chapel puts it over " Ilia ' s " head and turns her toward a mirror . Decker asks her if she remembers wearing it on Delta IV . The probe shows another moment of emotion , saying Dr . Chapel ' s name , and putting her hand on Decker ' s face , calling him Will . Behind them , McCoy reminds Decker that she is a mechanism . Decker asks " Ilia " to help them make contact with " V ' ger " . She says that she can ' t , and Decker asks her who the Creator is . She says " V ' ger " does not know . The probe becomes emotionless again and removes the headband . Spock is now outside the ship in a space suit with an attached thruster pack . He begins recording a log entry for Kirk detailing his attempt to contact the alien . He activates a panel on the suit and calculates thruster ignition and acceleration to coincide with the opening of an aperture ahead of him . He hopes to get a better view of the spacecraft interior . Kirk comes up to the bridge and Uhura tells him that Starfleet signals are growing stronger , indicating they are very close to Earth . Starfleet is monitoring the intruder and notifies Uhura that it is slowing down in its approach . Sulu confirms this and says that luna r beacons show the intruder is entering into Earth orbit . Chekov tells Kirk that airlock 4 has been opened and a thruster suit has been reported missing . Kirk figures out that Spock has done it , and orders Chekov to get Spock back on the ship . He changes his mind , and instead tells Chekov to determine his position . Spock touches a button on his thruster panel and his thruster engine ignites . He is propelled forward rapidly , and enters the next chamber of the vessel just before the aperture closes behind him . The thruster engine shuts down , and the momentum carries Spock ahead further . He disconnects the thruster pack from his suit and it falls away from him . Continuing his log entry , Spock sees an image of what he believes to be " V ' ger " s homeworld . He passes through a tunnel filled with crackling plasma energy , possibly a power source intended for a gigantic imaging system . Next , he sees several more images of planet s , moon s , star s , and galaxies all stored and recorded . Spock theorizes that this may be a visual representation of " V ' ger " s entire journey . " " But who or what are we dealing with ? " " , he ponders . He sees the Epsilon IX station , stored in every detail , and notes to Kirk that he is convinced that all of what he is seeing is " V ' ger " , and that they are inside a living machine . Then he sees a giant image of Lt . Ilia with the sensor on her neck . Spock decides it must have some special meaning , so he attempts to mind meld with it . He is quickly overwhelmed by the multitude of images flooding his mind and falls back unconscious . Kirk is now in a space suit and has exited the ship . The aperture in front of the " Enterprise " opens , and Spock ' s unconscious body floats toward him . Later , Dr . Chapel and Dr . McCoy are examining Spock in sickbay . Dr . McCoy performs scans and determines that Spock endured massive neurological trauma from the mind meld . Spock tells Kirk he should have known and Kirk asks if he was right about " V ' ger " . Spock calls it a conscious , living entity . Kirk explains that " V ' ger " considers the " Enterprise " a living machine and it ' s why " Ilia " refers to the ship as an entity and the crew as an infestation . Spock describes " V ' ger " s homeworld as a planet populated by living machines with unbelievable technology . But with all that logic and knowledge , " V ' ger " is barren , with no mystery or meaning . He momentarily lapses into sleep , but Kirk rouses him awake to ask what Spock should have known . Spock grasps Kirk ' s hand and tells him , " " This simple feeling is beyond " V ' ger " s comprehension . No meaning , no hope . And Jim , no answers . It ' s asking questions . ' Is this all that I am ? Is there nothing more ? ' " " Uhura chimes in and tells Kirk that they are getting a faint signal from Starfleet . The intruder has been on their monitors for a while and the cloud is rapidly dissipating as it approaches . Sulu also comments that the intruder has slowed to sub - warp speed and is only three minutes from Earth orbit . Kirk acknowledges and he , McCoy , and Spock go up to the bridge . Starfleet sends the " Enterprise " a tactical report on the intruders position . Uhura tells Kirk that " V ' ger " is transmitting a signal . Decker and " Ilia " come up to the bridge , and she says that " V ' ger " is signaling the Creator . Spock determines that the transmission is a radio signal . Decker tells Kirk that " V ' ger " expects an answer , but Kirk doesn ' t know the question . Then " Ilia " says that the Creator has not responded . An energy bolt is released from " V ' ger " and positions itself above Earth . Chekov reports that all planetary defense systems have just gone inoperative . Several more bolts are released , and they all split apart to form smaller ones and they assume equidistant positions around the planet . McCoy notices that the bolts are the same ones that hit the ship earlier , and Spock says that these are hundreds of times more powerful , and from those positions , they can destroy all life on Earth . " " Why ? " " , Kirk asks " Ilia . " She says that the carbon unit infestation will be removed from the Creator ' s planet as they are interfering with the Creator ' s ability to respond and accuses the crew of infesting the " Enterprise " and interfering in the same manner . Kirk tells " Ilia " that carbon units are a natural function of the Creator ' s planet and they are living things , not infestations . However " Ilia " says they are not true life forms like the Creator . McCoy realizes " V ' ger " must think its creator is a machine . Decker concurs , comparing it to " We all create God in our own image . " Spock compares " V ' ger " to a child and suggests they treat it like one . McCoy retorts that this child is about to wipe out every living thing on Earth . To get " Ilia ' s " attention , Kirk says that the carbon units know why the Creator hasn ' t responded . The Ilia probe demands that Kirk " " disclose the information " . " Kirk won ' t do it until " V ' ger " withdraws all the orbiting devices . In response to this , " V ' ger " cuts off the ship ' s communications with Starfleet . She tells him again to disclose the information . He refuses , and a plasma energy attack shakes the ship . McCoy tells Spock that the child is having a " " tantrum " . " Kirk tells the probe that if " V ' ger " destroys the " Enterprise " , then the information it needs will also be destroyed with it . Ilia says that it is illogical to withhold the required information , and asks him why he won ' t disclose it . Kirk explains it is because " V ' ger " is going to destroy all life on Earth . " Ilia " says that they have oppressed the Creator , and Kirk makes it clear he will not disclose anything . " V ' ger " needs the information , says " Ilia . " Kirk says that " V ' ger " will have to withdraw all the orbiting devices . " Ilia " says that " V ' ger " will comply , if the carbon units give the information . Spock tells Kirk that " V ' ger " must have a central brain complex . Kirk theorizes that the orbiting devices are controlled from there . Kirk tells " Ilia " that the information can ' t be disclosed to " V ' ger " s probe , but only to " V ' ger " itself . " Ilia " stares at the viewscreen , and , in response , the aperture opens and drags the ship forward with a tractor beam into the next chamber . Chekov tells Kirk that the energy bolts will reach their final positions and activate in 27 minutes . Kirk calls to Scott on the intercom and tells him to stand by to execute Starfleet Order 2005 – the self - destruct command . A female crewmember , , asks Scott why Kirk ordered self - destruct , and Scott tells her that Kirk hopes that when they explode , so will the intruder . The countdown is now down to 18 minutes . DiFalco reports that they have traveled 17 kilometers inside the vessel . Kirk goes over to Spock ' s station and sees that Spock has been crying . " " Not for us , " " Kirk realizes . Spock tells him he is crying for " V ' ger " , and that he weeps for " V ' ger " as he would for a brother . As he was when he came aboard the " Enterprise " , so is " V ' ger " now – empty , incomplete , and searching . Logic and knowledge are not enough . McCoy realizes Spock has found what he needed , but that " V ' ger " hasn ' t . Decker wonders what " V ' ger " would need to fulfill itself . Spock comments that each one of us , at some point in our lives asks , " " Why am I here ? " " What was I meant to be ? " " " V ' ger " hopes to touch its Creator and find those answers . DiFalco directs Kirk ' s attention to the viewscreen . Ahead of them is a structure with a bright light . Sulu reports that forward motion has stopped . Chekov replies that an oxygen / gravity envelope has formed outside of the ship . " Ilia " points to the structure on the screen and identifies it as " V ' ger " . Uhura has located the source of the radio signal and it is straight ahead . A passageway forms outside the ship as Kirk , Spock , McCoy , Decker , and " Ilia " enter a turbolift . The landing party exits an airlock on the top of the saucer section and walks up the passageway . At the end of the path is a concave structure , and in the center of it is an old NASA probe from three centuries earlier . Kirk tries to rub away the smudges on the nameplate and makes out the letters " V G E R " . He continues to rub and discovers that the craft is actually " Voyager 6 " . Kirk recalls the history of the Voyager program – it was designed to collect data and transmit it back to Earth . Decker tells Kirk that " Voyager 6 " disappeared through a then - called black hole . Kirk says that it must have emerged on the far side of the galaxy and got caught in the machine planet ' s gravity . Spock theorizes that the planet ' s inhabitants found the probe to be one of their own kind – primitive , yet kindred . They discovered the probe ' s 20th century programming , which was to collect data and return that information to its creator . The machines interpreted that instruction literally and constructed the entire vessel so that " Voyager " could fulfill its programming . Kirk continues by saying that on its journey back , it amassed so much knowledge that it gained its own consciousness . " Ilia " tells Kirk that " V ' ger " awaits the information . Kirk calls Uhura on his communicator and tells her to find information on the probe in the ship ' s computer , specifically the NASA code signal , which will allow the probe to transmit its data . Decker realizes that that is what the probe was signaling – it ' s ready to transmit everything . Kirk then says that there is no one on Earth who recognizes the old - style signal – the Creator does not answer . Kirk calls out to " V ' ger " and says that they are the Creator . " Ilia " says that is not logical – carbon units are not true life forms . Kirk says they will prove it by allowing " V ' ger " to complete its programming . Uhura calls Kirk on his communicator and tells him she has retrieved the code . Kirk tells her to set the " Enterprise " transmitter to the appropriate code frequency and to transmit the signal . Decker reads the numerical code on his tricorder and is about to read the final sequence , but " V ' ger " burns out its own antenna leads to prevent reception . " Ilia " says that the Creator must join with " V ' ger " , and turns toward Decker . McCoy warns Kirk that they only have ten minutes left . Decker figures out that " V ' ger " wanted to bring the Creator here and transmit the code in person . Spock tells Kirk that " V ' ger ' s " knowledge has reached the limits of the universe and it must evolve . Kirk says that " V ' ger " needs a Human quality in order to evolve . Decker thinks that " V ' ger " joining with the Creator will accomplish that . He then goes over to the damaged circuitry and fixes the wires so he can manually enter the rest of the code through the ground test computer . Kirk tries to stop him , but " Ilia " tosses him aside . Decker tells Kirk that he wants this as much as Kirk wanted the " Enterprise " . Suddenly , a bright light forms around Decker ' s body . " Ilia " moves over to him , and the light encompasses them both as they merge together . Their bodies disappear , and the light expands and begins to consume the area . Kirk , Spock , and McCoy retreat back to the " Enterprise " . " V ' ger " explodes , leaving the " Enterprise " above Earth , unharmed . On the bridge , Kirk wonders if they just saw the beginning of a new life form , and Spock says yes and that it is possibly the next step in their evolution . McCoy says that it ' s been a while since he " delivered " a baby and hopes that they got this one off to a good start . Uhura tells Kirk that Starfleet is requesting the ship ' s damage and injury reports and vessel status . Kirk reports that there were only two casualties : Lieutenant Ilia and Captain Decker . He quickly corrects his statement and changes their status to " missing . " Vessel status is fully operational . Scott comes on the bridge and agrees with Kirk that it ' s time to give the " Enterprise " a proper shakedown . When Scott offers to have Spock back on Vulcan in four days , Spock says that ' s unnecessary , as his task on Vulcan is completed . Kirk tells Sulu to proceed ahead at warp factor one . When DiFalco asks for a heading , Kirk simply says " " Out there , that - away . " " With that , the " Enterprise " flies overhead and engages warp drive on its way to another mission of exploration and discovery . Memorable quotes . " " Heading ? " " " " Sir , it ' s on a precise heading for Earth . " " " " Admiral , we have just spent eighteen months redesigning and refitting the " Enterprise " . How in the name of hell do they expect me to have her ready in twelve hours ? ! " " " " Mr . Scott , an alien object of unbelievable destructive power is less than three days away from this planet . The only starship in interception range is the " Enterprise " . Ready or not , she launches in " twelve " hours . " " " " They gave her back to me , Scotty . " " " " He wanted her back , he got her . " " " " And Captain Decker ? He ' s been with the ship every minute of her refitting . " " " " Ensign , the possibilities of our returning from this mission in one piece may have just " doubled . " " " I ' m replacing you as captain of the " Enterprise " . You ' ll stay on as executive officer , temporary grade reduction to commander . " " " " You " personally " are assuming command ? " " " " Yeah . " " " " May I ask why ? " " " " My experience . Five years out there , dealing with unknowns like this . My familiarity with the " Enterprise " , this crew . " " " " Admiral , this is an almost totally new " Enterprise " . You don ' t know her a tenth as well as I do . " " " " That ' s why you ' re staying aboard . I ' m sorry , Will . " " " " No , sir . I don ' t think you ' re sorry . Not one damn bit . I remember when you recommended me for this command . You told me how envious you were , and how you hoped you ' d be given a starship command again . Well , sir , it looks like you found a way . " " " " Report to the bridge , " commander . " Immediately . " " " " Aye , sir . " " " Enterprise , " what we got back didn ' t live long . Fortunately . " " " " Just a moment , captain , sir . I ' ll explain what happened . Your revered Admiral Nogura invoked a little known , seldom used reserve activation clause ! In simpler language , captain , they drafted me ! " " " " Why is any object we don ' t understand always called a thing ? " " " " Well , Jim , I hear Chapel ' s an MD now . Well , I ' m gonna need a top nurse , not a doctor who ' ll argue every little diagnosis with me ! And they ' ve probably redesigned the whole sickbay , too ! I know engineers . They love to change things ! " " " " Thrusters ahead , Mr . Sulu . Take us out ! " " " " Well , Bones , do the new medical facilities meet with your approval ? " " " " They do not . It ' s like working in a damn computer center ! " " " " No casualties reported , doctor . " " " " Wrong , Mr . Chekov , there are casualties . My wits ! As in , frightened out of , captain , sir ! " " " " Mister Spock ! " " " " Well , so help me , I ' m actually pleased to see you ! " " " " Spock , you haven ' t changed a bit . You ' re just as warm and sociable as ever . " " " " Nor have you , doctor , as your continued predilection for irrelevancy demonstrates . " " " " Will you please sit down ! " " " " Captain , as your exec , it ' s my " duty " to point out alternatives . " " " " Moving into that cloud , at this time , is an unwarranted gamble . " " " " How do you define unwarranted ? " " " " You asked my opinion , sir . " " " " Don ' t interfere with it ! " " " " Absolutely I will not interfere ! " " " " No one interfere ! It doesn ' t seem interested in us . Only the ship . " " " " It ' s taking control of the computer ! " " " " It ' s running our records ! Earth ' s defenses ! Starfleet ' s strength ! " " " This " is how I define unwarranted ! " " " " I don ' t want him stopped ! I want him to lead me to whatever is out there . " " " " And if that whatever has taken over his mind . . . ? ! " " " " Then , he ' ll still have led me to it , won ' t he ? " " " " Spock , this child is about to wipe out every living thing on Earth . Now what do you suggest we do ? Spank it ? " " " " Your child is having a tantrum , Mr . Spock ! " " " " I weep for " V ' ger " as I would for a brother . As I was when I came aboard , so is " V ' ger " now . Empty . Incomplete . Searching . Logic and knowledge are not enough . " " " " Each of us , at some time in our life , turns to someone – a father , a brother , a god – and asks : Why am I here ? What was I meant to be ? " V ' ger " hopes to touch its creator to find its answers . " " " " " Is this all that I am ? Is there nothing more ? " " " " Capture God . . . ? " V ' ger " s liable to be in for one hell of a disappointment . " " " " Jim , I want this ! As much as you wanted the " Enterprise " , I want this ! " " " " We witnessed a birth . Possibly a next step in our evolution . " " " " Well , it ' s been a long time since I delivered a baby and I hope we got this one off to a good start . " " " " List them as missing . " " " " Heading , sir ? " " " " Out there . Thataway ! " " Background information . Dating . It is somewhat unclear as to what exact year the first " Star Trek " movie took place . , " " ( p . 39 ) , and the written by Michael Okuda , place " The Motion Picture " in 2271 , stating that it took place 2 . 5 years after the end of the last five - year mission that in turn took place from 2264 to 2269 , according to Okuda . This was based on Decker ' s line to Kirk , that the latter had " " not logged a single star hour in the last two - and - a - half years , " " and Kirk ' s line to Scott , " " Well , two and a half years as Chief of Starfleet Operations may have made me a bit stale , but I certainly wouldn ' t exactly consider myself untried . " " This indicates a minimum of two - and - a - half years between the time the " Enterprise " returned to dry dock and the beginning of the first movie . On screen , however , in ( which aired in , after the third edition of the " Encyclopedia " was published ) , it is stated that Kirk ' s five - year mission began a year later , in 2265 , and ended in 2270 . This would establish the earliest point at which " The Motion Picture " could have possibly taken place some time in either 2272 or 2273 ( depending at what point in 2270 the ship ended the five - year mission ) . On the other end of the spectrum , the latest this film could have taken place is in 2278 , since the red " The Wrath of Khan " - style uniforms were in use by some time that year based on . The stardate s mentioned in the film cannot be used to accurately date the events , since the four - digit stardates beginning with the digit " 7 " were used for fifteen years between 2270 and 2284 , based on , , and " Star Trek II : The Wrath of Khan " . Apocryphally , the dating of the film has been set by Pocket Books to be 2273 in their 2006 chronology " Voyages of Imagination " . The novel " " supports this dating , as it is set after " The Motion Picture , " and takes place seven years after , in 2274 . Also , written by Gene Roddenberry states that it has been 2 . 8 years ( nine Vulcan seasons ) since Spock left the crew . Due to all this obscurity , however , Memory Alpha leaves the exact canonical dating open , and simply dates the film at the 2270s . Visual effects . Though Roddenberry was later implicated in the high visual effects over - budget expenditures , Michael Eisner and his studio CEO colleagues could actually be as equally faulted as well , as they , prior to the " Phase II " project , seriously mishandled the relationship with Paramount ' s subsidiary effects house , FGC led by Douglas Trumbull , as Trumbull years later bitterly recalled ( the studio of course , did not share that information with the public at the time ) , " " Paramount had no vision at all and [ was ] going through a big management change . The guy " [ remark : Frank Yablans ] " that I did the deal with was ousted , and Michael Eisner and Barry Diller came in and they couldn ' t see what I was trying to do and wanted to get rid of it . I don ' t know , there ' s just a whole train of disillusionment that accompanies my history in movies . " " . Trumbull , one of the effects supervisors for " 2001 : A Space Odyssey " , whose grandeur the studio wanted to emulate for the upgraded movie , was actually the first party approached for the movie ' s visual effects , but he had to decline as he and his company were knee - deep involved in the post - production of the science fiction classic at the time . ( " Cinefex " , issue 1 , pp . 4 , 6 ) How bad the relationship between the two parties already was by that time was exemplified by the fact that Trumbull failed to communicate that the work was close to completion , since " Close Encounters " already premiered on 16 November 1977 , and that the studio immediately went in search for another company , making it debatable how sincere their inquiry was . As it turned out , both parties were to pay the price for their failure to communicate and Paramount was forced to come yet knocking on Trumbull ' s door later on during the production , hat in hand . One can only wonder if a little more diplomacy on part of both sides could have prevented the ensuing visual effects debacle . At the time , the studio falsely spun Trumbull ' s refusal in contemporary press releases as being , " regrettably " , unable to meet Trumbull ' s demand of serving on the movie as its director ( though having dangled , insincerely however , as they never had for a second considered doing so , the position as a carrot in front of him – like Roddenberry , Trumbull had a " solid " reputation of being too difficult to work with ) , instead of Wise . ( " Return to Tomorrow " , pp . 42 , 46 - 47 , 353 ) " The Vulcan masters were actually shot and recorded speaking English . Eventually , we decided we didn ' t like the way it sounded and we didn ' t like the way it played in English . It was Gene ' s idea to try and find other words that would synch up to the English mouthing which would not sound anything at all like English , and that ' s how the Vulcan Language came about . We got this professor from the linguistics department at UCLA , Hartmut Scharfe , and he constructed a Vulcan language for us very well . In fact , I think Hartmut is , in voiceover , one of the Vulcans . When we switched from TV to motion picture , we had decided to make sure that the Klingons weren ' t speaking English , so we now asked our language expert , Hartmut , to help us construct a Klingon language . Whereas he had given us just what we needed for the Vulcans , his Klingonese didn ' t sound alien enough . Hartmut is Indian , and he was using it as a combination of Sanskrit and Germanic , it sounded in some ways recognizable , so we were not completely satisfied . Jimmy Doohan has always been good at just kind of making up dialects and languages , so he volunteered his services to help us . After Hartmut had done his thing and worked it all out logically , Jimmy and I just sat down one day and made up stuff . We created the Klingonese by using some of what Hartmut had done and then combining it with our own : we strung together nonsense syllables , basically , totally made up sounds with clicks , and grunts , and hisses . Jimmy actually taught it to Mark Lenard and the others just prior to the shooting of that scene , which didn ' t take place until many months later . " ( " , " pp . 260 - 261 ) Production design . Sets . Construction Coordinator Gene Kelly ( neither related to the McCoy performer , nor the famous dancer / actor ) has compiled an overview statement on the costs and use of the " Motion Picture " sets , which was reproduced in " " ( p . 95 ) : Production history . While strictly speaking the production of " Star Trek : The Motion Picture " officially spanned the time period of December 1977 through November 1979 , its history , as an attempt to bring back " Star Trek " as a live - action production , stretched as far back as 1967 , and as such these attempts were intertwined , especially if one considered the players involved , with some elements originating from those early attempts , the atheist theme in particular , surviving long enough to turn up in edited form in the final production . This was especially true for the " Star Trek : Phase II " television movie , " né " series , - project , which directly preceded " The Motion Picture " , as much of the groundwork for " The Motion Picture " was laid during the pre - production of that project . Therefore , in order to fully appreciate the efforts that went into the production of " The Motion Picture " , a full overview of the live - action revitalization history is warranted . Reception . Awards and honors . The mixed reactions to the movie notwithstanding , did not prevent " Star Trek : The Motion Picture " to receive several award nominations , including three Academy Award s . The special and visual effects in particular were in general well received . The movie was nominated for the following awards and honors : < tabview > Links and references . Credits . Credits for Star Trek : The Motion Picture | Show Template : Tabview message | Hide | true | true < / tabview > References . 1999 ; Aaamazzarite ; ; Andorian s ; aircraft carrier ; airlock ; air tram ; Air tram 3 ; Air tram 14 ; air tram station ; Arcturian ; asteroid ; astronomical unit ; association ; auxiliary power ; Betelgeusian ; binary code ; biofunction monitor ; black hole ; bluff ; carbon - based lifeform ; carbon unit ; carrier wave ; cc ; ; computer center ; ; ; ; " Conrad " ; courier ; Creator ; cruiser ; dalaphaline ; docking port ; drafting ; dreadnought ; drydock ; Deltan s ; Delta IV ; Doctor of Medicine ; Earth ; Earth Defense Network ; emotion ; ; ' ( frigate ) ; ' ( space shuttle ) ; ( CV - 6 ) ; ( NCC - 1701 ) ; ( XCV - 330 ) ; Epsilon IX station ; exocrine system ; field coil ; flight deck ; flow sensor s ; forebearer ; gain ; God ; Golden Gate Bridge ; grade 1 priority ; ground test computer ; intermix chamber ; intruder alert ; Jupiter ; Kazarite ; Klingon ; Klingon language ; K ' normian ; " kolinahr " ; ; " Laika " ; life boat ; light cube table ; linguacode ; long range shuttle ; lunar beacon ; machine planet ; maneuvering thruster ; megahertz ; Megarite ; ; micro - miniature hydraulics ; molecule ; monitor station ; multiprocessor chip ; NASA ; navigational deflector s ; Nogura ; oath of celibacy ; obsession ; Officers ' Quarters ; orbital office complex ; osmotic micropump ; parallel course ; pattern degradation ; photic sonar ; planetary defense system ; plasma energy ; plasti - skin ; pneumonic pulse pattern ; pons ; Probert ; Quad L - 14 ; Quasar 7 ; radio ; recreation deck ; red alert ; red line ; remote communications drone ; ; Rhaandarite ; Rigellian ; San Francisco ; San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge ; ; Scots language ; scout ; sensor drone ; Shamin ; Sol ; Sol system ; sonic shower ; space shuttle orbiter ; space matrix restoration coil ; spanking ; spinal nerve ; spray applicator ; Starfleet Headquarters ; Starfleet Operations ; Starfleet Order 2005 ; star hour ; subspace frequency ; " " ; thing ; thruster suit ; tractor beam ; Transamerica Pyramid ; ; transporter platform ; transporter room ; transporter sensor ; travel pod ; Travel pod 5 ; turboshaft ; twelfth power ; " V ' ger " ; " Voyager 6 " ; Voyager series ; Vulcan ; ; Vulcan embassy ; Vulcan master ; Vulcan mind meld ; Vulcan nerve pinch ; wormhole ; wormhole effect ; Yerba Buena Island ; Zaranite Script references . aurora borealis ; command cruiser ; Dante ; engine pylon ; ; heavy cruiser ; hydrogen cloud ; integrator ; lunar monitor relay ; nebula ; Sarek ; Saturn ; scrap metal compactor ; solar system ; Starfleet archives ; supernova ; transceiver ; United States Subdivision ; yellow alert Other references . Rhaandarite