The Human Factor Summary . Gardis , the leading ambassador from Garrus , meets with Captain Kirk , and points out that Dr . McCoy has shown them sickbay , Spock has shown them crew quarters and recreation areas , Scott has shown them the engine room , Sulu the laboratories , and Chekov the transporter room . He asks to see the computer , finding the " machine brains most fascinating " . Kirk assigns Uhura to the task at their request , especially since he will be busy planning the orbit about their planet . Spock contacts Kirk , asking him to report to the bridge , as they are approaching the planet . Kirk responds , asking Spock to have Uhura report to the ambassadors immediately . On the bridge , Kirk expresses relief at their approach , commenting that the Garrusians were a bit hard to deal with and that " " you find yourself either apologizing or forgiving them " " . The rest of the bridge crew , other than Scott , agree with the sentiment . Suddenly the alarm sounds as a shuttlecraft is reported missing by security officer Frank Tanka . He also reports that the ambassadors and Uhura are missing . Despite McCoy ' s misgivings , Kirk beam s down to the planet with Spock , Chekov , and Sulu . On the planet , they arrive in Gartin , home to the " " famous Mile - long Hall of Worship " " . There , they meet Garmin , the president of Garrus . They enter the hall , marveling at its size . Garmin notes that their riches and real estate is for Federation use , it is only a matter of trade . When Kirk tells Garmin of their mission to find Uhura , Garmin tells him that he is sure that Gardis and Uhura are alright , and that it must be a big mistake . They enter a large room , where Garmin tells them to enjoy themselves , telling them that it is " " just a token of [ their ] belief and worship of the almighty Master . " " Kirk demands Uhura ' s return . Garmin is stunned at his knowledge , and Kirk reveals that he spoke too much earlier in the conversation , knowing Uhura ' s name before Kirk told him . Garmin tells them that Uhura is with the Master and that they will never get her back . As Kirk contacts Scotty to beam down the security detail with Tanka , Garmin orders the away team subdued . Sulu and Chekov are quickly disabled , but Spock and Kirk manage to escape into the hall , where Spock spots a huge locked door . They pick the lock and open the door into an enormous room . Inside the room , they discover that it is filled with computers , the " " greatest array of scientific equipment " " Spock has ever seen . On one viewscreen , they spot Gardis wearing religious robes and conducting a ceremony . Behind him stand Uhura , Chekov , and Sulu . They are being given to the Master . It turns out that the Garusians worship the huge computer as their god , and that they were using the Human s to manage the computer , something that they were forbidden to discuss with any outsider . Kirk promises to have the Federation send computer experts to assist them . Memorable quotes . " " Captain , please . The Vulcan race is known for more than our mind blocks and nerve pinches . When my race is faced with a problem , we pride ourselves on solving it . " " " " You mean , you ' re going to pick the lock ? " " " " A crude way of putting it captain . I prefer the idea that I ' m going to discover the necessary secret to unlock the door . " "