Scientific Investigation (Star Trek)

On stardate 2821.5, the Federation starship USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, is en route to Makus III, delivering much-needed medical supplies to be distributed at the plague-ridden New Paris Colony. The ship passes close to a quasar-like formation of four star systems identified as Murasaki 312, which Kirk's standing orders require him to study. Since the Enterprise is not scheduled to rendezvous for five days, Kirk decides to send a science team composed of Science Officer Spock, Chief Medical Officer Dr. McCoy, Chief Engineer Scott, and four other specialists from the crew out in the shuttlecraft, Galileo, to investigate the formation.