"Amok Time": What If Kirk's Decision was Tougher?

[JonnyQuest037]

In "Amok Time," Kirk chooses to defy Starfleet orders and arrive late to a Starfleet diplomatic function when he realizes that Spock's life is in danger because of his Pon Farr:

MCCOY: Well, that's that.
KIRK: No, it's not. I know the Altair situation. We would be one of three starships. Very impressive, very diplomatic, but it's simply not that vital.
MCCOY: You can't go off to Vulcan against Starfleet orders. You'll be busted
KIRK: I can't let Spock die, can I, Bones? And he will if we go to Altair. I owe him my life a dozen times over. Isn't that worth a career? He's my friend.

As a "What If?" scenario, let's pretend that Kirk and the Enterprise were needed for something more urgent than a showing of the colors. Let's say there was suspicious activity along the Neutral Zone, a vaccine that was desperately needed at a Federation colony, or a Klingon attack that needed investigation. Do you think that moves the needle for Kirk at all? Would he still divert the Enterprise to Vulcan in defiance of Starfleet's orders, or would he try to come up with some alternate arrangement?

Please remember that this is TOS Kirk, not Movie Era Kirk, and doesn't have quite as many years of friendship with Mr. Spock under his belt. At the time of Star Trek III, it's a no brainer that Kirk would risk everything to save Spock. At the time of TOS' second season premiere, it's less of a foregone conclusion, even though as Kirk says in the episode, he already owes Spock his life a dozen times over.

What do you think, folks?

 

[DonIago]

I'd like to think if Kirk was faced with deaths occurring if he didn't get the E to wherever it was supposed to go then Spock himself would be telling Kirk that he must continue on course. "The needs of the many..."

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I'd like to think if Kirk was faced with deaths occurring if he didn't get the E to wherever it was supposed to go then Spock himself would be telling Kirk that he must continue on course. "The needs of the many..."

But Spock is losing his mind at this point. I'd say that if the mission were important, Kirk would put his orders ahead of Spock's needs. He has to.

Also, if I were Kirk: even if the mission was just to show the flag at Altair, I would not throw my career away. I would either:

1) Put Spock and Sulu in a shuttlecraft they can fly to Vulcan, or

2) Ask McCoy to put Spock in hibernation or suspended animation until he could be delivered to Vulcan.

 

[DonIago]

I'll assume a shuttle wouldn't have gotten there in time. Why putting Spock in stasis was never considered is one of those suspension of disbelief aspects I suppose; if Spock can be put in stasis, that aspect of the episode falls apart.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I'll assume a shuttle wouldn't have gotten there in time. Why putting Spock in stasis was never considered is one of those suspension of disbelief aspects I suppose; if Spock can be put in stasis, that aspect of the episode falls apart.

In all fairness, I must admit that stasis wouldn't meet the emergency, because T'Pring's parents have laid out a fortune for this wedding. Spock has to show up or he'll never hear the end of it.

 

[DonIago]

T'Pau was a budget line item in and of herself!

 

[Jedi Marso]

Simple question, simple answer, and Bones explained it very clearly:

If Enterprise hadn't diverted to Vulcan, the hormone imbalances would have killed Spock. So no more Spock. A few years later, V'Ger would have sterilized the Earth. So no more Earth.

Good thing he diverted the ship, eh?