Star Trek The Wrath of Khan Book Club

[DarrenTR1970]

It's entirely possible that the Enterprise had some sort of minor refit prior to TWOK, including changes to the bridge, and that is what Kirk was needling Preston about.

 

[Christopher]

Oh he's absolutely needling Preston. It's obvious in the movie. Even more so in the book when Preston realizes that he's doing it and gets mad that he fell for it.

That's explicit in the script:

KIRK
(sternly puts
him on)
Oh do you? Have you any idea,
Midshipman Preston, how many times
I've had to listen to Mr. Scott on
the Comm, telling me his troubles?
Have you any idea the ribbing I've
had to endure in the officers' mess
to the effect that the Enterprise
is a flying death trap?

PRESTON
(scandalized)
Oh, no, sir! This is the finest
engine room in the whole Star --

The repressed grins of the others, and a smile on Scotty's
face tell Preston he's being had.