The Meaning of Kirk's Last Orders?

[ZapBrannigan]

Bones, Spock. since you are playing this tape, we will assume that I am dead, that the tactical situation is critical, and both of you are locked in mortal combat.

What did that mean? As a kid, I could think of only one meaning: Bones and Spock would be at each other's throats, even during a crisis, if there were no Kirk to mediate between them. Not literally, but they'd be arguing. Mortal combat was a hyperbole.

Now I'm not so sure, because it seems presumptuous for Kirk to think that. Maybe he meant "You two will be fighting to save the ship against whatever it was that killed me."

I never had a doubt as a kid, but now I don't know. How did you take it back then, and now as an adult?

 

[Metryq]

I've always (then and now) taken it to mean the first sense: they will fight without Kirk around to mediate. Kirk is the Everyman, while Spock and McCoy are the proverbial devil and angel who sit on either shoulder and whisper in his ears. The Enemy Within is when the two are unmoderated.

 

[Tomalak]

I think it was meant in both senses - assuming that if he's been killed they must be facing some grave crisis, and therefore must put aside their differences to work together.

 

[Forbin]

I always thought it meant they'd be in mortal combat with whatever enemy had killed Kirk, not with each other. But I guess that's also a valid interpretation.

 

[Phaser Two]

I voted for the former option. "Mortal combat" was a bit of hyperbole, but only because (in a verrrrrry rare misstep for him) I don't think Shatner delivered the line quite right, or perhaps the director didn't quite coax what the script intended out of him. His part was after all quite small in this one, and his interaction with this particular script more limited than pretty much any other TOS episode. (Well—perhaps on par with one or both of "The Menagerie"s.) I think he should have delivered the "mortal combat" line a bit wryly—I'm thinking of his wordless grimace-but-with-patience when Spock and McCoy start going at it in his quarters in TWOK after viewing the Genesis summary. Or how his voice trails off as he tells Scotty to "Relax and enjoy yourself . . . " at the beginning of "Wolf in the Fold." With that sort of inflection, I think the meaning (as I believe it to be) would have been more clear. "Mortal combat" sounds exactly like how Kirk would summarize their bickering.

Still, I'm mindful of S3 and how generally reverent it was toward the K/S/M triad, doing much of the work to build that lore in fact (for which it rarely gets due credit). Basically, both Kirk and TPTB are acknowledging that these three are the stars of the show, so to speak. As a Scotty fan, I wish they could have worked him into the scene, but Scotty has plenty of cool stuff to do as he slides into the first officer role and of course helps figure out the technical solution. Plus, I think the message from Kirk was intended to inform McCoy that Spock was in command and that he needed to respect that, not argue with him about everything—while also making sure Spock heard that, and giving him encouragement to rely on McCoy's advice.

 

[DonIago]

Por que no los dos?

 

[BK613]

Definitely the first option, borne out both by the amount of bickering between the twain before hearing the orders versus after plus the wrap-up at the end of the episode.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I feel that "locked in mortal combat" doesn't mean with each other. They bickered and Bones could get loud when under stress about Kirk being missing, but "mortal combat" is way overstating it.

Never in the 53 years I've been watching Star Trek did I ever think Kirk was talking about the two of them. I always thought he meant with an outside foe. I don't care how much they bickered, not only did "Amok Time" make it clear they were friends, they were Starfleet officers. And certainly not equals.

Either way, it's a weird thing to record shortly before this incident (if Kirk's hair and weight are any indication).

 

[Qonundrum]

Circumstantial of course, my vote went to #1, if not #2: I'd really vote for both as McCoy and Spock could easily be bickering over the whatever that killed Kirk and how to deal with it.

I wonder how often Kirk refreshes the recording, to account for any number of changes. Drink enough psyllium fiber compound daily and he could have enough time to redo the recording during every log entry. Twice, in fact. That's another reason to change my vote to "#2"...

 

[BK613]

Hmm , the ending never left me with any doubts...

KIRK: I had a whole universe to myself after the Defiant was thrown out. There was absolutely no one else in it. I must say I prefer a crowded universe much better. How did you two get along without me?
MCCOY: Oh, we managed. Mister Spock gave the orders, and I found the answers.
KIRK: Good. No problems between you?
SPOCK: None worth reporting, Captain.
KIRK: Try me.
SPOCK: Only such minor disturbances as are inevitable when humans are involved.
KIRK: Which humans, Mister Spock?
MCCOY: He means when humans become involved with Vulcans, Jim.
KIRK: Ah, yes. I understand. Well, I hope my last orders were helpful in solving any problems that you don't feel worth reporting.

 

[Poltargyst]

I can see the second choice, but I've always only ever heard it as the first, that Spock and McCoy were liable to be fighting a lot. After all, Kirk couldn't know that he would be killed while they were in combat. Maybe Kirk dies as a result of slipping on a banana peel during shore leave.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Kirk addresses their penchant for argument in the message, but even if McCoy was prone to outbursts, Spock was not. So there would be no "mortal combat" to be locked in: those are the key words "locked in mortal combat." That's not these guys.

Spock would just shut it down. Like he did with Scotty and McCoy in "The Gamesters of Triskelion" by mentioning mutiny. Or he'd just respond logically and usually McCoy would cool back down.

Theses guys aren't schoolyard kids, they're adults and one of them is a ranking officer. It doesn't make sense that without Kirk the two of them would just figuratively start throwing hands because "Daddy" wasn't there to control them.

I can see the second choice, but I've always only ever heard it as the first, that Spock and McCoy were liable to be fighting a lot. After all, Kirk couldn't know that he would be killed while they were in combat. Maybe Kirk dies as a result of slipping on a banana peel during shore leave.

I know you're joking but really, Kirk would have stipulated that they run the orders if he is lost in a combat situation because that would be the most logical time for Spock to officially take command.

Here's the actual message:

KIRK [on monitor]: Bones, Spock. since you are playing this tape, we will assume that I am dead, that the tactical situation is critical, and both of you are locked in mortal combat. (emphasis mine)

"The tactical situation is critical" isn't "you boys is fightin'." It means the ship is in trouble and Kirk is dead. They are locked in mortal combat with whatever put the ship in danger. Not each other.

KIRK [on monitor]:
It means, Spock, that you have control of the ship and are probably making the most difficult decisions of your career. I can offer only one small piece of advice, for whatever it's worth. Use every scrap of knowledge and logic you have to save the ship (emphasis mine). But temper your judgment with intuitive insight. I believe you have those qualities, but if you can't find them in yourself, seek out McCoy. Ask his advice. And if you find it sound, take it.

Underlined: "to save the ship." Again, the ship is in danger, Kirk is dead, Spock has to step in. So far, Kirk isn't saying "stop fighting with McCoy long enough to ask him something." He's asking Spock to reach out to the other person Kirk trusts the most.

KIRK [on monitor]:
Bones, you've heard what I've just told Spock. Help him if you can. But remember he is the Captain. His decisions must be followed without question (emphasis mine). You might find that he is capable of human insight and human error. They are most difficult to defend, but you will find that he is deserving of the same loyalty and confidence each of you have given me.

The bolded is where Kirk addresses their habitual bickering. He's asking Bones - not Spock - to keep calm, to accept Spock's command and assist as needed, to treat Spock in the same way he treated Kirk. Because he knows McCoy would be too raw to fully control his temper.

Take the focus off both of you are locked in mortal combat and put it on the rest of the message. Granted, Kirk should have said "the ship is locked in mortal combat" but he didn't. He did, however, say the rest of it.

 

[Metryq]

Theses guys aren't schoolyard kids,

"That's not at all surprising, Doctor. He's probably terrified of your beads and rattles."

 

[BK613]

those are the key words "locked in mortal combat." That's not these guys.

Actually, IMO, the key words are "both of you are locked in mortal combat." This isn't a message about the tactical situation—how could a prerecorded message be about that—it's a message about how Kirk expects them to react when he's gone, despite the situation.
And in this episode anyway, he nails it.
Hell, not a few minutes before Kirk starts speaking, McCoy basically accuses Spock of killing Kirk by fighting the Tholians to ensure Kirk is dead. Metaphorical mortal combat, indeed.

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

I think it was meant in both senses - assuming that if he's been killed they must be facing some grave crisis, and therefore must put aside their differences to work together.

Or just have Scotty take charge, as he obviously did not require lectures from Kirky, and never let an argument prolong or exacerbate a crisis.

 

[Poltargyst]

Or just have Scotty take charge, as he obviously did not require lectures from Kirky, and never let an argument prolong or exacerbate a crisis.

One of my favorite Scotty moments is when he shuts down Boma in Galileo Seven.

BOMA: I'm sick and tired of this machine!
SCOTT: That's enough!

 

[Ssosmcin]

Actually, IMO, the key words are "both of you are locked in mortal combat." This isn't a message about the tactical situation—how could a prerecorded message be about that—it's a message about how Kirk expects them to react when he's gone, despite the situation.
And in this episode anyway, he nails it.
Hell, not a few minutes before Kirk starts speaking, McCoy basically accuses Spock of killing Kirk by fighting the Tholians to ensure Kirk is dead. Metaphorical mortal combat, indeed.

But again, "mortal combat" is wildly extreme and overstating their friction. The "tactical situation is critical" and Spock and McCoy are taking the time to fight it out? Spock wouldn't argue and as senior officer he doesn't need to. McCoy will raise an argument but Spock will shut it down with either logic or simply his command rank. "Both of you," as you stress, is a key phrase. Spock is one of the both and Spock isn't the problem.

Also, right after "mortal combat" Kirk says "It means, Spock, that you have control of the ship and are probably making the most difficult decisions of your career."

Right there, Kirk just explained what "mortal combat" means. Why would Kirk's death mean Spock is making "the most difficult decisions of (his) career" if they're not in a combat situation with an outside force? If Kirk simply died, the decision is easy: inform Starfleet and get to the nearest command base.

The message is for Spock to use all his knowledge and logic to get out of the crisis situation, but seek out McCoy for insight if he needs it. And then to Bones to respect Spock. Again, that part is the only part that addresses their friction and it's aimed directly at Bones. Not Spock. And Bones takes it to heart. But Spock was never the one fighting. He was making his command decisions which McCoy didn't like.

The prerecorded message could easily be about a general tactical situation, because it's not specific at all. If Kirk dies of illness or accident on a random day, there's no final message needed. If he's lost during a tense combat situation, however, the order to listen to the message kicks in. That's the reason he recorded it, to give them both one last pep talk to help them get through the current crisis, because he knows Spock will focus on logic and McCoy will resist. This advice is there not only to benefit the two men but also the ship.

TL;DR: they're in mortal combat together, not with each other.

 

[BK613]

@Ssosmcin Agree to disagree then, because Kirk basically says that's what his orders are about in the episode's epilogue. He doesn't ask if the orders helped with the tactical situation, he asks if they help smooth out any problems between Spock and McCoy. He knew that they'd be carping at each other, just like they are in the episode.

 

[Mudd]

By "locked in mortal combat" he means that he's assuming that they're confronting a dangerous combat situation.

He anticipates that given what he knows about them and the friction between them, they'll need encouragement to work together through the danger.

 

[David cgc]

"Mortal combat" doesn't seem like the kind of phrase Kirk would use outside of a facetious sense. It doesn't seem right for Kirk to be describing actual danger generically with that phrase, especially since it probably wouldn't qualify as "combat." Indeed, the ship was ensnared and endangered in the Tholian web, but it was hardly engaged in mortal combat (ba ba ba ba, ba ba! ba, ba, ba, ba...). On the other hand, Spock and McCoy's bickering, exacerbated by grief and a stressful situation, would probably lead them to entrench themselves in their positions and refuse to cooperate or reconcile, like some kind of... not-giving-up fight.