Tor and Kirk argue about the conflicts in their information about Pike, and can come to no understanding. McCoy arrives, and maintains that it is impossible for Spock to have lied, or committed so serious an error; Kirk is caught between them. Tor wonders if a deception may have something to do with Talos IV, a planet once visited by Spock and Pike and now forbidden from Federation contact, on penalty of death for treason. Kirk is incredulous, but Tor reminds Kirk of a profound connection between Spock and his former captain.
Visible upstage in the M-11 hospital foyer (without dialogue) Spock conspires to kidnap Pike, paralyzing members of the M-11 staff, and deceiving McCoy to lure him to the Enterprise. M-11 transport crew sound an alarm alerting Kirk and Tor that inexplicably, the Enterprise has departed with Spock at the helm.
Act I, Scene 5 (attacca)—Mutiny (Scene change reveals the bridge of the Enterprise at 6:35.) Having learned of Spock’s inexplicable departure, Kirk and Tor board a shuttlecraft in pursuit. Third Officer Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu is increasingly suspicious of the vessel’s auto-pilot status, but is unaware that Spock’s command of the ship is unauthorized. His questions intensify as McCoy comes to the bridge demanding to know why Pike is aboard. Lieutenant Nyota U’penda Uhura, the ship’s communications officer, announces the shuttlecraft’s approach, and Spock relents, inviting their pursuers aboard the Enterprise and submitting himself to McCoy for arrest. When Kirk and Tor arrive on the bridge, they learn from Sulu that auto-pilot cannot be suspended, and the computer reports their course is set for the forbidden planet Talos IV.