In this episode of Trekking Through Compliance, we consider the episode Journey to Babel, which aired on November 17, 1967, and occurred on Star Date 3842.3.
The Enterprise transports ambassadors to a conference to discuss the admission of Corridon to the Federation. Sarek is the ambassador from Vulcan, accompanied by his wife, Amanda. To Kirk’s surprise, they turn out to be Spock’s parents. Also, to Kirk’s surprise, Sarek is cool towards Spock, apparently because Spock has chosen to devote his life to Starfleet instead of Vulcan science.
The Tellerite ambassador is murdered, and Sarek falls under suspician. Meanwhile, Spock detects tritanium emissions from an alien ship’s hull after it transmits a message. Sarek requires an open heart operation, and Spock provides a blood transfusion.
Kirk is attacked and requires medical attention, so Spock assumes command. Under these circumstances, he says he cannot take time off to give the transfusion to Sarek and cannot pass command on to anyone else because he is the best-qualified person to command the Enterprise. His mother pleads with him, but he refuses.
The Enterprise is attacked by an alien ship while Sarek and Spock are on the operating table, endangering their lives. Kirk fools the alien ship by turning off shields and internal power, luring the enemy ship for the kill. Kirk hits it with phasers and disables it when it begins moving in. However, they blow themselves up before he can ask them to surrender.
McCoy confines the injured Kirk and the recovering Spock to sickbay, shushing all protests. “Well, what do you know,” he says with a grin, “I finally got the last word.”
Compliance Takeaways:
- HR is a key ally of the compliance function.
- Dynamic tensions between employees must be resolved.
- Be careful in freewheeling banter.
Resources
Excruciatingly Detailed Plot Summary by Eric W. Weisstein
MissionLogPodcast.com
Memory Alpha
