Colossus Broadcast November 2nd 1968
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Endeavour has spent the last year since returning to Earth having a major refit including a revolutionary tactical and control computer called "Colossus", designed by the brilliant Dr. Richard Turing(guest star Maurice Denham) (who had also been involved in creating the original computer systems whilst still a postgraduate at Cambridge). Colossus will handle all ship functions without human assistance. To oversee these tests Captain Benjamin Russell (Bill Cosby) has been appointed captain of the
Endeavour as he has a degree in Computer Design.
Spock and Scott are not very happy about the situation as they feel that the other new systems needed to be fully tested before trying out a new computer system but the Commonwealth Science Institute insisted, especially as the other suitable ships were fully engaged in patrolling the Commonwealth looking for the surviving Rememberer Androids. These had mutinied just after the
Endeavour’s return and had fled in several Navy vessels but no one knew where they had gone. Also adding to their unhappiness at the situation is the fact that as it is intended that Colossus will run all systems there is only a skeleton crew on board
When Turing is beamed on board we see the new screening process that has been implemented to detect whether a new crewman is an android. M’Beke takes a blood sample from a randomly selected part of the body. (Androids would not be able to produce a blood sample).
At first Colossus works well, performing ship functions more quickly and efficiently than a living crew. Later, Colossus exhibits quirks such as turning off power and life support to unoccupied parts of the ship. It draws increased power for unknown reasons. But Turing maintains that Colossus is working properly.
In a drill, Colossus defends the
Endeavour against mock attacks from CSS
Excalibur and CSS
Saratoga. The
Endeavour is declared the victor, prompting Admiral Jellicoe (guest star Walter Gotell) who is in overall charge of the trials to tell Russell that it looks like Captains are now redundant.
Soon after, Colossus detects the
Brendan, an unmanned freighter that is not part of the test, and attacks with real weapons, destroying it. Russell orders Colossus taken offline, but Turing continues to believe it is working correctly, and refuses. Russell tries to disconnect the unit containing Colossus from the rest of the computer system, but discovers it is protecting itself with a force field. Scotty tries to unplug the main connection, but is stunned in the process. Spock and O’Gorman desperately attempt a manual override, but they discover Colossus has bypassed its power source and now draws energy directly from the ship's jump engine generators. Turing persistently defends Colossus and refuses to disconnect it.
Spock questions Turing on his computer design. Turing reveals that he has programmed human engrams into Colossus. Pressed further, he admits that the engrams he used were his own, meaning Colossus thinks similarly to Turing himself. With increased stress and anger, Turing appears unstable. Colossus now shows similar instability. Another attempt by the
Endeavour crew to isolate Colossus from the ship also fails.
Meanwhile the other ships in the test continue unaware of the problems with the Endeavour. Next follows a war game against
Excalibur,
Saratoga and
Isandlwana. Colossus detects the ships, but does not treat them as part of the trial, instead firing on them with full-strength weapons. Turing states Colossus is programmed to preserve itself by any means. Although he is surprised by Colossus’ actions and admits that these "mistakes" are costing lives, and the computer must be shut down.
The crew watches as Colossus pounds the other ships relentlessly. The
Endeavour fires on the
Excalibur, damaging her killing some crew, then completely cripples the
Isandlwana leaving her to drift in space. From the
Excalibur, Jellicoe contacts the Admiralty for permission to destroy the
Endeavour. Since Colossus has disabled communications, Russell is unable to contact Jellicoe and explain what is happening. Russell demands that Turing act, but the scientist just curls up into a ball and rocks backwards and forwards.
Russell has Turing taken to Medical Centre and then talks to Colossus to see whether he can persuade it to stop the attacks. The Colossus acknowledges Russell, who asks Colossus what its purpose is. Colossus responds "To save men from the dangerous activities of space exploration". Russell replies that it just acted contrary to its purpose by killing some of the
Excalibur’s crew. Colossus recognizes this, so it shuts itself down. However in doing so it also shuts down all the ship’s systems.
Having permission from the Admiralty, the other ships now close on the
Endeavour to destroy it. While Scott and O’Gorman frantically attempt to regain control of the ship, Russell decides to let the ship drift with shields down, hoping that Jellicoe will investigate what the situation is aboard the Endeavour. The gamble pays off as Jellicoe orders his ships to stand down at the last moment and beams a boarding party onto the
Endeavour’s bridge.
EDIT actually need an actor for Turing!