Date: 2286

The first Federation ship to encounter the mysterious Probe was the USS Saratoga, which, like several other vessels, was disabled by its powerful transmissions. After reaching Earth, the Probe shut down Spacedock One and the Excelsior, then began transmitting into the oceans with such energy that it started evaporating seawater and disrupting the atmosphere, causing worldwide power failures. The Federation President issued a distress signal warning all ships to avoid Earth, which was received by Admiral Kirk aboard the captured Klingon HMS Bounty. Spock deduced that the Probe’s signal was aimed at Earth’s oceans and resembled the calls of extinct humpback whales. He theorized the Probe had been sent by an alien intelligence that once communicated with whales and was seeking them. Unable to destroy or approach the Probe, the crew concluded that only actual humpback whales could respond. Kirk decided to travel back in time, retrieve whales from 1986, and return with them to 2286. When the whales responded to the Probe’s call, it departed peacefully, restoring Earth’s atmosphere and returning power to disabled ships.