When an alien spacecraft of enormous power is spotted approaching Earth, Admiral Kirk resumes command of the Starship Enterprise in order to intercept, examine and hopefully stop the intruder.

[Kirk sees Spock crying for V'ger]
Commander Spock: Each of us... at some time in our lives, turns to someone - a father, a brother, a God... and asks..."Why am I here? What was I meant to be?"
Captain James T. Kirk: Well, for a man who swore he'd never return to the Starfleet...
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: Just a moment, Captain, sir. I'll explain what happened. Your revered Admiral Nogura invoked a little-known, seldom-used "reserve activation clause." In simpler language, Captain, they DRAFTED me!
Captain James T. Kirk: [In mock horror] They didn't.
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: This was your idea. This was your idea, wasn't it?
Captain James T. Kirk: Bones, there's a... thing... out there.
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: Why is any object we don't understand always called "a thing"?
Captain James T. Kirk: Let's take a look. Full sensor scan, Mr. Spock. They can't expect us not to look them over now.
Commander Willard Decker: Now that we're looking down their throat.
Captain James T. Kirk: Right, now that we've got them just where they want us.
[last lines]
Chief DiFalco: Heading, sir?
Captain James T. Kirk: Out there... thataway.
[after Spock comments that, mentally, V'ger is a child]
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: Spock, this "child" is about to wipe out every living thing on Earth. Now, what do you suggest we do? Spank it?
Commander Spock: It knows only that it needs, Commander. But, like so many of us... it does not know what.
[Kirk apologizes for assuming command over Captain Decker]
Captain James T. Kirk: I'm sorry, Will.
Commander Willard Decker: No, Admiral. I don't think you're sorry. Not one damned bit. I remember when you recommended me for this command. You told me how envious you were and how much you hoped you'd find a way to get a starship command again. Well, sir, it looks like you found a way.
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: Well Jim... I hear Chapel's an M.D. now. Well I'm gonna need a top nurse... not a doctor who'll argue every little diagnosis with me. And they probably redesigned the whole sickbay, too! I know engineers, they LOVE to change things.
Captain James T. Kirk: Well, Bones. Do the new medical facilities meet with your approval?
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: They do not. It's like working in a damn computer center.
Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: Well, it's been a long time since I delivered a baby. I hope we got this one off to a good start.
Captain James T. Kirk: I hope so, too. I think we gave it the ability to create its own sense of purpose out of our own human weaknesses, and the drive that compels us to overcome them.
[a transporter accident has just occurred]
Transporter chief: Enterprise, what we got back didn't live long... fortunately.
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: [Walking up to Spock] So help me, I'm actually pleased to see you!
[the crew realise that V'ger wishes to physically join with its creator]
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: Touch God...? V'Ger's liable to be in for one hell of a disappointment.
Commander Willard Decker: We all create God in our own image.
Commander Willard Decker: [shouting] Don't interfere with it!
Lt. Pavel Chekov: Absolutely I will not interfere.
Commander Willard Decker: V'ger... expects an answer.
Captain James T. Kirk: An answer? I don't know the question.
Commander Spock: V'Ger must evolve. Its knowledge has reached the limits of this universe and it must evolve. What it requires of its god, doctor, is the answer to its question, "Is there nothing more"?
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: What more is there than the universe, Spock?
Commander Willard Decker: Other dimensions. Higher levels of being.
Commander Spock: The existence of which cannot be proven logically. Therefore, V'Ger is incapable of believing in them.
Captain James T. Kirk: What it needs in order to evolve... is a human quality. Our capacity to leap beyond logic.
Commander Willard Decker: And joining with its creator might accomplish that.
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: You mean this machine wants to physically join with a human? Is that possible?
Commander Willard Decker: Let's find out.
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: [referring to Spock's time on Vulcan] Yes, you were undergoing the "Kolanear" discipline.
Commander Spock: If you are referring to the Kolinahr, Doctor, you are correct.
Lt. Ilia: [Ilia the probe] You are the Kirk Unit. You will listen to me.
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: Spock, you haven't changed a bit. You're just as warm and sociable as ever.
Commander Spock: Nor have you, doctor, as your continued predilection for irrelevancy demonstrates.
[Kirk has just gotten command back of the Enterprise]
Lt. Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu: He wanted her back. He got her.
Alien Ensign: And Captain Decker? He's been with this ship every minute of her refitting.
Lieutenant Commander Nyota Uhura: Ensign, the possibilities of our returning from this mission in one piece may... have just doubled.
[first lines]
Klingon captain: [giving an order in Klingon] Tactical...
[Decker announces his intention to merge with V'ger]
Commander Willard Decker: Jim, I want this. As much as you wanted the Enterprise, I want this.
Captain James T. Kirk: Damn it, Bones, I need you. Badly!
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: [V'ger begains striking the Enterprise] Well Mr. Spock... your "child" is having a tantrum.
[in Vulcan]
Vulcan master: Our ancestors cast out their animal passions here on these sands, saving our race through the attainment of Kolinahr.
Vulcan master: Kolinahr - through which all emotion is renounced and shed.
Vulcan master: You have labored long, Spock, and proved yourself worthy to receive from us this symbol of total logic.
[Spock rejects the Kolinahr pendant]
Vulcan master: Your thoughts... give them to me.
[she mind-melds with Spock]
Vulcan master: I sense this consciousness calling to you from space... your human blood is touched by it.
[pulls away]
Vulcan master: You have not yet achieved Kolinahr. He must search elsewhere for his answer. He will not find it with us. Live long and prosper, Spock.
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: Jim, we're down to ten minutes!
Captain James T. Kirk: Evaluation, Mr. Spock.
Commander Spock: Fascinating.
Lieutenant Commander Nyota Uhura: Captain, our final six replacements are ready to beam aboard, but one of them is refusing to step into the transporter.
Captain James T. Kirk: Oh! I'll make sure he beams up!
[Steps into the Turbolift]
Decker: I'm sure the Captain didn't mean anything personal.
Lt. Ilia: I would never take advantage of a sexually immature species. You can assure him that's the truth, can't you?
Lt. Pavel Chekov: No casualties reported, Doctor.
Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: Wrong, Mr. Chekov. There are casualties: my wits!
Captain James T. Kirk: Spock.
Commander Spock: Jim. I should have known.
Commander Spock: Any show of resistance would be futile, Captain.
Cmdr. Montgomery "Scotty" Scott: The crew hasn't had near enough transition time with all the new equipment. And the engines, they're not even tested at warp power. And an untried captain.
Captain James T. Kirk: Two and a half years as Chief of Starfleet Operations may have made me a little stale, but I wouldn't consider myself untried... They gave her back to me, Scotty.
Cmdr. Montgomery "Scotty" Scott: Gave her back, sir? I doubt it was that easy with Nogura.
Captain James T. Kirk: [in a mock Scottish accent] You're right.
[both laugh]
Lieutenant Commander Nyota Uhura: It could hold a crew of... tens of thousands.
Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.: Or a crew of a thousand ten miles tall.
Captain James T. Kirk: Yeoman, what was the problem down there?
Yeoman: He insisted we go first, Sir. He said something about first seeing how it scrambled our molecules.
Captain James T. Kirk: [to Rand] That has a familiar ring, doesn't it?
[keys intercom]
Captain James T. Kirk: Starfleet, this is Captain Kirk. Beam that officer up now.
Captain James T. Kirk: Mr. Scott, an alien object of unbelievable destructive power is less than two days away from this planet. The only starship in interception range is the Enterprise. Ready or not, she launches in twelve hours.
Commander Spock: Jim... This... simple feeling is beyond V'ger's comprehension.
Lt. Ilia: My oath of celibacy is on record, Captain.