The shuttlecraft Galileo, commanded by Spock, crashed on the hostile planet Taurus II, testing his logical leadership while the Enterprise raced against time to find it.
While investigating the quasar-like phenomenon Murasaki 312, the shuttlecraft Galileo with seven crew aboard was pulled off course and crashed on Taurus II. Spock was in command. Large creatures on the planet killed two of the crew, and the others questioned his cold, logical approach. The Enterprise searched for them under pressure from High Commissioner Ferris, who demanded that it leave to deliver urgent medical supplies to Makus III.
With their orbit failing, Spock deliberately jettisoned and ignited the Galileo's fuel as a flare. The Enterprise, already leaving, saw it and beamed up the survivors just before the shuttle burned up. Spock described the act as logical.