Enterprise is chosen as the testbed for the revolutionary M-5 computer. The machine's inventor, Richard Daystrom, claims it can take control of a starship, freeing men for less dangerous and more rewarding work. It all depends on whether his breakthrough technology, multitronics, is as powerful and capable as he says. After a few exercises, Spock begins to wonder exactly how multitronics works - for the M-5 does not react as computers typically do.