%%
%%Image removed via crowner in the Moments Images Cleanup Thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/crowner.php?crowner_id=6e8e8z6a
%%https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1642193091068711500
%%Please use the Image Suggestion thread or start a new Image Pickin' thread to discuss a new image.

* Course heading, Captain?
** "If I were human, I believe my response would be 'Go to ''hell'' '." ''({{beat}})'' "''If'' I were human."
** "Second star to the right ...and straight on till morning."
* The cast's signatures appearing at the start of the credits. A beautiful gift to the fans from the original crew's final outing.
* Sulu blatantly disregarding Starfleet orders to help Kirk and the others on the Enterprise. He may now be TheCaptain of the other ship, but he's still part of the crew.
** The ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "Flashback" adds a little extra heartwarming for good measure.
--->'''Sulu''': You'll find that more happens on the bridge of a starship than just carrying out orders and observing regulations. There is a sense of loyalty to the men and women you serve with; a sense of family. Those two men on trial... I served with them for a long time. I owe them my life a dozen times over. And right now they're in trouble, and I'm going to help them; let the regulations be damned.\\
'''Tuvok''': Sir, that is a most illogical line of reasoning.\\
'''Sulu''': You better believe it. Helm, engage!
** Building off that, that last shot of the Enterprise crew, with the helm seat empty, indicating that it is still Sulu's seat, despite him having his own captain's chair - he's still part of this family.
** Although it's a tense scene, it demonstrates Sulu's UndyingLoyalty to his old crew. The ''Enterprise'' is getting stomped by Chang, ''Excelsior'' is on the way, but still several minutes out at maximum warp. Keep in mind that according to both WordOfGod and supplemental materials, Sulu's command is everything he's ever wanted in life. ''Excelsior'''s helmsman warns that she'll fly apart if they push the warp drive any harder. Sulu, knowing his friends are in mortal danger, snarls, "Well, fly her apart, then!"
* Worf's grandfather showing that honor runs in the family by valiantly doing his duty as the defense councilor during Kirk and [=McCoy's=] KangarooCourt trial.
** The novelization actually has [=McCoy=] mentally note that the trial is a KangarooCourt - in fact, ''everyone'' knows it's a KangarooCourt - and Colonel Worf is ''still'' doing his damnest to defend them as their councilor.
* Kirk summing up his relationship with Spock:
-->'''Kirk''': You're a great one for logic. I'm a great one for rushing in where angels fear to tread. We're both extremists. Reality's somewhere in between.
* In the climactic battle, Spock turns to [=McCoy=] and asks if he'd like to help him "perform surgery on a torpedo". [=McCoy=]'s response?
-->'''[=McCoy=]''': ''(smile on his face)'' [[BorrowedCatchphrase Fascinating!]]
* At the end, when the Excelsior leaves, [=McCoy=] comments "My God, that's a big ship." Scotty responds, "Not so big as her captain I think", showing how they still consider Sulu part of the Enterprise "family". It's also nice to hear Scotty showing respect to the Excelsior given how dismissive he was of it in Star Trek III and IV.
* In the end, [[TrueCompanions the TOS crew has grown so dear to each other]] that [[GallowsHumor they can joke about saving the Federation]]:
-->'''Kirk:''' [[SoOnceAgainTheDayIsSaved Once again, we've saved civilization as we know it]].\\
'''[=McCoy=]:''' And the good news is they're not going to prosecute.\\
'''Uhura:''' They might as well have prosecuted me. I felt like Lt. Valeris.\\
'''[=McCoy=]:''' Well, they don't prosecute people for having feelings. ''(Jokingly glaring pointedly at Spock)'' \\
'''Chekov:''' Just as well, or we'll all have to turn ourselves in.
* Even as he laid dying from a renegade Starfleet attack, Gorkon still implored Kirk to continue the peace process, saying "Don't let it end [[ThisMeansWar this way]], Captain..." with his last breath. Later, Kirk told [=McCoy=] "Gorkon had to die before I realized how prejudiced I was" and regretted not taking him at his word from the get-go.
* During the Khitomer Conference, an outside shot shows 2 security officers, one Klingon and the other Starfleet, chatting amiably with each other, a sign that peace is possible between the two groups.[[note]]It was actually a [[ThrowItIn unscripted moment]] between two background actors who knew each other that got caught on film.[[/note]]
* Scotty beaming with pride at the ''Enterprise'' engines during the "Clear All Moorings" sequence. It would be the last time he would be manning his station.
* Kirk's speech to Azetbur after saving the President of the Federation. Not only does he finally manage to let go of his hatred of the Klingons over David's murder, she likewise gets past her hatred of humans for her father's death.
-->'''Azetbur:''' What's happened!? What's the meaning of all of this!?\\
'''Kirk:''' It's about the future, Madame Chancellor. Some people think the future means the end of history. Well...we haven't run out of history quite yet. Your father called the future "the undiscovered country". People can be very frightened of change.\\
''(Azetbur glances at Valeris in Spock's custody)''\\
'''Azetbur:''' ...You've restored my father's faith.\\
'''Kirk:''' And you've restored my son's.\\
''(delegates begin a slow clap that amplifies into roaring applause)''
* Kirk having and respecting a photo of his son David, the late Creator/MerrittButrick.
* Gorkon understood Kirk's grudge completely, understood its basis, understood what such a future with peace would entail for him... and didn't hold it against him at all. Gorkon really was TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth.
-->'''Gorkon:'''...You don't trust me, do you? ''(beat)'' I don't blame you. If there is to be a "brave new world", our generation is going to have the hardest time living in it.
* Despite having already been roughed up by the fire-while-cloaked Bird of Prey, the crew of the Enterprise show worry about their comrades on the technologically superior and fresh-to-the-fight ''Excelsior'' as she takes one on the chin.
-->'''Crewman:''' ''Excelsior'''s been hit!\\
''(several bridge crew look at the viewscreen with alarmed concern as the ''Excelsior'' reels from the impact)''
* Some Fridge Heartwarming for the villains: the assassins store their magnetic boots in the ''one locker'' where its owner could never be framed. As cold as they were killing the Chancellor, there was no way they were going to let any Federation member take the fall for their act.
----