USS Enterprise
Bridge

"Chairman Cho's shuttle is leaving." Uhura announced.

Kirk nodded. "Put us in standard above Pantora, Mr. Sulu."

"Aye sir."

Kirk turned to Spock and McCoy who were at the science station. "Spock, anything happening?"

"Scans have detected several ships leaving Pantora's surface and heading for Orto Plutonia." Spock answered.

"All this because the Chairman is angry that there is a settlement on the planet that they never found. What kind of madman do these people have as a chairman?" McCoy questioned.

"Chairman Cho is what you would call a patriot, Doctor." Spock stated. "He loves his planet, he loves his people and the mere thought of any perceived act against his people infuriates him, much like how the Talz having a settlement on a planet he considers his jurisdiction to be a slight against him."

"So that gives him to deliberately start a war to wipe them out?" McCoy scoffed. "That's not something you would find a rational man."

"I never said Chairman Cho was rational. His actions are quite illogical." Spock replied. "If my knowledge of ancient human history is correct, this would be similar to the Battle of Little Bighorn, during the Great Sioux War of 1876."

"A battle fought by the former United States Army and a coalition of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes." Kirk recalled. "The tribes were in a location without consent from the local Crow tribe which had a treaty in that area. The tribe called for U.S. for military action against the native intruders but ended in a disaster for them and an overwhelming victory for the native tribes."

"What does a history lesson have to do with this?" McCoy asked.

"Chairman Cho's actions heavily reminiscent of the American Frontier Wars, that of a foreign nation with no rightful claim or need for a chunk of land, tried to eradicate an indigenous population to claim it. It is a mark in human history that has left a stain on many countries on Earth, even to this day. Many have ancestors who were enslaved or killed because of colonialism and many others have to live with the fact their ancestors instigated these conflicts." Spock answered. "The Pantorans may have a spiritual connection to Orto Plutonia but they have no claim or need of it. Aside from the Talz, no one lives on that planet, and it has nothing to offer in trade with any other planets."

"And Chairman Cho is going to wipe everyone for the sake of his own pride." Kirk frowned. "He was even spouting that same colonial rhetoric that was justified in those days. How natives were initially as savages, even though that was far from the case. And we've all seen the Talz are anything but savages. They can be provoked into aggression, but they want simply to be left alone."

"Indeed. They have a complex, language, a thriving culture and much greater sense than a so-called savage." Spock agreed. "If they were in our galaxy, the Federation would allow them to keep their planet and we would be ensuring there would be no technological contamination or outside interference."

"But we can't do it here. We're not in Federation space." Kirk sighed. "All we can hope is that Papanoida family convinces the Speaker and the Assembly to call of this attack."

"And what if they can't? What if they agree with Chairman Cho and want the Talz wiped out? Do we stand by and let that happen?" McCoy questioned.

"The Prime Directive is clear in this matter, Doctor." Spock replied.

"Is it? It's not about rules or regulations, Spock. An innocent tribe being wiped out to sooth one man's fragile ego is as much interference to them than us giving the Talz firearms. The Pantorans have no claim to this planet so they can't claim it as an internal matter." McCoy argued. "If the Talz ask for help, who are we to say no?"

"Are you suggesting we intervene?" Spock raised an eyebrow.

"Well like I said, they believe the planet is theirs and they don't consider themselves part of the Pantoran government. So how can it be an internal affair if it's between two difference races?" McCoy asked.

"Maybe so but if they declare war, we can't assist either side." Kirk pointed out. "All I could do at the moment is set up a meeting the Chairman and the Talz chief."

"I doubt the Chairman will consider any kind of action." Spock stated.

Kirk brought a hand to his chin. "Maybe, but the doctor might have a point. Uhura, contact Commodore April and advice him and the Talz of what is happening."

"Aye sir."

Pantoran Defense Ship
Cockpit

Chairman Cho had already gathered his best men who were members of the Pantoran defense force. While Pantora didn't have an army, it still had trained its own security guards to handle criminals and pirates. The shuttle and several more were already en route to Orto Plutonia to eliminate the Talz infesting their planet.

"Chairman," The pilot called from the cockpit. "We are picking up a signal from the Enterprise."

"Ignore it." Cho waved it off.

As far as he was concerned, the Enterprise was useless to the people of Pantora. They offered nothing to them and no solution to getting rid of the intruding Talz.

"Sir, the Enterprise-"

"I said ignore it!" Cho barked.

"They're blocking us!"

"What?!" Cho got out of his seat and approached the cockpit, looking through the viewport to see the Enterprise was now in front of the Pantoran shuttles approaching the planet. "Contact them now!"

The pilot opened a channel but since there was no holographic transceiver on the Enterprise there was no form of visual communication.

"This is Chairman Cho, to the intruding vessel Enterprise. You are interfering in an internal affair. Leave now or risk Pantora declaring war." Cho stated.

"This is Admiral Kirk responding, Mr. Chairman and I'm afraid we can't do that. The Talz have expressed their wishes to apply as a protectorate of the Federation. Even if we are in another galaxy, I am honor bound to accept their request. As of now, Orto Plutonia is under protection of the United Federation of Planets." Kirk answered.

"I am Chairman of this system! That planet is under MY jurisdiction!" Cho barked into the intercom, slowly becoming angry beyond words.

"I'm afraid you are wrong, Chairman. The Talz, as a sentient race have a right to this planet. More right than you given that they have been here longer. They have the right to decide who they become a protectorate of." Kirk calmly replied.

"Those animals have no rights!" Cho snarled, his hands curling into fists.

"They are not animals, they are sentient beings who have proven to be more civilized and hospitable than you, Chairman. If they were the animal or savages that you see them as, we would have been dead as soon as we stepped foot on the planet." Kirk retorted. "You can make any claim you want, Chairman but at the end of the day, the only reason you seek to start a war with the indigenous is to soothe your own pride. That is not the response of a civilized society. That would be what we consider to be the response of spoiled children."

Cho's eyes widened at the sheer audacity of this human talking down to him before they narrowed into a hateful glare at the Enterprise. "I knew it was a mistake to invite you here. You're planning to spread your Federation through the entire galaxy and Orto Plutonia, our planet is first staging ground! All Pantoran defense ship, open fire on the Enterprise!"

"But Chairman-"

"I said FIRE!" Cho shoved the pilot out of the seat and took the controls.

He aimed the forward weapons, two simple blaster cannons at the Enterprise and fired. The red bolts collided with the shields, causing little to no damage at all. Cho continued to fire as the other Pantoran ships, three in total began to fire as well. However, the Enterprise's graviton shields had held up against three Trade Federation ships and their droid fighters just fine, so they were in relatively no danger.

Cho kept firing, his sense of reason completely leaving him as he continued attacking.

To him, the Enterprise was not just a threat to the sovereignty of Pantora but to their very way of life.

USS Enterprise
Bridge

"Well, that escalated quickly." McCoy said dryly, watching as the four Pantoran ships, small enough to be considered the size of an attack shuttle or runabout, continued firing. "I have the feeling the Chairman of Pantora was insulted."

"That would be understatement, Doctor." Spock said from the science station. "Minor power loss on forward shields by one percent, Admiral."

Kirk smiled. "Well, so as long as the Chairman is focused on us and not on the Talz, we don't have to worry about a war being declared and having to withdraw to avoid being caught up in it."

"Sir, there is a transmission coming from Pantora." Uhura spoke up. "It's addressed to Chairman Cho."

Pantoran Ship
Cockpit

"Chairman! Chairman!" The co-pilot called out, trying to get Cho's attention as he continued firing. "We are picking up a call from Pantora! It's the Speaker!"

Cho glanced at the co-pilot. "Well, answer it!"

The co-pilot did so and a holographic image of the Speaker standing next to Chi. "Chairman Chi Cho, the Assembly has been called to order regarding the news of the Talz on Orto Plutonia."

"Good. Send as many of our security forces as you can. The Enterprise is protecting them from us. They must be expelled from our system immediately." Cho stated, pleased by the news.

But not for long.

"It seems you misunderstand, Chairman. The Assembly has decided your actions are out of order. Stand down your attack on both the Talz and the Enterprise. Senator Chi has been given the authority to negotiate a peaceful settlement between the sovereign planet of Pantora and the Talz." The Speaker stated.

Cho was dumbfounded. "P-Peace?! With animals infesting our planet! Have you gone mad?!"

"No, but I fear that might be the case for you, Chairman." The Speaker retorted calmly. "You would not even be aware of the Talz on Orto Plutonia if not for the Enterprise. Without them, it would be unlikely they would ever be discovered. Given how long they might have been there and there has been no harm from it, it's unlikely they ever would have harmed us."

"They have taken a planet that is under our jurisdiction! My jurisdiction!" Cho pointed ahead at the Enterprise. "You're giving our planet to animals and outsiders!"

"Enough, Chairman. You have attempted to declare on two foreign powers in one day, both without provocation. Your actions have been deemed out of order and you are summoned back to explain yourself." The Speaker stated before turning to Chi. "I trust you have no issue in negotiating peace on our behalf."

"None, Mr. Speaker." Chi said with a smile, bowing her head.

"Peace! Never! I am the Chairman of this system; I will not be summoned back to explain myself when I fighting to protect my people!" Cho slammed his fists on the consoles.

"Then as Speaker, I relieve you of your authority as Chairman. I call on our Pantoran defenders to stand down and arrest the former Chairman for his actions." The Speaker said loudly.

"No, no, NO!" The Chairman shouted as the Pantoran ships aside from his ceased firing. "YOU CANNOT DO THIS! I AM FIGHTING FOR YOU AND OUR PEOPLE!"

"We never asked you to fight for us against people who have done nothing to warrant it." Chi stated with a glare.

"They are the enemy!" Cho shouted as the Pantoran guards behind him grabbed him. "Stop! You can't arrest me!"

Cho was dragged out of the pilot seat and taken to the back of the ship. The pilot returned to his seat and turned the ship around, returning to Pantora along with the others.

USS Enterprise
Bridge

"The Pantoran ships are returning to their planet, Admiral." Spock informed.

Kirk let out a sigh of relief. "I guess the Pantorans really are civilized as they claim to be."

"Aside from their Chairman." McCoy commented, standing next to Kirk. "Almost sad."

Kirk looked at McCoy. "What do you find sad, Bones?"

"Clearly Chairman Cho has been leading his people for a very long time. He must have been seen as a great leader to his people, no matter how he acted. Now it looks like his career is over and his own actions might have damaged his legacy beyond repair." McCoy explained. "And at the end of the day, he believed he was doing the right thing with no hesitation or second thought. How long do think it takes for a man who spent a lifetime serving his people to believe his way is the right way so absolutely that he refuses to hear any arguments."

"I doubt time is a factor in this matter, Doctor." Spock stated. "Chairman Cho, simply believed that as Chairman, his decision was the only one that mattered. It did not have to be right or wrong in his eyes, only that it was done by his will."

"So, you say every decision a Vulcan makes, no matter if it's right or wrong, it only matters if it is logical?" McCoy questioned, looking at Spock now.

"Every decision a Vulcan will make will be based on the logic provided to them at the current scenario. If they are 'right' or 'wrong' as you put it, Doctor, it would only be because they decided on the most logical outcome they can find." Spock answered.

Kirk suddenly chuckled, making both look at him. "Suddenly, I am remembering what I was told on the planet where I fought the Gorn. The Metron appeared to me and asked me if I wanted to destroy his ship because I had won."

"And you didn't." McCoy recalled.

"I didn't and the Metron was pleased by that. Mercy is not a weakness, Bones but it doesn't make us perfect. As the Metron, we're at least still only half savage and I guess that applies to even other entirely different galaxies as well." Kirk admitted with a smile. "But in the meantime, we should inform Commodore April that we've managed to stop a war from happening."