Hello and welcome to this week's episode of Trek Politics.

I'm Eric Trump here with my friend and co-host Bob Sesska.

Bob, we have an episode to discuss today that is, well, what's the word you would use to describe it?

Frustrating. The Organians are very, very frustrating.

Spoilers ahead, as always. This is Ernd of Mercy, one of the final episodes of season one, written by the great Gene

Coon, directed by John Newland.

Word comes down from Starfleet Command.

Negotiations with the Klingon Empire have broken down.

The Federation is officially at war.

Captain Kirk receives orders to defend the planet Organia to prevent the

Klingons from establishing a base. Suddenly, the Enterprise is attacked by a Klingon D7 battlecruiser

and quickly returns fire, destroying the enemy starship. Arriving in orbit around Organia,

Sulu takes the center seat while Kirk and Spock beam down to the surface.

Soon after they arrive, Spock explains that the pre-industrial society has been technologically

stagnant for thousands of years.

This is where we meet Aleborn, the chairman of the Council of Elders.

The allegedly powerless dignitary leads Captain Kirk to the council chambers where they discuss

the crisis.

Kirk explains to the council that the Klingons are a military dictatorship while the Federation

represents post-scarcity resources and protection.

The pacifistic society stubbornly refuses to join the federation or to

defend itself. The Klingons led by Commander Kaur arrive and quickly occupy the village. Kirk and

...