No Kill I

[LMFAOschwarz]

In he Devil in the Dark, the episode begins by hunting a creature that is killing miners on Janus VI. It's all pretty straightforward...but it seems to me that this should have been a game-changer (or at least more so than it was):



At this point, this creature was revealed to be intelligent and communicative. I realize it's a Next Generation term, but shouldn't this have become a first contact situation? They're no longer "hunting a tiger", so to speak. The dimensions and implications of 'No Kill I' speaks to a much more complicated situation. I don't recall that being addressed. Doesn't the Prime Directive forbid informing the indigenous ones of life on other worlds, space travel, etc.?

 

[Melakon]

She was already aware of strange visitors from another planet when the miners reached her territory. She may not have been aware of their origin, but she knew they were hostile from her perspective. Contamination already existed.

 

[Metryq]

The Horta also took the pump from the mining colony's reactor—"delicately" removing it without severely damaging the rest of the unit. I'd say that's so sophisticated the Horta may already be aware of life on other planets. Perhaps the Horta also have a sophisticated civilization with technology—not that we'd recognize it. Considering their composition, they might not have the need for artificial radios, computers and such devices—they may be able to do it natively. I'd say the Horta are already ahead of the Federation on many counts.

 

[T'Girl]

It's somewhat surprising that the miners were allowed to stay, given the prime directive. While intelligent, the Hortas are obviously non-technological beings who lack warp drive.

Unless the PD doesn't apply to the miners.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Worked out a deal with the Horta.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

The Horta also took the pump from the mining colony's reactor—"delicately" removing it without severely damaging the rest of the unit. I'd say that's so sophisticated the Horta may already be aware of life on other planets. Perhaps the Horta also have a sophisticated civilization with technology—not that we'd recognize it. Considering their composition, they might not have the need for artificial radios, computers and such devices—they may be able to do it natively. I'd say the Horta are already ahead of the Federation on many counts.

That's exactly what I was curious about.

I, too, was left with the impression that the Horta had a grasp of advanced ideas...but oddly, I don't think it's really implied in the episode. Intelligent and knowledgeable aren't quite the same. Spock spoke well of the Horta at the end, based on his 'exchange' with her. But earlier in the episode, it was unknown whether the Horta was on the level of, say, the Metrons, or Jojo Krako.

 

[Metryq]

it was unknown whether the Horta was on the level of, say, the Metrons, or Jojo Krako.

"Say, that's a nice reactor you got there. It'd be terrible if something were to happen to it."

Horta protection fees.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

it was unknown whether the Horta was on the level of, say, the Metrons, or Jojo Krako.

"Say, that's a nice reactor you got there. It'd be terrible if something were to happen to it."

Horta protection fees.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I think it's safe to say that the Horta was extremely intelligent. Or, to put it another way: Hortas rock.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

I think it's safe to say that the Horta was extremely intelligent. Or, to put it another way: Hortas rock.

Yeah...but who rocks more? The Horta, or the Excalbian?

 

[Push The Button]

A few of the novels actually have Hortas that are serving in Starfleet, with at least one serving on the Enterprise.

 

[scotpens]

I know its appearance has been compared to everything from pizza to lasagna, but the Horta always reminded me of my mom's tomato meatloaf.

 

[Timewalker]

A few of the novels actually have Hortas that are serving in Starfleet, with at least one serving on the Enterprise.

Ensign Naraht, or as Ael (one of the Romulans) called him, "Ensign Rock."

 

[Joel_Kirk]

it was unknown whether the Horta was on the level of, say, the Metrons, or Jojo Krako.

"Say, that's a nice reactor you got there. It'd be terrible if something were to happen to it."

Horta protection fees.

it was unknown whether the Horta was on the level of, say, the Metrons, or Jojo Krako.

"Say, that's a nice reactor you got there. It'd be terrible if something were to happen to it."

Horta protection fees.

I can imagine the Horta, with a Chicago accent, saying that....

 

[Ithekro]

I liked Ensign Naraht in the novels and comics. I also seem to recall a fan ship that was called "USS NO KILL I" that was basically a giant rock with a warp core and nacelles on it for an entirely Horta crew as a full member of the Federation.

 

[Commishsleer]

It's somewhat surprising that the miners were allowed to stay, given the prime directive. While intelligent, the Hortas are obviously non-technological beings who lack warp drive.

Unless the PD doesn't apply to the miners.

The miners shouldn't have been allowed to stay unless the Federation considered the Horta advanced enough to say join the Federation.
I know that usually means Warp Drive but since the 'contamination' had already happened perhaps exception were allowed, especially when Federation interests were involved.
Certainly Kirk should have kicked the miners off the planet if the Horta demanded it.

 

[Melakon]

Although the Federation has a non-interference statute regarding members, the Prime Directive seems to apply mostly to Starfleet. In some cases, it can be waived depending on the civilization. Penalties can also be waived if contamination occurred before the rule was activated, or if accidental.

The last two would seem to apply in the Janus VI case, as the mining colony had been there 50 years, and we don't really know when the Directive went into effect, at least at the time of production for the episode.

But as mentioned, commercial rights were determined by the planet's native representative, so it wouldn't seem to apply to the mining operation.

 

[Marsden]

In he Devil in the Dark, the episode begins by hunting a creature that is killing miners on Janus VI. It's all pretty straightforward...but it seems to me that this should have been a game-changer (or at least more so than it was):



At this point, this creature was revealed to be intelligent and communicative. I realize it's a Next Generation term, but shouldn't this have become a first contact situation? They're no longer "hunting a tiger", so to speak. The dimensions and implications of 'No Kill I' speaks to a much more complicated situation. I don't recall that being addressed. Doesn't the Prime Directive forbid informing the indigenous ones of life on other worlds, space travel, etc.?

Why do you pick that moment, the result of limited contact with Spock that already occured, and not an earlier moment, like when Kirk and the Horta were just staring at each other. I still wonder why the Horta removed the pump instead of destroying it. Maybe she felt it necessary fighting a war but not genocide.

But more to the point,

The Horta is intelligent, peaceful, mild. She had no objection to sharing this planet with you, till you broke into her nursery and started destroying her eggs.

I don't think the Prime Directive applies. I hardly ever does because it's a foolish rule. Otherwise, why bother to seek out new life and new civilizations and strange new worlds, just so you can say, well that's nice, but we can ever talk to them or go there again? No one else follows the prime directive. Hi mr. primitive civilization, we don't want to influence you, but see that Klingon battlecruiser, they have an occupation force and will make you slaves to the Empire, but we won't interfere.

 

[Melakon]

Hi mr. primitive civilization, we don't want to influence you, but see that Klingon battlecruiser, the have an occupation force and will make you slaves to the Empire, but we won't interfere.

Which is exactly what Kirk tries to do in "Errand of Mercy", and it backfires.

 

[Marsden]

Your're right, but I don't think he could have succeded. What if Aylebourne said yes immediately? The Klingon fleet showed up about 10 to 15 minutes later anyway.