Note: This is response to Jungle Kitty's challenge to write about a small bit of business. In the episode "A Taste of Armageddon" there was one thing that I always wondered about (actually there were lots of odd moments in that ep.). Thanks to JK for the opportunity to try to explain what I think was an inconsistency.
Diplomats and Deceptions
Lieutenant Uhura, chief communications officer aboard the Starship Enterprise, turned to her captain with a smile on her face.
"Message from Eminiar VII, Captain. Ambassador Fox reports negotiations are underway with Vendicar. Outlook-hopeful."
Captain Kirk swiveled his command chair to face her before he replied. "Glad to hear it. I really hope Ambassador Fox succeeds. There are so many lives on the line." The captain paused. He seemed to be debating with himself whether to continue. Kirk straightened in his command chair as he often did before raising a subject that might be difficult or controversial. His crew was well aware of their captain's demeanor. They waited to hear what he would say next. He did not disappoint them.
"Lieutenant, there's something about this mission that still bothers me." The captain got up and moved to stand near the communications station. "How did the Eminians get hold of a Federation code?"
"Sir?" Uhura's smile turned to a puzzled frown.
"When we first approached Eminiar VII, they broadcasted a Code 7-10. That's the Federation code that requires that we stay away. How did the Eminiars get hold of that code if they never had contact with the Federation before the Enterprise's visit?"
Mr. Spock lifted his head from the science monitor. "What are you suggesting, Captain? Do you suspect that Eminiar VII had in fact been in communication with Federation diplomats before our mission?
"I do indeed, Mr. Spock. I can't think of any other explanation for the Code 710. Someone must have given the Eminiars the ability to communicate with the Federation. That means that Federation personnel must have known about the war and yet did nothing to stop the slaughter in this system. It's possible that millions of people have died on Vendicar and here who might have been saved if someone had intervened earlier."
There was silence on the bridge as the command crew absorbed the captain's chilling contention. Kirk was not finished. His anger was evident with his next words.
"The possibility of a previous Federation contact raises a second issue. This is not the only time that the Diplomatic Corps has failed to brief this ship adequately. We weren't warned that the Gorn considered our outpost on Cestus to be a violation of their space and the ship was nearly lost as a result. This time we were not warned that the Enterprise was about to enter a war zone and again my ship and crew were place in unnecessary danger."
"But, Captain, I fail to see why the Diplomatic Service would not choose to brief us on previous contacts with this system?" Mr. Spock raised his eyebrow in the only manner he had to express his confusion. What the captain was suggesting challenged his view of the Federation and its diplomats.
"We'll never really know the truth. If I were foolish enough to confront the powers that be, they'd only deny their involvement." Kirk smiled at his first officer as he continued. "My best guess, Mr. Spock, is that if Ambassador Fox was not successful in his attempt to persuade the Eminians to open their planet to a Federation outpost, the diplomats could blame the failure on Starfleet and the Enterprise. They preserve their precious reputations and make us look like the failures. If only the Diplomatic Service was half as clever in its negotiations as in its machinations."
The captain walked back to his command chair and sat down heavily. He was silent for a moment as if the weight of all those deaths in the past and all the possible deaths in the future rested on his shoulders. He shrugged and straightened. "Ahead warp factor one. Let's get out of here."
Spock thought that perhaps this was not the appropriate time to tell Captain Kirk that Sarek, his father, was a Vulcan ambassador. He felt sure that a better opportunity would present itself in the future.
The End