AllMovie

Captain Kirk vies with a rival Klingon commander in a struggle for the allegiance of an unclaimed planet in this installment of the landmark science fiction series. The Enterprise arrives at the planet after receiving word of the Klingon's presence and finds Krag, a skillful Klingon commander, already deep in negotiations with the planet's civilization. Kirk beams down to the planet to present the Federation's side of the case. On the planet, however, he is shocked to witness the beginnings of a ritual killing and intervenes to save the intended victim, a pregnant woman named Eleen. But this intended act of kindness may turn out to be a crucial mistake: not only does it convince the planet's people that Kirk has no respect for their traditions, it is also a serious violation of Federation policy. The conflicted captain must now attempt to undo the damage and win over the planet while still protecting the woman's life.