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In this episode of the enduringly popular science fiction series, the starship Enterprise, while on a peaceful recruiting mission, becomes trapped in the middle of an interplanetary war with no weapons or battles, but very real casualties. When a landing party led by Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock arrives on the surface of Eminiar 7, they are immediately informed by a planetary official -- much to their confusion -- that they are the war's latest victims. Eventually they discover the reason behind this odd statement, as it becomes clear that the civilizations of Eminiar 7 and nearby Vendikar are waging war via computer simulation. Once the computer determines the number of casualties in each attack, a matching number of citizens submit themselves to voluntary execution. The planet's inhabitants cling tight to their seemingly insane system, holding Kirk and the others hostage, threatening to force them -- and, eventually, the entire Enterprise -- to submit to their own destruction. Their situation appears increasingly hopeless, even when a high-ranking Federation ambassador lands on the planet to attempt a rescue.