THE PRIME DIRECTIVE

MAIN DISCUSSION

HOW ASYLUM AFFECTS THE PRIME DIRECTIVE

If a person requests asylum e.g. by making the request to a Starfleet commanding officer, the Prime Directive is in practice suspended and Starfleet's regulations about asylum take over. This includes giving a Starfleet starship captain the authority to conduct an asylum hearing, as happens with Janeway in [#34 Death Wish] when a member of the Q Continuum requests asylum. She has to grant his request even though the member of the Q informs her that if he wins he will commit suicide, an act which would drastically upset the nature of the Q. The member of the Q says: "I am officially asking you, Captain, to grant me asylum and give me protection from my enemies, which is him." He points at Q who also represents the rest of the Q beings. Eventually Janeway agrees: "When the captain of a Starfleet vessel receives an official request for asylum there is a clear procedure to follow. I suggest, to end your deadlock and to save my ship, that we follow it to the letter."

Q, Janeway chairing the asylum hearing, and the member of the Q seeking asylum [#34 Death Wish] Incidentally, the latter character is played by actor Gerrit Graham, who plays the hunter of Tosk, shown below, in [DS9: Captive Pursuit].

When Janeway gives her decision, it is in favour of the asylum-seeker, who, on becoming mortal, adopts the name Quinn. He commits suicide, aided by Q who admires his courage and conviction. The suicide does indeed interfere significantly in the natural condition (not evolution apparently; as Quinn claims the Q are stagnating) of the Q Continuum, and the serious consequences are seen in the story's sequel [#53 The Q And The Gray], all the result of Janeway having the authority to ignore the Prime Directive in favour of granting an individual asylum.

In [DS9: Captive Pursuit], Commander Sisko realises that under the Prime Directive he cannot interfere with the hunting of Tosk as it part of the culture of both the hunters and of Tosk himself. Sisko says: "Under the Prime Directive we have no right to interfere." But then Kira says: "What if Tosk were to request asylum?" Sisko's demeanour indicates that would entitle Starfleet to interfere, saying meaningfully: "If he asks for it." At that O'Brien rushes off to see Tosk about it. Tosk refuses to ask for asylum, but if he had done Sisko would have extended him full protection, and that would have countered the Prime Directive considerations of earlier.

The lead hunter faces Tosk, who hangs his head in shame. Sisko challenges the hunter when he learns that Tosk is prey. After talking with the lead hunter privately Sisko announces that he cannot help Tosk due to the Prime Directive. Kira suggests that Tosk ask for asylum. Tosk proudly refuses to ask for asylum. [DS9: Captive Pursuit] Incidentally, the hunter of Tosk is played by actor Gerrit Graham, who plays the member of the Q seeking asylum, shown above, in [#34 Death Wish].