THE PRIME DIRECTIVE

STORIES INVOLVING THE PRIME DIRECTIVE

[TOS: Season 2: Mirror Mirror]

SUMMARY: The interference of an Enterprise landing party in a mirror universe indicates that rebellion is likely to occur there in future.

When the Enterprise landing party is accidentally transported during an ion storm to a continuum parallel to and co-existing with our own but on another dimensional plane, in short a mirror universe - almost everything in the mirror universe is duplicated, but in many cases is opposite in nature to its counterpart in our own universe. In the mirror universe, Kirk and the landing party members are mistaken for their counterparts, and learn that the mirror universe is dominated by an oppressive Federation wherein its genocidal Starfleet personnel plot against each other and commit murder to advance in rank. The mirror Captain Kirk, for instance, has orders to obliterate the mirror Halkan species if they do not surrender their dilithium supplies.

the Enterprise landing party is transposed and ends up in the mirror universe, to be greeted by the mirror Lieutenant Kyle and the mirror Spock. The former hands the latter his agoniser so that painful physical punishment can be administered. Uhura goes to the mirror Bridge to find out Kirk's orders. Kirk arrives on the Bridge and is saluted by all the mirror personnel there. After Kirk postpones the destruction of the mirror Halkans, the mirror Chekov tries to assassinate him so as to move up in rank but the attempt is foiled - Chekov's minions are phasered and he is detained.

In the mirror Kirk's quarters, Kirk, McCoy, Spock and Scotty ascertain from experience and the ship's computer what sort of universe they are in, deduce that it is "something parallel" and get the computer to explain how to make the return journey.

The mirror Chekov in the agony booth. The mirror Spock and Kirk discuss the latter's breach of orders.

The mirror Spock informs Kirk that he has received orders to kill him if he does not carry out the Empire's orders (destroy the Halkans if they do not comply). Kirk and the mirror Marlena, the captain's woman, watch the mirror Spock on the Tantalus field, the machine which made the mirror Kirk captain - it can watch anyone and kill them instantly if wished.

Kirk manages to get his landing party returned to their own universe, but before he leaves he has an important conversation with the mirror Spock. The latter believes his brutally oppressive government would inevitably spur a revolt, resulting in a terrible dark age, and Kirk, with his own moral agenda, exploits this belief, urging him to seize command of the mirror Enterprise, save the mirror Halkans and "push 'til it gives". He tells the mirror Spock about the device in his quarters that will give him the "power" that Spock says would also be needed. As the landing party beams out to return to their home ship and universe, the mirror Spock's reply: "I shall consider it," indicates Kirk's success.

Kirk: "You're a man of integrity in both universes, Mr Spock."
Mirror Spock: "You must return to your universe. I must have my captain back. I shall operate the transporter. You have two minutes and ten seconds."
Kirk: "In that time I have something to say. How long before the Halkan prediction of galactic revolt is realised?"
Mirror Spock: "Approximately two hundred and forty years."
Kirk: "The inevitable outcome?"
Mirror Spock: "The Empire shall be overthrown of course."
Kirk: "The illogic of waste, Mr Spock, the waste of lives, potential, resources, time. I submit to you that your Empire is illogical because it cannot endure. I submit that you are illogical to be a willing part of it."
Mirror Spock: "You have one minute and twenty-three seconds."
Kirk: " If change is inevitable, predictable, beneficial, doesn't logic demand that you be a part of it?"
Mirror Spock: "One man cannot summon the future."
Kirk: "But one man can change the present. Be the captain of this Enterprise, Mr Spock. Find a logical reason for sparing the Halkans and make it stick. Push 'til it gives. You can defend yourself better than any man in the fleet."
Scott: "Captain, get in the chamber!"
Kirk: "What about it, Spock?"
Mirror Spock: "A man must also have the power."
Kirk, glances briefly at Mirror Marlena Moreau, the captain's woman: "In my cabin is a device that will make you invincible." He refers to the Tantalus Field which is able to easily spy on or eliminate anyone on the ship.
Mirror Spock: "Indeed?"
Kirk: "What will it be? Past or future? Tyranny or freedom? It's up to you."
Mirror Spock: "It is time."
Kirk takes his place in the transporter chamber: "In every revolution, there's one man with a vision."
Mirror Spock: "Captain Kirk, I shall consider it."
Kirk smiles. The Mirror Spock activates the transporter and returns them to the correct universe.

DISCUSSION: It is arguable whether the Prime Directive applies in parallel or mirror or even alternate universes. If it does apply in the mirror universe, it seems logical to assume that the reasons for it doing so apply in the mirror universe for the same reasons, namely that non-interference is designed to prevent unforeseen repercussions and ensure the natural development of a society. But in the mirror universe the reasons would not be benevolent ones, and this impression is increasingly strengthened by later mirror universe stories, particularly the post-[Voyager] story [Enterprise: Season 4: In A Mirror, Darkly] in which mirror Archer encapsulates the Terrans' belief that "great men are conquerors" (not peace-makers), something he is moved to say upon discovering the nature of his counterpart in the non-mirror universe. Therefore Kirk's action in this story, specifically in motivating Spock towards usurping the mirror Captain Kirk and beyond, form a violation of the Prime Directive. Here, although the mirror universe has attained warp drive, its brutal and genocidal regime moves Kirk to interfere. The result of his interference in the development of another society, that of a parallel universe, is seen in several stories focussed around Deep Space 9 namely [DS9: Crossover], [DS9: Through The Looking Glass], [DS9: Shattered Mirror]. His interference will also have an effect on our own universe, as seen in those [DS9] episodes. It is a matter of speculation how far the oppression of the Terrans in the mirror universe and the lives that are lost during the struggle are directly attributable to Kirk's interference. According to the mirror Spock's assessment, the natural course of events in his society will be an eventual revolt followed by a dark age. It is arguable, and not really for Kirk to judge, whether he should interfere. His interference is based on the assumption that the mirror Empire will fall anyway, and his more important emotional reason that its fall should be hastened. In deciding to interfere, Kirk's concern is not for individual lives but for the saving of lives in general that would otherwise be lost or brutalised under the Empire. When the emotions of the television viewer are engaged, Kirk's action is right, though with reservations given the benefit of hindsight given the situation in the 24th century mirror universe as depicted in [DS9] and its knock-on effects for our own universe.

NOTES: There is a mirror Tuvok who appears in the mirror universe, seen in [DS9: Through The Looking Glass]. He exchanges brief dialogue with Sisko although in that scene the mirror Tuvok believes that Sisko is actually the mirror Sisko. Sulu, though not the mirror Sulu, appears in [#44 Flashback], as captain of the USS Excelsior in 2293.

 

 

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