Mission Idea

[Scotty]

I got this idea while taking a shower.

You know how some of the new showers are like a plastic insert in the wall . . . .

A team of scientics (much like Insurrection) are studying a local planet. The planet is slightly behind our current technology level. Build the alien society to like freedom and life. Maybe they all seem a little niave.

The scientists get discovered and are senticed to life in prison. Our ship is sent to find out why the scientist stoped sending reports. They do the big search thing and find the prison facility.

Okay, this is where the shower come in. The prison is just rows and rows of shower sized compartments. There is a drain for fecal matter and a nozel at top that shots the food. That's it. No light, no sound, no visits, no exiting until your dead, no nothing. For most prisoners in this, life in prison doesn't last long.

Our crew finds the scientist (maybe a few died, depends on how long the crew takes). Does the crew do anything about the prisoners treatment, or do they adhere to the Prime Directive.


Comments?

[C5]

Well... in early TOS, there's few doubts Kirk would have had a word with the leaders of this world and explained... what... the human.... rights... are.
However, given the context you described, I don't think the players would hesitate much (unless they really don't care about the Prime Directive). If this planet is on our technology level, they would beam the surviving scientists out of there and warp away (maybe with a bit of masquerade to have the locals think they died).

However, there may be many ways to twist the plot so that things were not that easy. For instance, the civilisation could be much more advanced, like a few years before inventing warp, and it's entrance in the UFP could be vital (presence dilithium mines or strategical position, etc).