While about the U.S.S. Excelsior, Captain Sulu receives top priority orders to continue by shuttlecraft to Starbase Three. He’s to act as the Federation’s envoy to a historical peace ceremony between the Krikiki and the Den-Kai — both prominent, warring races in that sector. Sulu’s part is to hand over a young Krikiki prince to the Den-Kai as symbolic of serenity, but once Sulu discovers of the physical hardships and isolated existence that are to befall the prince, he’s faced with one of the most hard options of his profession: perform his purchases and safeguard another being’s life only to view it recinded, or interfere and risk destroying the delicate peacefulness, and violate the Primary Directive in the process.