In this episode of Trekking Through Compliance, we consider the episode A Piece of the Action, which aired on January 12, 1968, and occurred on Star Date 4598.1.
The Enterprise crew attempts to contact the inhabitants of planet Sigma Iotia II, whose inhabitants of Sigma Iotia II have built a culture around the book Chicago Mobs of the Twenties accidentally left behind a hundred years ago by the S.S. Horizon. At the Horizon’s visit, the noninterference directive was not in effect, so Kirk, McCoy, and Spock wondered what sort of “contamination” they would encounter. Upon arriving, they are held at gunpoint but are taken safely to the “Boss” after a machine gun attack by rival boss Krako.
There are a dozen or so Bosses, each controlling his territory. Krako, the Boss of the southside territory, also wants heaters and instructions on how to use them and offers Kirk one-third of the proceeds for their use. The Bosses are impressed by a display of the Enterprise’s firepower and agree to Kirk’s planet unification, with Oxmyx as head Boss and Krako as his Lieutenant. Spock has reservations about leaving a criminal organization in charge and wonders how Kirk plans to collect a 40% cut every year.
As the Enterprise leaves, however, McCoy realizes he has left his communicator behind in Bella’s office. The communicator contains a transtator, an integral part of all machinery in the Enterprise, so the imitative Iotians will likely have made impressive technological progress the next time the Federation visits them.
Commentary
The Enterprise crew encounters a planet’s culture based on 1920s gangsters due to a book left behind by a previous ship. Kirk and his team navigate complex political landscapes, proposing a unified leadership under Federation guidance. The episode parallels compliance in modern settings, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement, cultural impact assessments, gradual policy implementation, preservation of core cultural elements, capacity building, and continuous improvement. These lessons highlight the delicate balance between cultural preservation and progress in compliance.
Key Highlights
- Story Synopsis: A Piece of the Action
- Fun Facts and Deeper Questions
- Compliance Lessons from Star Trek
- Strategies for Effective Compliance
Resources
Excruciatingly Detailed Plot Summary by Eric W. Weisstein
