In this episode of Trekking Through Compliance, we consider the episode The Conscience of the King, which aired on December 8, 1966, Star Date 2817.6.
The Enterprise is called Planet Q by Dr. Thomas Leighton. Leighton suspects Anton Karidian, the leader of a Shakespearean acting troupe currently on the planet, is Kodos the Executioner, former governor of the Earth colony of Tarsus IV. Kodos had ordered that half the population of 8000 be put to death during a food shortage. Both Leighton and Kirk were eyewitnesses.
Kirk arranges to ferry the acting troupe to its next destination. Spock learns the history of the massacre, Kirk’s connection to it, and that seven of the nine witnesses had died, in each case when Karidian’s troupe was nearby. Kirk confronts Karidian with his suspicions. Karidian does not admit to being Kodos.
Karidian, overhearing, is disturbed, and Lenore tries to reassure him by revealing that she has been killing the witnesses to his crimes. Kirk moves to arrest them both. Lenore snatches a phaser and accidentally kills Karidian.
Compliance Takeaways:
1. When does a leader step from business to personal?
2. Can you ever be sure in an investigation absent a confession?
3. What is the difference between an investigation and a root cause analysis?
Resources:
Excruciatingly Detailed Plot Summary by Eric W. Weisstein for The Conscience of the King
MissionLogPodcast.com-The The Conscience of the King
