Captain’s Log, Stardate 78584.4.

We have departed the Velkares star system after observing the local sapient species bringing about the near total destruction of their planetary ecosystem. We approached the fifth planet of the system after intercepting communications from a previously unobserved civilization that led us to assume that they had engaged in a conflict that had resulted in their extinction. 

While in orbit, the science department began to collect archival data of the surface of the planet at my behest. During this investigation, several members of the department submitted requests to retrieve living specimens of non-sapient life from the surface of the irradiated world. I made the determination to deny the request, partly from an abundance of caution, but also because I was of the belief that the science team had not thoroughly ruled out the possibility that our initial assumption about the local populace was false and that our actions could led us to violate the Prime Directive… an action I have no intention of supporting even if unknowingly.

It was indeed proven that we had misjudged the tenacity of the residents of that world, and it came in the form of new transmissions from the surface. More accurately, cries for help. It solidified, at least in my mind, the necessity to avoid removing anything from the surface of the planet as our actions could very well have been observed and interpreted as intervention by not just the populace, but Starfleet Command. This has necessitated our departure from the system entirely.

My decision to render no aid to the survivors was challenged by my Chief Science Officer, Lieutenant James, on moral grounds. I have noted his objection for review as required.

As a personal note, I recognize that my decision lacks any hint of compassion for the plight of the people we are leaving behind. It was not how I had envisioned by first foray into a first contact scenario unfolding. I sincerely wish that we had not intercepted their first message and remained blissfully ignorant of the tragedy we were forced to witness in real-time. Privately, I sympathize with those among my crew who wished to help those people in their hour of need. If the Prime Directive were even slightly more ambiguous, I may very well have allowed their impassioned pleas to sway my decision. Unfortunately… the directive is clear and I cannot indulge my crew in their ardent desire to soothe the suffering of a people right before their eyes and within their reach. That is my burden, and I will bare that burden for the rest of my life, though I might never speak of it aloud to any of them.

We will now continue our exploration of the space beyond the Thomar Expanse, in hopes that our next encounter with sentient life is a far more positive experience for us all…

End log.