Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek #20!

The Prime Directive is one of the cardinal rules of the Star Trek universe, and its revolutionary new warp drive system is breaking it in a novel way. In Star Trek #20, the Theseus is outfitted with a new warp drive system, one beyond anything the Federation ever dreamed of. However, it raises a number of ethical questions and could be viewed as a violation of the Prime Directive.

Star Trek #20 is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Megan Levens. Thanks to T’Lir, the last Organian, the Theseus has been refitted with the “Kardashev Drive,” capable of entering the Pleroma, or the Realm of the Gods. Overseeing the refit was Liam Shaw, who later meets with T’Lir over it. Shaw praises T’Lir for their design, but T’Lir deflects the praise to Mister Scott instead.

Shaw then calls the new technology a “Prime Directive” violation, and Starfleet had to perform mental gymnastics to justify it.

There is No Rule More Important in Starfleet Than the Prime Directive

Despite Its Importance, the Prime Directive Has Been Violated Many Times

The Prime Directive, or General Order One, is a binding principle in Starfleet. Its very name implies the rule is sacrosanct, and supersedes all others. Simply put, the Prime Directive forbids interference in the development of pre-warp and/or worlds not a part of the Federation. This sensible rule has helped Starfleet generate goodwill throughout the galaxy and deflects, at least on the surface, imperialist critiques of the Federation. By and large, the Federation and Starfleet honor the Prime Directive, instead letting species progress and grow naturally.

However, the Prime Directive has been violated numerous times throughout the franchise’s history, often by Starfleet personnel. In nearly every case, it led to serious consequences, such as in the Original Series episode “A Piece of the Action” or The Next Generation episode “Who Watches the Watchers?” There have also been Star Trek media that have questioned the Prime Directive, and whether it can be applied to every situation. Despite these critical interrogations, Starfleet continues to uphold the Prime Directive, and it has been a consistent piece of policy.

There Has Never Been a Prime Directive Violation Quite Like This

Previous Violations Were All One Way

Yet the Theseus’ Kardashev Drive violates the Prime Directive, but in a way never before seen. In episodes dealing with the Directive, it is always one-way. It is often Starfleet who is violating the Directive, but in Star Trek #20 a more developed lifeform is giving the Federation technology they could never have constructed on their own. T’Lir potentially opened a can of worms by building the Kardashev Drive. It has given the Federation an edge over other powers in the Star Trek universe, and it inverts the Prime Directive in unexpected ways.

Star Trek #20 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!