Ep 17. A Piece of the Action

In Star Trek season 2 episode 17, titled "A Piece of the Action," the USS Enterprise receives a distress signal from a planet known as Sigma Iotia II that was visited by a Federation starship 100 years ago. When Kirk and his landing party beam down to the planet, they discover that the inhabitants have modeled their entire society after the Starfleet officers who visited them a century ago. The society is now a gangster-run world with violence and crime being the norm, and the people are living in a world of fear.

Kirk and his landing party are immediately captured by the gangsters and taken to the headquarters of the local boss, Bela Oxmyx. Oxmyx gives Kirk an ultimatum: work for him or be killed. Kirk decides to cooperate with Oxmyx and together with Spock, they devise a plan to take over the planet and bring peace to it.

Kirk and Spock start by convincing Oxmyx that they are ruthless individuals who are on a mission to take over Sigma Iotia II. They soon gain Oxmyx's trust and even manage to become his lieutenants. They take control of the gangs and introduce new rules and regulations that bring an end to the violence. They also introduce modern technologies such as medicine and communication systems. Soon, Sigma Iotia II becomes a peaceful and prosperous planet.

However, their plan hits a snag when Starfleet orders the Enterprise to leave the area and return to the nearest Federation starbase to attend to urgent business. Kirk realizes that leaving the planet now would mean that the society would once again slip back into its gangster-run world. Kirk devises a new plan to leave behind a cultural observer, or "Federation historian" to help the inhabitants maintain their new way of life.

The episode ends with Kirk and his crew leaving Sigma Iotia II, with the inhabitants thanking them for their efforts. As the ship warps away, Kirk can be heard saying, "Let's hope this is the last time we hear from them."

Overall, "A Piece of the Action" is a thrilling and exciting episode filled with action and adventure. It explores the idea of cultural influence and how even unintentional actions can have long-term implications. It's also a classic example of the morality plays that Star Trek is known for, with Kirk and his crew attempting to bring peace and order to a chaotic world. It is regarded as one of the standout episodes from the series and is a must-watch for all Star Trek fans.