i do not realize just how much of this episode be take from the enemy below until i finally saw the movie ( it have since become my fave war flick ) . there be a couple of element lift from run silent run deep as well . nothing wrong with steal idea and as long a you do something cool with them . and boy do roddenberry and company do something cool with this one . the story begin when the romulans violate a 100 year old treaty and by cross the neutral zone and destroy a series of federation outpost along the zone and ostensibly to test their superior weaponry and invisibility screen ( and subsequent shift in the balance of power between the romulans and the federation and in their view ) a a prelude to an all out invasion . kirk have to decide whether it worth risk war to try and stop the romulan ship and or if in fact the great risk lie in let the invader go after they destroy 4 military outpost . kirk wisely choose the latter . this be our first look at an enemy of the federation and the romulans and a warlike and yet in their own way honorable race who be distant relative to the vulcan . however and unlike their peaceful cousin and the romulans do not renounce their emotion and violent and imperialistic way and even a they advance technologically . none of this matter to mr. stile and the ship navigator and this episode chief antagonist on board the enterprise ( the romulan commander have his own problem with a gung ho junior officer ) . all that matter to him be he hat romulans and spock look like one . until the end when spock save his life ( naturally ) . this contrast sharply with captain kirk and the romulan commander and neither of whom have any personal ill will towards the other at all . both men be simply do their duty . in fact there a mutual respect . this be the first trek episode to deal directly with prejudice and and it do so deftly ( a oppose to season 3 not so subtle let that be your last battlefield ) . like the enemy below and we have a classic chess match between two ship commander who be actually very much alike . you see right away that both of these captain be good . very good . if you be go into battle you would want either of these man a your leader . both be honorable and decent men who be duty bound . yet even though the romulan commander be bind by duty to his home world and he still find himself wish for destruction before he can make it home rather than start another interstellar war . yet he still do everything he can to make it home and just a kirk do everything he can to stop him . this be and in my opinion and one of trek 5 best . it have everything represent plenty of action and suspense and great dialogue and fine acting ( i still maintain the romulan commander be mark lenard best trek role ) and and it manage to make it social commentary without be overly preachy . a pity roddenberry forget about the last part when he do tng . watch this episode and then watch the enemy below .