Pre-Emptive Strikes in "The Last Enemy"

Intro

Cases

• Cmdr. Koenig considers striking against the approaching Bethan gunship first when it makes no response to Alpha's repeated attempts to make contact. Victor comments on how that "isn't quite [Koenig's] style.... Shoot first and ask questions afterward?" Koenig replies: "We've been asking questions, Victor. They haven't answered.... "No, their purpose has got to be aggressive." Victor responds: "Well, if it's not now it soon will be if we start shooting at them." Koenig does not want to wait and risk being attacked by a non-communicative warship, but all of Alpha's defenses are soon rendered useless by the Bethan warship. It turns out the Bethan warship's intent is hostile, not directly against Alpha, but against Delta, which puts Alpha in extreme danger.
• Betha against Delta, the former launching the opening salvo of a new battle in an old war. (The battle goes through several back-and-forth phases, with Alpha caught in the middle. Betha gains the true -- and intended -- upper hand, except... John Koenig, tired of Alpha being caught in the middle, is able to get a knock-out strike against the Bethan warship.)