"Ascension of the Demons"

The Phoenix was assigned to check on a pre-warp observation post that hadn't reported to Starfleet Command in a while. Upon sending down an away team, they discovered that the planet's culture revolved around worship of and making sacrifices to the Entity, who they called Thaara. The last of the observation post team was sacrificed to Thaara, to the delight of the Azanti, the local species. The away team was captured, and one member, Lt. JG. Drevas Kniel, was sacrificed as well. A second away team was sent down. They learned more about the planet and its customs, then tried to rescue the surviving members of the first away team from a holding cell in the temple. After Ensign George Smith fired on a guard, the rescue mission broke out into an all-out battle. The away teams were quickly transported back to the ship and the wounded treated. The Prime Directive was violated several times, and it is likely Azanti culture was changed forever by this incident.