 Writer Katharyn Powers was invited to pitch a story for The Next Generation as she was friends with Star Trek writer D. C. Fontana . Alongside her writing partner Michael Baron , Powers pitched a story involving a reptilian race called the " Tellisians " who followed a code of honor similar to that of the samurai . However , the script and the aliens went through several changes before making it to the screen . Powers would go on to write the Season 1 episode " Emancipation " for Stargate SG @-@ 1 , which held similar themes to " Code of Honor " . The African theme of the episode was brought in by director Russ Mayberry , who had the Ligonians race cast entirely from African @-@ American actors . Mayberry was fired during production by the show 's creator Gene Roddenberry , and First Assistant Director Les Landau completed the episode . Star Trek novel author Keith DeCandido later recalled that this was because of the casting itself , while cast member Wil Wheaton ( Wesley Crusher ) thought that it was because Mayberry was racist towards the guest stars after they were cast . 
