 The Enterprise arrives at the planet Ligon II to acquire a vaccine needed to combat an outbreak of <unk> fever on <unk> IV . The crew , possessing little information on the <unk> culture , finds it follows strict customs of status similar to ancient Africa . Specifically , while the men in their culture rule society , the land itself is controlled by the women . Lutan ( Jessie Lawrence Ferguson ) , the <unk> leader , transports up to the Enterprise to provide a sample of the vaccine , and is impressed by Lt. Tasha Yar 's status as head of security . Yar further demonstrates her aikido skills against a holographic opponent for Lutan on the holodeck . After a tour of the ship , Lutan and the Ligonians abduct Yar as they transport back to the surface . Captain Jean @-@ Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) demands that Lutan return Yar , considering the kidnapping an act of war , but receives no response from the planet . After consultation with his officers , Picard determines that Lutan took Yar in a " counting coup " as a show of heroism . Picard contacts Lutan in a more peaceful manner , who grants permission for the Enterprise crew to beam down to the planet and promises to return Yar after a banquet in his honor . 
