Neural

Neural, also known as Tyree's Planet is the name of a Class M planet that posesses a primitive civilization that is still protected by the terms of the Prime Directive. (TOS: "A Private Little War")

James T. Kirk visited in 2254 as part of an undercover cultural observation mission during his Junior year at the Academy. The mission found the inhabitants to be a peaceful, low-technology civilization that was centuries or millennia from developing any advanced technology.

In 2268, a followup visit revealed that the inhabitants were now divided into warring factions, with some factions posessing firearms that should be centuries advanced from their level of technology. It is quickly discovered that the Klingon Empire contacted the planet in 2267 and tampered with the natives by arming some factions. Fearing that the planet could fall to Klingon influence, Kirk decided to violate the Prime Directive and contact opposing factions, helping them to fight the Klingon-backed tribes. Using an analogy derived from the "brush wars" of the 20th century where major powers fought their wars with through smaller proxies, he sets up a Federation backed faction on Neural by providing firearms to the Hill tribes that were the victims of the Klingon backed aggression.

The native culture of Neural is tribal, with tribes lead by female shamans known as Kahn-ut-tu. Nona was one such shaman encountered during the Federation visits to Neural.

The surface of Neural is generally quite similar to Earth, almost remarkably so, but with a few notable differences in native life. A major threat is the Mugato, a white-furred predatory ape with lethally poisonous bite. The only known countermeasure is the native mako root plant, which the Khan-ut-tu are quite skilled at administering through a traditional healing ritual.