I was thinking it was a war between planets but the transcript seems to indicate that Hedford was assigned to prevent a war on Epsilon Canaris Three. To me, it would the appear conditions are right for a war, but the planet is still experiencing peace, so Hedford is attempting to keep the peace. It also seems to suggest that this was not an interstellar war, but one between nations on the planet.
It does raise the question of why the Enterprise wasn't there. It's true, as you suggested, the Enterprise may have had something important to do so it couldn't be in both places at once, but that raises another question. If the Enterprise's mission was more important than diplomatic relations, then Captain Kirk should have been on board for the more important of the two. But from the way Kirk and Company talk, the Enterprise is sitting in space four hours from where they were.
So, the Enterprise just happens to be carrying this one in a billion vaccine, yet the planet has nothing of the kind. I'm wondering why McCoy didn't contact Star Fleet while on the planet and advise them of the situation. They must have some way of communicating with Star Fleet. Someone found out there were tensions there, enough to send a diplomatic representative. Instead they climb aboard the shuttle and make the four hour journey back to the Enterprise, which can't be good for Hedford.
It does raise the question of why the Enterprise wasn't there. It's true, as you suggested, the Enterprise may have had something important to do so it couldn't be in both places at once, but that raises another question. If the Enterprise's mission was more important than diplomatic relations, then Captain Kirk should have been on board for the more important of the two. But from the way Kirk and Company talk, the Enterprise is sitting in space four hours from where they were.
So, the Enterprise just happens to be carrying this one in a billion vaccine, yet the planet has nothing of the kind. I'm wondering why McCoy didn't contact Star Fleet while on the planet and advise them of the situation. They must have some way of communicating with Star Fleet. Someone found out there were tensions there, enough to send a diplomatic representative. Instead they climb aboard the shuttle and make the four hour journey back to the Enterprise, which can't be good for Hedford.
The best way to frustrate a cyberbully is to ignore him.