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If there existed a real version of Star Trek, would not the Prime Directive preclude a Captain Sulu from contacting a civilization as undeveloped, violent, and addicted to unrestrained capitalism as the present one on earth?

Better to let it progress or not on its own, as it attempts to explore a universe beyond its small star system. That could take some time, which would give the Federation - or the Klingons - more time to develop a suitable way of interacting with it.