Tal-Shaya

Tal-Shaya was a method of execution performed by the ancient Vulcans. Tal-Shaya involved breaking the neck of an individual in a very precise method designed to cause instant death, and was considered a merciful form of execution.

In 2268 the Tellarite Ambassador Gav was murdered by an assassin who used Tal-Shaya to kill the Ambassador while being taken to a conference on the planet Babel to decide the question of the Coridan admission to the Federation. Spock was able to quickly identify the method of execution as Tal-Shaya, and revealed that Vulcans would know how to perform such an act. As a result, suspicion fell to Sarek, also being taken on board the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) to Babel. It was later revealed that an Orion agent on board the Enterprise had killed Gav.