In 2266, Balok encountered the Federation starship USS Enterprise entering the borders of the First Federation. Unsure of how to react to the strange vessel, Balok sent out a cube-shaped warning buoy to scare the Enterprise away. However, when the Enterprise destroyed the buoy, Balok took the Fesarius to intercept them. Wanting to appear more threatening, he communicated with Captain James T. Kirk using a fearsome looking dummy. He wanted to know if the human crew were hostile, so he tested them, by first threatening to destroy them, and then testing their compassion.