Yuta was a bioengineered weapon. Genetically modified to resist all but the deadliest phaser blasts. As far as I'm concerned, Riker had no choice. If Riker had attempted to wrestle her to the ground, assuming she didn't have some kind of super-human strength, she could have merely spat on the clan leader and caused his death. And what then for the hopes of reconciliation with the Gatherers? There would be none. The assassination would have caused perhaps decades of Gatherers committing crimes and causing countless more deaths/injuries to Starfleet personnel. Maybe even embarking on an all-out civil war. Riker had to weigh all of these risks and potential eventualities in less than a few minutes. And he tried his damn hardest to stop her. Rant over...
Review of The Vengeance Factor
