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In the two-parter The Menagerie the Commodore Mendez on board the Enterprise is revealed to be an illusion.

There is, however, also a real Commodore Mendez on Starbase 6.

So when Kirk leaves with Mendez to go after the rogue Enterprise, we have to conclude we're already seeing the mirage. But this would imply that the Talosian's powers reach to Starbase 6 itself.

Is that meant to be implied?

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We never see any real limits of the Talosians to project their illusions. Then again, Kirk is in too much of a hurry to catch the wayward Enterprise to seriously question why a Commodore would want to come along.

MENDEZ: We coast.
KIRK: Blast you any way. You had no right to come along.
MENDEZ: RHIP, Captain. Rank hath its privileges.

So it's not implied they can reach that far with their illusion powers, it's simple fact.

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In a discarded line from the original script, Vina implies that their reach really has no limits (Much like the Q).

From the Memory Alpha on the Talosians (Emphasis mine):

In a line of dialogue which was scripted for "The Cage" but not included in the final version of that episode (nor any other installment), Pike commented, "What's happened to the Talosians could be sort of a warning, couldn't it. For us individually or for a whole race. Our electronic tape, our viewing screens, even our books, must never become a substitute for real life." In another scripted but discarded line, Vina said of the Talosians, "Since their minds can reach anywhere, most of them are like cocoons or larvae now. They just sit and let the thought records or some specimen live for them. Some of them hardly move, except to take that blue protein once a day."

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    Which then raises the question of why the prohibition on visiting Talos exists. They're just as dangerous if you don't actually go there.
    – Barmar
    Jun 19, 2018 at 17:22
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    @Barmar: Please do actually ask the question :)
    – Matthieu M.
    Jun 19, 2018 at 17:53
  • I seriously doubt that the Talosians could cause an Ocampa in the Delta Quadrant to see things.
    – Ham Sandwich
    Jun 19, 2018 at 18:33
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    All would be explained if you could assume that the Talosians could use people with whom they've had direct contact (Spock and Pike) as conduits to influence the minds of people further away-- perhaps only if the conduits already had ESP (like Spock) and were willing.
    – antlersoft
    Jun 19, 2018 at 22:02
  • @Barmar The prohibition would exist because visiting their planet will draw their attention.
    – Perkins
    Jun 19, 2018 at 23:24

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