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Starfleet
Starfleet is the United
Federation of Planets' diplomatic, scientific, and defensive
agency. Chartered in 2161 with the signing of the Federation's
Constitution, its main objectives are to enhance knowledge of the
universe (and on some occasions, universes), to defend the
integrity of the Federation and its members at home and abroad,
and to promote interstellar peace and cooperation.
Starfleet Command is the operating authority over Starfleet. It
is based in the city of San Francisco, planet Terra, but also has
facilities on numerous starbases. It directs Starfleet policy,
but gives commanding officers far away from Command outposts
broad powers in interpreting and implementing this policy. The
most important Starfleet policy is General Order 1, or the Prime
Directive. Starfleet General Orders supersede all others.
Starfleet Academy
is Starfleet's officer college. It is based in San Francisco,
with campuses on other worlds. The Academy consists of cadet,
medical, law and command schools, its motto being Ex Astris,
Scientia, ancient Terran for "from the stars,
knowledge". Starfleet Academy is also responsible for the
training of tactical officers and enlisted personnel. All
programs last four years, with the final year being spent serving
aboard a starship or at some other Starfleet facilities. Most
cadets, by time they complete their studies, make it to rank of
ensign, but may reach as high as lieutenant.
The Academy is very élite, and acceptance is pending successful
completion of the Academy Entrance Exam. Few who write the exam
are accepted; those who show the greatest promise are made Red
Squad cadets, the best of the best.
Perhaps the most visible signs of Starfleet is its fleet of
Starships. Many of the Federation's most powerful and advanced
ships bear the prefix U.S.S., designating a Starfleet ship. It
should be noted that while there are ships for defensive,
scientific, and diplomatic purposes, Starfleet holds few
battleships in its fleet. Exceptions include the Defiant class
ship, designed to respond to a Borg threat in Federation space.
Starfleet's chain of command is based on the military traditions
of the British Royal Navy, a strong Terran naval force from the
14th to the 19th century. Many Starfleet officers, by the end of
their careers, make it to Commander. Those who exhibit great
leadership and modesty may proceed to become Flag officers as
high as Fleet Admiral. Among many cadets' models is Captain James
T. Kirk, whose voyages aboard the Starship Enterprise are
legendary.
United Federation Of Planets
A confederation of
species, mostly humanoid, in the alpha and beta quadrants. The
peoples of the Federation are diverse and numerous. The
Federation is the largest known fully democratic state in the
galaxy, and pursues a mandate of peace and goodwill to all races
in the universe.
The Federation came to being in 2161, on the planet Babel. The
Constitution of the United Federation of Planets was signed by
the planetary governments of Terra, Andoria, Vulcan and many
more, to provide a common defense against the threat of attack
from the Romulan Star Empire. This constitution provided for
freedoms and liberties for all races, a representative democratic
government with universal sufferage, and established Starfleet, a
government agency to represent and defend the Federation, and to
learn more about the galaxy and universe in which we live.
There is no one Federation culture. Some races, such as the
Vulcans, have a unified society, religion, and cultural base.
Humans, however, are unified as a people, but still hold
different cultural values. There are nearly 150 member-planets in
the Federation, creating a mosaic of cultures and traditions,
bound together by their common interests: peace, order, liberty,
and the pursuit of knowledge.
The members of the United Federation of Planets are represented
in its government. Government is divided into three domains:
legislative, executive and judiciary. The Federation Council,
composed of representatives of every member, drafts and passes
laws for the Federation. The Council is headed by a President,
who oversees the administration of the law represents the
Federation in foreign affairs. The judicial system judges and
punishes those who've broken laws and treaties with foreign
nations, on the assumption that a defendant is innocent until
proven guilty.
But despite the great power vested in the government, it is
limited by itself. The Federation's charter contains Guarantees
of individual freedoms which no Federation law may supersede.
These rights are further complemented by planetary laws, such as
the Vulcan Bill of Rights. Citizens' rights before a tribunal are
framed in a Uniform Code of Justice, protecting them from unfair
trials.
The Federation Council sits in San Francisco, on planet Terra.
The President's office is in the city of Paris, also on Terra.
While the Federation is of a peaceful nature, its history is
tainted with conflict. Until very recently, the Romulans have
remained an everlasting threat. In 2218, first contact was made
with a warrior nation, the Klingon Empire. Poor relations in
their early days led to nearly half a century of violence, until
the Organian Treaty of 2267, followed by the Khitomer Conference
of 2293. In the 2350's, war broke out between the Federation and
the Cardassian Union, which lasted till a cease-fire and
eventually a treaty in 2366 - but even then, hostilities
continued for years.
The threat to the Federation's sovereignty continued when first
contact was established with the Borg, a collective of
technologically-advanced humanoids who wish to assimilate all
peoples and bring order to the galaxy. Another power, the
Dominion, claims to be establishing a new order in the alpha
quadrant, through a wormhole discovered near Deep Space Nine. The
Dominion's threat as of late has increased with an alliance with
the Cardassians, but has also strengthened ties between the
Federation, the Klingons, and now the Romulans.
