Starfleet

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Latest revision as of 21:45, 9 June 2012

Starfleet is a humanitarian and peacekeeping armada of starships, that provides defense, research, diplomacy, and exploration to the United Federation of Planets (UFP). Its members include the majority of the shows primary protagonists, and it is the operator of each USS Enterprise.

History

Following Zefram Cochrane's warp flight in 2063, Earth founded a few colonies in nearby star systems and established trade routes with a few species, such as the Vulcans. Soon after, the first attempts of deep-space exploration were conducted, such as the launch of the SS Valiant, but it is not shown what agency commissioned the spaceship.

References to UESPA were inserted into episodes from later series. For example, the Friendship One probe (launched in 2067) is marked with the letters UESPA-1. Other background props included additional UESPA references, such as Captain Jean-Luc Picard's family album.

Captain Archer refers to Starfleet having already been in full operation in 2119, when it funded research begun by Cochrane and Henry Archer leading to the first successful flight of Warp 3 vessels in the 2140s. This research is said to have evolved into the NX Program leading to Starfleet launching its first Warp 5-capable starship, Enterprise (NX-01), in 2151, followed by Columbia (NX-02) in 2155, as well as other vessels. Starfleet thereby becomes the lead exploratory and military wing of Earth.

Starfleet has a Prime Directive of non-interference with developing worlds or their internal politics. This is said not to be a Human construct, but stemmed from policies originally implemented by the Vulcans, who used the attainment of warp speed as a barometer for making first contact with a civilization.

Starfleet Headquarters is shown to be located on Earth, northeast of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Fort Baker area. Starfleet Academy is located in the same general area. Additionally, various episodes show Starfleet operating a series of starbases throughout Federation territory, either built as planet-side facilities or as orbital docking stations (notably the titular installation, Deep Space 9).

Mission

Starfleet has been shown to handle diplomatic, scientific, and defense missions, although their main mandate seems to be peaceful exploration in the search of sentient life. The flagship of Starfleet is often considered to be the starship USS Enterprise, even though that ship has generally not been commanded by a flag officer.

In the early years of Starfleet, Starfleet's mission is purely exploration and is not military in any sense except for weapons designed for defensive capabilities until the retrofitting of the Enterprise (NX-01) and the incorporation of MACOs after the Xindi attack on Earth. It is assumed this trend continues as Starfleet adopts a more traditional military role and assumes its regular place as the exploratory and defensive arm of the United Federation of Planets.

Components

Starfleet consists of many components that include:

Starfleet Academy

An officer training facility with a four-year educational program. The main campus is located near Starfleet Headquarters in what is now Fort Baker, California.

Starfleet Command

Starfleet Command is the headquarters/command center of Starfleet. Its headquarters are depicted as being in Fort Baker, across the Golden Gate from San Francisco, California. Overlooking the Command from the other side of the Golden Gate is the permanent site of the Federation Council of the United Federation of Planets. Isolation from Starfleet Command compels ship officers to make and act upon decisions without Starfleet Command's orders or information.

Starfleet Shipyards

Located on San Francisco's Mare Island, with additional starship assembly facilities located in Earth orbit, Starfleet's San Francisco Navy Yards is the site where the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 was built in 2245. Captain Robert April, the Enterprise's first commanding officer, was present at the San Francisco Navy Yards when the vessel's major components were built and prepared for assembly in Starfleet's orbital drydock facilities.

Starfleet Engineering Corps

The Starfleet Engineering Corps (also called the Starfleet Corps of Engineers) is mentioned in several episodes in conjunction with projects such as hollowing out the underground laboratory complex inside the Regula I asteroid, the design of the Yellowstone-class Runabout in the alternate timeline, and devising a defense against the Breen energy-dampening weapon.

Starfleet Intelligence

Starfleet Intelligence is an intelligence agency of the United Federation of Planets. It is entrusted with foreign and domestic espionage, counter-espionage, and state security.

Starfleet Judge Advocate General

The Starfleet Judge Advocate General (or JAG) is the branch charged with overseeing legal matters within Starfleet. Several episodes revolve around or involve JAG officers and procedures:

• Data participates in a JAG hearing to determine whether he is Starfleet property.
• A hearing is held to decide whether to extradite Worf to the Klingons.
• A JAG rear admiral arranges for Richard Bashir's incarceration; and his son Julian Bashir's retention of a Starfleet commission; as punishment for the illegal genetic enhancements given to Julian as a child.

Starfleet Medical

Starfleet Medical is the medical branch of Starfleet.

Starfleet Operations

Numerous starship dedication plaques identify other personnel associated with Starfleet Operations. Rear Admiral James T. Kirk served 18 months as Starfleet's Chief of Operations.

Starfleet Security

Starfleet Security is an agency of Starfleet. Security itself is also a branch of Starfleet

Starfleet Tactical

Starfleet Tactical is a rarely-mentioned department of Starfleet responsible for planning defensive strategies as well as weapons research and development.