The Far Future

I think it'd be cool if the Bajorans, Cardassians, Klingons, Ferengi, and Romulans all joined the Federation by the 29th century. How much territory would you say it has by then? What do you think the Milky Way would be like in the 123rd century when the Kelvans were supposed to invade? Any Decipher employees or freelancers got anything to say about far future coverage?

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The Trekkie Formerly Known As Surak, AKA The Coch, Humble Creator of the Bwuutut and Mensaeans, Aba and Zwickau, and the Perseus Federation, Guy Who Still Hasn't Actually Played The Game, And Who Finally Decided To Use A Signature.

Personally, I'd rather they not do that, but instead form a coalition similar to the United Nations but retain their own sovereignty.

To join the Federation would make the Klingon, Romulan, and other great sovereign powers subjugated under the Federation law, which may not be a good thing, IMHO.

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

Dude, the Federation is a United Nations!

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The Trekkie Formerly Known As Surak, AKA The Coch, Humble Creator of the Bwuutut and Mensaeans, Aba and Zwickau, and the Perseus Federation, Guy Who Still Hasn't Actually Played The Game, And Who Finally Decided To Use A Signature.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Cochrane:
I think it'd be cool if the Bajorans, Cardassians, Klingons, Ferengi, and Romulans all joined the Federation by the 29th century.

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I'm going to have to side with REG on this one. I really don't like the idea of the Federation "Assimilating" all of the other nations/races of the galaxy. Sure, the Federation is an idealistic state, but does that give it the right to "assimilate" its neighbors? And will the Federation always be the friendly, idealistic state that it is during Trek?

The Federation seems to have the tendency to "assimilate" its neighbors, and before long their distinctiveness becomes lost in the mix of the monolithic Federation.

For examples of this trend, look at the TOS Andorians, or the Tellerites. They've gone from distinctive races to background extras. What ever happened to IDIC?

If things continue the way they are, the Federation will be about as diverse as the Borg by the 29th century, let alone the 123rd.

Well the Vulcans, Betazoids, Bolians, Benzites, Bynars, and Trill are distinct enough, and I'm not talking about conquest, I'm talking about everyone deciding to join.

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The Trekkie Formerly Known As Surak, AKA The Coch, Humble Creator of the Bwuutut and Mensaeans, Aba and Zwickau, and the Perseus Federation, Guy Who Still Hasn't Actually Played The Game, And Who Finally Decided To Use A Signature.

"We are Federation. Prepare to be assimilated. We will add your social and cultural distinctiveness to our own. Resistance is futile."

I just think that the Federation - especially as it was presented in TNG, and more and moreso as the shows went on - was a bland, bureaucratic, paternalistic, and socialist state. I can think of lots of reasons to avoid joining.

Couldn't the individual worlds, both colonies and clients, as well as the homeworlds, join?

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The Trekkie Formerly Known As Surak, AKA The Coch, Humble Creator of the Bwuutut and Mensaeans, Aba and Zwickau, and the Perseus Federation, Guy Who Still Hasn't Actually Played The Game, And Who Finally Decided To Use A Signature.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Cochrane:
Couldn't the individual worlds, both colonies and clients, as well as the homeworlds, join?

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I don't think that's realistic.

Consider the following; Now that the Soviet Union is no more, why don't the former Soviet states and their client states just apply for Statehood and join the United States?

I think that the 29th century might look [politically] something like this:

Just prior to (and since the end of) the 24th century, several independent races joined the United Federation of Planets. By the year 2831, the United Federation of Planets encompasses over twelve hundred sectors and nearly a thousand races throughout the galaxy.

The Bajorans were formally admitted to the UFP in 2381 under First Minister Levas Shrinau.

The Cardassian Union went through a massive restoration (with the assistance of the Federation) and applied to join the UFP in 2394.

The Romulan Star Empire, plagued by internal strife and rebellion, withdrew from the galactic scene in 2400. Contact has only recently been fully restored. The Romulan Empire has decayed severely over the intervening years and has dwindled to a handful of star systems. Much like the Rome of Ancient Earth, Romulus is dying. Requests for humanitarian aid have began leaking out of Romulan space.

The Klingon Empire, under the harsh, heavy-handed rule of Emporer Kaerna, broke its alliance with the Federation in 2421. Hostilities began shortly thereafter and continued until 2475 when Kaerna, nearly a century old, was killed by the High Council. Fifty years of hostility created a huge rift between the superpowers that has still not been healed (as of 2831).

The Taurhai Unity has extended its reach and controls much of formerly-Romulan territory as well as reaching the edge of the Delta Quadrant. The UFP and the Taurhai Unity have had some contact, and said contact has been cordial but limited.

The Dominion has maintained its integrity for the past five centuries without fail. It has not expanded its territory further, but neither has it lost any of its holdings. The Founders maintain a strained relationship with the Federation, but (to the best of Timefleet Intelligence's information) no other Alpha or Beta Quadrant power.

The Ferengi have changed many of their artless ways the result of policies implmented by Grand Nagus' Zek and Rom. While still a heavily-capitalistic culture, the Ferengi are closely associated with the Federation.

The Borg Collective was all but wiped out in 2791 when they encountered a race of energy beings called the Z'ral, designated Species 16945 by the Collective. The Z'ral destroyed entire star systems inhabited by the Borg, reducing their holdings to a few worlds scattered throughout the Delta Quadrant. Few fear the Collective these days.

The Krenim Hegemony (formerly the Krenim Imperium), a stern enemy of the Romulan Star Empire, has caused serious damage to their infrastructure. Attacks by the Krenim (among others) are what caused so many problems with the Romulans. The Krenim Hegemony has limited relations with the UFP and the Klingon Empire.

The Breen Union was wiped out by the Romulan Star Navy in 2512. Only a few Breen remain alive after the intervening centuries. Most are nomadic, wandering through the galaxy as raiders, but a small group petitioned the UFP for membership and were allowed to settle on Bree'nrak, the new Breen homeworld, near the Draconis Outback.

The Kazon Republic, presently operating under the leadership of Premiere Jal Sendek, established a peaceful domain in the Delta Quadrant in 2536 after successfully negotiating a lasting peace with the remaining Trabe. The Kazon left their barabaric ways behind them after contact and lengthy negotiations with a UFP convoy led by the U.S.S. Millennium, commanded by Captain Akemi Sulu.

The Talaxians, finally freed by their oppressors in 2416, lead a quiet existence even in the 29th century.

The Ocampa and their homeworld mysteriously vanished from its location in the Delta Quadrant in 2501. Not trace of it or its inhabitants (including the Kazon-Ogla) were ever found.

mactavish out.

There would have to be an overriding reason for the parties mentioned to seek membership, not to mention that the Federation council must then vote on that application.

The most likely to join are the Bajorans, however, this is dependent on the state of the Cardassian military, and how much risk of another war there might be.

I don't think the Romulans,Klingons or even the Cardassians would ever join the Feds.

1. No empire in earths history has ever willingly surrendered its autonomy to another. I know my history, it has never happened willingly.

2. Romulans act like the U.S.S.R. and the Tal Shiar like the ex-KGB, you dont see them clamoring to join the U.S.A.

3. And even if they wanted to, they wouldn't allow them, they are stricken by internal problems, no potential economic value.

4. Empires collapse and rise, why doesn't the UFP collapse, a civil war erupts and different species join the other Empires.

5. If all the Empires joined the UFP, then there would be no reason to continue StarTrek, where is the conflict?

Just a few thoughts, any ideas/suggestions/threats?

Hey mac, youze forgetteded the Tholians, Gorn, Sheliak, Tzenkethi, and Cytherians.

Khrys,
1: There's always Texas
2: No Trek culture is based exclusively on one earth culture
3: Good point
4: You pessimist, you
5:You think the known empires are the only ones there are?

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The Trekkie Formerly Known As Surak, AKA The Coch, Humble Creator of the Bwuutut and Mensaeans, Aba and Zwickau, and the Perseus Federation, Guy Who Still Hasn't Actually Played The Game, And Who Finally Decided To Use A Signature.

The Federation can't just have another power near its size join, even over time. The only exception being empirical collapse as in the Cardassians and, for some of our campaigns, Romulans but even then it's unlikely.

Star Trek: Century 29 continued...

The Tholian Assembly established a lasting peace with the UFP in 2512 after Federation scientists managed to cure a strange disease that threatened to destroy the entire Tholian race. Tholian space, while still technically off limits to outsiders, often sees invited Federation diplomats aboard Starfleet vessels.

The Gorn Union maintain diplomatic ties with the Federation, but has been evasive and withdrawn for the past 200 years. Rumors abound that large numbers of Gorn have been undergoing some sort of "strange transformation," though no details are forthcoming.

The Sheliak Corporate has little contact with any humanoid races or governments.

The Tzenkethi petitioned for admission into the UFP early in the 27th century but were rejected due to internal "human rights" practices. They have remained isolated and sullen since that time, though there are suggestions that the Tzenkethi government is positioned for a fall and that the new leaders may make the necessary changes to win Federation favor.

The Cytherians, a mystery to the UFP for years, were discovered again in 2801 when the U.S.S. Data, a deep space explorer, encoutered their homeworld. The Cytherians, possessing far superior technology, offered to provide samples and schematics in exchange for information collected regarding the Gamma and Delta Quadrants. Negotiations are ongoing.

mactavish out.

[This message has been edited by mactavish (edited 06-06-2001).]

"You [the Federation] are worse than the Borg - at least they warn you that they're going to assimilate you." "Nobody leaves paradise."

- Lt. Commander Eddington, "For the Cause"

I've often found the Federation to be a tad creepy to be honest with you, especially that of the TNG-era. It is a communist's dream in many ways. Sometimes the Federation shows an incredible amount of being "holier than thou".
"We no longer enslave our animals" (you who do are barbarians).

"We are no longer motivated by the pursuit or wealth" (you who do are barbarians)

Listen to Picard in "Who Watches the Watchers", the hostiility held towards religion. Or Quark confronting Sisko about the way the Federation looks so far down on the Ferengi ("The Jem'Hadar")

I'm actually overstating my case to illustrate how easy, in my opinion, it would be for the Federation to become incredibly intolerant, with the noblest of intentions. Many classic SF dystopias followed a similar path - take a good idea and take it to the worst possible extreme.

One could make a nightmare 29th century Federation.

Perhaps a civilized 29th century captain could say...
"Our medical science has found a way to eradicate those negative impulses and thoughts and make criminals productive members of society". Yikes! Give me the Klingons any day. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif