After suffering the war, poverty, famine, disease, and other hardships of the 20th and
21st centuries, the invention of warp technology by Dr Zefram Cochrane meant Earth could start
exploring the stars with faster than light travel.
Detecting the use of a warp drive, the wise and peaceful Vulcan species made first contact,
introducing them to new technologies while also serving as a voice of patience and prudence
to ensure humanity did not endanger themselves by advancing too rapidly.
Learning they were not alone in the universe, first contact led the people of Earth into
a scientific, political and cultural revolution, with hunger, poverty, homelessness and inequality
eliminated in less than a century.
In 2103, Earth colonized Mars, and by 2150, the nations of the world unified into a single
government.
As this transition took place, a new World Economy formed, with currency eliminated in
favour of an egalitarian system where everyone’s basic needs were met by the government, allowing
them to focus exclusively on their passions and desires.
With the need for material wealth gone, the species became less greedy and more open to
new ideas, ushering in a new age of peace and cooperation.
Yet even before the nations of the world completed their unification, many worked in cooperation
to form Starfleet Command which sought to build starships and explore space, so they
might boldly go where no man has gone before.
With the population thriving, and Starfleet continuing to improve warp technology, the
United Earth Government approved launching the Enterprise NX-01 in 2151, built with a
warp 5 engine allowing them to travel 50 light-years in approximately 3 months.
Yet despite these great achievements, humans remained among the least advanced warp-capable
species in their region of the galaxy, as the Vulcans did not believe it wise to give
them anything more advanced.
Therefore when Earth was invaded by the Romulan Star Empire, a nearby superpower, in 2156,
their defeat seemed inevitable.
However, in less than a decade of exploration, primarily led by Captain Jonathan Archer of
the Enterprise NX 01, humanity made a number of critical friendships and so were joined
by the Vulcan, Andorian and Tellarite species, who rallied to their defence.
Through their combined efforts, the alliance won the critical Battle of Cheron (Che-run),
proving the benefits of cooperation and leading to the formation of the United Federation
of Planets in 2161, to be governed by an elected President, and council comprised of representatives
from member worlds.
Though most of the great powers in the Alpha and Beta quadrants were led by a single species
who destroyed or subjugated their neighbours, member worlds of the Federation joined voluntarily
and remained semi-autonomous while also electing representatives to speak in the central government.
Encouraging multiculturalism, all were nonetheless required to operate within the confines of
the Federation Charter and constitution, based on the enlightened principals of equality,
liberty and peaceful coexistence.
Now under the authority of the Federation, Starfleet oversaw all military and scientific
research making great strides in the coming years as gained access to the technology of
member worlds.
Starfleet was so successful that by the 24th century, they allowed the Federation to become
a great superpower, considered one of the largest and most advanced civilizations in
the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.
Due to their origins and headquarters on Earth, humans were the most common species found
serving in Starfleet, yet over time crews grew increasingly diverse, as entry into the
organization was open to all species of member worlds and even those from non-member worlds
so long as they were recommended by a command level officer.
In time, Starfleet even allowed Artificial intelligence to serve, like the Android Data
and Holographic Doctor, though these advances took a great step backwards by the end of
the 24th century, when a rogue synth attack on Mars led them to ban the creation of androids.
Operating under the authority of the Starfleet Charter, the organization was run with military
discipline and strict adherence to the various codes, laws and procedures, like Starfleet
General Orders and Regulations which applied to all personnel.
Among the many rules they established, the most well known and controversial was general
order number one, also called the Prime Directive, which stated no starship may interfere with
the normal development of any alien life or society.
Although this could apply to many different situations, and often proved a wise policy,
one of the most significant effects was that they could no longer contact pre-warp civilizations,
and therefore could not offer aid or technology, even if they were suffering and on the brink
of extinction.
Outside of their General orders, there were many more rules to follow, including those
which prohibited the death of intelligent lifeforms, interference in the politics and
conflicts of other species, dealing with outlaws, and encroaching on the territory of a sovereign
power.
Working within these many rules and regulations, were a number of minor organizations providing
much needed expertise and specialization to various fields of research, training and construction.
Of all the various agencies that fell under their authority, Starfleet intelligence was
one of the most vital, as they were responsible for gathering information about neighbouring
powers, including their military strength.
However with so many rules in place limiting the capability of their intelligence service,
they were nowhere near as feared or respected as the Tal Shiar and Obsidian Order, espionage
agencies which used torture, kidnapping and any other means necessary to accomplish their
missions.
Yet what remained unknown to most of the galaxy, was that the Starfleet had a secret intelligence
operation working in the shadows and answering only to themselves, able to act outside the
law whenever they deemed necessary.
Section 31 as they were known, existed since the founding of Starfleet, getting their name
and mandate from Article 14 Section 31 of the original Starfleet Charter, allowing for
extreme measures in times of crisis.
Despite interpreting this passage to mean they could do whatever was necessary to accomplish
their objective, Section 31 believed deeply in the principles of the Federation, and did
violate their laws out of malice, greed or even self-preservation, taking no actions
against those who threatened to expose or work against them, so long as they did not
interfere with an active mission.
While Section 31 operated without oversight, the rest of Starfleet was led by the Commander
in Chief, who in turn answered primarily to the President of the Federation, though they
could also be given orders from the Council.
However within Starfleet, the Commander in chief stood at the top of their hierarchy,
responsible for everything within the organization.
Aiding him in this great administrative duty was Starfleet Command, where their highest
ranking officers oversaw all departments.
Beneath Starfleet Command, were the Sector Commanders, responsible for a specific region
of Federation space, with all Starfleet personnel in these areas answering to the Sector Commander.
When it came to their individual hierarchy, the organization was made up of Officers,
who studied for a minimum of 4 years at Starfleet Academy, and Enlisted Men, who received basic
training and whatever specialized lessons were necessary, often sent to the Starfleet
Technical Services Academy.
Further dividing the Officers into Flag and Field, the highest individual rank was Fleet
admiral, followed by Admiral, Vice admiral, Rear admiral and Commodore.
Those who attained the rank of Flag Officer could traditionally expect to work in Starfleet
Command, as a Sector Commander, or as a superintendent to one of the numerous Starfleet Academies
throughout their space, including the main facility on Earth.
Moving to the lower ranking officers who worked in the Field, there was the Captain at the
top, usually in command of a starship or space station, followed by Commander, Lieutenant
commander, Lieutenant, Lieutenant junior grade, and Ensign.
All new officers who graduated from Starfleet Academy were granted the rank of Ensign, with
the exception of medical personnel who started at Lieutenant jr grade.
As for the Enlisted men, also called non-commissioned officers, their highest ranking position was
Master chief petty officer, followed by Senior chief petty officer, Chief petty officer,
Petty officer 1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class and Crewman.
Field officers and NCOs sometimes worked in Shipyards, where new vessels were constructed
and space stations built throughout their space and beyond, providing a safe oasis for
shore leave, or to repair and resupply ships.
But for many, the ultimate dream was to serve aboard a Starship and travel throughout the
Alpha and Beta quadrants.
Designed for exploration, research and defense, Starfleet’s warp-capable ships evolved over
the years to keep up with advancing technology, and by the 24th century had civilians of all
ages living aboard some of the larger models, in order to avoid the separation of families.
Though the NX class starship was made famous by Captain Archer’s Enterprise, the first
Federation era starship to gain long lasting renown was the Consititution class of the
23rd century, due almost entirely to the celebrated 5 year mission of Captain James T Kirk aboard
the USS Enterprise, which expanded Federation space significantly.
The Consitution class was followed by the Excelsior, and then the Galaxy in the 24th
century.
Continuing the proud lineage of their namesake, the Galaxy Class USS Enterprise D gained great
notoriety under Captian Jean Luc Picard, a highly respected diplomat and commander.
When the Enterprise D was destroyed, the Enterprise E was upgraded to a Sovereign Class ship,
while elsewhere they built the Intrepid Class, a sleeker and more efficient vessel for long
term space exploration.
Although they had high hopes for the Intrepid, no one could have foreseen the durability
and versatility it famously displayed through the USS Voyager, a starship under Captain
Katherine Janeway which survived being stranded in the Delta Quadrant for seven years, entirely
cut off from all Federation services.
Among the many other types of ships, there was the Akira class for short range tactical
missions, the Defiant class as a heavily armed battleship, the Olympic class serving for
medical purposes, the Prometheus class for deep space tactical operations and the Nova
Class for short term research.
As the centuries went on and technology continued to advance, Starfleet became responsible for
protecting the timeline, and so developed timeships like the Aeon type, a one person
vessel with defensive capability, and traditional warp as well hyper-impulse drives.
And the Wells Class, a larger ship for long-term missions, complete with a holomatrix, acting
as a more sophisticated holodeck.