In theStar Trekuniverse, the future is full of worlds to be explored, both in terms of planets and stories. The Federation Charter, the United Federation of Planets, Starfleet precursors, and many other pillars ofStar Trekpresently exist as established aspects of the universe, instead of untapped mines of drama. The creation of the Federation was a monumental event, one which formed the foundation for the interstellar adventures audiences see today. The immediate results of such a significant political, social and philosophical shift would be enormous, and they’re long overdue a series of their own.
ManyStar Trekshows and movies have referenced the birth of the Federation, often when the goal is to dismantle a long held belief or to criticize an old edict of the organization. Yet unlike theHigh Republic era ofStar Wars,Star Trekdoesn’t have many narratives set in one of the earliest defining periods of its universe. The first instances of human-alien diplomacy – or the lack thereof – should be portrayed onscreen, providing context for the interplanetary cooperation that is commonly observed now. The closest fans have come to seeing the first advances of the Federation is at the end ofStar Trek: Enterprise, when Jonathan Archer goes to sign the Federation Charter. There are decades of unmade stories springing from that final moment.
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The United Federation of Planets was created to spread and uphold ideals of justice, liberty and peace across the galaxy, as agreed byall of the Federation’s founding members. Earth, Vulcan, Andor, and Tellar Prime were the only planets involved in the signing of the charter. This meant that any other planet seeking membership would have to either apply or be invited, based on technological compatibility and societal development.
InStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, Season 4, Episode 17, “Accession,” Captain Sisko makes it plain to the Bajoran people that if they insist on maintaining their discriminatory social systems, they will not be considered for membership. The prioritization of progressive views over tradition is seen across multiple series, and it would have been particularly important to establish it while the Federation was in its infancy.Many episodes ofStar Trek: Enterpriseshow the growing pains of foreign cultures adapting to one another, but adding new planets to a young coalition would make for some awkward, and engrossing, political maneuvering. Admiral Archer definitely had some shouting matches with a few ambassadors — he couldn’t have been the only one who did.
The less savory aspects of the Federation’s history necessitate stories too. These tales are just as appealing as the organization’s commitment to peacekeeping. The United Earth Military was Earth’s main defensive measure in the 22nd century, but eventually became obsolete with the advent of the Federation and the integration of UESPA (United Earth Space Probe Agency) with Starfleet. One faction of this force that remains pertinent is Military Assault Command Operations, or MACO, which predated the Federation Charter.
MACO, like any military, built soldiers before scientists or explorers. This put the organization in direct conflict with the tenets ofStarfleet and the Federation. InStar Trek Beyond, one of those lost soldiers found reason to strike back at the Federation. Who’s to say that hasn’t happened before? Multiple episodes ofStar Trek: Enterprisedelve into the training of MACO soldiers, but a series following their transition into a pacifistic galaxy would be more fertile ground for storytelling.
Another group that lives on the shadier side of the galaxy, figuratively speaking, is Section 31.Star Trekis based upon the ideals of a utopian society, so there are few truly devious underbellies of any Earth government. Section 31 is a notable exception. The group was formed from Article 14 of the Starfleet Charter, which had a loophole that permitted Starfleet Intelligence officers to take extreme measures in their duties. Its Illuminati-esque reputation makes for somethrilling action inStar Trek: Deep Space NineandStar Trek: Discovery, but it didn’t start out as an independent league of spies.
There’s reason to believe that Section 31 began as a legitimate way to protect Earth interests in a climate of interplanetary tension, and that it spiraled into a secret society of paranoid government officials. A movie or series about the formation of a spy agency, especially in the new era of the Federation, would be a fresh story forStar Trekto explore. Not everyone can be a quixotic space-farer, after all. There has to be some darkness to balance out all that optimism.
There arecountless Star Trek books, shows and moviesdemonstrating how expansive the final frontier is for stories, especially ones about the best and brightest sentient species have to offer. Many of these properties look to the centuries ahead. The most recent series, such asDiscovery,Lower Decks, andStrange New Worldsstay in a time period familiar to audiences. A story that reaches into the franchise’s past and the Earth’s future would flesh out the universe significantly, and perhaps allow it to explore varied genres.
In the very first episode ofStar Trek: Enterprise,the Vulcan T’Pol is confrontedwith Captain Archer’s prejudicial perspective. She claims that humans have a “provincial attitude and volatile nature.” The first Enterprise crew become friends, of course, but that can’t have been the case for every attempt at integrating several alien species into an alliance. The very beginning of Federation was filled with action that audiences have yet to see. The stage has been set by many series and novels; now, there are further stories to be told.
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