Star Trek Starfleet and Federation Species

GROUP: Members

POSTS: 1

Report this Aug. 24 2009, 3:35 pm

This is an issue that always puzzled me.

On DS9's `Take me out to the Holosuite,` we see an all-Vulcan Starship crew.

A lovely episode in its own right, but it made me think - are species-exclusive starships really in keeping with Federation values?

On all Federation starships, humans form an overwhelming majority.

I realise this may be a practical issue for the Star Trek producers - make-up considerations, general cost considerations - but it seems to me that the Federation, in regards to its starfleet personnel, and at least until the late 2300s, has not quite done enough to challenge the idea that the Federation is a `Homosapiens only club`.

I am something of a ST noob and I was just wondering if the question of Starfleet integration of the varied Federation species is ever addressed in the non-canon novels?

captbates

GROUP: Members

POSTS: 12614

Report this Aug. 24 2009, 7:43 pm

Welcome to the boards, Bodysnatcher

It does seem to be more "Trek like" to have mixed crews on Starships, however there will always be the need for ships that have crews who specialise in one area, and that could be an area of expertise that Vulcans have. I can think of a few other reasons for single species crews, but it does only seem to be rare.

IKS_Okrand

GROUP: Members

POSTS: 125

Report this Aug. 24 2009, 7:44 pm

I don't think that the Federation is "speciesist" if that's what you're trying to say. IMO i think the reason why there are so few ships where the majority of the crew are non-humans is because said non-humans would prefer to be with their "own people". That's why you rarely see humans manning Vulcan ships or Klingons on Romulan vessels etc. Apparently most of the races on Star Trek prefer to be with their own kind, so to speak.

defiant_12

GROUP: Members

POSTS: 178

Report this Aug. 24 2009, 7:56 pm

I don't think there is any real canon explanation to this, but the reason we don't see more aliens on Starfleet ships is likely a budget issue. I'm sure there are probably just as many Vulcans or Andorians as there are Humans in Starfleet, as it is the Federation's military, and having Starfleet made up of mainly Humans would be like the Army being primarily made up of people from one state. If the budget for Star Trek were larger, I'm sure a larger variety of Federation species would be seen on starships.

Kdbtrekkin

GROUP: Members

POSTS: 3635

Report this Aug. 25 2009, 4:25 am

Vulcans would have there own ships, as they are a very unemotional lot. Not saying nobody else can join there crew, but can you think of anything more boring than being on a crew full of Vulcans.

Vulcans like to stick together, because of there unemotional state.

tribblenator999

GROUP: Members

POSTS: 3818

Report this Aug. 25 2009, 10:40 am

how is the federation a homosapiens only club. 70-75% of starfleet is made up of humans. Starship crews are 80% human. Starfleet command is primarily humans. Wait a minute starfleet was a earth organization. That's why. Why would aliens want to join a human organization and also why would humans accept too many aliens in their ranks. You think about it.

defiant_12

GROUP: Members

POSTS: 178

Report this Aug. 25 2009, 7:53 pm

Quote (tribblenator999 @ Aug. 25 2009, 8:40 am)

how is the federation a homosapiens only club. 70-75% of starfleet is made up of humans. Starship crews are 80% human. Â¿Starfleet command is primarily humans. Wait a minute starfleet was a earth organization. That's why. Why would aliens want to join a human organization and also why would humans accept too many aliens in their ranks. You think about it.

That's the case with the Earth Starfleet from ENT, but when the Federation was founded, the Federation Starfleet was formed by combining the military and exploratory services of the four founding members. As well, when a new member joins the Federation, their military has to be integrated into Starfleet

WedgeBob

GROUP: Members

POSTS: 436

Report this Aug. 27 2009, 9:51 pm

Well, you had a Denobulan doctor on board Enterprise in Phlox, and T'Pol was forced on as a science officer beyond her will, and they seem to get along well. That was the beginning of what would become an alliance of sorts.

Star Trek

Starfleet and Federation Species

This content is:

Recently logged in

Forum Permissions

Recent News Articles

Shop

Star Trek Into Darkness Enterprise Falling Movie Poster [11x17]

Star Trek Starfleet Academy Class Ring