Guide:After 2375 - Whither Federation?
After 2375 - Whither Federation?
The end of the 24th century is now nearing, but still obscured from our view (save for the occasional time travel reports, notoriously unreliable in the eddies of ever-changing time). What will happen in the ongoing conflict with the Dominion? Will mankind ever return to the Gamma Quadrant? What, ultimately, is the role of the Borg in the development of our galaxy? Shall we ever dare venture to the Delta Quadrant and defy the Borg in their element? These questions may await answer for centuries, but they may also demand it within the next couple of years – the Borg may return faster than we think, and despite the short respite, the Founders haven’t said their last word yet, either.
The secession and later destruction of the Maquis has been referred to as the severing of a limb to save the body from necrosis. But perhaps it should be seen as the birth of a child, an event where both sides gained something from their separation, and new life was brought to the world. For many, the loss of the Maquis community is a true loss also to the UFP. The colonial issue is still far from solved, and negative feelings will linger a long time after the criminal courts have finished their sessions.
The exploration program is again underway. Despite the disruption caused by the war, survey operations continue with business as usual. But is this how it should be? The experiences with the use of Prime Directive as a political tool have led many to think that the rules of First Contact should be amended, perhaps even radically so. Also, the very structure of UFP exploration program and its aims at expanding the UFP knowledge and sphere of influence should perhaps be reconsidered in face of what we now know of our galaxy’s history and political situation.
Just as after the Romulan war, the Klingon encounter and the first Borg incursion, the UFP is again at a major crossroads. We can choose between war and peace, alliance and adversity. But we might make even more radical choices – between isolation and sharing, Collective and community, arrogance and acceptance. These are also the choices facing Star Fleet. Its role is again being redefined, and what paths its starships may travel in the future depends on the political choices of today. Vast technological advances are accessible now: transwarp conduits, artificial wormholes or interdimensional portals promise freedom from the limits of warp drive. If Star Fleet chooses to strive for that freedom, perhaps to travel beyond the galactic barrier at last, then it in turn will be in the position to present the UFP with new choices – provided that we survive the ones we make today.