There's one or two where O'Brien is on a deep-cover assignment to infiltrate the Orion Syndicate. (i almost put down Lucian Alliance!)
Why? There are many who would enjoy storylines within the Star Wars franchise without Jedi or lightsabers (I know several and Rogue One's success bears some evidence to this fact). So, if that film can continue on in the story, then I think Star Trek can do it to. There's already a fan film based upon such a concept. I think that the Star Trek world is big enough to allow for a show without being centered on a Starfleet ship.
And it isn't for everyone. The larger point is that it can be done, and might even drawn in an audience that wouldn't want to get in to the franchise. Same thing with Star Trek. I personally would love a Firefly-esque show but reverse it again, with the merchants being on the side of the Federation and not rebels. A combination of DS9, a fort on the frontier, and Aurora, with a civilian crew. Again, I don't see an issue. If done well.
It always amuses me when the idea of a civilian-based Trek idea rears its head, the first thing folk go to is Firefly. Don't get me wrong, it was an awesome show (cancelled too early , be strong Brydon and get through this) but all us civilians out there aren't criminals. Besides I never said this was a civilian ship. It would be a Nyberrite Alliance vessel, so it would be a Trek series not focusing on Starfleet but on a ship from another military/exploratory/scientific organisation--one that would allow itself to have an even more diverse cast of characters, as you could have the human hero/heroine having to work alongside a Romulan and/or a Cardassian, putting aside the troubles their respective governments have faced in order to serve together for the benefit of the ship. Tension and drama galore!
Which is why I wanted to change it up and not be rebels. Man, there's something that's making my inner Browncoat and Star Wars fan cry...hang in there. We can't have that in Star Trek! What are you thinking?! In all seriousness, I would not mind exploring either a different organization's ship, either civilian or military, to show a different side of the Federation and other species.
Some pretty interesting ideas in this thread. With a little tweaking of each or an amalgam of most. And primarily, that there is no need for a human prime character(they're played by humans anyway and all aliens relate to some human condition or era, obviously some humans would be needed though, else it might alienate the fans too much). I've always thought things would progress like this in Trek: First a black captain, then a woman, then an alien. A series about a different alliance would be an excellent opportunity, cause Starfleet, in most cases, has proven too Earth-Centric(with few exceptions, like USSS Intrepid and Captain Rix, off of the top of my head).
I know, the creators of Trek are very alienist, think as though other species in the Federation (and beyond) aren't as good as humans
I've always fancied the idea of STAR TREK doing occasional miniseries without dealing with Starfleet, or the Federation, per se. Stories focusing on key aliens and events relating to them, for example: The Vulcan Wars and seeing Surak come to power as that planet's spiritual guru. Or Bajorian Freedom Fighters during the Cardassian occupation. All kinds of different possibilities like that, where it's a contained idea that doesn't warrant a 7 year run, or a motion picture franchise. Just a cool story compressed within a 4 - 6 parter and a motion picture's budget ...
I totally agree. To quote Jean-Luc Picard "It was a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to (live) there, Number One."
It would be interesting to see another warp culture discover the Federation. "Hey, you guys wanna join our bigger federation?"
One of the great things about your idea is that it would place the Humans on the show in the position of being "the aliens." Having to learn the dominate cultures idioms, slang and jargon. Not being understood when they use common Human euphemisms and then having to explain (like Worf occasional had to). Stumbling over the unfamiliar social norms. This would really make the Humans the odd ones out. Shoe's on the other foot now.
it would be there, but in the background ...Like the Doctor Who episode "Blink" We just see him on a video screen (and at the end), but he isn't there IN PERSON leading the story.