There seems to be a belief that entire planets are occupied by one single dominant species, or a few dominant species, all native to that planet, that maintain their own right to completely occupy their own planet. For example, Earth belongs to Humans, Kling to Klingons, Romulus to Romulans, Cardassia for Cardassians, etc.
But this may be true for only a relatively small number of core worlds belonging to any particular space power. Most other worlds, I think, would have a mixed population, considering that colonist and conqueror alike would repeatedly attempt to establish and maintain a presence on every inhabitable world possible, peacefully or otherwise.
Klingons, I can imagine, would conquer and colonize every inhabitable world they could find, whether already occupied by other races or not. They would attempt to assert their dominance and maintain that dominance with a local presence and otherworldly threat that would grow over time.
Humans and even the Federation might have done something similar, albeit more peacefully, wherever possible, especially in the early space-faring years. Once the Federation was more established with its Prime Directives and General Orders, however, it seems that Humans and other UFP members began to grant a planet’s indigenous population the right to completely occupy their own planet.
So, it seems likely that the astrobiology of Klingon worlds would differ greatly from their original state and that of most Federation worlds discovered outside the influence of other major powers. Whereas Klingon worlds would probably have a strong Klingon presence everywhere, both within the Klingon Empire and in territories primarily maintained by other powers, Federation worlds would seem to favor a more culturally unique variety of worlds that maintain their own uniqueness to a higher degree.
It seems likely to me that there must be numerous worlds with representative populations from many of the major powers, all on the same world.
This would make defining borders in space rather incomplete since major powers would have an interest in protecting their populations on many worlds even deep within the claimed territories of other major powers. Borders may exist, but bubbles and pockets of every color would appear all mixed up throughout a map like a shook up soda pop.
It seems inevitable that the astrobiology, at least of intelligent space-faring species, would inevitably become intertwined to such an extent that one’s physical species would no longer identify one’s race. A Human could be just as much Klingon as a Klingon and a Klingon could be just as much Human as a Human, at least socially and politically, if not biologically.
But this may be true for only a relatively small number of core worlds belonging to any particular space power. Most other worlds, I think, would have a mixed population, considering that colonist and conqueror alike would repeatedly attempt to establish and maintain a presence on every inhabitable world possible, peacefully or otherwise.
Klingons, I can imagine, would conquer and colonize every inhabitable world they could find, whether already occupied by other races or not. They would attempt to assert their dominance and maintain that dominance with a local presence and otherworldly threat that would grow over time.
Humans and even the Federation might have done something similar, albeit more peacefully, wherever possible, especially in the early space-faring years. Once the Federation was more established with its Prime Directives and General Orders, however, it seems that Humans and other UFP members began to grant a planet’s indigenous population the right to completely occupy their own planet.
So, it seems likely that the astrobiology of Klingon worlds would differ greatly from their original state and that of most Federation worlds discovered outside the influence of other major powers. Whereas Klingon worlds would probably have a strong Klingon presence everywhere, both within the Klingon Empire and in territories primarily maintained by other powers, Federation worlds would seem to favor a more culturally unique variety of worlds that maintain their own uniqueness to a higher degree.
It seems likely to me that there must be numerous worlds with representative populations from many of the major powers, all on the same world.
This would make defining borders in space rather incomplete since major powers would have an interest in protecting their populations on many worlds even deep within the claimed territories of other major powers. Borders may exist, but bubbles and pockets of every color would appear all mixed up throughout a map like a shook up soda pop.
It seems inevitable that the astrobiology, at least of intelligent space-faring species, would inevitably become intertwined to such an extent that one’s physical species would no longer identify one’s race. A Human could be just as much Klingon as a Klingon and a Klingon could be just as much Human as a Human, at least socially and politically, if not biologically.