The contradiction of the Enterprise D mission role.

[Riley]

The main reasons behind this discrepancy are production goals and concerns. The Galaxy Class was designed for long term, deep space exploration, but most of TNG sees the ship involved in "local" dealings of a diplomatic nature. This allowed the writers to world build more than sticking to the original premise, which would have seen the Enterprise-D keep going to "see what's out there."

I personally think the focus on diplomacy/politics/etc. made the show far less interesting as it evolved. I wanted strange new worlds and new life and civilizations, not revisiting previously known civilizations or species that were just new to us and not the era. I enjoy many of these episodes, especially the Klingon stories and just about every time the Romulans show up, but I was always aware that the Enterprise-D was made for more.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

That's how the cookie crumbles. I expect other Galaxy-class ships did encounter missions more befitting their designs, while other ships ill-suited for diplomacy ran into political situations. Depends on where you are when.

 

[NCC-73515]

They went on exploration and mapping missions between episodes

 

[Stuart Wilson]

It may be that Starfleet generally uses older ship designs for deep space exploration, and that, with the Galaxy class being new during the TNG timeframe, they were kept closer to home. There are advantages in using older tech designs for long-range exploration, namely:

• The design is mature and crews will have developed a range of proven measures for fixing any issues.
• If a ship is taken over by a hostile power then Starfleet's latest designs don't fall into their hands.
• New ships with the latest combat capabilities are kept close to home to guard against the known hostile powers.
• Those races that are encountered in explorations missions are likely to be either much more advanced than the Federation, in which case having the most advanced Starfleet ship won't help, or much less advanced, in which case they won't need the latest design either.

Older ships would presumably be refitted for long range exploration with the latest scientific equipment, medical facilities, crew comforts etc. Perhaps this is what Kirk meant when he said "There are only 12 like her in the fleet," only 12 Constitutions had been equipped for deep space exploration.
It may also explain why we don't see any Galaxys or Nebulas in the fleet that attacks Spacedock at the end of Picard S3. They are now being used for deep space exploration and are too far out to return for the planned celebration (I refuse to believe that the whole of Starfleet was in the solar system. It must have just been a local sector fleet).

 

[Nerys Myk]

They went on exploration and mapping missions between episodes

The advantages of episodic TV. Always room for a mission or twenty between episodes

 

[DonIago]

In-universe, I kind of like the idea that once the E-D made first contact with the Borg, Starfleet started to shift focus away from deep space exploration for its most powerful vessels, in case they were needed for defense.

 

[Brainsucker]

You called Starfleet a “private military “, but it is clearly a government back military. Also it doesn’t “have a military” it is a military.

You seem to be having a problem grasping the idea that Starfleet can have multiple functions. It defends the Federation, explores and engages in scientific research. Just as militaries have done for centuries.

“Militaristic merchants” is about as an apt description of the Ferengi as any. Roddenberry compared them to Yankee
Traders (look it up).
Goblins can be many things in a Fantasy setting. Much more than what’s seen in Harry Potter. Though both the Potter goblins and Trek Ferengi have been accused of being racist stereotypes.

Nope. Starleet is more than military. They supposed to handle everything off planet like NASA. although from what I see they also intervene surface security matter on earth. And even looks more poweful than the president of UTP themselves.

i can argue that starfleet act like japanese shogunate while the president of ufp act like the useless emperor. But then people will protest because it mean ufp is a militaristic regime.

So I use VOC as the comparation with some difference. Plus i already said thay starfleet is a government owned organization. If you cant read it so its not my fault

 

[The Wormhole]

Starleet is more than military.

That old chestnut. Nest I guess someone will say it's other than military. Then paramilitary. And of course there's only a military on Tuesdays when it rains...

 

[Nerys Myk]

Nope. Starleet is more than military. They supposed to handle everything off planet like NASA. although from what I see they also intervene surface security matter on earth. And even looks more poweful than the president of UTP themselves.

i can argue that starfleet act like japanese shogunate while the president of ufp act like the useless emperor. But then people will protest because it mean ufp is a militaristic regime.

So I use VOC as the comparation with some difference. Plus i already said thay starfleet is a government owned organization. If you cant read it so its not my fault

No, Starfleet answers to the UFP President and the Federation Council. That's why the President and the Council have called Kirk on the carpet for his misdeeds. (STIV) Kirk answers to Starfleet and Starfleet answers to the Council.

I can read fine. But I do have trouble parsing what you are trying to say. You tend to be all over the map.

Where did I say that Starfleet is solely military? My argument is it has multiple duties, that includes being the Federation's military as I clearly outlined here

You seem to be having a problem grasping the idea that Starfleet can have multiple functions. It defends the Federation, explores and engages in scientific research. Just as militaries have done for centuries.

 

[knightgrace]

So, in other words the Enterprise-D, was a Worldrazor...

The TOS Enterprise wasn't an ordinary ship. Originally it was described as a "Space Cruiser", then a "Heavy Cruiser"...

When will they make up our minds?

Seriously.


The TOS Enterprise, was supposed to be a member of the most powerful of classes. Extremely very difficult to destroy...

But the Federation found that it wasn't powerful enough, hence the Enterprise-D...

Excuse me!?

 

[The Wormhole]

The TOS Enterprise, was supposed to be a member of the most powerful of classes. Extremely very difficult to destroy...

But the Federation found that it wasn't powerful enough, hence the Enterprise-D...

Excuse me!?

???
At the time of TOS the Constitution class was Starfleet's most advanced and powerful. After a century of advancements and innovation, the Galaxy class became the most advanced. Pretty straightforward I should think.

 

[Brainsucker]

No, Starfleet answers to the UFP President and the Federation Council. That's why the President and the Council have called Kirk on the carpet for his misdeeds. (STIV) Kirk answers to Starfleet and Starfleet answers to the Council.

I can read fine. But I do have trouble parsing what you are trying to say. You tend to be all over the map.

Where did I say that Starfleet is solely military? My argument is it has multiple duties, that includes being the Federation's military as I clearly outlined here

LOL. I've already said that Starfleet is a government owned organization. And you still think that I claim Starfleet has a private military? That's funny. You say that Starfleet is military. But you have to understand that being military, then Starfleet's primary duty should be military. But is it? I thought Starfleet primary duty is explore strange new world and conduct scentific mission. Not 'To Protect UFP's interest inside and outside Federation border".

I said that Starfleet is above military. I used VOC as a comparation. Because VOC was not a military. VOC was a trading company, but it own private military. Starfleet is like NASA. It responsible everything outside the planet. But It has it's own intelligent agency (Section 31) and it's own military (the Security Section). But Starfleet primary mission is not military. It's more scientific one. It also the same to VOC, their primary mission was to trade and accumulate wealth. Although VOC change their mission from a mere trade company to a Colonizer who rule over some land, by kicking their previous king from the throne.

Can't you understand yet? And you even derailed the topic further by comparing a trading organization with a fantasy creature with the name of Ferengi. If you don't understand, that's not my problem.

Oh I almost forget, about the shogunate. Previously I said that I can compare Starfleet with Japanese Shogunate, but I'm won't. Because it can cause outrage in Western people demographic like in this forum. So I won't, and I won't derail the topic further for those pointless debate.

 

[Brainsucker]

The main reasons behind this discrepancy are production goals and concerns. The Galaxy Class was designed for long term, deep space exploration, but most of TNG sees the ship involved in "local" dealings of a diplomatic nature. This allowed the writers to world build more than sticking to the original premise, which would have seen the Enterprise-D keep going to "see what's out there."

I personally think the focus on diplomacy/politics/etc. made the show far less interesting as it evolved. I wanted strange new worlds and new life and civilizations, not revisiting previously known civilizations or species that were just new to us and not the era. I enjoy many of these episodes, especially the Klingon stories and just about every time the Romulans show up, but I was always aware that the Enterprise-D was made for more.

Maybe there was some change in vision by the producer? Like Star Trek TNG supposed to be the same as TOS. With the Enterprise move around from one Alien of the week to another, but then it change after season 2?

Well in season 1, The Ent-D was really portrayed as an exploration ship. Maybe they plan the Ent-D as the TOS Ent with luxury deck inside. Like a park, garden, holodeck, etc. But then it change. Because they want to tell more about Federation and Starfleet, so they went into more political plot.

 

[Nerys Myk]

LOL. I've already said that Starfleet is a government owned organization. And you still think that Starfleet has a private military? That's funny. You say that Starfleet is military. But you have to understand that being military, then Starfleet's primary duty should be military. But is it? I thought Starfleet primary duty is explore strange new world and conduct scentific mission. Not 'To Protect UFP's interest inside and outside Federation border".

No, its a government ran organization. At no time did I say Starfleet is a private military. Point to where I did. Again it has various functions who's primacy is dictated by the mission at hand.

I said that Starfleet is above military. I used VOC as a comparation. Because VOC was not a military. VOC was a trading company, but it own private military. Starfleet is like NASA. It responsible everything outside the planet. But It has it's own intelligent agency (Section 31) and it's own military (the Security Section). But Starfleet primary mission is not military. It's more scientific one. It also the same to VOC, their primary mission was to trade and accumulate wealth. Although VOC change their mission from a mere trade company to a Colonizer who rule over some land, by kicking their previous king from the throne.

You might to explore the role various militaries have had in science and exploration. Also, NASA's role in terrestrial science
The VOC is the equivalent of the Federation in this scenario, not Starfleet. Both have militaries.

Can't you understand yet? And you even derailed the topic further by comparing a trading organization with a fantasy creature with the name of Ferengi. If you don't understand, that's not my problem.

Most fictional concepts have real world inspirations. As I mentioned, the Ferengi are based on the real world Yankee Traders, This is from Gene Roddenberry himself, Starfleet is based on real world militaries and takes many traditions and structure from them. It's a perfectly legitimate argument to cite them when discussing fiction.

Your posts are confusing, contradictory and poorly constructed. That's on you.

 

[The Wormhole]

I thought Starfleet primary duty is explore strange new world and conduct scentific mission. Not 'To Protect UFP's interest inside and outside Federation border".

When the Borg or the Dominion attack, is it not Starfleet who responds? They're not going ignore that and say "not dealing with that today. Today we're explorers/scientists."

 

[DarrenTR1970]

In the pilot episode, Farpoint Station is supposed to be at the edge of Federation space and at the end of the episode Picard says, "Let's see what's out there," implying that they're going to be exploring beyond Federation space, yet in the following episodes, Enterprise-D is back in Federation space.
Clearly something happened to change to mission profile to bring Enterprise-D back into Federation territory, whether it be the destruction of outposts along the Neutral Zone, the re-emergence of the Romulans, or the encounter with the Borg the following year, Starfleet and the Federation felt it better that one of their most advanced starships was needed closer to home.​

 

[Nerys Myk]

In the pilot episode, Farpoint Station is supposed to be at the edge of Federation space and at the end of the episode Picard says, "Let's see what's out there," implying that they're going to be exploring beyond Federation space, yet in the following episodes, Enterprise-D is back in Federation space.
Clearly something happened to change to mission profile to bring Enterprise-D back into Federation territory, whether it be the destruction of outposts along the Neutral Zone, the re-emergence of the Romulans, or the encounter with the Borg the following year, Starfleet and the Federation felt it better that one of their most advanced starships was needed closer to home.​

Much like in TOS, in TNG season one they bounce back and forth between exploring the unknown and popping back to Federation space to perform various tasks or take shore leave.

 

[korblborp]

LOL. I've already said that Starfleet is a government owned organization. And you still think that I claim Starfleet has a private military? That's funny. You say that Starfleet is military. But you have to understand that being military, then Starfleet's primary duty should be military. But is it? I thought Starfleet primary duty is explore strange new world and conduct scentific mission. Not 'To Protect UFP's interest inside and outside Federation border".

I said that Starfleet is above military. I used VOC as a comparation. Because VOC was not a military. VOC was a trading company, but it own private military. Starfleet is like NASA. It responsible everything outside the planet. But It has it's own intelligent agency (Section 31) and it's own military (the Security Section). But Starfleet primary mission is not military. It's more scientific one. It also the same to VOC, their primary mission was to trade and accumulate wealth. Although VOC change their mission from a mere trade company to a Colonizer who rule over some land, by kicking their previous king from the throne.

Can't you understand yet? And you even derailed the topic further by comparing a trading organization with a fantasy creature with the name of Ferengi. If you don't understand, that's not my problem.

Oh I almost forget, about the shogunate. Previously I said that I can compare Starfleet with Japanese Shogunate, but I'm won't. Because it can cause outrage in Western people demographic like in this forum. So I won't, and I won't derail the topic further for those pointless debate.

section 31 is not starfleet's intelligence agency, that would be Starfleet Intelligence. pretty much all militaries have a military intelligence branch/division, this does not make it "more than" a military. moreover, section 31 is (supposed to be, as introduced, to my recollection) a super secret tiny segment of *all* of the federation's organizations, with terrorist-cell like structures of operation, due to a super mega secret clause in the federation constitution or whatever

the "security segment" of Starfleet likewise is also not "it's own military", it's their security division, police and guards, basically.