The Nature of the Federation in Trek IX

[ParticleMan]

This is something that crossed my mind by about the second or third viewing of the new film. In the bar scene with Kirk and Pike, the Federation is described by Pike as a "humanitarian and peacekeeping armada", not as any kind of an overarching governmental authority spanning multiple planets as it is in the Prime timeline.

Was this just an example of a "simplification" of the nature of the Federation for audiences who have never heard of it, or could it be that the Federation itself is drastically different in the new timeline? I don't know why it would be since it was a governmental body from its founding long before the timeline deviation, but still...that word "armada" jumped out to me...almost like the Federation is the 23rd century equivalent of the UN peacekeeping forces or NATO instead of a united, multi-planetary government.

 

[General Shran]

I like to think Pike was really describing Starfleet even though he said Federation. There have been instances when the two terms were used somewhat interchangeably.

 

[gastrof]

Listen carefully if you see the movie again. It sounds like that's not what Pike originally said, and part of his lines were edited out, in my opinion carelessly.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was actually mention of Starfleet before the second half.

I wish people wouldn't be careless like that.

 

[ParticleMan]

Listen carefully if you see the movie again. It sounds like that's not what Pike originally said, and part of his lines were edited out, in my opinion carelessly.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was actually mention of Starfleet before the second half.

I wish people wouldn't be careless like that.

I'll have to listen to that when I go again this weekend. I figured too that he really meant "Starfleet" rather than the Federation. Even then, the way it is edited seems to take away Starfleet's exploratory purpose, dropping it down to just a peacekeeping force. I hope that Trek XII shows a Starfleet that goes out and explores and does more than just defend the Federation's borders.

 

[pookha]

i think it was a simplification thing..
because we know pike was trying to get kirk to enroll in starfleet.

and yeah even in the show the two thing to get mixed in.

i have a feeling now they have the characters set up we will get more about the federation ect..

 

[Silent_Bob]

He definitely says its the Federation thats the armada. Personally i chalk it up to Pike having one too many appletini's before talking to Kirk and he really meant Starfleet.

 

[ParticleMan]

He definitely says its the Federation thats the armada. Personally i chalk it up to Pike having one too many appletini's before talking to Kirk and he really meant Starfleet.

I don't know why the mental picture of Pike drinking appletinis is so funny to me...but it is.