Was The Klingon Empire Part of The Federation in Season One?
- Thread starter Aike
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Actually it was the Second Season, Pulaski was in that episode.
This is further backed up by reference materials that came out at the time ("Worlds of the Federation" comes to mind).
In first season's "Heart of Glory", there's also a Federation seal visible on the bridge of the Klingon cruiser.
I guess this was retconned away by the 3rd season ("Sins of the Father"?), because they wanted to keep the Klingon Empire as an independent nation which is merely allied with the Federation.
I guess this was retconned away by the 3rd season ("Sins of the Father"?), because they wanted to keep the Klingon Empire as an independent nation which is merely allied with the Federation.
I believe the logos are just overlays displayed in the transmission.
It's pretty easy to retcon, yes. Wesley says the Klingons "joined" the UFP. He doesn't say they became members, or anything as inconveniently definitive. He just says they "joined" the UFP. Perhaps in a famous joint effort? A defense pact?
The double seals on that Klingon prisoner extraction vessel could be indicative of the diminished, groveling Klingon Empire that the prisoners so hated. Quite possibly, Klingon ships operating as liaisons between the Empire and the Federation were in the habit of flying the two colors, as part of the defense pact or whatever that was the extent of the "joining".
Timo Saloniemi
The double seals on that Klingon prisoner extraction vessel could be indicative of the diminished, groveling Klingon Empire that the prisoners so hated. Quite possibly, Klingon ships operating as liaisons between the Empire and the Federation were in the habit of flying the two colors, as part of the defense pact or whatever that was the extent of the "joining".
Timo Saloniemi
There is somewhat of a history in this. Starfleet personnel referring to a former adversary as an "ally" or as if they were a "Federation member" when all that has been done is that they've stopped fighting the Feds.
Remember in "The Wounded" when the Cardassians were introduced?
Worf says "I don't trust them".
Troi replies, "They are our allies now Worf. We have to trust them"
Excuse me?!
They only stopped shooting at us a year ago, NOW we already consider them allies?
Remember in "The Wounded" when the Cardassians were introduced?
Worf says "I don't trust them".
Troi replies, "They are our allies now Worf. We have to trust them"
Excuse me?!
They only stopped shooting at us a year ago, NOW we already consider them allies?
At the time of season one or two, I remember reading that Gene Roddenberry wanted the former enemy to develop into a friend and ally. He didn't want them to be forever the bad guys.
The original intention was to have the Ferengi as the new major advesary to the Federation and to introduce new alien races. Unfortunately, the Ferengi were a disaster.
The original intention was to have the Ferengi as the new major advesary to the Federation and to introduce new alien races. Unfortunately, the Ferengi were a disaster.
Or, you know, when they form an alliance.
That's pretty much how I see it. Incidentally, I wish more had been done with the idea of Klingon dissidents like Korris and Konmel, as there were probably officers on both sides who were uncomfortable with the alliance.
I'm not sure exactly; I've read things to suggest that other members of the TNG staff pushed for that more than Gene, to show that progress is possible. Worf was initially not even going to be a major character, but just sort of a token one. One source I have suggested that when Gene originally conceived TNG, it would not have had any connection to earlier Trek. It woud have essentially been a clean slate.
I'm happy it turned out the way it did; none of the spinoffs or movies could really carry themselves without the support of the common framework...
One might assume that the two issues would be closely related. That is, they stopped shooting at us, and we stopped shooting at them, chiefly and perhaps solely because we decided we would need them as allies against some third party, and they saw the benefit of that arrangement.
The Cardassians could have been the one local power big enough to help the UFP manage the Miradorn, Klaestron and other two-bit hostiles in the region, or to form a buffer against the Breen or the Tholians. And the Klingons could have been contained at long last by agreeing on a joint defense against the Romulans.
Timo Saloniemi
One might assume that the two issues would be closely related. That is, they stopped shooting at us, and we stopped shooting at them, chiefly and perhaps solely because we decided we would need them as allies against some third party, and they saw the benefit of that arrangement.
The Cardassians could have been the one local power big enough to help the UFP manage the Miradorn, Klaestron and other two-bit hostiles in the region, or to form a buffer against the Breen or the Tholians. And the Klingons could have been contained at long last by agreeing on a joint defense against the Romulans.
Timo Saloniemi
Don't forget Worf's response to Troi, which I don't think she appreciated but was still right: "Trust is earned, not given away."
They turned out to be the comic relief.
The answer is the Klingons may have been intended to be part of the Federation, but even in the first season, there are plenty of lines indicating they weren't part of the Federation. It was a projection of what might happen if the U.S. and U.S.S.R. stopped being adversaries, which is what did happen, but now the U.S. and Russia are uneasy allies. Very much the way they made the Klingon Empire and the Federation in subsequent seasons, which makes more sense, given the warlike nature of the Klingon warrior code. -- RR
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