What is the Federation now?

[Vance]

It shouldn't make that much difference if the Federation spans thousands of lightyears with dozens of members species. Whats a few billion Vulcans if the total population of the Federation is hundreds of billions with thousands of colonies?

Actually, the Federation of the TOS/NuTrek era shouldn't be all that big, consisting of only a couple of HUNDRED worlds and their colonies, with most of the powers being minor. Losing Vulcan would be a huge loss to the Federation outright.

 

[Phily B]

Starfleets first order of business is protecting the Federation. See Wolf 359, and the Dominion War. They got their ass handed to them by an advanced Romulan ship, and they've probably gone down the route of building their ships with a bit more teeth. Had the Federation ever had their ass handed to them that badly in this timeline? I mean, the only time we've seen them get their ass kicked was The Borg in TNG which led to the Defiant, Akira etc.

 

[The Lensman]

Actually, the Federation of the TOS/NuTrek era shouldn't be all that big, consisting of only a couple of HUNDRED worlds and their colonies, with most of the powers being minor. Losing Vulcan would be a huge loss to the Federation outright.

I dunno....I never got the feeling watching the original that the Federation consisted of "hundreds" or worlds. Maybe 50-75, and that includes colonies. Nothing to really base the feeling on.....space just felt very empty and vast in the original. Plus there were only 12 Constitution Class vessels