Starfleet

Starfleet is the deep space exploratory, scientific, diplomatic, and defensive operating authority for the United Federation of Planets, and was chartered by the Federation in 2161 with the mission 'to boldly go where no-one has gone before'. The most visible part of Starfleet is it's interstellar Starships, which the U.S.S. Voyager are among the newest and most technologically advanced. Additionally, Starfleet maintains a far-flung network of Starbases to support it's operations, such as the space station Deep Space Nine in the Bajor system.

Starfleet Command

The operating authority of Starfleet is the Starfleet Command. The primary control hub is located in San Francisco on Earth, but other secondary command facilities are also located on various Starbases throughout Federation space. Starfleet Command stays in touch with its starships by means of a subspace radio communications network, but even with this faster-than-light medium of communication, interstellar space is so vast that it is not uncommon for ships on the frontier to be completely out of touch. As a result, starship captains are frequently granted broad discretionary powers to interpret Federation policy as best they can in the absence of immediate instructions from Starfleet Command.

Starfleet Academy

The Starfleet Academy, founded in 2161, and located at the Presidio of San Francisco on Earth, is the center for the four year training course which all Starfleet personnel has to undergo. The Academy's motto is "ex astris, scientia", meaning "from the stars, knowledge".

The Prime Directive

The Starfleet General Order Number One, is its Prime Directive. This Order mandates that Starfleet personnel and spacecraft are prohibited from interfering, by any means, in the normal development on any society, and that any Starfleet vessel or crew member is expandable to prevent any violation of this rule. Adopted relatively early in Starfleet history, the Prime Directive was a key part of Starfleet and Federation policy toward newly discovered civilizations, but it was also one of the most difficult to administer. In most cases, the Prime Directive applied to any civilization that had not yet developed the use of warp drive for interstellar travel.