A “fleet” that doesn’t fight…

[FredH]

I’m not sure if this really belongs in Trek General or Science Fiction & Fantasy; mods, I guess that’s your call—


If one were creating a new, Star-Trek-equivalent series today (I’m not, I’m just daydreaming here), would it make sense (if one wanted to) to have a “starfleet” that’s more like an interstellar NASA — i.e. science missions, maybe contact missions if there are aliens, but NOT a naval/combat fleet? I.e. we explore and sure, probably get grabbed by the occasional giant green hand, but we’re NOT the ones fighting the wars, if there even are any.

Logistically (and I guess, assuming post-scarcity again as far as resources are concerned), would it make sense to build a large fleet of different classes of exploratory starships if they’re NOT serving a military purpose? I’ve no dog in this either way, I’m just honestly curious what people think?

 

[1001001]

Well, I don’t think SFF would be the right forum. Maybe Future of Trek?

Eh…I suppose we can leave it here.

 

[David cgc]

It seems like a reasonable concept to have a separate "Corps of Discovery" in addition to a military that does fighting, patrol, and disaster relief. There'd probably be some crossover and joint missions and exploration used as cover for military goals (for instance, famously, when Robert Ballard's team discovered the Titanic, their search for the wreck was a cover-story for a military mission, and only took up a small amount of time of the overall expedition.).

There are plenty of specialized research ships in the real world. They're mostly unique or small batches, as far as I know. There's only one FLIP, for instance, and the Schmidt Ocean Institute's R/V's are both custom builds, but if there's a whole galaxy to explore, I can see research ships being mass-produced.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Star Wars Episode 9 had the Sith taken down by an almost entirely civilian fleet that just also happened to all have lethal weapons installed. Considering Disney tends to side with the politicians that favor stronger restrictions on guns in real life, I'm not sure what message they were trying to convey here.

Not everybody agrees with the C-Suites who run Disney and their "Political Messaging".

I'd trust more average people with arms than the Power Hungry Machinations of those at the top who are vying for power in the Political world.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Years ago, when I was taking a Short Story Workshop class at a local junior college, I wrote at least two short stories about an entity known as the First Contact Corps.

 

[1001001]

Star Wars Episode 9 had the Sith taken down by an almost entirely civilian fleet that just also happened to all have lethal weapons installed. Considering Disney tends to side with the politicians that favor stronger restrictions on guns in real life, I'm not sure what message they were trying to convey here.

What do Disney’s politics have to do with the topic at hand?

Leave that unrelated stuff out of here. There’s more than enough of that elsewhere on the board.

 

[FredH]

Star Wars Episode 9 had the Sith taken down by an almost entirely civilian fleet that just also happened to all have lethal weapons installed. Considering Disney tends to side with the politicians that favor stronger restrictions on guns in real life, I'm not sure what message they were trying to convey here.

I don’t think anyone was trying to mollify the politics of their corporate masters, there. You’ve got a fascist dictatorship over the galaxy destroying entire planets, so somebody convinces a lot of civilians to rise up against it — it’s the (anyplace) Resistance in World War II. I don’t think that comparably relates to whether everybody should be walking around with guns in a society that they’re NOT looking to overthrow.

 

[Yistaan]

What do Disney’s politics have to do with the topic at hand?

Leave that unrelated stuff out of here. There’s more than enough of that elsewhere on the board.

sorry, i deleted the post

 

[Kirby]

I think a protection fleet is probably more appropriate. The Federation has lots of worlds and bases that all need protection, and having a fleet of ships designated to the protection and patrol of those assets would ultimately constitute a war fleet if needed.
I love DS9, but some of their battle groups of 600 ships or whatever seemed a bit much, not to mention Picard season 1's giant fleet of ctrl+v/ctrl+c class ships.

Although with so many citizens of the Federation, I guess they need something to do, so why not just let them fly around the galaxy.

 

[Yistaan]

Although with so many citizens of the Federation, I guess they need something to do, so why not just let them fly around the galaxy.

Despite ship for hire La Sirena appearing in Season 1, Picard Season 3 strangely established that civilian transport was hard to obtain even for war heroes like Riker and Picard. It's why they hijack the Titan (one of many problems in S3 to be honest, especially when Crusher request "No Starfleet", why did they run to Starfleet?)

 

[The Wormhole]

The Federation, at least in the 24th century already has a civilian exploration service that doesn't get involved in combat, those guys who wore the silver and white jumpsuits on TNG. And they do seem to have their own ships, the Oberth class ship the Enterprise came to the aid of in Realm of Fear was one of their ships, anyway.

 

[C.E. Evans]

To me, this premise is very simple. You've got one fleet for defense, and then you have a civilian agency that isn't. ENT showed us the Earth Cargo Service, so I don't see why there couldn't be a [INSERT GOVERNMENT NAME] Space Probe Agency or Space Exploration Service.

 

[matthunter]

Despite ship for hire La Sirena appearing in Season 1, Picard Season 3 strangely established that civilian transport was hard to obtain even for war heroes like Riker and Picard. It's why they hijack the Titan (one of many problems in S3 to be honest, especially when Crusher request "No Starfleet", why did they run to Starfleet?)

Civilian transport might not be a problem. Civilian transport that is capable enough of combat (which Bev's message implied might be required)?

 

[Yistaan]

Civilian transport might not be a problem. Civilian transport that is capable enough of combat (which Bev's message implied might be required)?

You just need a ship that warps in, beams out or otherwise evacuates Beverly, and runs off.

 

[matthunter]

You just need a ship that warps in, beams out or otherwise evacuates Beverly, and runs off.

Yeah, the Titan totally managed that and wasn't pursued and nearly destroyed by the Shrike... whilst having much more powerful warp engines than a civvie ship likely does.

 

[Yistaan]

Yeah, the Titan totally managed that and wasn't pursued and nearly destroyed by the Shrike... whilst having much more powerful warp engines than a civvie ship likely does.

The Kazon were hopping back and forth from the Delta Quadrant to other quadrants in Star Trek Prodigy (which is circa 20 years before Picard) so the speed advances of the 2380s were not limited to Starfleet ships.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

I’m not sure if this really belongs in Trek General or Science Fiction & Fantasy; mods, I guess that’s your call—


If one were creating a new, Star-Trek-equivalent series today (I’m not, I’m just daydreaming here), would it make sense (if one wanted to) to have a “starfleet” that’s more like an interstellar NASA — i.e. science missions, maybe contact missions if there are aliens, but NOT a naval/combat fleet? I.e. we explore and sure, probably get grabbed by the occasional giant green hand, but we’re NOT the ones fighting the wars, if there even are any.

Logistically (and I guess, assuming post-scarcity again as far as resources are concerned), would it make sense to build a large fleet of different classes of exploratory starships if they’re NOT serving a military purpose? I’ve no dog in this either way, I’m just honestly curious what people think?

If there's a fleet of space military starships, sure. If this "space fleet" is the only one to do military stuff, they're effectively the military by default.

 

[Shawnster]

The Federation, at least in the 24th century already has a civilian exploration service that doesn't get involved in combat, those guys who wore the silver and white jumpsuits on TNG. And they do seem to have their own ships, the Oberth class ship the Enterprise came to the aid of in Realm of Fear was one of their ships, anyway.

That is if those people were under federal (Federation) control and not civilians.

Greenpeace, Jocques Cousteau, OceanGate, SpaceX etc are examples of 20th/21st century equivalent civilian groups that would be comparable to non Starfleet/non Federation private agencies that explore space

 

[Tuskin38]

The Kazon were hopping back and forth from the Delta Quadrant to other quadrants in Star Trek Prodigy (which is circa 20 years before Picard) so the speed advances of the 2380s were not limited to Starfleet ships.

they were using the Borg transwarp conduits.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

they were using the Borg transwarp conduits.

It seems like nearly anybody can use the Borg TransWarp conduits after they got taken out.

That opens a lot of potential exploration & trading that is incredibly cheap & easy by nearly ANYBODY.

Also opens up invasion, raiding, piracy, etc; to nearly anybody from across the Milky Way.

There is potential for SERIOUS problems across the entire Milkyway if it gets abused.