Editing Factions Within the Alpha and Beta Quadrants (section)

== The Federation ==

The United Federation of Planets is active in both the Alpha and Beta quadrants. It was originally founded by the Humans, Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites. As such, all major institutions are based on one of those four homeworlds. For instance, Starfleet Command and its Academy are based on Earth, whereas the Federation Bureau of Planetary Treaties is based on Vulcan.

Dozens more species have since joined the Federation, including Betazoid, Trill, and Caitians. Individuals may become Federation citizens and join Starfleet even if they are from non-member worlds. In recent years, a large number of Bajorans joined up. Bajor is currently in the process of gaining full Federation membership status.


'''Politics'''<br>
Relationships with other species are strongly colored by their Prime Directive. Once upon a time this simply meant that the Federation wouldn’t interfere with the business of others, particularly not where a pre-warp species was concerned.

That philosophy has proven to be untenable. Inaction was an option in the early days of space exploration, but the Federation can no longer sit back and do nothing while pre-warp species are colonized by Cardassians, raided by Orions, or enslaved by Nausicaans. The Prime Directive has since been reformulated as a call to action, to ensure the unhindered development of others. As such, Starfleet has set up protectorate zones around numerous star systems which contain pre-warp civilizations. Other factions in turn accuse the Federation of annexing neutral zones and encroaching upon their territories.


'''Technology'''<br>
Diversity is the Federation’s strength. It can draw upon the knowledge and perspectives of many species and use them to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. Its scientists are clever and its engineers resourceful. There is no area of science in which the Federation doesn’t excel, save for certain military technologies they deliberately choose not to pursue. 

Most Federation vessels belong to Starfleet and have a classic “saucer-and-nacelles” design, although strictly speaking those are Human designs of the Utopia Planitia shipyards. They share these designs freely with their Federation allies, which explains their ubiquitous presence. Some species prefer their own designs. (Vulcans, Caitians, and Andorians in particular.)  


'''Strategy'''<br>
For the longest time, the Federation has sought peace above all else. They employ tools rather than weapons, and as such their ships never include disruptor weapons or cloaking devices.

That said, recent events such as the Battle of Wolf 359 and the Dominion War have taught the Federation a harsh lesson: some species cannot be appeased through diplomacy. Warships have become increasingly common, although Starfleet officially designates them as escort vessels. More proof of Federation hypocrisy, according to its rivals.