Seriously, this “Destiny” trilogy that just happens to unite Picard’s Enterprise, Riker’s Titan and another ship commanded by “Captain” Ezri Dax? Seriously, Ezri? The counselor? Or, prior to that, the “Double Helix” mess, or any number of crossover-based stories. What I *haven’t* heard of in ages is a “Star Trek” story that actually tells a meaningful story. And, no, making Janeway a Borg Queen doesn’t count as meaningful.

Not only do I want to know why none of the writers can pull their attention away from franchise-based minutiae, but why the fans have settled for such “storytelling.” We’re supposed to be Trekkies/Trekkers, the group of fans that wrote the first fan letters to TV show writers! We’re not supposed to be contented by 300 page fan fiction crossing over characters and name-checking minutiae; we’re supposed to demand thought-provoking allegories to our own murky world. And I defy anyone to argue that the world of 2009 isn’t at *least* as messed up as was the world of 1966-1969 when the original series was produced.

I don’t think you can really consider the relationship between the UFP and Vulcan to be the same as between the USA and Texas. Texas is a “member state” of the USA, true, but the USA’s system of government makes it quite clear that the state government of Texas (or any other state) is subservient to the central government in Washington.

Vulcan, on the other hand, is a sovreign planet within the UFP. The various Star Trek series never really get too detailed as to the inner workings of the Federation Government, just a few glimpses, but I doubt the Federation has the authority to dictate to Vulcan in the same way that the US Government can dictate to a state. It’s probably somewhat closer to consider the UFP as like the UN, which is composed of sovereign nations.

Another thing – I would imagine that, if Vulcan decided to leave the UFP for whatever reason, they would more than likely be regretfully allowed to leave peaceably. The issue of whether a state can leave the USA has already been resolved some years back.

Yes, but NATO is a treaty organization, not a system of governance for all those involved. I can see the federation needing ambassadors to Cardassia and the like, but Vulcan is a member “state” of the Federation. Vulcan has already agreed to be bound by all the laws and regulations set forth by the Federation, just like a state.

Sorry for being argumentative, but it just doesn’t make sense to me.

I’ll be chalking this up to another of the myriad universes I think. *sigh*

Not quite. The United States are also part of larger organisations including NATO. Their allies in these organisations would presumably entail a certain amount of diplomatic ties, including an embassy.

This update, along with the last two Star Trek Online story updates, directly contradict the timeline established in The Destiny Trilogy, A Singular Destiny, as well as well as several other relaunch novels. At this point, I suppose it is a matter of personal opinion, but I consider the relaunch books as “canon”.

It doesn’t. This timeline has nothing to do with the novels.