From: ajm@seqp4.sequoia.com (A.J.Madison)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.tech
Subject: Re: Starships
Summary: Let's compare StarFleet with NATO
Date: 7 Oct 92 18:12:27 GMT
Organization: Sequoia Systems Inc., Marlboro, Mass.

In article <BvqAx4.9KF@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>, hucke@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Matt Hucke) writes:
> In article <1ahqa9INNinm@agate.berkeley.edu> ph111-bx@violet.berkeley.edu (;;;;7202) writes:
> >And, of course, the United Federation of Planets wasn't thought up until
> >well into TOS.  I think they started out with something like the United
> >Earth Federation.
> 
> "Tomorrow is Yesterday", Kirk told USAF Captain John Christopher that
> they were part of the "United Earth Space Probe Agency".  That was the
> only time the term was canonically used... Most "tech fandom" sources
> agree that the UESPA was the term for pre-Federation Earth's fleet,
> which later became Starfleet after the formation of the UFP.
> Personally, I think Kirk deliberately used the old term because
> Christopher would be more comfortable with the idea of an earth-centered
> fleet.
> -- 

In light of the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the
debated EC, and the pre-existing NATO, we have several examples of
conglomerations of semi-independent groups cooperating as though they
were really a single organization.

Considering the overwhelming numbers of humans we see represented in
Starfleet, Kirk may be right, he works for Starfleet AND he is a member
of UESPA.  That is, Earth's participation in Starfleet is through UESPA.
So Kirk reports directly to UESPA admirals & Command.  His authorization,
however, comes from an interstellar outfit known as Starfleet.  I think I'm
repeating what has been already said.  The difference is, that UESPA is
not disbanded with the creation of Starfleet, but absorbed.

Reviewing some of the comments from the Reception Dinner from ST:TUC, it
looks like Starfleet is predominately UESPA, not unlike the US Army's
presence in NATO.  I must admit, I have never heard anyone returning from
(US service personnel) duty in Germany refer to their employer there as
NATO.  It looks like that when Starfleet was being organized, the Earthers
made UESPA the group that gets to call most of the shots for Starfleet.

This explanation, while never fully detailed for us, might also explain
Sarak's deep disappointment with his son.  Vulcan only nominally
participates in (lets admit it) the rather militaristic Starfleet, prefering
to show their presence in and around the Federation via the Vulcan Science
Academy.  Spock, in order to get a permanent commission in Starfleet, was
required to enlist in the (predominately human) UESPA.     

By the time of Picard, et. al, UESPA has cut down most of the barriers
between it and other Starfleet organizations.  From what we have seen,
the Academy is integrated with the various Federation membership citizens.
The problem with UESPA by the TNG era is an issue of mostly human at the
top, with a growing number of non human (dare I say it this way,
Federation minorities?) entering and serving Starfleet.
-- 
when everyone is out to get you, being paranoid is just good thinking.
         - Dr. Johnny Fever <in other words, standard disclaimer>
A.J. Madison                                           ajm@sequoia.com
Sequoia Systems Inc.
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.tech