Star Trek Research Paper

[Monster]

You would probably get more help if you opened a new thread (so yes, I do mine a little).

[Monster]

I know many of you have forgotten about this, but I'm here to revive it (and sorry about leaving you hanging, but I was more busy than I anticipated).
Anyways, here's the outline for my research paper. I was about to leave on a trip so the outline was just thrown together without a lot of consideration, so that's why it might seem...I dunno...weird?


Research Paper Outline
I. Introduction
A. The Star Trek Universe

II. The six powerhouse civilizations of the Galaxy
A. Criteria for the final six civilizations
B. Those that didn�t make the cut

III. The United Federation of Planets - peacemakers of the Milky Way
A. Introduction, overview, and history of the UFP
B. Diplomacy - The UFP�s answer to everything
1. It may be the UFP�s strongest ability, but it�s also their Achilles heel.
2. Conclusion - The UFP�s final grade

IV. The Cardassian Union - The selfish society
A. Introduction, overview, and history of the Cardassian Union
b. Cardassians - Keeping their options open
1. Treachery is their greatest ally
2. Conclusion - The Cardassian�s final grade

V. The Klingon Empire - Honor, glory, and blood wine!
A. Introduction, overview, and history of the Klingon Empire
B. Klingons - Warriors, not thinkers
1. Being honorable is getting in the way of progress.
2. Conclusion - The Klingon�s final grade

VI. The Romulan Star Empire - �Romulans. So predictably treacherous�
A. Introduction, overview, and history of the Romulan Empire
B. Romulans - So, who�s in power?
1. Incosistant leadership leads to inconsitant stability
2. Conclusion - The Romulan�s final grade

VII. The Dominion - The expansionist, militaristic, and secretive coalition
A. Introduction, overview, and history of the Dominion
B. The Dominion - �Your land is better the the land we�ve got�
1. Conquest - The Dominion�s forte
2. Conclusion - The Dominion�s final grade

IX. The Borg Collective - �You will be assimilated�
A. Introduction, overview, and history of the Borg
B. The Borg Collective - Being �one� is unique
1. The assimilation process is like compound interest; it keeps going and going...
2. Conclusion - The Borg�s final grade

X. Conclusion
A. Determining the final three, Survivor style
1. Studying the arguments of the six competitors
a. Those who advance
b. Those who don�t advance
B. �And the winner of tonight�s competition is...�

I'm working on the rough draft as I type, so that should be posted by Friday or Saturday.

[La Forge]

Wow! Seems like a pretty neat paper! Can't wait to see the final result! I wish I had projects to do like that in my English class...eh?

Well...I wonder who won...I hope it is the Borg (or Dominion)!

[Monster]

It'll probably be the Borg. But who knows...

[Founder]

I don't understand the part "B. The Dominion - �Your land is better the the land we�ve got�

What is that about? The Dominion never cared about land or expansion...

[Lord Borg]

[Monster]

You guys are probably right. Like I said, I just threw it together at the last minute. The "your land is better than ours" or whatever is supposed to refer to the dominion war, in that they came over and attacked us...er...them.

[JupiterPrime]

You were actually allowed to do a research paper based on Star Trek in school? wish I was allowed to back in my day....just curious, did you consider Species 8472 or the Organians at all?

[Monster]

Well, not really. But considering they live in fluidic space...they just didn't seem to fit into the category of a classic Trek race.

[Monster]

Okay, here's the rough draft. But remember, this is a work in progress and is not near being completed. I just get my ideas down on paper in the rough draft, so don't be too critical, but tell me what you think and feel free to offer any advice. Thanks, and enjoy

[Monster]

I know not many people were interested in the rough draft, but I've finally finished the final draft. I would really appreciate your feedback
Okay here it is:

4/21/2006
King of the Star Trek Universe
�It isn�t real!� Those words may make Star Trek fans cringe, a reminder that their time-consuming obsession is nothing more than a mere collection of fairy tales. Despite being fiction, the numerous Star Trek TV shows and movies have
entertained hundreds of thousands of people for the past forty years, and many more are still getting hooked. But this widespread phenomenon did not appear out of thin air, like in a Star Trek episode. It was envisioned by a man - a man named Gene.
Gene Roddenberry had a vision, a vision of a new science fiction show that would expand the horizons of television. Today, many people see that pioneering show, Star Trek: The Original Series, as a corny show, with cheesy sets and graphics (if you can call them that), and slothful dialog. Nevertheless, that drab show led to an outbreak of ideas and imagination; a movement with thousands of followers all over the globe. We now have ten movies and six television series accompanied by multitudes of trekkies. Gene Roddenberry got the ball rolling, and it snowballed.
Within the Star Trek Universe lie many planets, inhabited by different races and cultures. These races have
different abilities, strengths, and weaknesses; and as a result, some are stronger than others. The strongest of the strong are the: United Federation of Planets, Cardassian Union, Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, The Dominion, and the Borg Collective. These civilizations are the strongest because of their military power, influence on other species, territory size, industry, and exposure in the shows and movies (it is hard to write about a race that has hardly been on screen). But there are not just six races in the Star Trek Universe, so what about the others that did not make the cut?
Throughout the episodes of the different series there have been many cultures that have played a major part in a specific episode, but they simply are not as well known and therefore it is hard to draw any kind of conclusion about strength. Ferengi, Hirogen, Bajoran and many similar species have appeared numerous times on film and play a significant role in the Star Trek Universe, but these races simply do not meet the criteria of a super power. So, which race is the strongest?
Without further delay, let us meet today�s contestants.
The UFP (United Federation of Planets) has been the focus of the TV series and movies, mainly because Earth and
humanity is part of its vast coalition. The UFP is a union of over 150 Alpha Quadrant worlds, which include Earth, Vulcan, Andoria, Betazed, and Denobula, spread over eight thousand light-years. The seeds of the Federation sprouted during a temporary alliance in 2154 during the search for a Romulan drone ship. That was when Humans, Vulcans, Andorians and Tellarites first united for a common cause. This led to the founding of the Coalition of Planets a year later, and the Coalition continued to prosper and grow over the next several years. In 2161, the Federation was founded in San Francisco.
Although the Federation had peaceful intentions, its poother species in the region. In the 23rd century, the most significant conflict was with the Klingon Empire; but at the end of the 23rd century and the beginning of the 24th century, the Federation began a period of peaceful exploration without any bloodshed. However, the future would not be so kind. A deadly encounter with the Borg, The Battle of Wolf 359, dealt a crippling blow to the Federation, and the worst was still to come. In the 2370�s, contact was made with the Dominion, the ruling power of the Gamma Quadrant. After many skirmishes, the Dominion allied itself with the Cardassian Union, and launched an invasion of the Alpha Quadrant. The Dominion War ensued and the Federation was in the middle of its greatest crisis yet. Although the Allied forces eventually emerged victorious, thousands of starships and millions of lives were lost, in what was the most bloody conflict in Federation history. However, the war and its aftermath allowed the Federation to establish new relations with many of its former enemies (�United Federation of Planets� 1). So how does the UFP maintain an edge in the competitive Milky Way galaxy?
The UFP has many unique abilities, technology, and ships, but diplomacy is the Federation�s forte. Throughout the UFP�s history, peaceful diplomacy is always used to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation. This is a very effective method for gaining an ally or someone�s favor. In fact, the reason the Federation is so strong is because of their diplomatic and
humanitarian mindset. However, not everyone else is as courteous. The Federation has a pacifist mentality, which often retards the discovery and use of advanced technology, especially weaponry . For instance, at the battle of Wolf 359, the Federation lost 39 ships and 11,000 lives to a single Borg cube (�Wolf 359� 1). Now, Borg cubes are dangerously powerful, but to lose that many ships during a single engagement with one ship is unacceptable. The UFP needs to remember that there are a lot of shady characters in the galaxy, and be prepared to defend themselves with cutting edge breakthroughs.
Nevertheless, the Federation is still the dominant force in the Alpha Quadrant with its billions of servicemen, thousands of ships, and hundreds of planets and starbases (�The United Federation of Planets� 2). But they need to continually make advances in the scientific and technological fields. The Federation�s overall grade is A. Not keeping up with the Joneses has, and will be, the UFP�s weakness.
One of those shady societies that could threaten the UFP is the Cardassian Union. The First inhabitants, called the Hebetians, were an ancient civilization who thrived on Cardassia Prime. The burial vaults of the Hebetians were uncovered on Cardassia in the late 2160s, and were said to be magnificent with many jeweled artifacts. However, the burial sites were ransacked when Cardassian culture fell into decline and became militant as the planet�s natural resources ran out. As Cardassian civilization developed over the centuries, the supply of natural resources began to fluctuate with the heavy demands the society put on them. Around this time, the culture turned militant and warlike, eventually conquering numerous worlds in the name of survival and national pride (�Cardassian history� 1). And through necessity, the Cardassians became thieves and thugs.
licies of expansion almost inevitably brought it into conflict with Throughout the history of the Cardassian Union, they have always done what benefits them, with no consideration for anyone else. They often cooperate with other races when it suits them, or they may occupy another planet and drain its resources the next day. For instance, during the Maquis rebellion, the Federation and Cardassians often cooperated to quell the uprising. But the Cardassians fought against the UFP on more than one occasion. This resulted in the Cardassians being a more dangerous race. They definitely require their �surprise� tactics too, because they do not have a large amount of
resources, territory, and force to work with (Mandel 46). But their strategy has one drawback: if you turn your back on everyone you have allied with, then no one will come to your aid when the need arises. This one flaw with the Cardassian�s strategy combined with their lack of brute force makes them one of the less dominant super powers. The Cardassian�s overall grade is a B.
It seems that many major Milky Way races have had some experience with the Klingon Empire. The Klingon Empire was founded approximately 1,500 years ago by Kahless the Unforgettable, who performed many heroic feats including the
unification of the Klingon people when he killed the tyrant Molor. Kahless came to be revered in Klingon society as a god, and many aspects of Klingon culture came to revolve around emulation of Kahless�s life. Klingon society was once regarded as fair and balanced, but over time, the warriors gained greater prominence, to the point where the Klingons widely came to be regarded as a �warrior race.� Because of their aggressive outlook, the Klingons have generally had poor relations with other races since they began to move out into space. Because the worlds of the Klingon Empire are resource-poor, the Klingons have developed an intense belief in the need for expansion and conquest in order to survive. The Klingons� relationship with the Federation was unstable and their relations with the Romulans is still delicate. The Romulan Star Empire has been typically regarded by the Klingons as a �blood enemy� since at least the 23rd century (�Klingon� 1). Sounds a lot like the Cardassians, expanding and conquering to survive. But the Klingons, like the Cardassians, also have a flaw in their logic.
The Klingons are a people immersed in myth, ritual, and honor. This often gets in the way of success and scientific progress. Klingons often fight in honorable methods rather than more tactful means. This can prove costly at times, but the (Klingon) Empire also has potent strength and territory comparable to the UFP (Mandel 64,65), and they are elite hand-to-hand combat fighters, which can prove useful in boarding ships.
The Klingon Empire has the men, the ships, the resources, the territory, but they do not have the brains. The Klingon Empire is a strong super power, but they just need to look beyond the blinds of honor and ritual and be more intelligent. The Klingon�s overall grade is a A-.
The Romulan Star Empire�s heritage hails from ancient Vulcan ancestry, for it is written that a group of Vulcan outcasts fled the planet almost two thousand years ago after disapproving with the new peaceful, and logic based social reforms charter brought about by the revered philosopher Surak. On reaching the planet the Federation calls �Romulus� and its cousin �Remus�, the colonists settled and created a new society; a society with Vulcan roots. Today, the race, which is embodied by the Romulan Star Empire, has spread far and wide across large areas of their native Beta Quadrant and has formed a highly potent military machine. (�The Romulan Star Empire� 1) The main strength of the Romulans is their advanced technology, like their cloaking device and D�deridex-class Warbird (Stephenson 1), but they are also masters of deception and trickery. However, Romulan space is not nearly as big as Federation or Klingon space (Mandel 56). Yet they, like the Cardassians and Klingons, are very militaristic and are a strong, sturdy civilization. The Romulan Star Empire�s grade is B.
The shapeshifters formed The Dominion for one goal, to destroy �solids� (non-shapeshifters) who hunted and preyed on them. First formed around two thousand years ago by the Founders, this elusive civilization of shapeshifters has exerted
their singular rule, and philosophy across vast proportions of their native Gamma Quadrant. Through special genetically bred super-soldiers, called the Jem�Hadar, their laws are enforced, with extreme efficiency and brutality to ensure obedience (�The Dominion� 1). The Dominion , made up of 8 known civilizations, is always looking to extend its territory. So the Alpha Quadrant was a good target.
And so there was war, The Dominion War. The Dominion War was a two-year (late 2373 - late 2375) interstellar conflict between the Dominion and the Federation Alliance, consisting of The Federation, The Klingon Empire, and The Romulan Star Empire. The Dominion War consumed the Alpha Quadrant in violence, yet the Dominion, allied with the Cardassian Union and later the Breen Confederacy, was unable to accomplish their mission. The Dominion�s one purpose was to fight and conquer, and they failed in their crucial hour (�Dominion history� 1). The Dominion does not pose a grave threat after the war, but they could amass their former strength and align themselves with previous allies and represent a fatal force. The Dominion was a immense army and could be again, but is not likely. So, the Dominion�s overall grade is an A.
Those eerie green lights and that monotonous voice that says, �You will be assimilated,� are sure signs of the Borg. The origin of the Borg is vague. What is known, is by rumor or brief contact with Borg survivors or even the Borg themselves. The species known as the Borg started out as normal life-forms without any cybernetic enhancements a thousand centuries ago. Over the years they evolved into a mixture of organic and artificial. It is believed that the Borg originated from the Delta Quadrant where they already existed in 1476 A.D. At that time, only a handful of solar systems were assimilated by them, but by 2373, the Borg had assimilated thousands of solar systems and the Delta Quadrant became their home.
The Borg territory spans more than forty light-years, but the exact borders are unclear. Within the Delta Quadrant the Borg have a home planet, Borg Prime, and a vast structure called the Unicomplex. This structure, believed to be the Borg�s headquarters, is made up of thousands of substructures and houses many of their vessels (�Borg� 1).
To say the Borg are powerful is an understatement, and their assimilation technology makes them so dominant. For any other race, when you attack another ship, you must defeat it by disabling it or destroying it. However, destroying it annihilates the crew and the ship. The Borg can assimilate your crew and use your ship in the construction of more Borg vessels, and their approach is comparable to compound interest. But if the Borg need to destroy your vessel, they can do it with ease. Most heavily armed Borg vessels, such as a cube, are massive, yet that does not necessarily make them dangerous. Their adaptive abilities make their ships potent. Borg vessels have the ability to adapt to your weaponry over time, eventually making your munitions useless (�Borg� 1). The Borg have another distinct advantage: transwarp technology. Transwarp is a method of travel which uses a network of corridors to move through space and is much faster than ordinary warp speed (speed of light). This allows for a faster response time when attacked or attacking (�Transwarp drive� 1). All of these abilities, combined with the Borg�s uncanny ability of conquest, make the Borg the dominant presence in the galaxy. Their grade is an A+.
Well, the arguments have been heard, and now it is time to eliminate three competitors. Based on the grades, the Cardassian Empire, the Romulan Star Empire, and the Klingon Empire are eliminated. The three eliminated civilizations were not necessarily weak, but the other three were just stronger. Now there are three competitors left. Again, based on grade, the winner of the competition is the Borg Collective. No one in any nook and cranny of the Milky Way Galaxy can match the Borg for size or strength. Every race has different culture, technology, philosophy, ships, weaponry, and even facial features; and it is ironic that the most powerful race, the Borg, is a combination of all the different races.
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Citations
1] (�United Federation of Planets� 1) http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/United_Federation_of_Planets
2] (�Wolf 359� 1) http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Wolf_359
3] (�The United Federation of Planets� 2) http://www.trekmania.net/diplomatic/federation_2.htm
4] (�Cardassian history� 1) http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Cardassian_history
5] (Mandel 46) Star Trek Star Charts: The Complete Atlas of Star Trek
6] (Mandel 64,65) Star Trek Star Charts: The Complete Atlas of Star Trek
7] (�The Romulan Star Empire� 1) http://www.trekmania.net/diplomatic/romulan.htm
8] (Stephenson 1) http://www.lcarscom.net/romulan.htm
9] (�The Dominion� 1) http://www.trekmania.net/diplomatic/dominion.htm
10] (�Dominion history� 1) http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Dominion_history
11] (�Borg� 1) http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Borg
12] (�Transwarp drive� 1) http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Transwarp_drive
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Works Cited
Mandel, Geoffrey. Star Trek Star Charts: The Complete Atlas of Star Trek. New York: Pocket Books, 2002.
Schneider, Bernd, comp. Ex Astris Scientia. 21 Jan. 2006. 8 Feb. 2006 <http://www.ex-astris- scientia.org/>.
Stephenson, Sean P. LCARS Database. LCARS Computer Network. 9 Feb. 2006 <http:// www.lcarscom.net/database.htm>.
Star Trek. 8 Feb. 2006. Paramount Pictures. 8 Feb. 2006 <http://www.startrek.com>.
Memory Alpha. 14 Jan. 2006. Wikicities. 8 Feb. 2006 <http://www.memory-alpha.org/>.
�The Romulan Star Empire.� TrekMania. 6 Apr. 2006 <http://www.trekmania.net>.