# Star Trek: What led to Earth's/the Federation's utopia? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 13, 2004, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568 "2004-11-13T15:44:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/121 "2004-11-19T22:53:29Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > With replicators and transporters, Mom & Pop could sell everything that Wal-Mart does, for the same prices, and with old-fashioned personal customer service like in the upscale boutiques. > > :eek: The Federation is a giant Amway network! Run for your lives! _DING-DONG!_ “Federation calling!” ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/122 "2004-11-19T22:58:04Z")
> [@Evil Death](#): > > It may not have gone past the “we’re thinking about this” stage. I can’t recall where I saw the note, but I think it was on [scifi.com](http://scifi.com)’s Wire page. How long ago? If it was somewhat recent, they might have it in an archive and I could try searching for it. I’d be interested in seeing what was said. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/123 "2004-11-19T23:16:41Z")
> [@Catalyst](#): > > The basic plot [of _Earth: Final Conflict_], I thought, was pretty cool: Sometime after a fairly nasty (nuclear, I think, but apparently regional) war between India and China, an alien race reveals itself to humanity. Their technology eliminates famine, dramatically improves transportation and communication, etc., and generally improves quality of life for the average human. Some are suspicious of the “Companions’” motives, however. For the first couple of seasons, the show focuses primarily on the resistance movement’s attempts to discover the Taelons’ real reasons for coming to Earth. And then it turned out that the Taelons were really reptilians in disguise, and they were secretly coming to Earth to steal our water and use our population as food! Or maybe the premise of _ **V** _ was already a little hackneyed by then. ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/124 "2004-11-19T23:18:01Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > :eek: The Federation is a giant Amway network! Run for your lives! “Have you thought about the benefits of joining the Federation?” You get squat for joining - but if you enough other races to join, eventually you get to latinum level and get your own planet. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/125 "2004-11-19T23:19:15Z")
Before The Next Generation, there was some work done on a possible revival of TOS. A lot of the design and concept work put into it was recycled into the first Star Trek movie. Is that the series you’re thinking of? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/126 "2004-11-19T23:21:52Z")
That was called Phase II, so I doubt it’s the one he’s thinking of. It was a suggested seventh series that I completely forgot about though. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/127 "2004-11-19T23:25:17Z")
_Star Trek II_ was a 70s project. I doubt Sci-Fi Web would be talking about that. But, maybe talk was all it was. Before ENT, there was all sorts of speculation about what was next. An overheard conversation between Paramount janitors could’ve sponsored 915 web pages about the “insider” info. So, that’s my take on this little tidbit, unless something credible can be clearly pointed to. Not trying to bust anyone’s chops, but Trek is a fave of Sci-Fi rumors. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/128 "2004-11-19T23:43:07Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > How long ago? At least two years, maybe longer. Here’s the best I’ve got, in Deutlisch I’m afraid: [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.uss-defiant.de/startrek/trek.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%22star%2Btrek%22%2Bmariner%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN](http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.uss-defiant.de/startrek/trek.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522star%2Btrek%2522%2Bmariner%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN) > [@](#): > > William Riker is to stand as Captain as well as Deanna Troi at the point of a new series. While one will see the building of the federation in “Enterprise”, so Series 6 will show its fall. The UFP loses about half of its territory to a strange opponent, for whom the Future Guy works. The Titan/Mariner, a untested ship, is activated, in order dangers like the Remaner, the Borg or the Dominion in the zaum to hold. Series of 6 is to start at the earliest during or after the fourth series of “Enterprise”. If anyone can translate, the original German is here: [http://www.uss-defiant.de/startrek/trek.htm](http://www.uss-defiant.de/startrek/trek.htm) [/QUOTE] William Riker soll als Captain zusammen mit Deanna Troi an der Spitze einer neuen Serie stehen. Während man in “Enterprise” den Aufbau der Föderation sehen wird, so geht es in Serie 6 um deren Zerfall. Die UFP verliert etwa die Hälfte ihres Territoriums an einen fremden Gegner, für den der Future Guy arbeitet. Die Titan/Mariner, ein ungetestetes Schiff, wird in Dienst gestellt, um Gefahren wie die Remaner, die Borg oder das Dominion im Zaum zu halten. Serie 6 soll frühestens während oder nach der vierten Staffel von “Enterprise” anlaufen. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/129 "2004-11-19T23:46:53Z")
Addendum: [http://forum.osnn.net/archive/index.php/t-21904.html](http://forum.osnn.net/archive/index.php/t-21904.html) has the same rumour, this time with a (now dead) link to the official Trek website. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/130 "2004-11-19T23:55:44Z")
The link in your last post says “_…Riker becomes a captain of a ship called the Titan which will feature in the new movie._” which seems to be a clear reference to _Nemesis_, the last TNG movie, wherein Riker is promoted and takes command of a new ship, the _Titan_, at the end of the film. Looks like it was just a name change. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/131 "2004-11-19T23:58:01Z")
That MB is discussing what they think is a new movie, not series. Still interesting, tho. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/132 "2004-11-20T06:11:58Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > And then it turned out that the Taelons were really reptilians in disguise, and they were secretly coming to Earth to steal our water and use our population as food! You’ll get no argument from me that the show jumped a series of sharks during its five seasons. I still think that the original idea—or the earliest one I can remember—that the Taelons want humans as grunts for some off-planet war isn’t all that bad. Given better writers, I think the show could’ve been great. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568/133 "2004-11-20T08:57:13Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > The link in your last post says “_…Riker becomes a captain of a ship called the Titan which will feature in the new movie._” which seems to be a clear reference to _Nemesis_, the last TNG movie, wherein Riker is promoted and takes command of a new ship, the _Titan_, at the end of the film. Which in turn, it seems, was meant to lead into the series. If ST: Nemesis hadn’t been a sucky flop, we might have seen it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-what-led-to-earths-the-federations-utopia/274568.md?page=6)