First Federation

The First Federation is an interstellar polity in the Alpha Quadrant, and distinct from the United Federation of Planets. While not openly hostile, they are highly protective of their territory. Starfleet has only limited recorded contact with them, most notably in 2266, when the USS Enterprise destroyed a warning buoy, leading to a confrontation with the First Federation's flagship, the Fesarius.

Relations between the First Federation and the UFP are cordial. Multiple treaties regulate matters such as trade and justice, and both governments recognize each others authority. Commercial and leisure visits across shared borders are common, and security is perfunctory on both sides. Starfleet vessels may transit First Federation space if clearance is requested, and First Federation ships are occasionally sighted in Federation territory.

Species and Culture

Very little is known about the people of the First Federation. The only confirmed individual encounter is Commander Balok, who appeared as a small, childlike humanoid.

Culturally, the First Federation has shared little. Their society, government and values remain hidden. Their only known export is a substance called tranya - a sweet beverage seen in wider Federation space.

Border Defence

The First Federation marks its territories with warning buoys, which are massive cube constructs that broadcast a directive for all vessels to turn back. The buoys can physically block passage and pose a lethal hazard to ships that ignore their warnings.

Beyond the buoys, First Federation vessels are more than capable of neutralizing intruders, and will not hesitate to do so if warnings are ignored.

In Play

• Very little is known about the First Federation. Their technology is superior, and their society is almost entirely unknown. This makes them a useful narrative tool for encounters that test a crew's moral character rather than firepower.
• The relative openness of relations in 2402 means that First Federation space can be crossed or visited if proper clearance is requested. They are a good story hook for travel detours or other complications, and provide tension without resorting to violence.
• The First Federation should be used sparingly, and encounters should feel momentous, unsettling, and unlike dealing with any other Alpha Quadrant powers