Starfleet

Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory and defense service maintained by the United Federation of Planets. Its principal functions included the advancement of Federation knowledge about the galaxy and its inhabitants, the advancement of Federation science and technology, the military defense of the Federation, and the practice of Federation diplomacy.

The primary mission of Starfleet was deep-space exploration, the crew of a Starfleet vessel are frequently brought into contact with other cultures and sentient species whose existence are unknown to the Federation or Starfleet.

Starfleet officers therefor acted as Federation representative, Starfleet vessels are also frequently used to ferry ambassadors on diplomatic missions.