ORIGINS: Proposal: Difference between revisions

Technologically, though at the cutting edge of technology in 2260, these ships are far inferior to those of 2421.  There are no pulse phasers, phaser cannons, quantum flux torpedoes, multiphasic shields, transwarp drive, d-warp drive systems, or holodecks.  Warp 8 was considered emergency speed only; impulse drive was a simple ion-thrust drive, not the modern gravity planing drives of the ASR Prime universe.  Combat of that era was usually more "up close and personal," given the reduced ranges and capabilities of the weapons as compared with today's.

The Captain of one of these starships enjoyed a freedom of command most modern officers do not.  As they were typically the "man on the spot" so to speak, the Captain had a wide breadth of discretion as to the course of action he could take to settle a dispute, tempt a planet to join the Federation, etc.  Starfleet Command-

and by extension, the Federation- had little choice but to accept the Captain's decisions on the spot given the scarecity of other resources available.  He was, by definition, the Voice of the Federation wherever he went.