[SenHeng]

Replicator technology often comes up in episodes involving trading with a less advanced civilisation, and often mentions how the Federation/Star Fleet is not willing to share that technology because it’s too game breaking.

And that unlimited energy has led them to a post scarcity, post money utopia, though that scenario seems to have been withdrawn a little in Picard.

[hef19898]

The one thing, despite all other things I critique regarding Star Trek I still like it, that drives me crazy is how the Federation treats first contacts, from their prime directive to diplomacy in general. The whole concept is so fucked up. And every other power should be so quick in capitalizing on this: Those people won't share their miracle tech with you, we will. For a price. Kind of like what China is doing in Africa.

Edit: Why would someone, say the Romulans, do that? Well, Starfleet doesn't establish contact, or invite a planet, because of some on going war or a non-unified government or no FTL tech. The Romulans step in, side with one party. They provide technology and weapons, they unite the planet as an "ally" or theirs. And now they have a new planet and systek to exploit, to use a base. Legally, and even better the Federation canot intervene. Rinse and repeat everytime Starfleet side steps a planet in a strategically important position. Do so over a couple of decades. You see were I am going, right?

[ralfd]

In the original series there is an episode where Klingons provide flintlock guns to a tribe on a stone age planet. Kirk wants to provide the other tribes with guns too and argues with McCoy about keeping the balance of power:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1J0K1OxdSI

[SenHeng]

Totally agree. For a warrior race, the Klingons sure don’t seem to do that much conquering when it would make so much in-world sense for them to be Romans-in-space.

They really seemed to make every race encountered to be a relatively peaceful semi-utopian culture.

[hef19898]

If you extrapolate Klingon martial culture and capabilities from their traditional weapon, the Bath'let, this in-universe behaviour makes perfect sense!

Edit: For some reason, every non-FTL civization Star Trek just seems to be ignored by everyone. Heck, even the Dominion ignored them in their empire building...

That's authors so: In the Star Wars Legends EU there are the Ssi'ruuk. A species from the edge of the universe harvesting other lifeforms, litterally, for power generation. Throughout the books about them, the fact they could go on a spree of exterminating each and every primitive species they encounter is never mentioned or even hinted at. Nor is the fact, that with a bare 6 systems under their control, and inferior ships and tech, they should be one punitive expedition away from extinction themselves.

[actionfromafar]

The Klingons are extremely big on honor, though. I think that taken at face value, can be just as self-limiting as a prime directory. Subjugating an inferior planet just for resources doesn't seem honorable at all and in my mind I can play a scene of klingons ridiculing someone suggesting it.

[hef19898]

Isn't the Klingon way of conquering a world something like killong all government officials and installing an imperial overseer? If I remember that DS9 episode correctly.