Federation stories rarely mention planetary militias or navies belonging to individual member worlds. A federation of distinct planets might reasonably preserve some local defense organizations alongside Starfleet. Vulcan science vessels are a suggestive example because they appear capable of fighting even when they carry a peaceful designation. This raises a federalism question about how central fleets and member-world forces divide responsibility for home defense, mobilization, and specialist capabilities.
Notable Point · 1:02:57-1:03:16
Where are the Federation's member-world defense forces?
The near-absence of planetary militias and member navies leaves an important federal force-structure question, especially when Vulcan science ships appear capable of defending themselves.