Summary
A basic premise of theStar Trekuniverse is that everyone wants to be part of the United Federation of Planets. Once a species or race discovers the science behind the warp drive and demonstrates this knowledge, they are extended an invitation, and many jump at the chance to take it.
However, that isn’t always the case, even with advanced races who already have advanced warp knowledge.Not every race has a motive to be a part of the Federationand can function independently without them, and manyothers are actively working against the Federation and its goals.
7The Talosians
The Earliest Star Trek Aliens
The Talosianswere the very first alien race to appear onStar Trek, and althoughthey were initially antagonistsand the planet is currently restricted to visitors, they aren’t exactly malevolent. This is more of a sad story of a dying race making a desperate attempt to preserve what few of them are left. They use powerful psychokinetic abilities to attain their goals, which can be anything from entertainment to survival.
The Talosians appeared as a benevolent race inStar Trek: Discovery, where they helped heal Spock, who was suffering from a serious psychic injury related to his encounter with the Red Angel. Despite their considerable abilities, they have never been asked to join Starfleet, nor have they ever made a request.
6Romulans
Introduced In The Original Series
The Romulanshave been antagonists for even longer than the Klingons, and the Romulan Star Empire was a force to be reckoned with for hundreds of years until the destruction of Romulus inStar Trek: Picard. Their resemblance to Vulcans isn’t a coincidence; Romulans evolved from the Vulcans that left their home planet after the Time of Awakening and rejected the teachings of Surak.
Unlike the Klingons, who were overt in their aggression, the Romulans more often relied on stealth, spying, and intrigue to carry out their plans. Thanks to their resemblance to Vulcans, they were able to infiltrate sensitive government positions and sabotage Federation and Starfleet plans before the institutions even knew they were there.
5The Q Continuum
An Early TNG Antagonist
The character Q was an interesting foil to the practicaland rule-oriented Picard. The captain was a career diplomat who behaved with decorum and understanding towards every race, even the chaotic and judgmental Q.
The beings of theQ Continuumare virtually gods, have existed since the beginning of the universe, and perhaps before, and possess a myriad of powers to create and destroy at will. They certainly don’t need the Federation to preserve their existence, although they do have their weaknesses and flaws. Q has a lot of affection for humans, but he and his people don’t need them or the Federation.
4Klingons
The Original Villains, But Then It Was Join Or Die
Chronologically,Klingonsappear much earlier in the timeline thanTOS, and were introduced in the firstStar Trek: Enterpriseepisode, “Broken Bow.” This would make them the second race that humans came in contact with after the Vulcans, and it’s been a tumultuous relationship from the start.
Klingon culture is based on an aggressive warrior philosophy, and the actions of the Klingon Empire reflect this. They had a strict code of honor that valued heroic deaths and doled out executions for minor offenses and failures. Even when their own race was facing destruction after the explosion of Praxis, many still insisted on fighting.
3Cardassians
So Anti-Federation That They’re Even Anti-Klingon
The Cardassiansweren’t just some of the Federation’smost active and deadly enemies; they were also at war with the Klingons and left a trail of destruction and war crimes during their occupation of Bajor. Their main motivations are conquest, torture, and xenophobia, goals that run completely contrary to everything the Federation stands for.
The saga of the Cardassians and their destructive influence makes up a few story arcs inTNGandDS9, and every time they show up, it’s to play the antagonist. Their own society is painfully authoritarian, with the state controlling the population and the family on a micro level and held up as the final word in private life.
2The Borg
Resistance Is Futile
Few other races are as powerful and terrifying asThe Borg, and it’s not just about their cutting-edge technology or their total unity as a unique species. Their ability to adapt to a variety of attacks, rendering any assault against them useless, and then using those same weapons against their enemies, is terrifying.
When the Borg reached Federation space, it seemed like nothing could stop them, and the struggle to resist them was very real. The crew of theEnterprisewas sent to investigate, and the Captain, Jean-Luc Picard, waskidnapped by the Borgand turned into one of them in an attempt to make the invasion and conquest of Earth go more smoothly. This backfired, as attempts to rescue Picard revealed some of the Borg’s most profound weaknesses.
1Xyrillians
Peaceful But Reclusive
Not every race that doesn’t care about joining the Federation is aggressive, authoritarian, or exploitive.The Xyrilliansare the inventors of the technology that would eventually evolve into the Holodeck, only their iteration was developedfor stealth and efficiencyas opposed to weapons or combat abilities.
One reason the Xyrillia don’t feel motivated to join the Federation is their level of technology, which is generations ahead of humans when they first come into contact. This race prefers to keep to itself and only comes into contact with humans when they need an engineering consultation.
