10 Events That Changed Star Trek Forever

The Federation had to start somewhere, right? That kind of union of planets doesn't just spring up overnight. We saw some of these humble, but crucial beginnings in a three-episode arc of Star Trek: Enterprise's season four, the second episode of which is knowingly entitled United. In laying the groundwork for the signing of the Federation Charter in 2161, the events of these episodes arguably had more of an impact on Star Trek than any other.

In the first part, Babel One, much like in the title of that Original Series episode, Enterprise is journeying to the titular planet where Earth is due to mediate talks between the Andorians and the Tellarites to avoid a possible war. The Romulans have other ideas, however, and begin using a fancy new drone ship equipped with holographic projectors to sow discord in the region by attacking in the guise of other vessels ('Tellarite' attacking Andorian, 'Enterprise' attacking Rigellian, for example).

Nonetheless, after a lot of convincing and an Ushaan ritual that leaves Commander Shran a little lopsided, the Andorians, Tellarites, and the Vulcans join forces with Enterprise to create a sensor net capable of detecting the Romulan drone ship. The plan works and the Andorians and Tellarites sit down to form a more sustainable alliance – a first between the two species.

About a year later, in 2155, talks began on Earth with the Vulcans, Andorians, Rigellians, Denobulans, Coridanites, and Tellarites to establish a 'Coalition of Planets,' which then gave rise to the United Federation of Planets.

And to think, they never would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for those meddling Romulans.