While it can be difficult to specify the role of Starfleet, it can essentially be summarised as a scientific and exploratory military (at least defensively) force. Essentially it's the go-to service whenever the United Federation of Planets wants anything done. For many new lifeforms and civilisations, it's also their first example of what the UFP is; a joining of 150+ planets who have come together in peaceful union, whilst celebrating their diversity. In the more enlightened period of the 24th Century then, the USS T'Kumbra flies warp factor 9 right into the face of everything the Federation stands for. Whilst Captain Solok's pompous one-upmanship with Captain Sisko is hardly utopian, it can at least be forgiven. Going beyond this though, you would think that the race who initiated the Interspecies Medical Exchange, and who were a founding member of the Federation itself, would firmly believe in the idea that interstellar co-operation is about being a piece of something that is more than the sum of it's parts. This is certainly logic that has been proved time and time again by the UFP's merely being in existence, and is the cornerstone of creator Gene Roddenberry's vision; something which having a Federation Starship crewed entirely by a single race, in this case obviously Vulcans, goes against in every way. And the fact that they called their Baseball team "The Logicians" only adds insult to injury.
