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In 2013, Star Trek cleared up one of the biggest misconceptions about Starfleet. Starfleet is central to the Star Trek franchise. It is responsible for protecting the Federation’s borders, as well as a variety of scientific and peacekeeping missions. In 2013’s Star Trek #13, the most important branch of Starfleet was revealed, upending what fans thought they knew. Star Trek #13 was written by Mike Johnson and drawn by Stephen Molnar. Hendorff, a crewman aboard the Enterprise in the Kelvin Timeline, reflects on the three branches of Starfleet: Command, Engineering and Sciences. After saying the “smart ones” go to Sciences, he says there are some who believe this division is why Starfleet exists at all. Starfleet Is the Glue That Holds the Federation Together Starfleet's Three Branches Perform Very Different Functions Star Trek belongs to a subgenre of science fiction called “space opera,” and among that field's many tropes are galactic civilizations, like the Federation. These galactic organizations are often protected by an elite group of individuals, in this case Starfleet. Star Trek helped popularize this and a number of other space opera elements. In the Star Trek universe, Starfleet predated the Federation. It was already in place in the 22nd century, the time frame in which Star Trek: Enterprise was set. Structurally based on the ranks of the United States Navy, Starfleet helps keep the peace, as well as expand the Federation’s knowledge base through a variety of scientific expeditions. As noted in Star Trek #13, Starfleet has three divisions. The first is Command. This includes captains, admirals and other personnel who command ships and starbases. Next is Operations, who handles security and engineering, and finally Sciences. The Sciences Division is a diverse one, and also includes medical personnel, such as doctors and nurses. Officers in Starfleet's Command Division Get the Most Attention in the Star Trek Universe Starfleet's Other Branches Are Less Glamorous, But Equally Important Starfleet has been a part of every Star Trek show or movie, and every single one had the captain as the lead actor. While most Star Trek shows feature an ensemble cast, the captains tend to get a lion’s share of the attention. Even Discovery lead Michael Burnham, who began the show as a lieutenant, was in the Command Division. The other branches of Starfleet seem to lead, at least on the surface, far less glamorous lives. This was particularly true of Operations personnel during Kirk’s time on the Enterprise. The Operations Division includes security, and The Original Series was full of hapless “redshirts” who met a variety of gruesome ends on planetary missions. . The Sciences Division, as noted in Star Trek #13, may be the most important branch of Starfleet, and not just because it attracts the “smart ones.” Starfleet prides itself on its peaceful missions of science and exploration. This directive even worked itself into the Starfleet charter with the phrase “where no one has gone before.” Starfleet's Sciences Division Is Its Most Important Star Trek Is Just Now Acknowledging How Important Its Science Division Is Despite how important the Sciences Division is to Starfleet, the Star Trek franchise has really downplayed its importance. Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway and Archer were the leads on their respective Star Trek shows. They made the hard decisions in times of crisis and held the lives of their crews in their hands.
