Starfleet Command, or Spacefleet Command, was the operating authority of Starfleet, the exploratory, scientific, and military department of United Earth before being integrated into the United Federation of Planets in 2161. The organization’s primary management center was located at Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco, Earth.
History:
During the 22nd century and through the 23rd century, Starfleet Command was under the jurisdiction of the UESPA, notably during Captain James T. Kirk’s era.
Pre-Federation:
- Assignment patch for Starfleet Command in the 22nd Century
In 2151, Enterprise captain Jonathan Archer met with Admiral Maxwell Forrest, Admiral Daniel Leonard, Commander Williams, and other Human and Vulcan officials at Starfleet Command to decide how to proceed with delivering the wounded Klingon Klaang back to Qo’noS.
In 2152, Archer was forced to return to Starfleet Command in order to decide how to proceed after Enterprise apparently destroyed the Paraagan II mining colony.
In March 2153, Forrest and Williams used Starfleet Command to co-ordinate the response to the crisis caused by re-activated Borg drones.
Later that month, Enterprise was recalled after the Xindi attack on Earth, and Archer went to Starfleet Command to discuss the attack, plan a response, and gain clearance to search for the Xindi weapon.
After destroying the Xindi weapon in February 2154, Archer was debriefed by Forrest, Soval, and Williams about his actions in the Delphic Expanse at Starfleet Command.
- Starfleet Command seen from orbit
During shore leave later that year, Archer visited Starfleet Command again.
Starfleet Command also housed a prison facility in the 22nd century. Arik Soong was incarcerated here for stealing Augment embryos from Cold Station 12.
Starfleet Command was also host to the conference Nathan Samuels conducted to form the Coalition of Planets. The xenophobic organization Terra Prime planned to destroy the complex with a blast from the hijacked verteron array on Mars. The leader of Terra Prime, John Frederick Paxton, managed to fire the array after Archer, Malcolm Reed, Travis Mayweather, and Phlox launched a raid. However, thanks to sabotage by Enterprise chief engineer Charles Tucker III, the blast was redirected into San Francisco Bay. After the crisis passed, the conference resumed.
Federation:
Starfleet Command is overseen by the Federation Council and run by a chief of staff, a position held by Admiral Jonathan Archer in the late-22nd century.
Besides the fleet, Starfleet Command also oversees the various other branches of Starfleet.
Because of the time delays involved in many subspace communications, Starfleet Command also includes a network of administrative and support outposts known as starbases throughout the Federation. Starfleet’s starships operate out of these starbases under the supervision of various admirals, the senior officers of the fleet.
In 2286, Starfleet Command, along with the rest of Earth was threatened by the Whale Probe until Admiral Kirk and the crew of the late Starship Enterprise stole a Klingon Bird-of-Prey, which was renamed HMS Bounty by Dr. McCoy. Kirk and crew brought aboard a pair of Humpback whales called George and Gracie. These whales were the prized attraction of the Cetacean Institute in Sausalito, California. Also brought aboard was marine biologist Gillian Taylor, an employee of the institute from 1986. Kirk brought his new passengers back to 2286, at which point the whales communicated with the probe; it presumably returned to its place of origin.
- Starfleet Command under the influence of neural parasites in 2364
