Summary
AlthoughStar Trek’s Federation is (more or less) a utopia, many other powers seek to undermine it. Some of these states, like the Romulans, plot to dominate the Federation. Others,like the Borg Collective, seek to assimilate its technology and populace. They should not be underestimated—several foes have brought the Federation close to collapse.
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While these enemies are threatening alone, they are even more deadly when they choose to join forces. From small-scale collaborations to massive multi-state alliances, the Federation’s competitors are always looking for ways to gain the upper hand.
8Seska And The Kazon
Cardassian spy Seska was a double agentwithin the Maquiswhen the USSVoyagerintercepted her vessel in 2371. Both ships were transported to the Delta Quadrant by the mysterious Caretaker, and, like the rest of the Maquis, Seska joined forces with the Starfleet crew. However, Seska’s amoral nature meant that she was not opposed to meddling with the balance of power in the region for her own gain.
After her true identity was discovered, Seska left the starship and lived with the Kazon, a warrior civilization. Together, Seska and the Kazon made several attempts to destroyVoyager, and even briefly succeeded in taking the starship from Janeway and her crew in 2372.
7The Typhon Pact
The Typhon Pact may originate in a series of questionably canonStar Treknovels, but the sheer size of this team-up makes it notable. Comprising the Romulan Star Empire, Gorn Hegemony, Breen Confederacy, Tzenkethi Coalition, Tholian Assembly, and the Holy Order of the Kinshaya, the Pact was formed in 2381 to oppose both the Federation and the Klingon Empire.
The resulting galactic cold war involved several flashpoints, including the destruction of Deep Space Nine in 2383. Although the Typhon Pact hails froman alternate timeline, its strength should not be underestimated.
6Janeway And The Borg
Fans are divided as to Captain Janeway’s villain status—some claim that the desperate circumstances in which the USSVoyagerfound itself excused her actions, while others consider her to have acted out of line. Some citizens of the Delta Quadrant certainly thought of her as a villain, mainly as a result of her 2374 alliance with the Borg Collective.
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Janeway and the Borg joined forcesto combat Species 8472, an extradimensional civilization even more powerful than the Borg Collective. Although this alliance helpedVoyagerto safely continue its voyage home, it had unforeseen consequences. Later that same year,Voyagerencountered Arturis, an alien whose civilization had been wiped out by the Borg thanks toVoyager’s intervention.
5The Cardassians And The Romulans
Although the Cardassian Union and the Romulan Star Empire were not natural allies, they did collaborate in 2371 to launch a preemptive strike against the Dominion. A joint force of Cardassian and Romulan vessels traveled tothe Gamma Quadrantwith the intention of devastating the Founder’s homeworld.
However, the Dominion had anticipated this plan. The Cardassian–Romulan fleet arrived to find the planet abandoned, and they were subsequently routed by a force of 150 Jem’Hadar fighters. Ironically, the Cardassians and Romulans would fight on opposite sides in the subsequent Dominion War, perhaps indicating that their alliance was always doomed to failure.
4House Duras And The Romulans
Although there was a long history of animosity between the Klingon Empire and its Romulan neighbors, there were those within both states who were willing to collaborate for personal gain. The most notable of these offenders was House Duras, a high-ranking family with a penchant for treachery. In 2346, House Duras allowed the Romulans to attack the Klingon colony on Khitomer, leading to a massacre.
The Romulans supported the Duras sisters during their civil war against Emperor Gowron in 2367. A prominent Romulan involved in this alliance was Sela, the daughter offormerEnterprise-D officer Tasha Yar. However, Starfleet forces were able to expose the Romulan’s interference in the Klingon Civil War, discrediting House Duras.
3Rogue Changelings And The Borg
While the Dominion War officially came to an end with the signing ofthe Treaty of Bajorin 2375, some of its combatants were unwilling to make peace. A faction of rogue Changelings continued to plot against the Federation, which included staging an attack on a Starfleet recruitment center in 2401.
Starfleet forces were able to expose the Changeling threat, but the discovery uncovered a terrible truth: the faction had allied with the Borg. The rogue Changelings hoped that the Borg would wipe out the Federation, thus avenging the Dominion’s earlier defeat. However, Captain Picard and his allies were able to destroy the Borg, ending this deadly alliance.
2Duras Sisters And Soran
Following their defeat in the Klingon Civil War, the Duras sisters sought new schemes to gain control of the Klingon Empire. One of these involved an alliance with Soran, an El-Aurian scientist who planned to detonate a pair of stars to access the Nexus, a timeless alternate dimension.
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In return for Soran’s scientific expertise, the Duras sisters aided him by raiding a Romulan outpost for a variety of components. Although all three conspirators were killed, their alliance was somewhat fruitful. It resulted in the destruction of the USSEnterprise-D in 2371, as well as inthe death of James T. Kirk.
1The Dominion, The Cardassians, And The Breen
Even alone, the Dominion represented a significant threat to the Federation and its allies. However, it was the state’s 2373 alliance with the Cardassian Union that allowed its forces to secure a foothold in the Alpha Quadrant. The subsequent Dominion War saw heavy losses on both sides and, at points, the Federation Alliance came close to collapse.
The Romulan Empire’s entry into the conflict put the Dominion on the back foot. The Dominion attempted to regain the initiative by joining forces withthe mysterious Breen Confederacyin 2375. While this team-up did not result in victory, it did prolong the conflict, further contributing to the galaxy-wide devastation.
