Star trek, the word quadrant, and economics

Setesh · Post by **Setesh** » 2004-08-17 04:32pm

I was talking to a friend of mine who is indeed a TREKKIE (writ fanatic) and he had a rather interesting notion of why the word 'quadrent is used so often when it cannot mean galactic quadrant. (the enterprise told its the only ship in the quadrant when its within the alpha quadrant which most of starfleet is based in. Starfleet divided space into sectors then each sector also has four quadrants. The size of the quadrants are based on the range of subspace relay stations, this also speaks to why Worf once refered to a 'quadrant 16' (I can't remember the exact phrase but it was double digits) in that the quadrant can be refered to by the relay stations number (as slang).

He also had a very interesting insight as to the 'federation credit' and its value. Each credit represents a unit of power (possibly based on a unit of energy to replicate some basic item to determine value). A system that makes sense since most presious metals have variable values in a star travel based economy. Up to and during the TOS era it was a regular monetary system, that quickly became an automated one. The computers kept track of it but you could check on it in order to save up to buy more expensive items(re:scotty's boat)
By TNG the system is so automated noone keeps track anymore, they apperantly don't even teach it in school. Its also become completly replicator dependant. Everyone gets enough to live on as a basic right, but if you want something extra you have to work at something, the computer adds to the credit balance based on that and you can replicate items that count as luxuries. Starfleet personel of course get bonuses to this based on rank. So they can afford more luxury items than most.

This explains the credits low reletive value compared to latinum and other races monetary system. The reletive value of the FC may not have changed since Kirks era, it may even have dropped as more energy efficiant replicators were designed, but since the money is all maintained by the computer noone thought to change it.

so what do you think bull or does it fit with the facts?

Quadlok · Post by **Quadlok** » 2004-08-17 07:57pm

Not sure how related this is, but doesn't Sisko make reference to 'transporter credits,' while talking to his father about his days at the Academy?

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-08-17 08:12pm

I think it's similar to a bus token.

paladin · Post by **paladin** » 2004-08-17 09:23pm

I remember reading that "quadrant" wasn't used in ST to mean a quarter of the galaxy until sometime in the 3rd season of TNG. Before then, quadrant and sector were both used to designate a region of space.

Enola Straight · Post by **Enola Straight** » 2004-08-18 12:04am

Quadlok wrote:Not sure how related this is, but doesn't Sisko make reference to 'transporter credits,' while talking to his father about his days at the Academy?

Perhaps he refferred to the Academy's standard allowance of times each term a cadet may use the transporter, though the idea of a "bus token" makes more sense.

A quadrant is simply one fourth some standard unit of space, be it a solar system, a sector, or the galaxy...at which point we would use "Quadrant" with a capital Q.

And I like the idea of a monentary system based on units of energy/power...ideal on a self-contained starship. Combined with electronic debit/credit, starship-tech-based economics are expanded to the UFP as a whole.

Death from the Sea · Post by **Death from the Sea** » 2004-08-18 12:44am

the quadrant thing also puzzles me too, in ST:VI TUC Sulu says it will take him awhile to get to Khittomer because he is in 'Delta Quadrant' but it takes Voyager years to get back from there......?

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2004-08-18 12:52am

Death from the Sea wrote:the quadrant thing also puzzles me too, in ST:VI TUC Sulu says it will take him awhile to get to Khittomer because he is in 'Delta Quadrant' but it takes Voyager years to get back from there......?

They decided to use a different mapping system?

Didn't they also revamp the warpscale?

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-08-18 01:04am

Death from the Sea wrote:the quadrant thing also puzzles me too, in ST:VI TUC Sulu says it will take him awhile to get to Khittomer because he is in 'Delta Quadrant' but it takes Voyager years to get back from there......?

I thought he said Beta quadrant?

Eframepilot · Post by **Eframepilot** » 2004-08-18 03:15am

The four quadrants - Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta - were first used in TNG episode "The Price", about the Barzan Wormhole. Earth was established as being on the border of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants to explain why in ST2: TWOK the Enterprise was the "only ship in the quadrant"; if the Federation occupied only a tiny portion of the Beta Quadrant, the comment becomes almost plausible. A much better explanation would have been to assume that the "quadrant" mentioned in ST2:TWOK was a much smaller region of space; in fact, the Murasaki(?) Sector is referred to as the Murasaki Quadrant in the very same movie. So we are stuck with the odd system of placing the Federation straddling the Alpha and Beta Quadrants due to this misguided attempt to rationalize one line of dialogue.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2004-08-18 04:09am

Eframepilot wrote:A much better explanation would have been to assume that the "quadrant" mentioned in ST2:TWOK was a much smaller region of space; in fact, the Murasaki(?) Sector is referred to as the Murasaki Quadrant in the very same movie. So we are stuck with the odd system of placing the Federation straddling the Alpha and Beta Quadrants due to this misguided attempt to rationalize one line of dialogue.

That's Mutara Sector, but I don't remember any reference to the Mutara Quadrant.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » 2004-08-18 09:57am

Praxis wrote:
Death from the Sea wrote:the quadrant thing also puzzles me too, in ST:VI TUC Sulu says it will take him awhile to get to Khittomer because he is in 'Delta Quadrant' but it takes Voyager years to get back from there......?
I thought he said Beta quadrant?

He does say Beta Quadrant, yup.

The feds seem to regard the Alpha Quadrant as the only important part of the galaxy though, in Nemesis, deep into the Beta Quadrant, Picard asks of Shinzon's plan 'Do you want to throw the whole quadrant into war'. Everything seems to be concentrated on the Alpha Quad, yet considering the Rommies and the Klingons are fully based in the Beta and Earth is more or less on the border of A & B, I'd have expected to hear more reference in Trek too it.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-08-18 10:36am

Jon wrote:
Praxis wrote:
Death from the Sea wrote:the quadrant thing also puzzles me too, in ST:VI TUC Sulu says it will take him awhile to get to Khittomer because he is in 'Delta Quadrant' but it takes Voyager years to get back from there......?
I thought he said Beta quadrant?
He does say Beta Quadrant, yup.

The feds seem to regard the Alpha Quadrant as the only important part of the galaxy though, in Nemesis, deep into the Beta Quadrant, Picard asks of Shinzon's plan 'Do you want to throw the whole quadrant into war'. Everything seems to be concentrated on the Alpha Quad, yet considering the Rommies and the Klingons are fully based in the Beta and Earth is more or less on the border of A & B, I'd have expected to hear more reference in Trek too it.

while it's not exactly canon, i seem to recall seeing unofficial guides that clear up this problem quite nicely. the alpha and beta quadrants are divided right through the federation, so it borders on both yet is primarily in the alpha quadrant. the delta quadrant has parts that i suppose could be reached by going around the galactic core, but it'd take a long ass time to get there i'd imagine. so the feds control most of the alpha quadrant, with the romulant star empire and the klingon empire largely controlling the beta quadrant, iirc. by no means canon, but it helps provide a good visual.