The History
Created by: Gene Roddenberry
Owned by: Viacom(owner of Paramount Pictures) owns the film licenses. CBS Television Studios has the rights to produce the television series.
Star Trek is an American space-based science fiction/fantasy franchise based on the television series which aired for the first time in 1966 on NBC television network.
The stories are of humans and aliens who serve in Starfleet (a humanitarian and peacekeeping spaceship fleet) of the United Federation of Planets. Every story is similar enough to the ancient, as well as new epochs, in which the characters have to overcome difficult dilemmas. Dilemmas as simple as making a date to as complex as getting knocked unconscious by an energy beam from an alien probe, forcing you to experience 40 years of life as a humanoid scientist under a different name with a loving wife and children, only to wake up from this newfound life in the same position where you entered it, to find that in reality only 25 minutes has past ("The Inner Light", Star Trek: The Next Generation). Whew. Can you imagine the emotional impact this could cause?
The franchise spans games, figurines, toys, novels, and comics, has had a themed attraction in Las Vegas, and at least two museum exhibits. There is an annual Star Trek convention, usually jam-packed with fans, some from all over the world. Fans of the franchise are called Trekkies or Trekkers.
Star Trek is known for its tolerance of different races, cultures, physical and mental capabilities. Basically, there's a place to belong for everyone among the stars. The series has its own language (developed in 1984 by the linguist Marc Okrand), Klingon, based on alien characters originally created for the original 1966 television series.
The Captains
Christopher Pike "Captain Pike"
Portrayed by: Jeffrey HunterCommander of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
James T. Kirk
Portrayed by: William ShatnerCommander of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
Jean-Luc Picard
Portrayed by: Sir Patrick StewartCommander of the USS Enterprise-D/USS Enterprise-E
Benjamin Sisko
Portrayed by: Avery BrooksCommander of Deep Space 9 space station
Kathryn Janeway
Portrayed by: Kate MulgrewCommander of the U.S.S. Voyager
Jonathan Archer
Portrayed by: Scott BakulaCommander of the Enterprise NX-01
James T. Kirk (alternate universe version of) Portrayed by: Chris Pine
Commander of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
Christopher Pike "Captain Pike"
Portrayed by: Anson MountCommander of the U.S.S. Discovery/USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
William Riker
Portrayed by: Jonathan FrakesCommander of the USS Enterprise-D, USS Titan, and USS Zheng He
Saru
Portrayed by: Doug JonesCommander of the USS Discovery
Michael Burnham
Portrayed by: Sonequa Martin-GreenCommander of the USS Discovery
Gabriel Lorca
Portrayed by: Jason IsaacsCommander of the ISS Buran and USS Discovery
Dal R'El
Voiced by: Brett GrayCommander of the USS Protostar
Carol Freeman
Voiced by: Dawnn LewisCommander of the USS Cerritos
The Enemies
Below is a small list of some memorable enemies which at least had posed a threat to the life of other species and to the people of Starfleet. Some here may actually be civil at times but nonetheless remained on the enemy list due to their cunning, bravery, or ruthlessness. There is a brief description of each and not too much info to avoid any spoilers.
Armus
An evil viscous goo abandoned on the barren planet Vagra II.
The Borg Collective
A hive group of augmented humanoids connected to a single network aboard their ship. Able to physically force others into assimilating to their network.
Commander Kruge
Male Klingon officer of the 23rd century Klingon Empire.
Dr. Tolian Soran
A deranged scientist who tries to reach an energy ribbon known as the Nexus, a doorway to a realm in which all desires are fulfilled.
The Founders
Beings that exist first as a gelatinous liquid. They are the ruling group of the Gamma Quadrant's Dominion (state and military superpower).
General Chang
Klingon officer who planned to sabotage peace talks between the Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets.
The Gorn
A very strong alien humanoid reptilian species.
Gul Dukat
Cardassian military officer
The Jem'Hadar
A genetically engineered humanoid race that served as the military arm of the Dominion.
Khan Noonien Singh
A genetically engineered superhuman that had once controlled approximately a quarter of the Earth during the Eugenics Wars of the 1990s.
The Klingons
A strong, prideful, honor-driven humanoid alien race. Eventually became a close ally to Starfleet.
Lore
Evil android brother of androids Data and B-4.
Nero
Romulan captain of the vessel Narada. Through an act of vengeance, Nero creates an alternate reality and brings the distruction of countless lives as well
Parmen
Leader of the Platonians who used telekinetic powers to manipulate others for his own amusement and force his will on others.
Professor James Moriarty
A sentient being, first programmed for the ship's holodeck, based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock character.
Q
An extra-dimensional being who possesses immeasurable power capable of violating or altering time, space, the laws of physics, and reality itself.
The Romulans
A humanoid alien race sharing a common ancestry to Vulcans. More times than not they're the antagonist in the series.
Sybok
The Vulcan brother of Spock hell bent on reaching the mythical planet Sha Ka Ree in search for God.
Tribble