One of the first things a diplomat learns is not to stick his fingers where they don't belong.T'Pol
I have to hope that whatever happens here can serve as a bridge between our civilizations."
"That's the diplomat in you talking. What does the soldier say?"
"Nothing good.Philippa Georgiou and Michael Burnham
A diplomat, sometimes known as an emissary, envoy, or peacemaker was a person who specialized, or in the least performed, duties facilitating peaceful relations between different factions, often by serving as a negotiator or a neutral mediator of disputes. A diplomat who was a citizen of one power may be hired or appointed to professionally serve the interests of another power. (TNG: "The Price")
Federation, and before that United Earth, Starfleet starship commanders were sometimes called upon to serve as diplomats, whether by specific assignment or by emergent necessity. (ENT: "United"; TNG: "The Ensigns of Command", "Captain's Holiday", "The Outrageous Okona") First contact and the official establishment of relations with an alien race was an important diplomatic responsibility entrusted to starship commanders. (TNG: "The Big Goodbye", "Tin Man", "Darmok"; Star Trek: Insurrection)
When Captain James T. Kirk was kidnapped on Gideon in in 2269, the efforts of the USS Enterprise crew to recover him were frustrated by the Federation Bureau of Planetary Treaties and Starfleet, who each insisted that the issue fell under the other's jurisdiction. First officer Spock observed, "Diplomats and bureaucrats may function differently, but they achieve exactly the same results." (TOS: "The Mark of Gideon")
While in command of the USS Enterprise-A following the arrest of James T. Kirk and Leonard McCoy on suspicion of assassinating Klingon Chancellor Gorkon, Spock ordered the crew to "piece together what happened here tonight." When Pavel Chekov asked what would happen if the crew could not properly reconstruct those events, Spock replied, "Then Mr. Chekov, it resides in the hands of the diplomats." Ironically, it was Spock's own diplomatic efforts that led to the meeting of Kirk and Gorkon in the first place. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
Feeling responsible for Kirk and McCoy's arrest and show trial at the hands of the Khitomer conspiracy, Spock sought to avoid prematurely vouching for Federation approval when he began to secretly work toward Vulcan reunification with the Romulans. However, by acting without official sanction, Captain Jean-Luc Picard accused Spock of engaging in "cowboy diplomacy." (TNG: "Unification II")
Inspector Lestrade had once brought a case to Sherlock Holmes, where he introduced a gentleman, whom he described as "the emissary of a foreign government", that had been victim of a crime. Data, who was portraying Holmes (and thus knew all of Holmes cases) quickly verified that the man was not who he claim to be, but was in fact, that the "emissary works not for, but against the King of Bohemia." (TNG: "Elementary, Dear Data")
During the Kriosian rebellion of 2367, the USS Enterprise-D transported Ambassador Kell, an emissary from the Klingon High Council to the Kriosian system, was sent to examine the evidence by the colony's Klingon governor Vagh that the rebels were aided by the Federation. Later, in an unrelated investigation aboard the Enterprise that led to the Ambassador and the Governor, Data requested that they be searched for possibly concealing E-band transmitter, however, Kell objected, "I am a Klingon! An emissary of the High Council. I will not be searched by anyone on this ship!" (TNG: "The Mind's Eye")
The following year, the empathic metamorph Kamala participated in an arranged marriage with the Valtese Chancellor Alrik, was so chosen by the Kriosians to serve her people as an emissary of peace. (TNG: "The Perfect Mate")
During the USS Defiant's mission to locate the Founders in 2370, the Ferengi Grand Nagus Zek appointed Quark as an emissary on his behalf. Quark was chosen because he had previously established a trade agreement with the Karemma, and during the mission, he was given the authorization to increase Ferengi purchases of tulaberry wine from the Karemma by 3 percent. When told by Hanok, that that was a negligible increase, Quark assured him that in this case, he had "considerable leeway to bargain." (DS9: "The Search, Part I")
The Dominion genetically-engineered the Vorta to serve as their diplomats, scientists, and military commanders. After drinking a glass of Kanar containing voraxna poison, Weyoun remarked that his Vorta resistance to poison, "comes in handy when you're a diplomat." (DS9: "Ties of Blood and Water")
Noted diplomats and diplomatic aides
Diplomatic ranks
- Ambassador
- Ambassador-at-Large
- Assistant consul
- Special emissary
- Special envoy