Article 39

The Federation Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression, and shall make recommendations to maintain or restore interplanetary peace and security;

Article 40

In order to prevent aggravation of the situation, the Federation Council may call upon the parties concerned to comply with such provisional measures as it deems necessary or desirable. Such provisional measures shall be without prejudice to the rights, claims, or position of the parties concerned. The Federation Council shall take into account any failure to comply with such provisional measures.

Article 41

The Federation Council may decided what measures short of the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and may call upon the members of the United Federation of Planets to apply such measures. These may included partial or complete interruption of economic relations, interplanetary communication and space travel, and severance of diplomatic relations, or such other measures as the Federation Council shall deem appropriate.

Article 42

Should the Federation Council consider that measures under Article 41 would be inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by armed force as necessary to maintain or restore interplanetary peace and security. Such actions may include demonstrations, blockades, and other operations by Star Fleet combined peace-keeping forces.

Article 43

All members of the United Federation of Planets, in obligation to the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security, agree to make available to Star Fleet, on call of the Federation Council, armed forces, assistance, and facilities, including rights of passage, necessary for the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security.

Article 44

When the Federation Council has decided to employ force to mitigate a situation it shall, before calling upon a member not represented on that Council to provided armed forced in fulfillment of obligations assumed under Article 43, invite that member to participate in the decisions of the Federation Council relating to the employment of contingents of the member's armed forces.

Article 45

In order to enable the United Federation of Planets to take urgent military measures, all members so capable shall assign contingents of their own armed forces to Star Fleet to be employed as a single peace-keeping force of the United Federation of Planets. All contingents so assigned, and for the duration of their assignment, shall hold full faith and loyalty to the United Federation of Planets and the protection of the purposes and principles of the Articles of Federation.

Article 46

Plans for the Application of Star Fleet armed forces shall be made by the Federation Council with the assistance of the military staff committee of Star Fleet Headquarters.

Article 47

1. There shall be established within Star Fleet a military staff committee to advise and assist the Federation Council on all matters relating to the United Federation of Planets' military requirements for maintaining interplanetary peace and security;

2. The military staff committee shall consist of the chiefs of staff of the permanent members of the Federation Council, or their representatives. Any member of the United Federation of Planets may be invited to provide representation on the military staff committee where its responsibilities requires the participation of that member in its work;

3. The military staff committee, with the authorization of the Federation Council, shall establish a Star Fleet as the armed peace-keeping forces of the United Federation of Planets. It shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of all facilities of Star Fleet, including armed ships, starbases, and training facilities;

4. The military staff committee shall be responsible under the Federation Council for the strategic direction of Star Fleet armed forces, and the other armed forces of the members when required for the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security.

Article 48

The action required to carry out decisions of the Federation Council for the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security shall be taken by Star Fleet, using such contingents as appropriate to the specific action.

Article 49

The members of the United Federation of Planets shall join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the Federation Council and in assisting Star Fleet in the performance of its duties and obligations.

Article 50

If preventive or enforcement measures against any planet are taken by the Federation Council, any other planet, whether or not it is a member of the United Federation of Planets, which finds itself confronted with special economic difficulties arising from the carrying out of these measures shall have the right to consult with the Federation Council with regard to the solution of said difficulties.

Article 51

Nothing in these Articles of Federation shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense against armed attacks occurring to members of the United Federation of Planets, until the Federation Council has taken measures necessary to maintain interplanetary peace and security, and Star Fleet forces can be brought into action. Such actions taken by members of the United Federation of Planets in their self-defense shall be immediately reported to the Federation Council.