Rewatching episode 2 of #StarTrek #StarfleetAcademy. It seems pretty clear that the Betazoid President was there to “Say no” to the Federation. Presumably the public negotiations in front of the students were meant to convince the voters at home on Betazed that rejoining the Federation was a bad idea. There are also subtle, little hints that Admiral Vance is talking to Federation officials off screen. This makes the final offer which the Betazoid President can’t refuse more plausible and makes the episode work better for me.
