 How the Federation came to power was never clearly stated in the series, though in the episode "Countdown" it was mentioned that it was formed some 200 years before the main rebel attack on ""Control"" (see below).The Federation primarily expanded its territory though conquest, enslaving weaker worlds and exploiting their resources to fuel the military.In other cases, the Federation would infiltrate more distant worlds where they would help a local tyrant achieve power or install a malleable ruler (episodes "Bounty" and "Horizon").