Talk:The Ark/@comment-28398720-20160723151308/@comment-27794543-20160724111908

It's not very clear. I took it to mean more or less it's definition – federation: "a federated body formed by a number of nations, states, societies, unions, etc.".

Perhaps in 2052 (pre-apocalypse) there is a federation of space stations. Or the federation is formed after, when all stations agree to formation of the single entity – the Ark.

However, it does seem unnecessary to say "federation stations" when there are no non-federation stations. Perhaps Alpha station stated it to remind other stations that they are now part of a single formation and not independent. That insubordination is not tolerated within the federation. (Their destruction of Polaris also sets the stage of execution being the punishment for all infractions.)