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Memory Alpha

A warp-capable civilization or warp-capable species was any spacefaring civilization that was technologically advanced enough to develop ships that were capable of spaceflight at warp speed.

The United Federation of Planets considered such cultures acceptable to make first contact with. Any culture that hadn't yet developed the technology, was a pre-warp civilization and as such was protected by the Prime Directive, also known as General Order 1, which forbade contact, as there was a danger of cultural contamination. (TOS: "Bread and Circuses")

To the Borg, the species they designated Species 5618 – known colloquially as Human – was described as being "warp capable." (VOY: "Dark Frontier")

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