I think it’s part of the universal translator. Based on commonalities in construction between post-warp species, they can tell which way is up usually. That’s why the Borg and the Gorn are so scary. Their ships don’t have an up
They’re obviously not all on the same galactic plain at all times but it’s be customary if 2 ships are to meet at a certain spot from different directions it’d be customary for them to adjust their pitch yaw and roll to match
insert rant about how ships in Star Trek always face each other at the same orientation despite being in space
“His pattern indicates two-dimensional thinking.”
I think it’s part of the universal translator. Based on commonalities in construction between post-warp species, they can tell which way is up usually. That’s why the Borg and the Gorn are so scary. Their ships don’t have an up
They’re obviously not all on the same galactic plain at all times but it’s be customary if 2 ships are to meet at a certain spot from different directions it’d be customary for them to adjust their pitch yaw and roll to match