Alterniverses

[Tricky]

Bought Glass Empires recently, and my thoughts turned to the Mirror Uni and its alternates.

Imagine a Mirror, Mirror universe, like the one in Dark Mirror, where the Empire never fell (maybe Spock was stopped from causing the damage he did, or the TOS crew didn't turn him in this reality): They have been looking for ways to access this "weaker" universe, since they figure it would be much easier to conquer them. But instead of the 'mainstream' Trekverse, they stumble upon the Mirror universe of the Klingon/Cardassian/Bajoran Alliance instead. They are appalled: bad enough a world where Terrans treat "aliens" as equals, but a world where they are SLAVES!!! Being aggressive, hate filled fiends that they are, they attack.

Now, what does that mean to you and your crew of the U.S.S. Victorious? Well, what the warring universes don't know is that they are causing significant damage to the "fabric of reality". I would say leave this up to your GM: maybe ships from various alternate realities are popping up; maybe your ship is pulled into their reality. You could go the Comic book route and have a Q (or an El Aurian, if you don't have your own Q) warn the cast about a threat to "the entirety of existance". A really evil narrator would have both sides fighting in the main Trek Universe (we would be halfway between them, sorta).

Lots of interesting oppurtunities: Your heroic Captain could see himself as both a sniviling slavish coward and a viciously cruel Admiral (especially if he had always wanted to be an admiral). Titanic space battles against various species (Terran Devestator class Ultra-Destroyer versus the Alliance Drednought Kayless vs one Defiant class escort!)

The solution could be as simple as closing the sub-space ruptures they are creating, or as hard as negotiating a cease fire. (Seriously, closing the ruptures would be way easier: Intendent Worf will kill Supreme Admiral Picard for keeping his counterpart as a cabin-boy).

OH, and one little thing that I've used before in alternate reality based play. While it's true that in a uni where the Voth stayed on Earth mankind would never have evolved, so there wouldn't be alternate versions of your characters, but I came up with a semi-metaphysical loophole in that.

I came up with the idea of counterparts: it's kinda hard to quantify, but imagine that the essence of what you are, your soul for lack of a better word, is what makes you, well you. Forget about genes and heredity and all our science. So, in Voth TOS, there is an swashbuckling commander with an eye for the female saurians (Capt. Kurrrk?); in a Borg dominated TOS, there is a command level drone that loosely inturpertes his directives (unit 5475...look at your cell phone); in a female dominated TOS, there is a devil may care Capt. with an eye for the lads (Capt. Jane Titiannia Kirk?) etc. Basicly, its like the idea that we all have a place in the universe. And it helps explain why the crews of various ships are together in the MU!

I know it's not "scientific", and it can be a bit corny,but it does help if you need some kind of connection to your crew. I sorta expanded on Comic book Alternate realities and Sliders.

[Admiral Tim]

I've been thinking about a timeline in which the USSR and NATO are still locking in a cold war. I've included a map of Earth and of the galaxy.

Divergence point: The cold war never ends and the Soviet Union never collapses. In this universe Gorbatjov was ousted and a man named Narmanov became chairman of the party. He instituted reforms but very slowly and almost all on the terrain of econimics. The Soviet economy was made strong again and within 60 years after the beginning the Soviets were not lacking behind anymore. Because the cold war continued, development of almost anything kept on a fast track and in 2034 the first warp vessel was launched by the Soviet Union, only to be followed 3 months later by the American vessel. There were never any “hot” wars, but there were skirmishes. This was the reason a DMZ was set up. The USSR could expand to the right and top and NATO to the bottom and the left.

NATO: The USA was still the frontrunner of NATO, but together with the West-european countries it soon became more than just a defense pact. It became a trade organization amongst others and in 2020 the North Atlantic Aerospace Defence Agency (NAADA) was set up. This was also the branch that developed the first warp vessel for NATO. NATO is closely allied with the Vulcans, but there are no talks as of yet about Vulcan joining NATO.

USSR: The Soviet Union is still strictly ruled by the Communist Party in Moscow. After some border skirmishes and covert operations and intelligence gathering with the Romulan Star Empire they realized they had much in commen. These two powers have become very close allies and the KGB and the Tal Shiar share much information and plan and execute operations together. This teaming is a very dangerous one, and NATO watches this development with waring eyes.

Empire of Andoria and the Klingon Empire: The Andorians have expanded very much in this universe. They found there soulmates in the Klingons as two honorbound warriorraces. They have a strong alliance and there are a lot of Andorians serving on Klingon warships and the other way around. They have as of yet only neutral relations with both the USSR and NATO.

Cardassian Union: The Cardassian Union are pretty much the same as in the original timeline. The only difference is that Bajor is still under their control, as are some other systems in the DMZ of our universe, since there is no Federation to keep them in check. NATO and the Union have already met, but relations are now still neutral. This may change when the USSR-Romulan alliance starts to push things and NATO may seek allies wherever it can.

Vulcan Republic: The Vulcans pretty much keep to themselves. They have a small portion of space they claim as their own, with its colonies. Still technologically superiour to the other races, the edge is not very big anymore. They see NATO as a stable force, able to keep the balance of power in check. This is one of the reasons why they support them.

Romulan Empire: The Romulan Empire is almost the same as in our universe, save some small additions of planets along or in “our” neutral zone. They see their alliance with the USSR as very beneficial and they see them as their young brothers who are almost as worthy as they are, but still with much to learn.

[Tobian]

Hmm sounds intreaguing, but I can't imagine either conglomerates having such huge star empires, and co-existing on the same planet for a few hundred years!!

[The Tatterdemalion King]

Yeah, it seems weird that there'd be even roughly equal growth like that–especially given that whoever gets ahold of, say, forcefields first would stick almost-impenetrable weapons platforms in Earth orbit and bomb the shit out of whoever the other side is. Trek-technology would make a planetary civil war difficult to maintain like that. The Tal Shiar would be just as likely to use the CIA as the KGB, too, assuming they wouldn't hollow out both sides to use as puppet governments.

[JALU3]

Wouldn't British Hong Kong, Portagues Macao, The Philippine Islands, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Papa New Guinea, The Micronesian Federation, Guam, The Northern Marianas, American Samoa, The Azores, British Guyana, French Guyana. Puerto Rico, and The Marshal Islands, . . . all be NATO Allied States?

Furthermore, if left in the neutral zone, would't Ethiopia and the Nation of Eriteria still be one if declared patrol of the neutral zone? Due to the fact that the latter nation was created with the support of Western Forces against a Pro-Soviet Ethiopia? Wouldn't there be other changes within that neutral zone? For instance . . . would there be no Kuwait and a possibly smaller Saudi Arabia, if there was any at all? What of Isreal? Would there be any way to prop up, or maintain, the Europeanized borders of Sub-Saharan Africa?

[Admiral Tim]

Thanks for the comments on the cold war alternate universe. Indeed the Earth map is not that accurate since I do not have that much intimate knowledge about countries that were supported by either of the sides. Suggestions for improvement of that are always welcome. As for the map of the universe, I indeed think one of the two should be bigger than the other, probably NATO. As for their size, I don't think they are too large if you think that the map is from around the Dominion War in the original timeline. Than they are not all that big.

The suggestion about the Romulans, I do not quite agree. I think that because their forms of government are very similar, they both run ruthless intelligence agencies who spy almost as much on their own people as on their enemies, in both systems people are in constant awareness that someone could be listening. I think they could see each other as thinking alike.

As for the comment on the fact that two such powers can't live together on one planet, I think it is possible, even if it is unlikely. You could make up a lot of reasons, for example certain treaties that are signed, the fact that Soviet economy is much stronger and thus more embedded in the world market, advancements don't give enough weight to one side to really dare to attack the other, etc.
Anyway it's just my view on it. At least it is in my opinion an original alternate history where Earth isn't united.

[Alex]

they both run ruthless intelligence agencies who spy almost as much on their own people as on their enemies, in both systems people are in constant awareness that someone could be listening

Which only differs from our current post-Cold War situation because the people have been deceived to believe it isn't true and so they aren't in constant awareness that someone is listening/watching.

I think they could see each other as thinking alike.

And that's why I think they'd never ally. If you know just how devious and underhanded you are, and you perceive someone as being just like you, unless you are plain stupid you don't want to share anything with them except the business end of a weapon. Being alike is no basis for being friends when 'alike' means you are both 'evil'.

[The Tatterdemalion King]

The Tal Shiar would see the KGB as a tool, not a bunch of compatriots.

Look at how you'd use it in an episode–what part of the situation would you expose to your Crew?

[JALU3]

Which only differs from our current post-Cold War situation because the people have been deceived to believe it isn't true and so they aren't in constant awareness that someone is listening/watching.

Please save these discussions for the Sarek forum if you want to get political . . . past politics aside . . . but current politics is a different issue.

[Tricky]

Just finished the second part of the "Star Trek: Invasion" books, which gave me a new idea:

What if "The Furies" had retaken 'heaven' (basicly, all the FED and Klingon territory)? (I might put up a Invasion thread in the Trek talk area, in case this all has you clueless)

Basicly, This would be sorta like taking your D&D campaign, stripping all the magic out of it, and grafting it onto Trek. Fearsome creatures that resemble monsters from our collective mythologies would be in charge, and more than likely the FED would be gone.

Actually, the idea I've come up with is several years after the intial invasion: the FED and Klingons have lost alot of territory, and are trying to hold onto their core areas. Most of the frontier, includeing several of the newer FED members, are conquered, by a mix of brute force (they did have an armada of possibly thousands of ships; only loss of thier wormhole generator kept them away), and their 'fear beam' (yes, it is called that once), which forces humanoid minds to remember instances of extreme terror, and maybe some Narrator created methods too. (I was toying with the idea that they would find ways to brainwash captives into being loyal followers....since they are supposed to be the demons and devils from legend).

I'm thinking that the advance occured so rapidly that resupply and logistics forced the Furies to stop for a bit. Also, you do need to lord your new power over your subjects. This has given the free peoples of the Alpha Quad a chance to strike back. Maybe some admiral decides it's time to open those storage lockers with all that ancient/time lost/too-advanced-for-its-own-good/ tech that SF has picked up over the centuries and put it to good use.

Another 'sub-plot' has a minor Fury going to Bajor, and ending up posessed by a Pah-wraith (combining two evils in one package; I mean the wraiths and the Furies stories are pretty similar....they might ally themselves). Suddenly, that old Trek has a LOTR feel, as brave souls from different peoples band together to prevent the 'last days of man'. (and Klingon)

[The Tatterdemalion King]

I always kind of found the whole idea kind of goofy. I mean, Yugoloths and shit would make cool aliens, but making the source of demon-legends across the galaxy actually just aliens that have spikes and are still eeevil seemed kind of lame. And also, the whole poppet-thing seemed tacked-on, and not really... scary?




Try this: the 'fear beam' is, in fact, part of a larger weapon system/civilisation/lifeform that creatures physical vestiges based on the psychic emanations of fear. Imprinting with monster-shapes, it creates them as its emissaries to the humanoid civilisations, which build nodes of horror around the mouths of the gate-rips leading to the heart of the hell-thing. Perhaps it feeds on the pain and terror, perhaps it's acting according to some ancient instructions, maybe both...

[stule]

Ok.

I ran a campaign a while ago and it went pretty good.

I am sure we all remember when the Borg attacked Earth with....1 Cube.

And they got beat by the Enterprise and the snooze alarm feature.

In my alternate universe, the Borg sent.....wait for it.... 2 CUBES!!!!!

The Earth was assimilated and Starfleet became alot like freedom fighters, ship breaking down for supplies, Starbases were rare, etc.

It was a fun campaign while it lasted.

I am starting a new campaign and this time I am thinking on having the Cardassian War continue longer than it did (with the Federation). Right after the battle of Wolf 359, The Cardassians are going to launch an offensive against the Federation becasue of their weaken state. Should make for a good campaign.

Peace



Stule

[The Tatterdemalion King]

AFAIK the wars sort-of continued until 2368, when the transfer of colonies and creation of the DMZ occurred.

[Tricky]

I've been reading the third book in the Khan series, To Reign In Hell, and Khan himself tossed out an interesting Altverse: What if the Botany Bay was found by Klingons instead of by Kirk?

Maybe they would have killed him outright, since they would know what an augment/superhuman could do, maybe he would have tried to take the ship, and been killed.

But what if something of him appealed to the Klingons, or he joined forces with a disgruntled subordinate Klingon officer and took the ship? Eventualy, maybe he would have found his way into Klingon society (imho, his charisma, strength and ambition would appeal to many Klingons, especially ones that chaffed about being hemmed in by the FED, a situation Khan would understand), maybe even earning his own house?!?

So, after defeating V'ger, maybe he would lead an attack on Earth (or at least FED territory) in his Klingon destroyer Wrath of Khan, and find himself battling Kirk and his cadet crew in a titanic battle in the Mutara Nebula!

Conversely, what if Klingons found him on Ceti Alpha V? According to the book, Starfleet Intelligence made Khan's colony a top secret, but what if some spies learned something was going on there? They don't know, or don't believe the reports, but they DO know Kirk was involved, so they check it out and find Khan and his band of merry superhumans. Once they realize they all hate Kirk, an alliance is formed, and some of the same things mentioned above happen.

Oh, and what if Ceti Alpha VI didn't explode, and Khan and his brood prospered? I doubt they would be a star-faring threat, but what would the discovery of a colony of superhumans established by SF and the mastermind of the Eugenics wars, and kept off the books by SFI, be?

[JALU3]

Just out of curiousity . . . how would the alpha quadrant look like if Chocrone suceded in his Warp Experiment, but the Vulcans never noticed . . . meaning that they no extra terrestrial species helped bring the Earth out of the Post Nuclear War state as quickly as they did . . . meaning that there wasn't the resources to grow the Human presence in space, or as soon . . . meaning that the remenants of Nation-States still exist and still have an active part of governance . . .