What Kinds of Characters?

Discussion in 'Future of Trek' started by David.Blue, Sep 23, 2013.

  1. T'Girl

    T'Girl Vice Admiral Admiral

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    It would be interesting to see the federation's opponent be also it's twin.

    Not one main species running the place but, like the federation, a large collection of species joined together. They compete with the federation for new members, resources, colony worlds, etc.

    A interstellar league, not a empire in any way.

    :)
     
  2. Bry_Sinclair

    Bry_Sinclair Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Especially with a scenario/script/story where the UFP comes off as the aggressors for a change--looking at just how paranoid and anxious they are following the losses of the Dominion War, and just how it has altered their dogma.
     
  3. David.Blue

    David.Blue Commander Red Shirt

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    That would be interesting, yes! It might work best if this Interstellar League was objectionable in some totally subjective way. Like the Pak'ma'ra on Babylon 5, who were carrion-eaters. And some other race who are so revered--and strange--that the Federation interprets them as being worshiped. Plus another race, maybe insectile, who are natural warriors, extremely fierce, but held in check by a rigid code of ethics.
     
  4. BigJake

    BigJake Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I do think the Dominion was an attempt at this, but it didn't quite evolve in this way, did it...

    An interstellar pseudo-anarchism would answer to that function quite handily. And would push the Federation's (or more specifically, Starfleet's) buttons like nobody's business. :bolian:
     
  5. BigJake

    BigJake Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Something that could be followed through in more depth for sure -- the Federation was technically in the wrong in "Arena" but never really stops to meditate on that fact.

    I do rather like David's idea of there being a god-like race behind it, too: parallels but exaggerates the veneration of the Vulcans and gives god-races something more to do than be the encounter-of-the-week, improbably sequestered from events. (Although I also like a meta-narrative, and think I have one that works, that explains why Organians and beings like Trelane are as reclusive and restricted as they are... a conundrum.)

    Not so sure about insectoid warrior races: the concept could have legs *OH LOOK I'M MAKING A TERRIBLE PUN* but I would also like accentuating the individualism of the not-Federation to an extreme that the Feds are actually uncomfortable with, and have to wrestle with.
     
  6. David.Blue

    David.Blue Commander Red Shirt

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    Maybe the League has all of these? A race almost on the level of the Metrons, Patrons who in essence founded the League then started to withdraw from "normal" life (perhaps watching over a "cousin" species who haven't advanced as far?)--a anarchistic civilization with little resembling a government--a collective Hive without individuals at all--a race of carrion-eaters--another race who are very religious--a warrior race who make the Jem'Hadar look like girl scouts, etc. Perhaps a genuine respect for the Patrons unites them, but the Patrons themselves hardly ever interfere.

    One can see lots of Federation citizens and Starfleet officers kinda freaking over meeting anyone from this League. They'd see another polity along the lines of the Dominion or the Xindi.
     
  7. BigJake

    BigJake Vice Admiral Admiral

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    It might be interesting to do some mixing-and-matching here: perhaps it's the Patrons who are the religious ones, for example. (An idea partly indebted to Robert Sawyer.) Perhaps the impulse toward anarchism comes from that -- which is to say from a particularly non-hierarchical take on science/faith/philosophy imbibed from the Patrons -- and the Hive is conceived as being a singular "individual," and the carrion-eaters are countenanced because it's their way. And the "warrior race" is the most analogous one to modern humanity...
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2013