Star trek re-imagined.
- Thread starter TerraNovan
- Start date
I think that the basic premise could be adapted to Star Trek. But not set on Earth, but rather, on another planet. A Preserver planet, on which transplanted humans built up civilization. Reaching a technological level comparable to the late 1940s/early 1950s-and then had a nuclear war. (Maybe rival factions were trying to seize the technology of a Preserver obelisk?). A fresh new twist would have to used, though.
I imagine that the humans on most other Preserver planets stagnated at a pre-industrial level. On a few steam engines may have been invented, leading to steampunk societies.
Other possibilities:
1. Skags or Briori enslave humans, leading to a slave revolt, on another planet.
2. As in the Predator franchise, humans are dumped on another planet-for the purpose of being hunted. In one Predator novel, a few humans managed to survive and found a tribe; they retain a few artifacts from their ancestors.
3. Humans abducted as scientific specimens. In one short story (I think by Fred Hoyle), they were eventually dumped on another planet, and survived.
4. Enterprise had an episode about a lost colony, Terra Nova.
Options 1, 2, and 3 result in simple tribes, surviving in primitive circumstances. In the Stargate universe, option 1 allowed the existence of the company town.
1. Skags or Briori enslave humans, leading to a slave revolt, on another planet.
2. As in the Predator franchise, humans are dumped on another planet-for the purpose of being hunted. In one Predator novel, a few humans managed to survive and found a tribe; they retain a few artifacts from their ancestors.
3. Humans abducted as scientific specimens. In one short story (I think by Fred Hoyle), they were eventually dumped on another planet, and survived.
4. Enterprise had an episode about a lost colony, Terra Nova.
Options 1, 2, and 3 result in simple tribes, surviving in primitive circumstances. In the Stargate universe, option 1 allowed the existence of the company town.
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Trek had potential in its Precursors. As well as being mysterious, their abandoned tech could become the basis of an Archaeological Arms Race.
Come to think of it, borrowed tech could lead to a Trek version of Low Culture/ High Tech. Appearance wise you would get Schizo Tech
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There have been attempts to compile lists of tech levels, such as GURPS, and Orbital Vector. (One tech level they overlook is the Copper Age, between the Stone Age and the Bronze Age).
I came across a suggested refinement to the GURPS scale-include "(s)"-"s" is for steal-for pirated technology; or tech acquired somehow, that exceeds your native level of technology.
I came across a suggested refinement to the GURPS scale-include "(s)"-"s" is for steal-for pirated technology; or tech acquired somehow, that exceeds your native level of technology.
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I recall a comment that science fiction is about POWER. I believe that getting a taste of power could lead to drama. This could be heightened by the protagonists not knowing what they are doing, by society not being "ready" for a higher level of tech. (One's culture evolves with its technology, something now taking place with the Information Revolution of recent years).
However, new technology can be a game changer-how do you keep society from changing beyond recognition? This is a complaint I have seen in regards to technologies such as transporters, holodecks, replicators.....these devices are in common use in the Trek universe, without actually changing society.
Or new tech could simply destroy society (think nuclear bombs).
Solution? The device is a one-off, enough for drama, but too scarce to transform society.
However, new technology can be a game changer-how do you keep society from changing beyond recognition? This is a complaint I have seen in regards to technologies such as transporters, holodecks, replicators.....these devices are in common use in the Trek universe, without actually changing society.
Or new tech could simply destroy society (think nuclear bombs).
Solution? The device is a one-off, enough for drama, but too scarce to transform society.
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Three ways to go:
1. Get hold of a working alien machine. In the Stargate universe, Col. Carter used a zat, which was a weapon readily used by humans. I don't know what you do when your alien machine runs out of energy, or needs maintenance/repair.
2. Rework alien parts into a new device. This is similar to Scavenged Punk. I suspect that such a kludge would be very simple, to function at all. In Gregory Benford's Galactic Core novels, humans do this with parts stolen from the mech civ.
2. A device that is an amalgam of alien and earth made parts. As suggested by imported Alien Phlebotinum (a tv tropes article that I have trouble linking to), the results can be unpredictable.
The resemblance to Stargate SG-1 will occur to you. There were attempts to get a hold of alien technology. Actually, the Gua'uld themselves had a back story that included pirated/scavenged technology.
However, in the later seasons, there was an attempt to turn Stargate into Star Trek.
1. Get hold of a working alien machine. In the Stargate universe, Col. Carter used a zat, which was a weapon readily used by humans. I don't know what you do when your alien machine runs out of energy, or needs maintenance/repair.
2. Rework alien parts into a new device. This is similar to Scavenged Punk. I suspect that such a kludge would be very simple, to function at all. In Gregory Benford's Galactic Core novels, humans do this with parts stolen from the mech civ.
2. A device that is an amalgam of alien and earth made parts. As suggested by imported Alien Phlebotinum (a tv tropes article that I have trouble linking to), the results can be unpredictable.
The resemblance to Stargate SG-1 will occur to you. There were attempts to get a hold of alien technology. Actually, the Gua'uld themselves had a back story that included pirated/scavenged technology.
However, in the later seasons, there was an attempt to turn Stargate into Star Trek.
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Interesting that the two most potent villains in all of Star Trek are the ones who claim benevolence but will destroy you (metaphorically with the Borg, literally with the Dominion) if you don't play ball.
I know that during World War II, there were attempts to reverse engineer the weapons of the other side. However, I am talking about opponents who were at a similar tech level.
It may be more difficult to reverse engineer tech that is way beyond yours. And even if you could figure out the device, how can you duplicate it?
For example, modern computer chips are very sophisticated and intricate. Suppose you somehow reverse engineer a chip, what then? I understand that a chip is made in a factory with high tech machines. To duplicate the chip, you may have to reverse engineer the factory it was made in.
It may be more difficult to reverse engineer tech that is way beyond yours. And even if you could figure out the device, how can you duplicate it?
For example, modern computer chips are very sophisticated and intricate. Suppose you somehow reverse engineer a chip, what then? I understand that a chip is made in a factory with high tech machines. To duplicate the chip, you may have to reverse engineer the factory it was made in.
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Thank you, Sojourner. I appreciate that I can ramble on; in a sense, thinking out loud. I would like to conclude that still Trek has a lot of potential. This includes things that were touched on perhaps once or twice, but were definitely not done to death.
I can't remember which episode it was, but SF Debris pointed out that there was one where the Ferengi came across as truly villainous, and a threat that could be a danger to the Federation. But, the fact that the Ferengi were supposed to be a caricature of the evil of capitalism made their basis as a villain tenuous, at best. Though, even The Sisko could not resist a jab at Quark's capitalist ways.
In another interesting point about the Borg, they are the evils of collectivism and capitalism all in one, to a degree. To them, everything, including individual beings, are little more than resources to be consumed and used. At the same time, the group is the most important thing,and individualism is not even a concept to the Collective. In fact, the Borg will sacrifice whole cubes in the name of their objective. The individual is, in a word so familiar, irrelevant. With due respect to SF Debris for his observations in "Dark Frontier" review
That, to me, is why the Borg are so memorable. They use technology to consume worlds, not to build up individuals, but to serve the group.
Also, I think the other scary part of the Borg is the technological aspect, where technology is not solving problems, it is actually a weapon that is scary to the point of consuming you.
Actually, it is an interesting reflection upon old silent films, where, in one, the main character is force fed the components of the machine, illustrating the mechanical compliance with factory life.
Similarly, if I were to re-imagine Trek, a villain like the Borg would be ideal. A technological menace, perhaps still striving towards perfection or an idealization of an old Earth myth or technology perverted in it's use. I mean, we have a growing fear of super intelligent AIs so that could be a jumping off point.
A second aspect would be the constant fear of adaptation. Instead of BSG's Cylons who have adapted by the beginning of the series to look like humans, you have the enemy growing and changing with the protagonists knowledge.
Something like that.
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I think it was more their initial portrayal as hunched-over trolls with exaggerated movements that made them silly.
You may appreciate it, but no one else does. including the board admins. I suggest reading the faq.
It did, but that was also part of the problem. They are portrayed as silly, greedy and sometimes rather stupid, making you wonder how they could be a threat to the Federation, in such a way that would require Picard to have to take command of the Stargazer to defeat them.
But, a caricature is also not a good way to create a villain. The Ferengi were little more than an irritant than a threat. They are too one dimensional in their initial presentation on TNG.
Well, current state of physics does say a kind of "warp" engine would in effect move a vessel 10X the speed of light, which would still mean a voyage of a few months from here to Alpha Centauri. The energy required is fairly vast, but at least within reach. Barely.
Given that you're positing a solar system-based space opera (which strikes me as genuinely interesting), then the name "Star Trek" seems a misnomer.
I'll also note that Babylon 5 used spacecraft with rotating sections quite well.
But the "feel" of what you describe seems like something else. Something possibly very good indeed, but not Star Trek.
Huh? I'll admit I'm not up on my physics, but wouldn't reaching the speed of light require infinite mass/energy?
He's talking about the possibilities of the Alcubierre warp drive, which is being taken more seriously as real science now than had previously been credited. Though calling it "the current state" of science is exaggerating.
