If an Aegis agent is on the planet and Feds know

[Timo]

A starship does represent a supposedly exceptional concentration of resources. Judging by the rate at which Ron Tracey was going through the Yangs, a single starship's security division would be able to take care of all of Rome's legions with their sidearms alone. Sure, a civilian might also possess a phaser, and a group of civilians might decide to do that SEAL thing on some hapless primitives - but they, too, could run out of ammo (again Tracey), while a team with starship support wouldn't.

The thing is, the starship-supported team could do something equally nasty on a world of advanced technologies, too. So the UFP military arm has to be tied behind its own back lest it pose too much of a risk to the UFP itself. These starship skippers already possess way too much power for anybody's own good; the PD trims that down a bit.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Shawnster]

Send a squad of fully armed Seals to Ancient Rome and stuff can change a lot.

I would imagine things would change considerably right after they ran out of ammunition.

The (typically) 8 man SEAL squad could certainly create a fair amount of havoc, but ultimately their impact on Roman politics and society would be negligible.

It shouldn't, well, might not, take their entire ammo supply for the SEAL team to assume control of the Roman Empire.

How far could an 8 man SEAL team uplift the Romans technology wise? What happens to history if these SEALS introduce the flintlock, Gatling gun or the navy galleon and frigate to the Romans?

 

[The Wormhole]

I propose we look at this question from another perspective: if a Starfleet ship found an Aegis agent directing the development of another world, what could they do? Truthfully, nothing. As we learned from Assignment: Earth Gary Seven's people in the twentieth century had technology which far surpassed twenty-third century Starfleet technology. I'm fairly certain that were the Enterprise to encounter twenty-third century Aegis they'd be even more helpless, ditto a twenty-fourth century ship encountering twenty-fourth century Aegis.

 

[Wadjda]

Send a squad of fully armed Seals to Ancient Rome and stuff can change a lot.

I would imagine things would change considerably right after they ran out of ammunition.

The (typically) 8 man SEAL squad could certainly create a fair amount of havoc, but ultimately their impact on Roman politics and society would be negligible.

Give them one sniper rifle and they will be blackmailing roman leadership for a long time. A conquisqador type situation can also happen and they will pretend to be Gods...

 

[The Master of Tarquin Hill]

The Federation merchant marine must have some sort of non-interference article. Else they'd be dropping Coca-Cola bottles on stone age cultures constantly.

My god, that would be crazy.

 

[Melakon]

My god, that would be crazy.

 

[Timo]

It shouldn't, well, might not, take their entire ammo supply for the SEAL team to assume control of the Roman Empire.

Or the United States, for that matter.

But keeping that control for more than a few hours seems hopeless. The Empire would have manpower to burn. Or if it wanted to play 'possum for a while, it would poison the SEALs a few weeks later, or strangle them in dark alleys, or whatnot. After all, that's what the Roman Empire did for a living. It wouldn't be anything exceptional or demanding for them.

How far could an 8 man SEAL team uplift the Romans technology wise? What happens to history if these SEALS introduce the flintlock, Gatling gun or the navy galleon and frigate to the Romans?

Nothing. Romans already had access to all sorts of crazy Greek plans on wonder machines. Without the ability to make suitable grades of steel, they couldn't get started with any of the above items - and the SEALS certainly would lack the means to make that steel, or even the knowhow to get a process started that would provide their great-great-great-grandchildren (or more probably their worst rivals) with the means.

A significantly more capable team, something closer to Starfleet, would be needed: half a thousand skilled engineers and scientists with weapons that make their own ammo and with a proper citadel in which to weather all rebellions and sieges.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Search4]

There's an old fabulous book with the premise - "Lest Darkness Fall" by I believe L. Sprague de Camp (?spelling). Not Statfleet but a single gent and time travel. Iirc he makes quite an impact... Highly recommended.

 

[T'Girl]

... and they will be blackmailing ...

Briefly push fun to the back burner, I just have trouble imagining a US Navy SEAL team doing this independently.

 

[Timo]

Or having the gall. After all,

A conquisqador type situation can also happen and they will pretend to be Gods...

Romans would be no fools. The first SEAL to call himself god would be put to the good old test: "Do gods really bleed that much?".

Even if the team managed to gain divine status, that would be of little relevance, as most Roman emperors were gods anyway. And Romans were killing their gods left and right during the imperial period, with methods ranging from plush pillows to armies ten thousand men strong. Sometimes up to four gods would be executed simultaneously, and I don't think the Romans would shy away from a new record there.

Now, the team might happen upon a culture that is superstitious enough to worship them for real. But almost by definition, such a culture would be unworthy of ruling over, or even pillaging. One man might get a kick out of terrorizing the little village or group thereof; eight would get too bored, too greedy.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Enterprise1701]

The name Aegis is from a novel by Greg Cox, who hovers around here sometimes, and it's called The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume 1. Maybe he'll see the thread title.

No, he got the name "Aegis" from the 1993 DC comic story "The Peacekeeper".

And given how Aegis technology is portrayed in "Assignment: Earth" and in non-canon stories, I find it unlikely that Starfleet could simply happen upon Aegis agents on a pre-warp planet. It is more likely that the Aegis agent(s) would blend into the background of a 20th century Earth-style society and use their servos to erase the memories of anyone who uncovers the truth.