What if the Romulans were the ones to contact humans first?

[Snowdrop82]

Let's say for example that the Earth goes through WW3 much like it has in the canon. The Vulcans aren't the ones to come to humanity first. Instead, it is the Romulans. I can imagine Romulan agents infiltrated the various factions on Earth and picking and choosing who is the best for them to get a puppet involved in. Eventually after a few years, perhaps decades of subversion, the Romulans reveal themselves to humanity. I can imagine it would be done in a way to where they pose as humanity's saviors and offer them various services in exchange for the submission of humanity to the Romulans.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I think it depends on how the Romulans approach Earth.

If they "come in peace," Humans might initially take the Romulans for their word until they show their true colors. By then, it could be too late if the Romulans have secured a political, economic, and ultimately military foothold on Earth. Earth is eventually annexed into the Romulan Empire (with thunderous applause in some segments of Human society), and the Romulans expand their influence deeper into the Alpha Quadrant than they would have otherwise.

If the Romulans come in disruptors blazing as instant conquerors, it might unite Humanity in the name of self-preservation and the Earth-Romulan War begins a century earlier on Earth itself. In such a case, Earth could become quite a quagmire for the Romulans as they discover Humans are actually nasty and mean sumbitches when riled up. Whereas the Klingons might adopt a literal "scorched earth" policy to bring Humanity to heel, the Romulans seem more pragmatic and more likely to cut their losses and move on if something is more trouble than it's worth, IMO.

 

[Snowdrop82]

@C.E. Evans

I imagine they would have secured a military foothold and done things more slowly rather than an overt conquest like that. If Earth is annexed into the Empire with many humans approving it, do you think that the Romulans would have had as firm of a grasp on it to avoid Earth becoming a major interstellar power as it did?

 

[F. King Daniel]

There's a story with that premise in one of the Myriad Universes novel anthologies, IIRC. Or was it the Andorians?

 

[C.E. Evans]

@C.E. Evans

I imagine they would have secured a military foothold and done things more slowly rather than an overt conquest like that.

It would have to be a situation in which the Romulans decided to take time to seduce a less advanced civilization that has only recently developed warp drive. It raises the question of "Why would they want to come to Earth anyway?" I think the reason why the Klingons and other more aggressive starfaring civilizations never attacked Earth prior to first contact was that Earth wasn't particularly notable, nor was it strategically located until afterward. In a very real way, Vulcans kind of just stumbled across Earth.

If Earth is annexed into the Empire with many humans approving it, do you think that the Romulans would have had as firm of a grasp on it to avoid Earth becoming a major interstellar power as it did?

I would never underestimate Humanity's propensity to determine their own self-worth and resist anyone telling them what to do. Even if a large percentage of Humans initially approve of Earth joining the Empire, I don't think it would be too long before a Human uprising begins--either to liberate Earth from Romulan control or try to take over the Empire itself. I think the main reason why Humans became a major interstellar power is that it is in our nature to take charge and that continued even after the Federation was formed, IMO.

 

[The Wormhole]

There's a story with that premise in one of the Myriad Universes novel anthologies, IIRC. Or was it the Andorians?

Andorians, yeah, though in a reality where Vulcans never achieved peace and logic and by extension, Romulans never split off from them. In the story, humans, Andorians and Tellarites form a Federation anyway, though it's one where Andor(ia) is the capital world and as such Andorian ways and customs become the predominant ways and customs in the Federation, much like Earth/American ways and customs are predominant in the Prime Federation.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Past Tense circumstantially answers this question: if humans don't develop deep space travel, no one, particularly the Romulans, will care about Earth.

 

[publiusr]

In the DC comics—-this is how the Mirror Universe’s Terran Empire starts

 

[Snowdrop82]

In the DC comics—-this is how the Mirror Universe’s Terran Empire starts

DC comics?

 

[Oddish]

In the DC comics—-this is how the Mirror Universe’s Terran Empire starts.

Too bad "Enterprise" overwrite that (though the tweaking of the "First Contact" ending was pretty awesome. It would actually be a good origin story for the Empire.

One should notice that despite two huge technological boosts (the Vulcan ship they pillaged and the time-traveling Defiant), the Terran Empire was never all that advanced... there's something to be said for a free society.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I don't think they even pose as humanity's saviors. I think they just move in and annex Earth into the Empire.

 

[Oddish]

Given the state Earth was in, I doubt humanity would be in a position to object.

 

[Saul]

In the DC comics—-this is how the Mirror Universe’s Terran Empire starts

I kinda like that idea. Romulan influence on society instead of the peaceful Vulcans. Fascinating.

 

[Hofner]

What if in "First Contact" after FTL tech has just been discovered on Earth, it was the Romulans who showed up and not the Vulcans?

Well, their reactions would've been quite remarkable considering they'd just arrived at Earth after a 73 year trip in their sublight ships.

Robert

 

[Ragitsu]

Detective Comics comics?

 

[valkyrie013]

The romulan would have shown a congenial positive face, were here to help, etc. Just like the vulcans.
Over the years they would have formed earth into a puppet state where they would supply infantry and other cannon fodder for there expansion into the alpha quadrant.
Some would rebel but the romulan would squash resistance with an iron fist ..
Leaving Earth a vassal planet of there empire, nothing more than a footnote.

 

[The Wormhole]

DC comics?

Detective Comics comics?

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, DC held the license to do Trek comics.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

The romulan would have shown a congenial positive face, were here to help, etc. Just like the vulcans.
Over the years they would have formed earth into a puppet state where they would supply infantry and other cannon fodder for there expansion into the alpha quadrant.
Some would rebel but the romulan would squash resistance with an iron fist ..
Leaving Earth a vassal planet of there empire, nothing more than a footnote.

Why bother with the positive face though? Positive faces are for worlds that could have fought back.

 

[Oddish]

Yeah, but the Romulans would know that we're a fractious and violent species, better kept as friends than under the boot of tyranny.

 

[dswynne1]

I think it depends on how the Romulans approach Earth.

If they "come in peace," Humans might initially take the Romulans for their word until they show their true colors. By then, it could be too late if the Romulans have secured a political, economic, and ultimately military foothold on Earth. Earth is eventually annexed into the Romulan Empire (with thunderous applause in some segments of Human society), and the Romulans expand their influence deeper into the Alpha Quadrant than they would have otherwise.

Most likely, the corporations and Progressives would like a united Earth, even if under alien supervision. Meanwhile, religious groups and Conservatives, would hate it, since it would mean their influence on the culture will go away. Only if malfeasance is found out would the various factions unite against the occupiers.