What's Kirk got to do with Romulus? (Spoilers maybe)

[Eddie Roth]

The last Star Trek film's main problem, for me at least, was a villain whose motivations for what he did were unfortunately unclear. It was never sufficiently explained why Shinzon wanted to attack the Federation or destroy Earth - except that the script said so. So I'm worried that there may be a similar case with Nero. Because I for one have not yet been able to figure out why a Romulan

Spoiler: the film

whose homeplanet was destroyed would go time-traveling to kill Kirk as a result.

For those who have read them, do the Countdown comics shed some light on this? Anything connection between Kirk and Romulus in Star Trek history I'm missing? Or are we expecting a new revelation in the film that will make more sense than "Oh well, Nero's the villain"?

 

[SalvorHardin]

The last Star Trek film's main problem, for me at least, was a villain whose motivations for what he did were unfortunately unclear. It was never sufficiently explained why Shinzon wanted to attack the Federation or destroy Earth - except that the script said so. So I'm worried that there may be a similar case with Nero. Because I for one have not yet been able to figure out why a Romulan

Spoiler: the film

whose homeplanet was destroyed would go time-traveling to kill Kirk as a result.

For those who have read them, do the Countdown comics shed some light on this? Anything connection between Kirk and Romulus in Star Trek history I'm missing? Or are we expecting a new revelation in the film that will make more sense than "Oh well, Nero's the villain"?

Well, to start with you got it wrong.
Nero does not go time traveling to kill Kirk.

As a matter of fact if the rumors about Countdown #4 are correct, both Nero's and Spock's time traveling is accidental.

As for an explanation to Nero's motives, yes the comics do give an explanation.
Nero saw Romulus explode, his wife and kid died there.Billions of Romulans died there.
His wrath and anger has to do with Vulcans who had the technology to implement a solution and possibly save Romulus but refused to do so.
And even his own Romulan High Council is the target of his wrath. They were warned about the disaster but they didn't act decisively and in time. But they did manage to save their own asses.
And eventually even Spock faces Nero's revenge. Because he failed to deliver his promised solution.

So Kirk is not Nero's target. Vulcan, Spock and perhaps the Federation is.
Kirk as always will be there to save the day.

 

[Eddie Roth]

I see. I was under the impression that Nero attacks the Kelvin (I suppose this is not a spoiler anymore) because he knows Kirk is onboard, being born at the time...

 

[El Chupacabra]

^ I agree. Kirk has to be involved in the motive more substantially than that. Why else would Nero attack the Kelvin? It would make no sense otherwise.

Maybe Nero was pissed at Kirk's impersonation of a romulan in the Enterprise Incident.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

Maybe when we watch the movie, these questions will be answered?

Just maybe.

 

[Delthan]

A possibility:

Reunification seems to be a long standing goal for the Romulans (according to Enterprise). Had the prototype ship in Balance of Terror been successful, all out war may have followed and assuming the Romulans made full use of that weapon, the Federation would have had their asses handed to them (or at least managed to annex Vulcan). Fast forward to 24th Century, a supernova threatens to destroy Romulus and the Vulcans are the only ones with the tech to stop it - and they are now part of the Romulan Empire. Problem solved.

Of course, the Romulans were stopped. By one ship. Captained by James Kirk.

I see method in his madness...

 

[The Wormhole]

I remember the initial spoilers indicating that Nero wanted to kill Kirk because Kirk had "always been a thorn in the Romulan side." Which makes zero sense to me. After all, all Kirk has ever done against Romulans is destroy the ship in Balance of Terror, and steal the cloaking device in The Enterprise Incident. Now the ship in BoT was attacking Federation outposts, so all Kirk was really doing was defending the Federation. Not really grounds to hold a grudge. And I find it hard to believe the Romulans would view someone who stole a cloaking device to be a thorn in their sides 100 years later.

 

[Ovation]

The simplest extrapolation (particularly if the time travel is accidental) would be that Nero emerges somewhere in Federation space and either the Kelvin is sent to investigate or is already on the scene. To Nero, the Kelvin is easily identifiable as a Federation ship and, as such (given his actions in the comic series), he attacks it. He doesn't need to know anything about who is aboard the Kelvin to be motivated to destroy it.

 

[Kemaiku]

But then in Countdown we also see Nero do extensive research on Kirk's historical file on the Enterprise-E library computer, why show that and make it a essential plot point unless Nero did at that moment decide Kirk would be a part of his plans?

Given how vastly out gunned the Kelvin is, it poses no threat to the Narada at all, the Kelvin could fire everything she has until her Warp Reactor gave out and not scratch the paint. So why does Nero hunt the vessel down and expend such time, resources and firepower to try and guarantee its destruction so far from Vulcan and Romulus?

 

[Eddie Roth]

See, Wormhole, that is precisely my worry. Will this make sense? But also, of course, one might just wait and see. But what are we going to do until the movie comes out if not engage in idle speculation?

 

[SalvorHardin]

But then in Countdown we also see Nero do extensive research on Kirk's historical file on the Enterprise-E library computer, why show that and make it a essential plot point unless Nero did at that moment decide Kirk would be a part of his plans?

No, he doesn't do "extensive research on Kirk's historical file"

As he says and I quote from the comic "Finally, I will return to my luxurious suite and mine the ship's database for all it's worth. Hopefully I can learn something useful"
He first searches for Red matter, decalithium etc which are all related to his problem but since they are classified he searches for Starfleet, its history, Enterprise and Captains.
Naturally he finds info on Kirk who is one of the most famous and distinguished captains.

In other words he doesn't go looking for info on Kirk, he just runs into his file searching generally for a lot of other things.

As for Nero's plans concerning Kirk, there aren't any most likely at that point.
Kirk is dead and gone as far as Nero knows and the time travel seems that will be accidental. So what plans could he do about a dead guy ?

 

[Kemaiku]

^Then explain why he expends so much time and energy destroying the Kelvin despite it being probably the weakest and smallest ship it comes up against during the movie?

 

[SalvorHardin]

^Then explain why he expends so much time and energy destroying the Kelvin despite it being probably the weakest and smallest ship it comes up against during the movie?

Who said he spends "so much time and energy" or that the Kelvin is "probably the weakest and smallest ship" ?

In any case, as Ovation says a few posts above :

The simplest extrapolation (particularly if the time travel is accidental) would be that Nero emerges somewhere in Federation space and either the Kelvin is sent to investigate or is already on the scene. To Nero, the Kelvin is easily identifiable as a Federation ship and, as such (given his actions in the comic series), he attacks it. He doesn't need to know anything about who is aboard the Kelvin to be motivated to destroy it.

 

[Eddie Roth]

^Target practice? You know, like the Klingon with the satellite in Star Trek V?

 

[Kemaiku]

So basically the Kelvin/Narada scene being rammed down our throats is a needless "fly on the wind shield" moment for the sheer hell of "Kewl" CGI battles. Nice...

 

[The Wormhole]

Target practice? You know, like the Klingon with the satellite in Star Trek V?

So does that mean the Kelvin is going tom scream?

 

[SalvorHardin]

So basically the Kelvin/Narada scene being rammed down our throats is a needless "fly on the wind shield" moment for the sheer hell of "Kewl" CGI battles. Nice...

Yes...you sure figured it all out.

Anyway, we are just speculating here.
None of this is 100% certain or in context with everything that really happens in the movie before,during or after the Kelvin/Narada face-off.

 

[SonicRanger]

But then in Countdown we also see Nero do extensive research on Kirk's historical file on the Enterprise-E library computer, why show that and make it a essential plot point unless Nero did at that moment decide Kirk would be a part of his plans?

No, he doesn't do "extensive research on Kirk's historical file"

As he says and I quote from the comic "Finally, I will return to my luxurious suite and mine the ship's database for all it's worth. Hopefully I can learn something useful"
He first searches for Red matter, decalithium etc which are all related to his problem but since they are classified he searches for Starfleet, its history, Enterprise and Captains.
Naturally he finds info on Kirk who is one of the most famous and distinguished captains.

In other words he doesn't go looking for info on Kirk, he just runs into his file searching generally for a lot of other things.

As for Nero's plans concerning Kirk, there aren't any most likely at that point.
Kirk is dead and gone as far as Nero knows and the time travel seems that will be accidental. So what plans could he do about a dead guy ?

This explains how Nero knows about Kirk, and why he says in the film "James T. Kirk was a great man, but that was another life." Not every 25th-century Romulan knows about Kirk, but Nero had the chance to read up on him while aboard the E-E.

 

[SalvorHardin]

But then in Countdown we also see Nero do extensive research on Kirk's historical file on the Enterprise-E library computer, why show that and make it a essential plot point unless Nero did at that moment decide Kirk would be a part of his plans?

No, he doesn't do "extensive research on Kirk's historical file"

As he says and I quote from the comic "Finally, I will return to my luxurious suite and mine the ship's database for all it's worth. Hopefully I can learn something useful"
He first searches for Red matter, decalithium etc which are all related to his problem but since they are classified he searches for Starfleet, its history, Enterprise and Captains.
Naturally he finds info on Kirk who is one of the most famous and distinguished captains.

In other words he doesn't go looking for info on Kirk, he just runs into his file searching generally for a lot of other things.

As for Nero's plans concerning Kirk, there aren't any most likely at that point.
Kirk is dead and gone as far as Nero knows and the time travel seems that will be accidental. So what plans could he do about a dead guy ?

This explains how Nero knows about Kirk, and why he says in the film "James T. Kirk was a great man, but that was another life." Not every 25th-century Romulan knows about Kirk, but Nero had the chance to read up on him while aboard the E-E.

Exactly.

 

[Sharr Khan]

^ I agree. Kirk has to be involved in the motive more substantially than that. Why else would Nero attack the Kelvin? It would make no sense otherwise.

Maybe Nero was pissed at Kirk's impersonation of a romulan in the Enterprise Incident.

Simple, it was in the way and a Federation ship. I don't think he cares who is on it.

Sharr