Vulcan/Romulan ancestry

[jgdst]

Hi everyone. My apologies if this has been answered elsewhere recently. I did a quick search of the first two pages of threads and nothing jumped out at me.

When travelling to Vulcan, the comm officer is told to listen out for Romulan and says he can't distinguish it from Vulcan. Uhura steps forward and says she's qualified to notice this difference, and also Spock mentions that Vulcans and Romulans share common ancestors.

I thought that as part of the whole "nobody's ever seen a Romulan" before thing, that it stands to reason no-one would be aware of the similarity between the two species, even the Vulcans themselves.

And the feeling I get (I could be wrong), is that after destroying the Kelvin, the Narada isn't seen again until pretty much when the Jellyfish shows up.

Does this mean that the brief view of Nero's second in command on the Kelvin's viewscreen (and presumably comm logs) and survivor reports of this have led to a greater understanding of the link between Romulans and Vulcans that previously wasn't seen in the prime timeline and that Starfleet have had more contact as a result of this? Or is there some other explanation which I've missed?

My recall of that opening scene isn't the best, but do they specifically identify themselves as the Romulans at that point?

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help me get my head round it a bit better

 

[Sharr Khan]

Yes, the Narada let the cat out the bag a few years before Kirk and Co. could stumble upon Sarek's cousin and his bird-of-prey. Thats how they know Vulcans and Romulans are related.

I think the theory is contact was than made between the two governments.

 

[-Brett-]

You're applying old continuity to a reboot.

 

[jgdst]

Yes, the Narada let the cat out the bag a few years before Kirk and Co. could stumble upon Sarek's cousin and his bird-of-prey. Thats how they know Vulcans and Romulans are related.

I think the theory is contact was than made between the two governments.

Seems reasonable enough. Thanks

You're applying old continuity to a reboot.

I have to! I don't have a whole lot going on otherwise. The nerd in me demands everything fits together and makes sense, whatever timeline it's in

 

[Timo]

We have a lifetime (nuKirk's!) to play with in introducing the Romulan identity to the Federation without "jeopardizing continuity". That is, the Feds might have learned of the Romulans at any point after 2233 (when Nero started meddling) and 2258 (when the connection was evidently already known), yet they might have learned of the Romulans quite without Nero's help.

Remember that the Romulans, or at least some of them, were quite intent on launching a war in "Balance of Terror". They were probably itching for that on many a previous occasion as well; perhaps in the altered timeline, they worked up the courage and started the assault, which exposed their culture to the Feds rather thoroughly. They also made asses of themselves (much as in "Balance of Terror") and thus were not among prime candidates for the villain role when Pike speculated on what might have happened to Vulcan.

Timo Saloniemi