ALTERNATE HISTORY Thread - What would happen if...

[infinix]

With the Federation under martial law, and the use of quantum stasis field devices, all changeling operatives in the Federation, Klingon Empire, and Romulan Empire are found and killed. Federation then turns lose all resources, including the use of the Phase Cloak technology, and crushes the Dominion/Cardassian empire. In an attempt to ensure that the changeling threat never repeats itself, Admiral Leyton sends a phase cloaked fleet of 2,000 ships into the GQ to destroy the rest of the Dominion.

The Klingon and the Romulan empire grows suspicious of Leyton's ambition and attempts to break the alliance. Both are brutally crushed by the Federation and Admiral Leyton. Leyton annexes what is left of the Klingon and Romulan empire, disbands the Federation council, names himself Emperor and declares the dawn of the first galactic empire. He then gets thrown down a long shaft by his protege some years later, but that's another story.

RESET BUTTON.

What if the Breen never joins forces with the Dominion?

 

[Finn]

Because they didn't go on that long trip, they executed Ezri and Worf immediately. The original Defiant is never destroyed and stays in service throughout the war. Upset about the death of Worf, Barclay is unable to locate Voyager. As a result, Voyager doesn't change course after reviewing some charts from Starfleet. Voyager is destroyed entering a hostile territory. When the war ended, Bashir leaves Starfleet right after the war ends, and wanders amongst the stars on a soul-searching journey while coming to terms about losing both Ezri and Dax. Geordi was the one who drank the Romulan Ale at the Troi wedding instead. Without Worf in that cooridor, Riker is killed by that Reman.

All because the Breen never joined forces with the Dominion.

Reset button

What if Vreenak made it back to Romulus safely?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The Romulan government examines the data rod which Vreenak insists is a faaaaaaaaaaaake, but they don't believe him. They accuse Vreenak of altering the data himself and being a Dominion spy. Vreenak is executed, and the Romulans join the war anyway. The war unfolds basically as we saw it; afterwards, the Romulans, Klingons and Federation all sign a treaty of alliance.

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What if the Romulan/Cardassian fleet (Improbable Cause/Die is Cast) actually succeeded in wiping out the Founder homeworld?

 

[DonIago]

Adapted from Post #3

The Jem'Hadar commit suicide en masse--but not before fulfilling their collective fantasies of ridding themselves of those slimy, honorless Vorta (I'm speaking from their perspective, Vorta fans!). After their moments of satisfaction, they all fall on their (figurative) swords for failing to defend the Founders (as, indeed, "The Ship" indicates they would). With the Dominion no longer the pre-eminent GQ power, several GQ civilizations ultimately join the Federation.

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What if Julian Bashir had been removed from DS9 for being augmented?

 

[Vulcan Princess]

He would have been replaced by another doctor who was unable to discover a cure to the founder plague. The founders died out, causing the Jem'Hadar to commit suicide en masse, but not before fulfilling their collective fantasies of ridding themselves of the Vorta. (Hey, I recycle...) There is a power vacuum in the Gamma Quadrant which the Breen swoop in to fill. The Breen then expand their empire building sights and take on the Federation/Klingon/Romulan alliance.

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What would have happened if Jake Sisko had joined Starfleet instead of becoming a reporter?

 

[Rush Limborg]

^(First) I actually was writing up a theory for the previous question--but when I posted it, I found that VP beat me to it! Still, I think mine flows well with her brilliant proposal quite well. Observe:

Julian is treated as a pariah by Federation Society--and is forced to become a rogue. Still, he's not exactly rough-and rugged--he becomes a professional spy/thief-for-hire, a la The Saint, with the same talent for disguise, and womanizing charm.

He hears tell of a group of genetically enhanced humans--the Jack Pack--who are being held in an assylum. He sneaks into there--and encounters a beautiful young assistant counselor named Ezri Tigan, who was assigned to the Pack. She is fascinated by him--but one-ups him, discovering who he really is.

However, she doesn't expose him, seeing the goodness in his soul--and helps him rescue the Pack. They all escape to Julian Bashir's headquarters (he has a bank account in Bolias), Julian and Ezri secretly marry, and they have a series of adventures together, often along with the Pack.

Meanwhile:

[Julian was] replaced by another doctor who was unable to discover a cure to the founder plague. The founders died out, causing the Jem'Hadar to commit suicide en masse, but not before fulfilling their collective fantasies of ridding themselves of the Vorta. (Hey, I recycle...) There is a power vacuum in the Gamma Quadrant which the Breen swoop in to fill. The Breen then expand their empire building sights and take on the Federation/Klingon/Romulan alliance.

Julian, Ezri and Company observe all of this, conduct a secret Mission Impossible to the Breen Homeworld. They plant explosives in the Government structures--occupied--and the Confederacy collapses. The galaxy is saved, Julian and Ezri return to Earth to reveal their heroic deeds to all--and they're accepted, and hailed, and the UFP reconsiders its policy against augments.

Okay--I've had my fun...

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What would have happened if Jake Sisko had joined Starfleet instead of becoming a reporter?

He wouldn't have stayed on DS9 when the Dominion conquers it. Thus, no one had access to the information to send via Morn to Starfleet--and thus the fleet is too late to stop the taking down of the minefield. The Dominion superfleet flies through the wormhole...and long story short, the Alpha/Beta quadrant is conquered in a matter of months.

RESET BUTTON!!!

What if O'Brien's Syndicate friend Bilby had survived?

 

[Mistral]

RESET BUTTON!!!

What if O'Brien's Syndicate friend Bilby had survived?

Terrified at the retribution of the syndicate, once O'Brien's true status is revealed he begs him for protection. O'Brien realizes that Starfleet cannot help and turns to...Sloan. Bilby is taken into a WP program while Miles is left indebted to Sloan.
This has far-reaching ramifications when Sloan comes calling on Julian, for instead of supporting Julian's defiance Miles actually helps Sloan persuade him to help Section 31.
This leads to the genocidal death of the Founders and the demise of Odo, among other things. In the chaos of the Founders' removal, Section 31 steps in, assassinating key figures in the Cardassian and Romulan governments, as well as removing Kai Wynn and other Bajoran leaders opposed to Federation membership.
A remorseful Julian confesses his part in these events to Major Kira and her report to the Bajoran government leads to a wave of anti-Federation sentiment so strong that Bajor allies with Cardassia and Romulus. War clouds loom on the horizon of the Alpha Quadrant.....

Reset Button!!!

What if Miles's assassin doppelganger had made good his escape?

 

[Rush Limborg]

Well, he goes on--until his assignment programming kicks in. He flies back to DS9--and is stopped by Sisko and Co, who knew he would come back. After that...everything goes on as it did for the rest of the series.

RESET BUTTON!!!

What if the Kohn Ma terrorist friend of Kira's from "Past Prologue" had succeeded in destroying the wormhole?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

DS9 is moved back to the orbit of Bajor so Starfleet can help them rebuild. The Cardassians, outraged themselves because of the loss of the possibility to extend their territory into the Gamma Quadrant, also lend assistance. Bajor and Cardassia both join the Federation within a year (although Tahna Los and the rest of the Kohn-Ma are all executed for treason). Meanwhile, in the Gamma Quadrant, the Dominion erupts into civil war - without the Alpha Quadrant powers to fight, they turn on themselves. They eventually wipe themselves out, helped along by attacks from vengeful former victims.

RESET BUTTON!

What if the Defiant crew had become stuck in the past ("Past Tense")?

 

[Finn]

Sisko suddenly has a vision. A prophet starting speaking of an orb in the nearby mountains. So Sisko decides to take out the shuttlepod and do a search. They discover some old temple. Sisko soon discovers the orb not long after entering the temple. They soon find themselves in the distant past. They had discovered a time orb.

They emerged to find a very different landscape. The valley below were full of farmers who appeared like Jem'Hadar. They had discovered the Jem'Hadar homeworld. Just as they approached a village, they see an escape pod in the distance. They investigate and discover an injuried changeling. The nearby Jem'Hadar wanted to help him.

Sisko knew what he had to do then. He took out a phaser and vaporized the changeling. There was a suddenly flash as the trio found themselves facing the prophet, who informed Sisko that he had fixed things and that Bajor and the Federation is now safe.

They soon find themselves back in the 24th Century. There are no sign of the village. The Defiant was able to take off. They return to Deep Space Nine to learn nobody has heard of the Dominion.

Sisko, Kira, O'Brien, Bashir, Jake, Dax and Worf all are sitting in Quark's as Quark is bringing them drinks. O'Brien remarks that he has a funny feeling that they left behind someone. Sisko pondered for a moment and looked around the table. "Everybody's here".

Reset Button!

What if the wormhole suddenly moved the other end to the Delta Quadrant.

 

[DonIago]

^That's pretty dependent on -when- the wormhole moves. Are you going to specify, or are we to indulge ourselves?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ I'll run with that. I'll go with the possibility that the other end of the wormhole was always in the Delta Quadrant:

The first vessel to come through the wormhole is the Dauntless, with Arturis the only life form on board. Not knowing that the Federation had already made first contact with the Borg, Arturis warns Sisko and crew about them. Sisko says they've already had their troubles with the Borg but jumps at the chance to strike at the heart of Borg space, the location of which Arturis gives. Starfleet sends a fleet to attack. However, the Prophets stop them en route, saying that the Borg would easily assimilate them. The Prophets have, until now, been able to keep the Borg out of the Alpha Quadrant. Sisko, as the Emissary, convinces the Prophets to intervene anyway...

(Here I've made reference to the Destiny novels. I hope nobody minds. That's why the rest of this post is in spoiler code.)

Spoiler: Destiny

The fleet is still sent into the Delta Quadrant, but thousands of years earlier, before the Borg ever existed. The fleet manages to intercept and destroy the Caeliar city ship Mantilis before it crashes on the planet Arehaz and gives rise to the first Borg. Thus, the Borg never exist.

RESET BUTTON!

What if Sisko becomes a Section 31 operative?

 

[Rush Limborg]

31 still has Sisko remain as commander of DS9, as that's the best place to have him.

When Bashir and O'Brien look for Odo's records in Season 7, Sisko claims he doesn't have the clearence level in question. Thus, Bashir can't get past the bureaucrat--and is forced to go on wild goose chase after wild goose chase. Thus, he can't get the cure.

Aware that the captain is having pangs of conscience over Odo's dying, Sloan sends an agent, disguised as a "Cardassian", to give Odo a modified dosage of the cure without the changeling's knowledge (perhaps by brushing against him), which cleans out the virus--but is "spent" so as to not be detectable, let alone transferrable. Thus, Bashir is baffled as to how Odo was healed...and concludes that he must have gotten some kind of twisted immunity--possibly from Laas.

Meanwhile, the Founders aren't so fortunate.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand...the Jem'Hadar commit suicide en masse--but not before fulfilling their collective fantasies of ridding themselves of those slimy, honorless Vorta (I'm speaking from their perspective, Vorta fans!). After their moments of satisfaction, they all fall on their (figurative) swords for failing to defend the Founders (as, indeed, "The Ship" indicates they would)....

RESET BUTTON!!!

What if Eddington was not a member of the Maquis, but Section 31?

 

[Danoz]

What if Eddington was not a member of the Maquis, but Section 31?

Eddington never joins the Maquis rebellion, but his general arrogance makes him a sloppy Section 31 operative. When tasked with ensuring Odo is infected with the virus, his plan is twarted by an astute Odo and Dr. Bashir and Eddington is tried and imprisoned by Starfleet. In an attempt to free himself from all charges, Eddington insists he was acting on orders from Section 31, but his claims are met with skepticism and lack of any evidence at all. He spends the next 20 years of his life under house arrest on a Federation colony. --- Aware of this new threat from Section 31, attempts are made to protect Odo, but he is ultimately infected on his trip to Earth with Sisko to inform the Federation of increased Dominion threat.

RESET BUTTON:

Quark, instead of betraying his cousin Gaila and Hageth, uses this new scheme to take over their arms business and leaves the bar to Morn instead of Rom.

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

Morn gives Odo far less trouble than Quark ever did and due mostly to Morn's talkative and personable nature, Morn's becomes very successful.

When the Dominion occupies DS9, Quark uses Morn to smuggle weapons to the small resistance cell, who help push the Dominion off the station when the time comes. They also assassinate the Female Changeling and the Jem'hadar stationed on DS9 commit suicide en masse--but not before fulfilling their collective fantasies of ridding themselves of those slimy, honorless Vorta (I'm speaking from their perspective, Vorta fans!). After their moments of satisfaction, they all fall on their (figurative) swords for failing to defend the Founders (as, indeed, "The Ship" indicates they would)....suicide en masse.

 

[DonIago]

You forgot to Reset. Ohnoes!

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

^Oops...here:

RESET BUTTON!

What if O'Brien had been replaced by a Changeling instead of Bashir?

 

[infinix]

RESET BUTTON!

What if O'Brien had been replaced by a Changeling instead of Bashir?

He is never discovered as the marriage between O'Brien and Keiko was falling apart anyway and Keiko and Molly moves back to Earth. With far greater access to the engineering section of both DS9 and the Defiant, Changeling O'Brien is able to sabotage just about every aspect of the station and the vessel. Changeling O'Brien then proceeds to steal the cloaking technology from the Defiant, making all Dominion vessels capable of both cloaking and detecting any vessel in cloak. Finally, Changeling O'Brien reprograms the mines to target Federation warp signature specifically.

The war was really over before it began. The Dominion forces takes over DS9 with a lightening fast strike, killing Sisko in the process. Without their emissary, the Prophets lose interest in Bajor and goes into seclusion, leaving the worm hole to be used without any interference. The Dominion, with reinforcement from GQ, quickly over-runs the entire AQ and BQ. After gaining the intelligence on the Borg from the Federation, Dominion was able to device a decisive strike against the Borg, all but obliterating the collective. The Dominion becomes the first empire to rule over all of the galaxy.

However, after a hundred years of rule, a rebellion a formed. Lead by Bernice Sisko, the grand daughter of Jake Sisko and Enara Kirk (a bastard child of James Kirk that nobody knew about). The rebellion quickly gains strength and a long, drawn out war is fought between the rebellion and the Dominion. Bernice Sisko then discovers the artificial disease that was developed by Section 31 but never put to use. With the aide of Juliane Bashir (the same Bashir, who is basically immortal thanks to his genetic modification), they also create a virus that re-write's the Jem'Hadrs genetic code and removes their reliance on the White as well as their blind loyalty to the founders. Bernice and Juliane manages to spread both viruses throughout the Dominion territory, liberating all of the galaxy. A Republic that will last for ten thousand years is formed.

REBOOT:

What if Q got angry at the fact that Sisko struck him, decided to get revenge, and wiped both the prophets and the worm hole from existence?

 

[C_Miller]

I'm going to assume that he didn't change history and just made them disappear from the present.

Well, Bajor for all intents and purposes falls apart. Several different factions arrise such as one that still believes the prophets are out there and they should maintain their society, one group believes that this is their chance to fully modernize and forget the superstition of the past, and others such as that. Unfortunately, they fall into Civil War and without the prophets guiding them, they can't fall out of that cycle.

Sisko and his crew do everything they can, to the appreciation of Kira and Kai Opaka, but it's viewed as a gray area in the prime directive by Starfleet Command along with the fact that a wartorn Bajor is of no interest to them, the Starfleeters are called back. Upon the return home and much soul searching, Sisko, Dax, and Bashir resign their commissions and return to Bajor to help end the wars and usher in a new era of peace.

Unfortunately, Sisko and Dax are killed in the fighting not long after they return in a Shuttle Accident. Q, feeling bad about all the problems he caused, Q returns the Wormhole and Prophets to existence.

RESET BUTTON!

What if Jadzia was on the Defiant during the Battle of Chin'Toka and not on the Station to be killed by Dukat?

 

[Rom's Sehlat]

Jadzia would have been around during the Vic Fontaine "jack-in-the-box." But unable to perform a role in the holoheist, she becomes embittered that her friends get to cavort in a pretend world while she sits in ops. During the battle, she broods over her being left out and fails to evade a Jem'Hadar torpedo. The Defiant was badly damaged, leaving Sisko and Nog dead, and Worf badly wounded. Jadzia then directs the Defiant to the back of the lines instead of pushing forward with Ross and Martok. Without the Defiant, Ross was killed in action and Martok didn't make it to Cardassia. The Dominion finish off the rest of the Federation Alliance fleet that day, and the war pressed on for a century. The Dominion took over five star systems each year, systematically, until they reached Earth. It was then that the Borg, coming in from the other side of the Federation, met them head-on. The Borg overpower the Jem'Hadar but are unable to assimilate the soldiers or the last few founders immune to Section 31's virus. The Vorta make weak Borg drones, so after three years the Borg systematically start destroying every planet, every outpost, every ship that has any amount of Jem'Hadar, Vorta, or Founders. The lone survivors of this entire ordeal are three Section 31 operatives, with their own improvised Borg implants protecting them from assimilation. And all this because Jadzia had to use the waste extraction facility before visiting the Prophets...

RESET BUTTON! What if the jack-in-the-box in Vic's had disabled the safety protocols and Odo and Nog got shot and killed by security?