Could Ro Laren Have Been Recast?

[Nerys Myk]

Helping the Bajorans would have been a prime directive issue. From a legal standpoint, Bajor was part of the Cardassian Empire at that point, and the Occupation would count as an internal Cardassian affair. The Federation couldn't have intervened without starting a war.

Does the Prime Directive apply to warp capable cultures like the Cardassians or the Bajorans?

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Helping the Bajorans would have been a prime directive issue. From a legal standpoint, Bajor was part of the Cardassian Empire at that point, and the Occupation would count as an internal Cardassian affair. The Federation couldn't have intervened without starting a war.

Does the Prime Directive apply to warp capable cultures like the Cardassians or the Bajorans?

The decree not to interfere with the development of prewarp cultures is only one part of the PD. The prime directive also forbids interference with the internal conflicts of other nations. The only difference from prewarp civilizations is that you can tell them you exist and become involved in their affairs if requested to by the legitimate head of state.

Remember in Redemption, the Federation had to prove the Romulans were involved to get involved in a Klingon civil war.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Helping the Bajorans would have been a prime directive issue. From a legal standpoint, Bajor was part of the Cardassian Empire at that point, and the Occupation would count as an internal Cardassian affair. The Federation couldn't have intervened without starting a war.

Does the Prime Directive apply to warp capable cultures like the Cardassians or the Bajorans?

The decree not to interfere with the development of prewarp cultures is only one part of the PD. The prime directive also forbids interference with the internal conflicts of other nations. The only difference from prewarp civilizations is that you can tell them you exist and become involved in their affairs if requested to by the legitimate head of state.

Remember in Redemption, the Federation had to prove the Romulans were involved to get involved in a Klingon civil war.

Was that related to the PD or because the Empire is an ally?

 

[USS Triumphant]

It was because the PD restricted them from interfering in internal Klingon matters, but once Romulan outside involvement was proven, it was then a "public matter", so to speak.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Looking at the transcripts I don't see the PD invoked by name in Picards discussion with Gowron or his later discussion with Admiral Shanthi. . I supposes Picard mention of a oath of non interference is about the PD, but he finds a work around pretty quickly. One that the Admiralty approves and sells to the Council. Funny that Picard uses the same argument to sell the idea to the Admiral, that Gowron and Worf used on him. He didn't even have to give any proof.

GOWRON: The Duras family is gathering a large force near Beta Thoridar. As per the terms of the Treaty of Alliance, I now formally request your assistance in fighting these enemies of the Empire.
RIKER: These enemies are Klingons.
GOWRON: By right and tradition, I am the sole leader. All who oppose me are traitors.
PICARD: I understand your position, but I', sure you're aware that the Federation cannot interfere in what is, by definition, an internal Klingon affair.
GOWRON: You arbitrated the Rite of Succession. You are already involved.
PICARD: My duties in that regard are finished.
WORF: Captain, we must intervene. The Duras family is corrupt and hungry for power with no sense of honour or loyalty. They represent a grave threat to the security of the Federation. Captain, you and I know that they have conspired with Romulans in the past. If they should be victors in this war, they will surely form a new Klingon-Romulan alliance. That would represent a fundamental shift of power in this quadrant. Starfleet must support Gowron. It is in the interests of both the Federation and the Empire. I beg you, support us in our cause.
PICARD: Mister Worf, I don't have to lecture you on the principle of non interference. As Starfleet officers, we have all sworn an oath to uphold that principle whatever our personal feelings. I'm sorry. I must refuse your request.
(Worf starts to follow Gowron out of the room)
PICARD: Mister Worf. I'm afraid I must recall you to duty. The Enterprise will be leaving this sector immediately.
WORF: Captain, I respectfully request that I be allowed to take an extended leave of absence.
PICARD: Mister Worf, your responsibilities as a Starfleet officer are incompatible with remaining on board a Klingon ship during a time of war.
WORF: Captain.
PICARD: I order you to return to duty at once.
WORF: Then I resign my commission as a Starfleet officer.
(Worf puts his comm. badge on the table)
GOWRON: I will await you aboard the Bortas.

PICARD: There have been three major engagements in the last two weeks, all of them won by ships loyal to the Duras family.
SHANTHI: (a lady Admiral of African descent) None of which is our concern, Jean-Luc. The Klingon civil war is, by definition, an internal matter of the Empire.
PICARD: Agreed. But if the Duras are being aided by the Romulans, it becomes very much our concern. The Romulans have been attempting to destroy the Klingon-Federation Alliance for the past twenty years. At the same time, the Duras have been secretly conspiring with the Romulans. Doesn't it strike you as odd that the Duras are able to field such an overpowering force against Gowron? That they outmatch him at almost every turn?
SHANTHI: Some would call it good leadership.
PICARD: And some would say they must be getting help. The Romulans are prepared to take enormous risks to gain any advantage over the Federation. Can we seriously believe that now, with the future of the Klingon Empire in the balance, they are content to stand by and watch?
SHANTHI: What is it you propose, Captain?
PICARD: We must stop the flow of supplies and equipment to the Duras from the Romulans. What I propose is that we send a fleet to the Romulan-Klingon border. We'll take no offensive action, but we will be in a position to expose any Romulan supplies that attempt to cross the border.
SHANTHI: A blockade.
PICARD: Exactly.
SHANTHI: But how would you overcome the Romulan cloaking device?
PICARD: My Chief Engineer has developed a system that should nullify that advantage. Each ship will send out an active tachyon beam to the other blockading ships. Now, in theory, any cloaked vessel that attempts to pass between our ships must cross that beam and be detected.
SHANTHI: I'll have to clear this with the Federation Council. In the meantime, assemble your fleet, Captain.
(Shanthi and her aide leave)
RIKER: Nicely done. I hope we know what we're doing.
PICARD: So do I, Number One.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Maybe the PD wasn't invoked in that case, but the prime directive was originally referred to as a principle of non-interference in foreign wars or development of foreign cultures. It was later that the less talented of the writers seized on the notion that it was just about not preventing apocalypses on prewarp planets.

The Hunted might be a better example. I just checked and again they didn't use the words 'Prime directive', but it was pretty clear that was what they were talking about when they said 'We cannot interfere with the natural course of your society's development', and Angosia was a warp capable planet petitioning for entry into the Federation.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Maybe the PD wasn't invoked in that case, but the prime directive was originally a principle of non-interference in foreign wars or development of foreign cultures, then the less talented of the writers just repeatedly seized on the notion that it was just about not preventing apocalypses on prewarp planets.

The Hunted might be a better example. I just checked and again they didn't use the words 'Prime directive', but it was pretty clear that was what they were talking about when they said 'We cannot interfere with the natural course of your society's development', and Angosia was a warp capable planet petitioning for entry into the Federation.

I don't think it was used that way in TOS.

 

[Turbo]

I almost feel like her final arc on TNG would have had to change for her presence on DS9 to make sense.

I can't see Starfleet being okay with a deserter like Ro being in a position of power on the station. Though I wonder how the DS9 pilot would have gone. Surely she and Picard would have to have a scene or two together.

I think replacing Kira would Ro would have completely changed the dynamic of the show.

Well, that whole arc would never have happened, as Ro would have left with O'Brien after "Rascals" in Season 6. So she never would have deserted.

 

[RoJoHen]

Right, but would it have made sense for there to be TWO Starfleet officers in charge of DS9? The whole point of Kira was to give the Bajorans a separate voice in working with Starfleet.

What if Ro had completely replaced Sisko as commander of the station? That'd be weird.

 

[Paradise City]

Forget all that malarky with Ro being a good girl at DS9 running a manky space station.

Howabout this:

Ro married to Eddington. Uncrowned Maquis royalty and matter-antimatter power couple. An interstellar Bonnie and Clyde duo setting the DMZ alight with their unique Starfleet training special ops trix n' mix and the unique bond that comes with a red hot relationship on the fly. They are even capturing the interest of law abiding Federation citizens despite the law abiding Federation citizens law abiding instincts. Even Jake admits his fascination whilst Sisko looks on with a frosty face as cold as concrete. Suffice to say Sisko and Starfleet are going absolutely bananas with all this carry on.

Eddington winds up martyred in a mishap possibly with the Dom 3 day blitz. But Ro resurfaces on Bajor and her daring exploits against the Cardassians are grist for the mill on a planet with a BIG inferiority complex against the Cardassians. She drives Bajor to near revolution, gets the top job which puts Starfleet in a total bind as they are screaming for her extradition.

Cue alot of brinkmanship, intrigue, diplomacy, tension, lots of stand offs..etc. Ro keeps the top job on Bajor whilst Starfleet eventually decides to swallow the pill. So we then have a good hearted but incendiary warrior-Queen in charge of a Bajor constantly clashing with Sisko but as time goes buy they develop a dynamic of mutual and grudging respect, particularily as the Dom threat comes to the fore. Howabout that!

 

[Anji]

Forbes was perfect for the role. If Berman hadn't been running his fingers through her hair while she was in Makeup may be she would have stayed with the franchise.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Forbes was perfect for the role. If Berman hadn't been running his fingers through her hair while she was in Makeup may be she would have stayed with the franchise.

What???

 

[2takesfrakes]

Michelle Forbes was just young ... with her star on the rise ... and she saw herself as having a good chance of carving out a name for herself in film, so she took it. Not every actress in STAR TREK's history was sexually harassed into leaving the show - that's a common misperception.

 

[iMike]

One of the many reasons I hope someday for DS9-HD is the featurettes they could produce; I would love to see Michelle Forbes interviewed about her decision to decline DS9. On the subject of recasting, no I do not think recasting Ro would have worked. Ro running off to join the Maquis at the end of the series was the perfect (on-screen) conclusion for that character. I cannot imagine DS9 without Major Kira.