Post Dominion War Alpha Quadrant

[Dingo]

I'm currently working on a fanfiction that takes place in 2378, after Voyager's return from the Delta Quadrant. It's centered around a Starfleet Special Operations unit called the Asymmetric Warfare Group. Officially they're a think tank that advises various commanders about asymmetric security threats (insurgencies, criminal elements, and the like), but unofficially I've got them as a Delta Force-like unit. Coincidentally I was watching the Unit as well so that's where the idea came from.

I'm figuring based on reading A Stitch in Time and recently starting into reading the DS9 Relaunch novels the Alpha Quadrant is a bit of a volatile place with forces like Cardassian militant extremists, pirates, renegade Alpha Jem'Hadar and the like.

Bear in mind I've not read the Relaunch novels yet, but I'm getting the impression the AQ is going to be interesting post-war.

I've also got this set a year prior to Shinzon and the events in Star Trek: Nemesis. Not to mention, if Nemesis was any indication, the Romulans still have rather cold relations with the Federation despite the alliance during the War.

I apologize for any ignorance of events. I've only recently gotten back into the Star Trek Expanded Universe after a lengthy absence due to real life.

My list of threats and hazards that I can imagine are as follows (in no order of danger):

1) Borg - ever present threat
2) Renegade Alpha Jem'Hadar
3) Romulans (despite being nominal allies)
4) Cardassian militant extremists

Any of these four could easily make for an entertaining plot device for Star Trek: Asymmetric Warfare Group (working title for my story). I hope my analysis of the post-Dominion War Alpha Quadrant is accurate.

 

[DarKush]

First off good luck on your series. If I were you I wouldn't worry too much about running afoul of Trek Literature. I haven't read every bit of Trek Lit and might get the following info wrong, but I'm sure someone else will provide the right answers if I do.

I'm not sure how much Trek Lit. covers the 2378 time frame anyway. The DS9 relaunch ends around 2376/2377 I think before it time jumps to the 2380s. You might want to look at Christie Golden's Voyager novels, or see if the summaries are on Memory Alpha or Memory Beta.

Depending on how far your series extends, and if you intend to tie it into Trek Lit., I definitely recommend learning about the events of David Mack's Destiny trilogy and the aftermath, which led to the Typhon Pact. But all of that stuff takes place in the 2380s.

When I started what eventually became Dark Territory I tried to tie it into Trek Lit. but I quickly gave up on that idea because I wasn't going to read all of those novels to stay up on what was going on, nor did I want to spend all that money. And I found that going my own way freed me up to do more stuff, so you might want to consider that if following the expanded universe becomes to constricting.

 

[Dingo]

First off good luck on your series. If I were you I wouldn't worry too much about running afoul of Trek Literature. I haven't read every bit of Trek Lit and might get the following info wrong, but I'm sure someone else will provide the right answers if I do.

I'm not sure how much Trek Lit. covers the 2378 time frame anyway. The DS9 relaunch ends around 2376/2377 I think before it time jumps to the 2380s. You might want to look at Christie Golden's Voyager novels, or see if the summaries are on Memory Alpha or Memory Beta.

Depending on how far your series extends, and if you intend to tie it into Trek Lit., I definitely recommend learning about the events of David Mack's Destiny trilogy and the aftermath, which led to the Typhon Pact. But all of that stuff takes place in the 2380s.

When I started what eventually became Dark Territory I tried to tie it into Trek Lit. but I quickly gave up on that idea because I wasn't going to read all of those novels to stay up on what was going on, nor did I want to spend all that money. And I found that going my own way freed me up to do more stuff, so you might want to consider that if following the expanded universe becomes to constricting.

Thanks, I appreciate the input. I figure I might as well go my own way now that I think of it.

A key element in the Post-War and Voyager's Return story is in my two main characters. The post-War fellow is an officer in the Asymmetric Warfare Group and the Voyager returnee is his former fiancee, a Starfleet officer from USS Voyager. I figure their reunion could be an interesting clash of viewpoints. After all seven years can change people quite a bit.

I'm mostly taking the DS9 and Voyager series' as canon and disregarding everything else.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

In my mind post-war AQ would be far more interesting and diverse than the war itself, as it is during this time that the real hard work has to be done.

Firstly, I would say that with your own original idea, you can disregard the expanded universe, seeing as how it isn't canon and there is a lot to take onboard. Use elements that work and disregard others that don't.

As for how things actually are, the best description I always think of is 'delicate'. All the major powers took a beating, none of them are strong enough for another all-out war, but neither do they want to appear weak to their enemies, allies and former-enemies.

UFP - The main powerhouse behind the rebuilding work, trying to sort out their own worlds affected by the war, rebuild the fleet, whilst also spearheading relief and humanitarian efforts. All of this would be with reduced numbers of ships and personnel.
Klingons - Being a "warrior race" they would have thrown everything into the war and suffered greatly for it. Whilst trying to rebuild as quickly as possible, they would be wary of their Romulan allies whilst also determined to quash any chance of retaliation from the Cardassians.
Romulans - Maintaining their alliance with the UFP and Klingons would be in their favour (its better to have two tentative allies than two 'hostile' forces on your doorstep). They too suffered during the war, but wouldn't want anyone else to know just how badly.
Cardassians - A beaten, defeated and bitter people. They have been forced to ask for handouts and aid from their former enemies, whilst their planets and fleet is in shambles. As they try to rebuild, under the tight constrictions of the peace treaty put upon them, they have to deal with massive amounts of refugees, starvation, disease, etc. There would be elements of resistance and resentment, who may take up arms against others, but the majority would be extrememly down-trodden.
Breen - This mysterious and dangerous enemy has withdrawn back behind their borders. Though no one expects to have seen the last of them...

As for the other possible threats you mentioned, I would think that as part of the peace treaty, the Allied Forces would have demanded the removal of all Jem'Hadar (regardless of their origin). A rogue Cardassian faction may have held onto a few, but I wouldn't see them as a threat on their own.

Then there is the Borg. In post-VOY, I would say they've been pretty much declawed. Voyager returned with advanced anti-Borg weaponry, as well as landing a massive blow against them. I would doubt the AQ would hear from them in a while.

Then there are other other 'big powers' who get a mention only every so often: Gorn, Tholians, Ferengi, etc. Add to that the chance of any number of new threats the AQ could face, but that isn't really needed as there is more than enough going on.

Just some of my thoughts. If any are of use, then feel free to run with them.

 

[Dingo]

They are of use, and give me plenty to think about. Not to mention the Orion Syndicate and it's machinations.

I'm also thinking the clash of viewpoints between my male lead, a man who's part Betazed (grandmother) and part human and an empath who survived the Dominion War fighting behind the scenes in many cloak and dagger missions with the Asymmetric Warfare Group and my female lead, a human female from Voyager would make for an interesting pair of lenses to view this from.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

I'm glad to be of help.

 

[DarKush]

They are of use, and give me plenty to think about. Not to mention the Orion Syndicate and it's machinations.

I'm also thinking the clash of viewpoints between my male lead, a man who's part Betazed (grandmother) and part human and an empath who survived the Dominion War fighting behind the scenes in many cloak and dagger missions with the Asymmetric Warfare Group and my female lead, a human female from Voyager would make for an interesting pair of lenses to view this from.

From how you've described your two main characters you really don't need to reference the expanded universe at all, if you don't want to. But echoing Bry, there's nothing wrong with picking and choosing from Trek Lit., comics, and games, the things you want and the things you don't want. If nothing else, taking a look through that stuff has helped give me ideas for storylines and characters. Bry's description of the post-war Alpha Quadrant also was pretty good.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Bry's description of the post-war Alpha Quadrant also was pretty good.

Cheers

That's just how I like my Post-DW universe anyway.