Star Trek: Neutral Zone... Voyages into Romulan space

[Yug]

After the events of Star Trek XI, I now picture a possible fall of the Romulan Star Empire in the 24th century, with refugees scattering all thru the galaxy. Would there still be a Neutral Zone?...

What if as a TV series, TV movie, or mini-series proposal, Starfleet enters into a newly demilitarized Neutral Zone freely, no longer ruled by the Empire, as part humanitarian operation to help survivors of the Hobus star disaster, but also expanding as an unending mission to explore beyond the Zone and into Romulan territory like never before? The show taking place on a large Starfleet ship... even a Vulcan captain? Could be many interesting concepts here. Exploring some themes similar to The Undiscovered Country, but on a larger scale. We'll find a sector of the galaxy no longer ruled by the Empire, finally free of the Romulan grip. And all the chaos and new order that would transpire. New aliens exploring their own new found freedom, other villainous new cultures taking advantage of a Zone without the Romulan overlords keeping the "peace". Klingons, Cardasians, the Dominion, all hoping to exploit and conquer, carving up the Rommies old territories and expand their rule... Plus: unleashed Remans !! And with the Romulans in a new role, as friends, as Starfleet crewmembers, and as enemies or rogues, a fractured culture. Some unwilling to except the fall of the empire, some willing to embrace a peaceful unification with their Vulcan brothers, or even membership with the Federation. Romulan civil war, with the Federation caught in the middle… and REMANS !!!

Just another dumb idea?

 

[Dukhat]

After the events of Star Trek XI, I now picture a possible fall of the Romulan Star Empire in the 24th century, with refugees scattering all thru the galaxy. Would there still be a Neutral Zone?...

What if as a TV series, TV movie, or mini-series proposal, Starfleet enters into a newly demilitarized Neutral Zone freely, no longer ruled by the Empire, as part humanitarian operation to help survivors of the Hobus star disaster, but also expanding as an unending mission to explore beyond the Zone and into Romulan territory like never before? The show taking place on a large Starfleet ship... even a Vulcan captain? Could be many interesting concepts here. Exploring some themes similar to The Undiscovered Country, but on a larger scale. We'll find a sector of the galaxy no longer ruled by the Empire, finally free of the Romulan grip. And all the chaos and new order that would transpire. New aliens exploring their own new found freedom, other villainous new cultures taking advantage of a Zone without the Romulan overlords keeping the "peace". Klingons, Cardasians, the Dominion, all hoping to exploit and conquer, carving up the Rommies old territories and expand their rule... Plus: unleashed Remans !! And with the Romulans in a new role, as friends, as Starfleet crewmembers, and as enemies or rogues, a fractured culture. Some unwilling to except the fall of the empire, some willing to embrace a peaceful unification with their Vulcan brothers, or even membership with the Federation. Romulan civil war, with the Federation caught in the middle… and REMANS !!!

Just another dumb idea?

I doubt that joining the Federation would be a huge priority for any surviving Romulans. And the Remans were a horrible, horrible idea that should never have seen the light of day. To that end, I prefer to think that the Hobus star's supernova took out Remus as well. Spock didn't mention this because, well...who really cares about the Remans?

 

[Tarek71]

I had thought that saying that the Romulan star itself was destroyed by a trilithium warhead was the better idea than the "supernova". If it was done in such a way as to make it appear that the Federation (Section 31) had done it. Some very damning Garak-like faked intel and perhaps some Starfleet-like subspace traffic suckers the Romulans into thinking that.

Some shadowy faction or interest wanted to deal a crippling blow to a major power while at the same making it seem as if it had been done by an old rival and to cause continual strife and war between the suriving remnants of the Romulans and the Federation. All the while the Klingons are fearing a similar sneak attack and not entirely convinced that the Federation didnt do it.

It would have made the rage of Nero (who I would not have made a miner) alot more compelling and understandable. Meanwhile, who really did it? What do they want? Who might be hit next. If they could penetrate Romulan defenses so easily and so convincingly make it seem that it was the Federation, what else could they do?

Perhaps it was elder Spock who discovered evidence that casts serious doubt as to the real culprits and many Romulans are uncertain what to do. Nero, a military comander, and certain elements of the Tal Shiar are enraged that an immediate counterstrike has not been ordered, and are convinced that it is Spocks supposed "evidence" that are the actual fakes and that Section 31 did this.

A counterstrike however will not restore Romulus. But the Tal Shiar believe they can steal the Bajoran Orb of Time and change history. Not only restore Romulus, but obliterate the Federation and the Klingon Empire. With late 24th Century technology, the Romulan Empire of more than 100 years ago could subdue the whole Quadrant.

Thats assuming we would want to keep the time travel element. Spock learns of the plot but not before the successful heist, but he and and Saavik (who had traveled back with Spock earlier to present the evidence exonerating the Federation), with the aid of sympathetic Romulans get aboard the vessel that has the Orb, which can only transport one ship back, the one carrying the orb, and not a whole Fleet. They fail to stop it from going back, and witness history change. Action and mayhem ensue. Etc Etc.

This leaves all sorts of possibilites for the 24th Century, as the OP indicated, but with an added overarching drama involving the new threat. (Not to mention a better version of the movie, IMHO. )

In any case, I say "think anew". Riff on whats been established and make stories with all kinds of possibilities. If JJ can tinker with timelines, so can we.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The Rommies of the Primeverse discover that there's a parallel reality in which Romulus survives (guess which reality that might be). They contact their brother Rommies in this alternate universe in a grand divide-and-conquer scenario.

Heck why stop there? Aren't there an infinite number of parallel realities? Rommies would be present in most of them. Whoever controls the "portals" between all these realities (assuming they exist, and why wouldn't they?) controls a mind-bogglingly vast potential empire that could run amuk across all realities.

Think big!

 

[Tarek71]

Think big!

Exactly!

 

[Yug]

Think big!

I am, Tarek71 has some great ideas!

I can think big, small, and everything in between, I have that capacity...
It's true, I'm really just that brilliant !!