The Sisko Lie

[Who_Trek]

In the story "Stone Cold Truths" by Peter David (Tales of the Dominion War"), Zak Kebron talks aobut the "Sisko Lie" i.e. "In the Pale Moonlight." Zak says that when Romulans find out the truth, it leads to the 3rd Great Earth-Romulan War.

What would be the Romulan response if they found out what Sisko / Federation did to involve them in the Dominion War? I think a third war is a little extreme, personally, especially with all the sneaky stuff the Romulans have done over the years, but that's just me.

 

[Angel4576]

I doubt it would have led to war. If anything they'd probably admire the level of treachery, it is afterall, a highly-valued Romulan trait in itself!

 

[Kegek]

Good question. I think they'd admire the treachery... and punish the traitors. They're Romulans, they can have it both ways.

If not leading to open war, it would at least mean a breakdown of relations between the two spatial countries and a lot of Romulan assassinations and cloak'n'dagger terrrorism..

 

[nx1701g]

Weren't aspects of that story meant as a joke though? I seem to remember the fold out phaser cannons on the Excalibur.

Anyway though I think that the Romulans would have simply applauded his treachery.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

I believe they already knew about it in the sequel novel "Hollow Men". They chose not to act upon it then. Couple that with the fact that:

A.) Zak's telling a ludicrous tall tale...

and...

B.) There's never been a SECOND great Earth-Romulan War that I can think of.

I'd say the Romualans probably didn't care too much. I'm sure there was some political fallout behind the scenes, but nothing that would approach a war.

 

[Angel4576]

^^ There's also the point that the Romulans probably have more important things to concern themselves with anyway, given the events of Nemesis, and the Romulan senate effectively being wiped out.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

AdmiralGarak said:
B.) There's never been a SECOND great Earth-Romulan War that I can think of.

See Diane Duane's Rihannsu novels. Honor Blade begins with the declaration of war, and The Empty Chair is the story of the Second Romulan War.

 

[Jono]

The Romulans could just use the "Sisko lie" as part of their justification for going to war with the Federation, but it might not be the only reason or even the main reason. They might not even really care about the lie but just use it as propaganda to justify the war.

Also why is it called the Earth-Romulan war and not the Federation-Romulan war?

 

[Hofner]

rofeta said:
The Romulans could just use the "Sisko lie" as part of their justification for going to war with the Federation, but it might not be the only reason or even the main reason. They might not even really care about the lie but just use it as propaganda to justify the war.

Also why is it called the Earth-Romulan war and not the Federation-Romulan war?

Spock called it a conflict between Earth and the Romulans in TOS's "Balance Of Terror". He didn't even dignify it by calling it a 'war'. He had to give a refresher lecture on what it was about to the crew which is strange considering it was supposed to be such a huge big-deal war.

Robert

 

[Phily B]

I'm not sure how exactly they would find out, the only way they could would be if they intercepted Siskos communication to Starfleet command, which if they could do that, they wouldn't have any trouble defeating the Federation...

 

[Jono]

hofner said:

rofeta said:
The Romulans could just use the "Sisko lie" as part of their justification for going to war with the Federation, but it might not be the only reason or even the main reason. They might not even really care about the lie but just use it as propaganda to justify the war.

Also why is it called the Earth-Romulan war and not the Federation-Romulan war?

Spock called it a conflict between Earth and the Romulans in TOS's "Balance Of Terror". He didn't even dignify it by calling it a 'war'. He had to give a refresher lecture on what it was about to the crew which is strange considering it was supposed to be such a huge big-deal war.

Robert

Sorry I meant why was it called the 3rd Great Earth-Romulan war. Given Earth is a member of the Federation and the capital you couldn't go to war with Earth without having to declare war on the entire Federation.

 

[Timo]

Oh, Kebron obviously spoke of the third war the Earth Romulans fought amongst themselves. They're a violent bunch, gotta give them that. Then again, if I were a Romulan who had to live on Earth, I'd be permanently pissed off as well.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[cueballb]

Since the federation has a Romulan spy heading the Tal Shiar, it wouldn't be a problem to hide this lie indefinatly. Even when someone in the Romulan empire finds out, the spy could easaly spill that info to the federation not even knowingly. And it wouldn't be a great deal of trouble to take out the person that heard that rumor.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

Timo said:
Oh, Kebron obviously spoke of the third war the Earth Romulans fought amongst themselves. They're a violent bunch, gotta give them that. Then again, if I were a Romulan who had to live on Earth, I'd be permanently pissed off as well.

Timo Saloniemi

On the other hand, maybe Earth united with the Romulans to conquer the Federation for the third time. Bet those logic-spewing Vulcans and mind-reading Betazoids never saw THAT coming.

 

[MrPointy]

cueballb said:
Since the federation has a Romulan spy heading the Tal Shiar, it wouldn't be a problem to hide this lie indefinatly. Even when someone in the Romulan empire finds out, the spy could easaly spill that info to the federation not even knowingly. And it wouldn't be a great deal of trouble to take out the person that heard that rumor.

Yeah, pretty much.

Wasn't there a novel where the Romulans do find out about the events of "In The Pale Moonlight"?

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

I think they found out in one Hidden Frontier. I don't remember if that led to a war or not. Then again, that's only fan based ...

 

[Who_Trek]

Aren't the Romulans big on honor? If they were lied to by the Federation, and they betrayed their allly...

There was another story connected with this, "The Devil You Know" in the DS9 anthology "Prophecy and Change" where the Dominion executed dozens of Romulans when they changed sides.

 

[Jono]

Who_Trek said:
Aren't the Romulans big on honor? If they were lied to by the Federation, and they betrayed their allly...

There was another story connected with this, "The Devil You Know" in the DS9 anthology "Prophecy and Change" where the Dominion executed dozens of Romulans when they changed sides.

Given their reputation for treachery I doubt they care all that much about honour. If it serves the Empire to stab someone in the back they'll happily do it.

 

[cueballb]

Who_Trek said:
Aren't the Romulans big on honor? If they were lied to by the Federation, and they betrayed their allly...

There was another story connected with this, "The Devil You Know" in the DS9 anthology "Prophecy and Change" where the Dominion executed dozens of Romulans when they changed sides.

I think you have your foreheadprostetic aliens confused

 

[MadBaggins]

Peter David is a hack.