Canon is not a locked box, nor do I think its as straightforward as some fans make it out to be. Since we're using a term rooted in the Church, we would be better served by realizing that "canon" is always open to re-examination and reinterpretation over time.
"Balance of Terror" is a good piece of drama, does the whole submarine in space fight pretty well however there are things in it that really stretch its creditability luckily most of that is in the backstory it self.
I've had big issues with an interstellar war where neither side never at all left parts of itself behind such as bodies or spaceships and don't think the Romulans would have even considered a treaty without some direct harm coming into play. That is a war of drones isn't very compelling as a piece of fiction - though they make nice scouts. But we already know that the Romulans were coming in person to Vulcan so its not strictly true that no ally ever saw a Romulan.
Which brings me to: We shouldn't ever assume our heroes speak in a historical literal manner. Real humans don't so there isn't a good reason we should think our heroes do either or that they're omniscient with "Facts" in a work of fiction. Its all a matter of point of view.
Sharr
"Balance of Terror" is a good piece of drama, does the whole submarine in space fight pretty well however there are things in it that really stretch its creditability luckily most of that is in the backstory it self.
I've had big issues with an interstellar war where neither side never at all left parts of itself behind such as bodies or spaceships and don't think the Romulans would have even considered a treaty without some direct harm coming into play. That is a war of drones isn't very compelling as a piece of fiction - though they make nice scouts. But we already know that the Romulans were coming in person to Vulcan so its not strictly true that no ally ever saw a Romulan.
Which brings me to: We shouldn't ever assume our heroes speak in a historical literal manner. Real humans don't so there isn't a good reason we should think our heroes do either or that they're omniscient with "Facts" in a work of fiction. Its all a matter of point of view.
Sharr
