Warning: This article contains spoilers for the recent Star Trek novels and the J.J. Abrams movie Star Trek. Read with caution.
Recently the folks at Cryptic Studios have released a timeline that takes into account the new Star Trek movie. In the new movie, events in the 24th century have led to the creation of an alternate timeline. While this timeline is J.J. Abrams’ new playground, Star Trek Online will be a continuation of the Star Trek “Prime” universe, where Klingons looked like darker humans with goatees then had forehead ridges and people never questioned it; a universe where Spock died on the Genesis planet and Bones acted all funny for a movie; a universe where Locutus of Borg told Riker that resistance was futile and Sisko both started and ended the Dominion War and Janeway got lost in Borgtown. This universe, where every TV episode we watched growing up and every movie we’ve seen up until now has taken place in, is where Star Trek Online will take place.
The year is 2409. The Federation and Klingon Empires are at war. Romulus has fallen and the once-powerful Romulan Empire is divided. Factions such as the Orion Syndicate are gaining power in the quadrant while others, like the Cardassians, are still trying to recover from the Dominion Wars. This is the time period that Star Trek Online, a new Trek-based MMO game from Cryptic Studios will take place. Cryptic Studios, via the STO website, has released a set of timeline articles describing the events after the rise and fall of Shinzon of Remus up to, currently, 2388. Expect more articles detailing events up to the launch of the game.
Upon reading these events I noticed they include some events and characters from the non-canon Star Trek novels that have been written and released since the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. However, they do not include all of those events, which personally this author thinks include a great storyline both from the standpoint of defining the Federation and giving longtime Trek fans a new and continuing story to follow. Let’s start with the events directly after Nemesis. These events are described in the first Star Trek: Titan novel Taking Wing. Commander Donatra, the Romulan who helped Captain Picard destroy Shinzon’s thalaron device aboard the Scimitar, has gained control of most of the Romulan fleet. Praetor Tal’Aura, the Romulan who conspired with Shinzon to eliminate the Senate has gained control of the political authority of the Romulan Empire. By 2381, according to Star Trek: A Singular Destiny, it’s established that Empress Donatra is head of the Imperial Romulan State while Tal’Aura remains in control of the Romulan Star Empire. Civil War has all but broken out in the territory once called the Romulan Empire.
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For awhile,I was afraid Star Trek was a dying franchise. Then JJ Abrams came along. Great touch. The scene with kid Kirk was a tad too quirky in the movie, though it was amazing in the trailer. Star Trek XI breathed new life into this beloved Roddenberry universe. I’d like to see all of this Enterprise cast recurrence for extra outings. I was raised with the first series. Heck, my father got us a color Television just so we could see Star Trek every single Friday afternoon. Right now, I’m stuck on these new famous actors. In MHO, they have absolutely breathed life into their characters and made them their own. I, personally, am awaiting more.