Season 7 Dev Blog #15
By PWE_BranFlakes @ November 6, 2012 at 12:00pm
From: Woldan, son of J’rek
To: Ja’rod of the House of Duras
The Romulan is here. He will address the full High Council later today.
I spoke to this D’Tan upon his arrival. He is a man of admirable dedication, but he is no warrior. He thinks he can change the Romulans with words.
Words are meaningless. Without strength, they are empty air. The buzzing of a glob fly has more importance.
The Tal Shiar is in chaos after the loss of Hakeev, but they will still fight to maintain their control of the Romulans. Fear and secrecy are their weapons, and those are the very things D’Tan seeks to strip away.
The Tal Shiar cannot be wished into oblivion. There will be blood. It may be D’Tan’s.
He is here to ask the High Council for the Empire’s support for his venture. I intend to back his request. I trust that the House of Duras will as well.
On the surface it seems laughable. In this case, however, it is a great opportunity.
D’Tan is correct on one point. The Romulans cannot continue as they have. Like the damned half-men of the Borg, they must adapt or die. D’Tan and his followers would choose peace. The Tal Shiar will go screaming into the long night, slashing at anyone who approaches like a wounded beast.
Do not revel in their downfall, my friend. If we had not swallowed our pride and allied with the Federation after the destruction of Praxis, we would have faced every trial the Romulans have suffered – and more.
By supporting the new Romulan colony, we conquer one of our greatest foes without a single blow. We gain their friendship, and later perhaps their loyalty. We solidify our relationship with the Remans. And we still retain the chance for combat and glory – the Romulans are not in a position to fight their own battles. They will need our ships to defend them from the Tal Shiar and the Tholians.
We are reaching a turning point in history. Kahless said it was better to lose one battle than to lose an empire. I would say it is better to forego one war to win a greater one.
J’mpok will keep the Empire at odds with Starfleet as long as he can. His greatest fear is that the Empire will be dominated by the Federation. But it is not Starfleet we need fear. It is the Iconians.
We know the Iconians are coming. We know their eyes are fixed on the Romulans. The Empire must be ready – for whatever may come.
carter2106 @ Nov 8th, 2012 4:00PM
Are we going to soon be able to actually face and fight the Iconians. Them not being in the shadows?
captinjacksparow
I hope so
ddesjardins @ Nov 8th, 2012 3:05PM
I like it - I like his reasoning and determination, by having your cake and eating it the Klingons will emerge stronger and better prepared for the Iconians.
beammeup77 @ Nov 8th, 2012 12:59PM
With a good, Klingon Story I might acctually enjoy playing a klingon character for once. Can't wait to create a Romulan character.
romulanway @ Nov 8th, 2012 8:54AM
calling all loyal romulan citizens; stop suport that crap,New Romulan colony is prison for all true romulans...We are enslaved by Federation/Klingons alliance it is time for resistance.
icell
I find enslavement wrong but i doubt the federation would do that to any race we aren't the mirror universe
shpoks
I agree with icell, the Federation would want to make the Romulans equal members of the Federation not enslave them.
korthre666
Jolan 'tru romulanway, I agree, this T'dan does not represent the Rihannsu, he comes with ideas of driving a wedge between our people by spliting us between the Lloannen'galae and Khe'lloann'mnhehorael , The Iconians are a universal thorn that must be dealt with, but not at the sacrifice Mnhei'sahe, This new romulan colony will only be a prison or death for a Rihannsu.
theultimatex @ Nov 8th, 2012 2:28AM
Fantastically written.
captaind3 @ Nov 7th, 2012 1:15PM
Love it. And seriously, the more you hear about the Klingon side the more you realize they need more story, with an integral reputation system. Where the reputation system unlocks missions with different houses and factions within the empire. Ambitious? yes. But the potential for glory....
commander1sitis @ Nov 7th, 2012 11:26AM
Very nice story. I´d love to see such posts included ingame! that would be very amazing!
mailman650 @ Nov 7th, 2012 8:33AM
Totally agree with the first post, well said!
mailman650
Err...I mean the post below mine.
zhdani @ Nov 7th, 2012 4:19AM
This is an example of what I like about STO writing – the times have changed and everyone needs to adapt accordingly. The Cardassians understood that after the Dominion War. At least some fraction of Romulans has come to grasp it too. And now, what I'm most happy about, members of the Klingon Empire perceive the need for new allies against new enemies. Sure it is the House of Duras we're talking about and they've been more than eager to scheme with Romulans in the past, but with enemies like the Iconians, the Borg, the Tholians, the Undine the Empire needs allies. Sure, we can recall the Khitomer Massacre, the years of hostility after that. But we can also remember Klingons and Romulans fighting together against a common foe, the Dominion, and we are talking about a fraction of the Romulan Empire willing to change and discard their ways. It's an opportunity the Empire cannot ignore. Besides the Empire of 2409 has become a grand alternative for the Federation – it also is an union of races but under different goals. Sure, this union was forged with violence, domination, but from what we can see it’s working out pretty well for all of them especially that together they can achieve more than each one alone. I’m glad Cryptic provided us with this plot piece, hope we’ll get more. Also I have to say I was never fond of the whole "War with the Federation" idea. Despite their different natures, views and past conflicts I think they made great allies. Of course, the Nausicaans and Orions make it pretty hard for easily recreating the alliance, but Battle Group Omega is an example that the KDF and Starfleet can cooperate like old times. Hope this and New Romulus are the start of a new alliance.
kirimuffin
Couldn't agree more, with all of this.
britewolf
A fantastic letter, and a beautiful response too. This is what we need in STO, not grinding, but art!
ehlim @ Nov 7th, 2012 2:31AM
Wonderfully written! These flashes of storyline narration are a really entertaining feature. It's reading them, first thing in the morning when I sit at my job's desk and prepare myself for another lousy day with my boss, that makes the whole day better! Thank you devs, keep it up!! ;D
kirk2390 @ Nov 7th, 2012 2:07AM
Great Work Devs keep on moving this way !!!
kirk2390 @ Nov 7th, 2012 2:06AM
This story make sence but I rather be at peace with the feds then romullus, but we will see what the Duras have in store for us my house will support J'Mpok in his decission and we will not turn our back on KDF. Qupla
khorvax @ Nov 6th, 2012 9:21PM
I am slightly iffy on this, but alliances change over time, and no relations are set in stone. As evidenced by my nation's (The USA) now close relationship with both Germany and Japan. However, this game is ripe for a third faction. True Way has enough races and ships. If you guys did a lottery or competition to draw in essentially free help volunteers from the community's builders I bet quite a decent series of story missions could be developed. I believe Ferengi mercenaries should be playable with the KDF as well, with the D'Kora as a possible future 2,000 or 2,500 purchasable kdf ship. Gorn, Nausicaan, and Orion ships are still a plenty which have not been incorporated in to the kdf. Already in game. The KDF keeps asking for more ships. Why not just assign one guy for a month or so to integrate them in to being playable ships? How much work could it -possibly- be to allow scorpion fighters, or zishap battle ships? All those Orion small craft could easily swell the kdf shuttle ranks. There's A LOT you guys can do to add to the KDF, and while I'm excited to see the Romulans actually doing something that's not the same old song and dance, and really look forward to playing with their ships, there's still a lot of things you guys can do which already have a big chunk of the work done. Keep up the good work, or so I hope.
elvenaar
I think the problem w/ those ships not being added to KDF side lies w/ CBS instead of Cryptic as CBS owns the license for anything Star Trek and if they don't give Cryptic the green light on a project Cryptic might as well forget about it. Most of thsoe ships you mentioned are non-canon ships, so I'm guessing CBS is reluctant to allow them to enter the game as playable ships cuz they fear it will affect the canon parts of the franchise, anyways that's my opinion on why there aren't enough KDF ships.
xantris @ Nov 6th, 2012 8:14PM
can we please stop pretending Cryptic is "crafting a great story line" and just admit they didn't want to make unique content for the Klingon's that was fitting of Klingon society.
brackynews
Can we please stop pretending fictional societies can't evolve precisely the same way that real ones do?
cmdrscarlet
Agreed with brackynews.
crypticarmsman @ Nov 6th, 2012 6:35PM
I know somw folks are dissapoint, but as has been said, this is a member of the Duras family; and that Klingon family has always been shown as sympathetic, and/or willing to work with Romulans. It was the point of the TNG episode "Sin's of the Father" followed by the episodes "Redemption" and "Redemption II". nyone who is upset shouldn't be claiming the Cryptic Devs don't know their Star Trek lore as again, this blurb fits right in line with the actions of the House of Duras from TNG.
pardusian141 @ Nov 6th, 2012 6:05PM
I got to the end and I litterally shouted...."FINALY!!!!" once I read the bit about the Iconians. So, it would seem that information about the Iconians is classified by the KDF and Starfleet. My prediction is that the twist at the end of season 7 will involve the Iconians and that season 8 will be centered on them. If not 8, then season 9 will.
imadoctornota @ Nov 6th, 2012 4:57PM
As much as I hate it that the KDF will be assisting the Romulans, it really does fit the mo of the STO storyline. The Klingon Empire is lead by J'mpok, the worst pat'Q to lead the high council yet. He gave the Duras family their honor back (as if he had it to give), and he declared war on the Federation after they and the Empire forged a strong bond in blood and glorious battle during the Dominion war. I think it's a good story the devs are putting together, even if I wouldn't have done it that way.
cmdrscarlet
The last four paragraphs are great and it *does* make sense within the game storyline. Well done Cryptic!
praxian2012 @ Nov 6th, 2012 3:59PM
I would love to see the Romulans as a race as an unlockable Fed player race, like the Joined Trill are!
duaths1
no way! romulans shall have an own playable HQ. They would never join, as klingons would never join too. my prediction: both KDF and UFP help New Romulus to establish, then there will be a playable faction in S8, or S9.
startrek1wars @ Nov 6th, 2012 3:49PM
Iconians . . .
maddog0000doom @ Nov 6th, 2012 3:10PM
i smell a romulan lock box
chalpen @ Nov 6th, 2012 2:55PM
um...why is the ambassador still alive?
tlamstrike
Diplomatic Immunity
brackynews
DI just makes him run faster. Flee to live and fight another day. ;)
wazzagiow @ Nov 6th, 2012 2:23PM
i fear for the sake of ths game i really do. it seems more and more that instead of adding an empire. they will destroy 2 for the sake of whats easy to add to the game. there is an identity crisis going on. i would have a fair wager on roddenberry wanting these races to keep whats made them unique. whats next ? the cardassians turn into care bears?
ghost2448 @ Nov 6th, 2012 2:16PM
I like this idea, however, I don't think it would be easy for the Fed and KDF to come together, I think what will need to happen is an attack on both empires by the Iconians on something they hold dear, perhaps for KDF Qu'Nos or Boreth and for the Federation well the usual either Vulcan or Earth but perhaps Andor? Although I doubt it would be that simple, although if it does happen, perhaps this will bring this conflict with the Undine to an end as well? In regards to the KDF/Fed war, we have to remember that for the most part it was pretty much a cold war during TOS as it is now as both sides don't want to give an edge to the Undine, Borg, Hirogen etc :)
rjoy79 @ Nov 6th, 2012 2:08PM
In the future the Klingons join the Federation as members, so maybe this is the start of that journey. Banding together to defeat a foe as formidable as the Iconians should create stronger bonds.
rheatitan @ Nov 6th, 2012 1:20PM
Thank jebus an end to this fed klingon war. it lost all credability when feds and klingons started hanging out in DS9 and doing STF's together
Showing 39 of 75 Comments