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Legacy of Romulus Dev Blog #4

pwebranflakespwebranflakes Member Posts: 7,741
edited April 2013 in Galactic News Network [PC]
Learn more about Empress Sela in this entry of the Legacy of Romulus News Dev Blog series.


Link to the blog.
Post edited by pwebranflakes on
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  • sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    As usual cut and paste for the benefit of my mate mike (who still hasn't updated his browser)

    Star Trek: The Next Generation star Denise Crosby returns to Star Trek Online with the launch of Legacy of Romulus to reprise her role as Sela. Players will dive deep into the mysteries of the Romulan Star Empire, playing a game for the ultimate stakes as they immerse themselves in intrigue at the highest levels of power.

    The daughter of a Romulan admiral and Starfleet officer Tasha Yar, Sela has always been a polarizing figure.

    She has worked in the shadows to destabilize the Klingon Empire through an alliance with the House of Duras. She masterminded a foiled plot to invade Vulcan, and kidnapped Starfleet officer Geordi La Forge and brainwashed him in an attempt to assassinate a Klingon governor.

    After the end of Shinzon?s rebellion, (seen in Star Trek: Nemesis) Sela has been propelled by her limitless ambition. She rose to the position of proconsul in the turbulent times after the Reman uprising, but lost it all in a power struggle with the Tal Shiar, ending up in exile.

    That sentence saved her life ? and gave it new direction. In the farthest reaches of the Beta Quadrant she found the remnants of the Hirogen communications network. Using it to contact these famed hunters, she offered them hunting rights in Romulan space, struck an alliance and began rebuilding her forces.

    When Praetor Taris? struggles with the Romulan admiralty in the late 2390s threatened to destabilize her rule, Sela was in the perfect position to exploit her weakness. Sela joined with the Hirogen and the Romulan fleet to retake the empire in 2403.

    When the dust settled, Sela was Empress of the Romulan Star Empire. Since then, she has ruled with a mixture of strength and deceit. She has devoted much of the empire's resources to the Tal Shiar, building the power of their fleet and making them the dominate force in Romulan space. She will go to any lengths to restore the former glory of the Empire, making secret alliances of which even she may not understand the full implications.

    As empress, Sela will not tolerate any dissent against her rule. She has openly denounced the Romulan Republic, saying that the movement to break away from the empire and create a new Romulan homeworld is a terrorist action. She is using the full force of the Tal Shiar to hunt the leaders of the Romulan Republic and will not stop until their organization is eliminated.

    Beset by rebellion from within and enemies without, the Romulan Star Empire may be seeing its darkest days. But if there's anything Romulans understand, it is strength in adversity.

    And Empress Sela always has a plan.

    Live long and Prosper
  • antrenosantrenos Member Posts: 1 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    That sentence saved her life ? and gave it new direction. In the farthest reaches of the Beta Quadrant she found the remnants of the Hirogen communications network. Using it to contact these famed hunters, she offered them hunting rights in Romulan space, struck an alliance and began rebuilding her forces.

    This does not compute. In canon (particularly Voyager in which this is a reference), the Communication Network was obliterated when Voyager destroyed one of it's relays. The singularity which was powering the array, sent a massive shockwave throughout the network.

    The rest of the backstory is copy-and-paste from either TNG, or the Path to 2409. Where's the Legacy of Romulus NEWS?
  • captainmal3captainmal3 Member Posts: 436 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    It does say the REMNANTS of it, it's possible parts survived. Your second point I agree with though, there's really nothing new here. Slightly disappointing.
  • voyagerfan9751voyagerfan9751 Member Posts: 1,120 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    Yeah, not getting any revelations with this blog. Was looking forward to hearing more about the Romulan Faction, but we really have heard all this with regards to Empress Sela.
  • tsurutafan01tsurutafan01 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    If Sela thinks I'm a terrorist now wait until I have a C-Store D'Deridex to shove where the Tal Shiar's sun doesn't shine.


    "We are smart." - Grebnedlog

    Member of Alliance Central Command/boq botlhra'ghom
  • sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    on the other hand she is looking well
    Live long and Prosper
  • shpoksshpoks Member Posts: 6,967 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    You still haven't answered the most important question: will the players of STO as members of the Romulan Republic or any other faction have the opportunity to elliminate Sela? Through a STF like the Borg Queen or by some other means?

    "As empress, Sela will not tolerate any dissent against her rule. She has openly denounced the Romulan Republic, saying that the movement to break away from the empire and create a new Romulan homeworld is a terrorist action. She is using the full force of the Tal Shiar to hunt the leaders of the Romulan Republic and will not stop until their organization is eliminated."

    I must admit though, taking this into consideration the Romulan Republic looks more and more challenging by the day. :)
    HQroeLu.jpg
  • eisenw0lfeisenw0lf Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    Nothing new here. :confused:
  • vegeta50024vegeta50024 Member Posts: 2,336 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    So if I understand this right, it was already pretty clear to you guys that the Tal'Shiar are following Sela's orders right up until she "vanished" in the Featured Episode series? To me, the whole bit with the Romulan Republic is a major Retcon as far as the story goes for the federation side.

    TSC_Signature_Gen_4_-_Vegeta_Small.png
  • zulisvelzulisvel Member Posts: 518 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    I thought Sela and the Tal Shiar weren't getting along, at least that's what I remember from the Romulan Front story line. So I guess that's getting retconned when they shuffle missions around for the May update then?
  • hevachhevach Member Posts: 2,777 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    zulisvel wrote: »
    I thought Sela and the Tal Shiar weren't getting along, at least that's what I remember from the Romulan Front story line. So I guess that's getting retconned when they shuffle missions around for the May update then?

    In the Romulan Front, Taris still had control of the Tal Shiar, was allied with the Iconians, and opposed Sela.

    But you take Taris out of the picture entirely and she ends up in Facility 4028*. By Cutting the Cord, Sela is clearly if not in control of the Tal Shiar then on good terms with them, as she came to their rescue after you kill Hakeev, and their Iconian buddies in turn came to hers.

    Basically, she's consolidated.

    *-in the 2800 she was one of the two notable prisoners sprung from there using Iconian technology, suggesting that she's still valuable to the Iconians even with Sela to take her place. I suspect that after Facility 4028 the two are allies, if not willingly then because the Iconians said to play nice.
  • voyagerfan9751voyagerfan9751 Member Posts: 1,120 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    zulisvel wrote: »
    I thought Sela and the Tal Shiar weren't getting along, at least that's what I remember from the Romulan Front story line. So I guess that's getting retconned when they shuffle missions around for the May update then?

    I believe they have already changed/updated the Romulan Front missions. Not sure if there was any story changes though. They are the next missions I am doing on Tribble, soon as I level up my fed toon some more, So I will definitely be looking into this.

    But yes, my understanding was Sela and the Tal Shiar were not on the best of terms. Plus, why would Sela overthrow Taris if they are in fact all serving the same Masters (ie The Iconians). Would be interesting to see how this all stacks up when ever they unlock the Roms on Tribble.
  • sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    The Romulan story for Romulans comes before the Romulan story we have now
    Live long and Prosper
  • direphoenixdirephoenix Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    So this blog got me thinking...

    Old School Romulans are notoriously xenophobic...
    The Tal Shiar is often likened to the SS/Gestapo of TRIBBLE Germany...
    Sela became the empress, backing the Tal Shiar...
    ...even though Sela is half human.

    Sela = Space Elf Hitler?
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    Raptr profile
  • tazurensavulentazurensavulen Member Posts: 1,204 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    Just some Sela Propoganda! I'd love to see ship stats!
    signature_for_kerbal_space_program_by_lord_inu_hanyou-dbhp8de.png
    [06/16 11:51] [Combat (Self)] Your Advanced Dual Heavy Radiant Antiproton Cannons - Hypercharge deals 237970 (113626) Antiproton Damage(Critical) to Tactical Cube.
    AHAHAHA! Eat it Borg!
    [09/15 11:01] [Combat (Self)] You lose 12187085 Cold Damage from Death.
    Death is OP, please nerf. I BLAME KURLAND FOR THIS!
  • hevachhevach Member Posts: 2,777 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    But yes, my understanding was Sela and the Tal Shiar were not on the best of terms. Plus, why would Sela overthrow Taris if they are in fact all serving the same Masters (ie The Iconians). Would be interesting to see how this all stacks up when ever they unlock the Roms on Tribble.

    In the original missions, Taris was allied with the Iconians but Sela was not. Taris is captured by the Federation in those missions. The next we hear on Sela is in Cutting the Cord, where she comes to the aid for the Tal Shiar, and then the Iconians come to her rescue.

    Only thing that changed is that Taris was gone. The Tal Shiar had lost, and Sela consolidated her control.

    Right now, it fits. However, LoR is giving us a pre-Cloaked Intentions Romulan front from both the Klingon and Romulan perspectives, so we'll see if some retcon is needed to make it all fit.
  • psycoticvulcanpsycoticvulcan Member Posts: 4,160 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    zulisvel wrote: »
    I thought Sela and the Tal Shiar weren't getting along, at least that's what I remember from the Romulan Front story line.

    That's just what she wanted you to think. :D

    For anyone who wants to learn more of STO's backstory, I direct you to this article.
    NJ9oXSO.png
    "Critics who say that the optimistic utopia Star Trek depicted is now outmoded forget the cultural context that gave birth to it: Star Trek was not a manifestation of optimism when optimism was easy. Star Trek declared a hope for a future that nobody stuck in the present could believe in. For all our struggles today, we haven’t outgrown the need for stories like Star Trek. We need tales of optimism, of heroes, of courage and goodness now as much as we’ve ever needed them."
    -Thomas Marrone
  • smazazelsmazazel Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    wow that is a complete disappointment I stopped reading 3 lines in. What a waste of a dev blog to bring stuff EVERYONE knows and has already been said. nice fluff piece to fill up space..
  • felderburgfelderburg Member Posts: 857 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    antrenos wrote: »
    The rest of the backstory is copy-and-paste from either TNG, or the Path to 2409. Where's the Legacy of Romulus NEWS?

    Noting that they are actually sticking to the Path to 2409 could be considered news. However, we've had more in this snippet than the Path to 2409, which basically says: "Sela became Praetor and peace was had throughout the land!" And then: "Sela is now Empress, and probably a total dictator." Now we know that she has indeed allied with the Tal Shiar, and even the Iconians, although I suspect Hakeev mislead her as to their true nature. I just don't see her allying with a force like that.

    Which brings me to my next question: why did she bring the Tal Shiar to power? She had her own group of allies - the fleet that followed her into exile and the Hirogen. Why give the Tal Shiar power? Was it to make sure they were on her side? Was it to use their known draconian policies to contribute to her "oppression"?
    That's just what she wanted you to think. :D

    For anyone who wants to learn more of STO's backstory, I direct you to this article.

    Do the accolades have the supplemental logs that were posted on the website before? This doc does: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B6ewnvQWdQZ-lPQwh3EXbvlRW9_WrCW9cmvqCn2aIQk
  • tsurutafan01tsurutafan01 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    sollvax wrote: »
    The Romulan story for Romulans comes before the Romulan story we have now

    Exactly. You will play through the LoR content from the start, then into the existing Romulan missions and so forth. My understanding is this is how the KDF content will work too: added to the "start" then you build up through the Dominion, Breen, Borg etc etc.


    "We are smart." - Grebnedlog

    Member of Alliance Central Command/boq botlhra'ghom
  • captainmal3captainmal3 Member Posts: 436 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    So if I understand this right, it was already pretty clear to you guys that the Tal'Shiar are following Sela's orders right up until she "vanished" in the Featured Episode series? To me, the whole bit with the Romulan Republic is a major Retcon as far as the story goes for the federation side.

    Not when we were playing it, but it was mentioned that she works with the tal shiar a couple blogs ago, and as for being against the romulan republic, I'm not sure if that was actually mentioned but it seems pretty obvious to me. So there's nothing actually new in this blog.
  • shpoksshpoks Member Posts: 6,967 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    If Sela thinks I'm a terrorist now wait until I have a C-Store D'Deridex to shove where the Tal Shiar's sun doesn't shine.

    Well said, sir.
    Either the DD or the Valdore from the LoR website, but they're getting what's comming to them anyways. :cool:
    HQroeLu.jpg
  • kwiat007kwiat007 Member Posts: 144 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    hevach wrote: »
    The next we hear on Sela is in Cutting the Cord, where she comes to the aid for the Tal Shiar, and then the Iconians come to her rescue.

    You are overinterpreting. There is nothing in the game that would suggest that she came to rescue Hakeev. When she warps in she says:
    This is Empress Sela. Interference in Imperial affairs will not be tolerated. Rebels and insurgents will be eliminated!

    A fleet of federation and Reman terrorists ships attack RSE planet, what do you think her reaction should be?
    If you later talk with Obisek he says she is missing and he doesn't know if the iconians rescued or kidnapped her. I would say it was the second, why else wouldn't they return her to Rator II and let her rule the RSE for them?

    The love between Sela Hakeev, Tal Shiar & Iconians is a new thing.
    [SIGPIC]Join Date: August 2009[/SIGPIC]
    I live in an alternate universe, where j.j. abrams and cryptic never existed,
    where R.S.E. is what it always should be.
  • neoakiraiineoakiraii Member Posts: 7,468 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    Sela will pay for spilling a drink on O'Brien... OHHH she will pay dearly.
    GwaoHAD.png
  • neoakiraiineoakiraii Member Posts: 7,468 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    kwiat007 wrote: »
    You are overinterpreting. There is nothing in the game that would suggest that she came to rescue Hakeev. When she warps in she says:



    A fleet of federation and Reman terrorists ships attack RSE planet, what do you think her reaction should be?
    If you later talk with Obisek he says she is missing and he doesn't know if the iconians rescued or kidnapped her. I would say it was the second, why else wouldn't they return her to Rator II and let her rule the RSE for them?

    The love between Sela Hakeev, Tal Shiar & Iconians is a new thing.

    Jump on tribble and replay Cutting the cord....they added new scenes with Sela, and Hakeeve.
    GwaoHAD.png
  • blassreiterusblassreiterus Member Posts: 1,294 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    hevach wrote: »
    In the original missions, Taris was allied with the Iconians but Sela was not. Taris is captured by the Federation in those missions. The next we hear on Sela is in Cutting the Cord, where she comes to the aid for the Tal Shiar, and then the Iconians come to her rescue.

    Only thing that changed is that Taris was gone. The Tal Shiar had lost, and Sela consolidated her control.

    Right now, it fits. However, LoR is giving us a pre-Cloaked Intentions Romulan front from both the Klingon and Romulan perspectives, so we'll see if some retcon is needed to make it all fit.
    I have played Cutting the Cord on Tribble, and I didn't get that she was coming to the aid of the Tal Shiar, from what I gathered, she specifically said that the machinations up to the point on Brea was the responsibility of Taris essentially saying that Taris was a failure, and then she goes on to say that "It's over" and Hakeev says that it's not over... and then he blames the player for ruining his brilliant plan (like any worthwhile villain would do in his place). Bear in mind, this is how I interpreted the mission at that point.
    Star Trek Online LTS player.
  • ursusmorologusursusmorologus Member Posts: 5,328 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    I would prefer to bat for Team Sela
  • tachyonharmonictachyonharmonic Member Posts: 292 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    I'd much rather join Sela and the Tal Shiar, but alas, we have no choice in the matter.

    Joining the Epohh farmers it is.
  • sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    would a new scene with Sela be a Sela tape??
    Live long and Prosper
  • bluedarkybluedarky Member Posts: 548 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    So if I understand this right, it was already pretty clear to you guys that the Tal'Shiar are following Sela's orders right up until she "vanished" in the Featured Episode series? To me, the whole bit with the Romulan Republic is a major Retcon as far as the story goes for the federation side.

    Not exactly a retcon, it's quite possible that the Romulan Republic at that point was a mere convoy of ships and that the Federation decided that the average Captain didn't need to know about it. Don't forget, as far as our captains were concerned up until the Romulan FE, the RSE was the only legitimate government of the Romulan people.

    Besides, Sela probably wanted to portray herself as a strong leader to the Federation and KDF, she isn't one to allow news of an opposing government escape if she can help it.
    So this blog got me thinking...

    Old School Romulans are notoriously xenophobic...
    The Tal Shiar is often likened to the SS/Gestapo of TRIBBLE Germany...
    Sela became the empress, backing the Tal Shiar...
    ...even though Sela is half human.

    Sela = Space Elf Hitler?

    Quite interesting seeing as Hitler himself believed in the Aryan Ideal Master Race (The entire German team in the 1934 olympics held in Berlin conformed to this ideal image and ironically went home with one of the worst home team scores since the olympics started) despite being as far from the Aryan Ideal as possible (The Aryan Ideal man is tall, blonde, handsome and broad shouldered, I shouldn't need to link a picture of Hitler).

    Sela being half human makes her an abomination in the eyes of "true romulans".
    felderburg wrote: »
    Which brings me to my next question: why did she bring the Tal Shiar to power? She had her own group of allies - the fleet that followed her into exile and the Hirogen. Why give the Tal Shiar power? Was it to make sure they were on her side? Was it to use their known draconian policies to contribute to her "oppression"?

    The Tal'Shiar serves the Empire, Sela believed she was the Empire (another display of her arrogance), the Tal'Shiar disagreed and acted as double agents for the Iconians who were contacted by whom the Tal'Shiar believe to be the last true Emperor of the great Romulan Star Empire.
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