To further my last post, Star Trek has an established lore and fandom, which is why the official site took down the bit about the shows and movies being the only canon works and changed their stance to it being up to interpretation. Like I said in the last post, if it is good enough fans of the IP will embrace it. STO right now?
Yes, theoretically you can but you fellas are reading too much between the lines here. That isn't the topic at hand.
Are you the moderator of this forum, that you told me what I can and what I can not write here ?
And btw in tv shows what are officially canon we learn that with warp 7 we are somewhere in few hour and on same place with warp 9 in several days, another we can not fly faster than warp 10 and somewhere we can warp 13. In TOS the romulans have not a warp (yay what a nonsence). So i talking only about light speed.
Writers do not care if the thing is canonical or is not, mainly if it looks good in the show. Some nerd's argument they are not interested about.
Lucas said this wasn't canon except for when the Sith Lord appears at the end of surface tension and kills those Klingons. But Jackson did approve of Tim Russ' version of Legolas in step between the stars and the eye of sauron in surface tension and Ridley/Cameron approved of the new aliens models climbing walls in the 8472 content. I think he said that the surface tension earth space dock section is an official sequel to aliens. Also during surface tension if you look close in some cutscenes you can see the fields were humans are grown, from the Matrix. The Wachowki's said that was official and also a teaser for the new Matrix sequels, that Cryptic games is making a mmo for.
GQ and William Shatner approved of doctor cooper's hair too, probably the most important thing to take away from this whole post.
Lucas said this wasn't canon except for when the Sith Lord appears at the end of surface tension and kills those Klingons. But Jackson did approve of tim Russ' version of Legolas in step between the stars and the eye of sauron in surface tension and Ridley/Cameron approved of the new aliens models climbing walls in the 8472 content. I think he said that the surface tension earth space dock section is an official sequel to aliens. GQ approved of doctor cooper's hair.
Kidding
Hahaha! Made me laugh, someone posted this in another thread. Relevant.
Pretty sure Christopher Nolan said this was canon.
Sounds like some sort of inside joke. Care to explain for those of us who aren't up on popular culture? 'Cause I'm pretty sure the Batman isn't an authority on Trek canon...
Sounds like some sort of inside joke. Care to explain for those of us who aren't up on popular culture? 'Cause I'm pretty sure the Batman isn't an authority on Trek canon...
Sorry I meant Christian Bale said that was all Canon with the Equlibrium movie. Not sure why I said Nolan.
Here's other proof:
Here's PROOF of all the OTHER canon content though, Prepare yourself-
Haha! Don't forget "The Breach" aka Death Star where you do a trench run like ANH and destroy the main power plant and have to escape in time like in ROTJ.
Haha! Don't forget "The Breach" aka Death Star where you do a trench run like ANH and destroy the main power plant and have to escape in time like in ROTJ.
Oh yeah I forgot about that trench run and also the sentinels in the undine reputation missions.
Also don't forget that Borderlands planet and the Undine Infiltration on Naboo.
I wish I could make a foundry mission of all this.
Rickey you sound like a fun person to talk to, if you appreciate all this hard work I've done to uncover the canon proof in STO.
Sounds like some sort of inside joke. Care to explain for those of us who aren't up on popular culture? 'Cause I'm pretty sure the Batman isn't an authority on Trek canon...
It was in jest. If you read the prior post madblooddoll made it jokes that STO is canon, but comprised of everyone else's canon (not original, not Trek).
so even though it takes place after nemesis and is in the prime timeline it is offically still NOT canon?
Well, things to consider in regard to canon, should a decision to make a new TV series that takes place after the year 2409 (the approximate year that STO take place in), the producers are not at all likely to consult the game developers on what was established in the game for the sake of canon and continuity for a new series.
Does the game follow canon?
Technically, the JJ Abrams Star Trek universe is not the same one as was seen in the original series, and all TV series that followed after that. But, it has been established in the original series, Next Gen, and DS9 that there are alternative universes where different events unfolded much differently then in the "main" universe.
The game uses elements from the TV series and pre-Abrams movies but also from JJ Abrams reboot movies, and in addition altogether new material.
So, it is not strict canon, and anything that strays away from canon is easily explained that it's taking place in an alternate universe.
An example to consider in STAR TREK ONLINE:
Romulans and Remans are building a home on New Romulus because in the year 2387, the Hobus supernova destroyed their homeworlds of Romulus and Remus. This destruction was was establish in JJ Abrams Star Trek Universe.
However, also established in the JJ Abrams universe, via backward time travel, the plant Vulcan was destroyed by Nero in the year 2258, some 129 years prior to the destruction of Romulus and Remus. Yet, in STO, the original planet Vulcan is fully intact.
In this case, it would seem STO takes place in yet another alternate universe where the homeworlds of Romulus and Remus have been destroyed by the Hobus supernova, but Vulcan was never destroyed at all.
Clearly we can say that STO is not canon, it is loosely based on Star Trek canon.
so even though it takes place after nemesis and is in the prime timeline it is offically still NOT canon?
As a Starfleet Officer, a Vice Admiral no less, you can fly Jem'hadar, Ferengie, Tholian, Undine, Cardassian, Adapted Borg, Voth, Future, and Hirogen ships... Do you really have to ask if this is Canon?
Oh yeah I forgot about that trench run and also the sentinels in the undine reputation missions.
Also don't forget that Borderlands planet and the Undine Infiltration on Naboo.
I wish I could make a foundry mission of all this.
Rickey you sound like a fun person to talk to, if you appreciate all this
Same! Maybe we can run through the Starship Troopers Tholian BZ sometime.
In the meantime I'll be on my SC2 Hyperion, er, Bortasqu' wearing my Tron energy armor.
As a Starfleet Officer, a Vice Admiral no less, you can fly Jem'hadar, Ferengie, Tholian, Undine, Cardassian, Adapted Borg, Voth, Future, and Hirogen ships... Do you really have to ask if this is Canon?
So I guess Star Trek IV, and DS9 episode "A Time to Stand" is not canon
However, also established in the JJ Abrams universe, via backward time travel, the plant Vulcan was destroyed by Nero in the year 2258, some 129 years prior to the destruction of Romulus and Remus. Yet, in STO, the original planet Vulcan is fully intact.
That planet was destroyed in the alternate timeline/universe/reality and not the prime universe
So I guess Star Trek IV, and DS9 episode "A Time to Stand" is not canon
Nice attempt to Troll but I suppose I will bite out of boredom.
In both cases they used an enemy vessel but they were not the long-term Captain of said vessel. It was a temporary arrangement. Do you ever see Starfleet in ANYTHING Canon allowing their Captains to Command Enemy Vessels outside of Special Ops or special circumstances?
Did Kirk keep that B'rel? No. He went back to Federation ships.
Did Sisko keep the Scarab? No. He went back to flying the mishapen brick and or being the Captain of DS9.
Not that I really need to say any of that because you were already aware that your argument was invalid.
Since CBS and Paramount destroyed the Romulan Empire the Republic has as much a chance at being possible as another Empire does.
Who says the Romulan Star Empire is destroyed?
Let's go with Star Trek 2009 even, but back with the Prime Universe.
Romulus... POOF.
Seat of the RSE and military HQ, gone. Any shipyards and other facilities in that area, gone, as well as billions of lives.
Gone.
But what of the rest of the Empire? You think EVERY SINGLE leader of the Romulan military, Tal Shiar, and every single government figure and Senator was on Romulus when it went boom?
No. There would still be a heirarchy, a chain of command, and some sort of structure, though very shaken it may be. But the Empire exists, but very weakened.
However, even with the government in that state, what of the rest of the Romulan military? Tal Shiar? Whoever was around Romulus when it went are gone, but the rest of their sizable military would still be spread out. Because, you know... they were patrolling the Empire's space, or the Tal Shiar doing whatever the Tal Shiar does.
If you started some TRIBBLE with the RSE, they still have a very strong military.
It's the same thing that would have happened in Nemesis if Shinzon had succeeded in using his Thalaron blast on Earth. Okay. The seat of the Federation government, gone, as well as Starfleet HQ and the Academy, and billions of lives, gone. But you still have all the other members of the Federation, you still had the remaining chain of command of Starfleet, you still had the remaining portions of the Federation's government. You still had the other shipyards of the Federation that wasn't at Earth.
In the end, you'd have a really pissed off Federation with blood in their minds with the atrocity of Thalaron weapons going off on Earth. The Romulans would reap a terrible whirlwind that they wouldn't be able to handle. And this was why Donatra, in the end of Nemesis, betrayed Shinzon. If he succeeded, a truly bloody war would engulf both the Federation and Romulan Star Empire.
For all of Shinzon's brilliance (he was well proven in the Dominion War according to Nemesis), his plan of blasting Earth is so stupidly lame like every terribly written, stereotypical villain. The only thing he was missing was a Dr Evil laugh.
If you want to talk about hardcore "CBS will fry you with a disruptor if you violate" canon, my understanding is that only applies to the Live-action tv series, and movies up to Nemesis (and the whole Romulius go boom thing in ST2009). TAS is a bit nebulous, but I think it is consider canon as well.
Everything else is not considered canon and can be used or disregarded as the person/company involved with whatever project they are doing at the time.
So in that sense no, STO is not canon, in so much as if anything was made regarding Star Trek around the time the games take place, the creators of said "whatever" would most likely be free to disregard whatever they felt they wanted to do.
However, with in the confines of its own little slice of the Star Trek lore know as "Star Trek: Online" everything in STO is 100 percent canon and relevant.
Keep in mind though, That STO is a game and an MMO too. In that respect certain things are changed/added or just flat out played fast and loose with to cater to the gamer community in which this game depends on for survival.
While flying Undine, Cardassian, Tholian, and whatever other "Alien" vessels might seem silly in terms of a TV series, and I have no doubt that and TV series that may or may not ever see the light of day would probably never have a captain of a Starfleet ship in a Tholian vessel, many fans of the series might like their spider ships.
the Uniform Code update and Dual citizenship adds to lore are also part of this "loose" canon. Used to explain how one captain can be in a TNG style uniform, while another is in a TOS era one (for the former), or how you have so many Ferengi and Klingon Captains in Starfleet (for the later.)
That planet was destroyed in the alternate timeline/universe/reality and not the prime universe
Exactly my point.
There is a universe where Romulus and Remus was destroyed, but Vulcan was not. The universe STO takes place in. Thus, STO is not in the Prime universe, nor is it in JJ Abrams universe.
The official Star Trek website formerly defined canon as comprising the television series Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, and the motion pictures in the franchise.
Ever since its release, Cryptic has tried to recreate the image of Star Trek in their own and have dismissed the canon universe as some bygone era. I hate em for that. That's not to say I hate the game. I like certain parts of it which is why I play it once in a while.
The fact that it has not been placed in the TV series or movies is irrelevant, and the fact that ST books are not owned by CBS is also irrelevant when deciding whether it is canon. Sure these things help, but in the end it is up to the individual to decide for themselves whether it is canon or not. Some think of JJ trek as non canon, and dismiss the idea that Romulus was destroyed. Some dismiss the Enterprise series as canon. In the end, it will ultimately be decided by the player/person.
I am saying it is not canon. The next person to post could say it is canon. In the end IT IS UP TO YOU
That's not true. Canon is defined by what was seen on TV or movie screens. I don't know why people claim that Star Trek canon is complicated and nebulous, the definition is quite clear.
Now, when you venture into apocryphal canon that's another story: Do you consider the technical manuals "in-line with canon" (and not canon, since the definition excludes everything that was not a show or movie), which are refurbished versions of the writer's guide to explain how the universe worked? But hard-canon is defined quite clearly.
^ Memory Alpha.org is not canon. It's a open wiki with arbitrary rules. Only what can be cited from an episode is. ^
"No. Men do not roar. Women roar. Then they hurl heavy objects... and claw at you." -Worf, son of Mogh
"A filthy, mangy beast, but in its bony breast beat the heart of a warrior" - "faithful" (...) "but ever-ready to follow the call of the wild." - Martok, about a Targ
"That pig smelled horrid. A sweet-sour, extremely pungent odor. I showered and showered, and it took me a week to get rid of it!" - Robert Justman, appreciating Emmy-Lou
I think that the only way to answer the question without causing insanity and huge arguments is to simply say yes, it is cannon, but only in the Star Trek Online universe.
Much like in real life with alternate reality theories, in entertainment literature such as the DC Multiverse and as defined already in original cannon Star Trek with episodes such as Mirror, Mirror and novels like Dark Mirror, we already see the solution.
Each and every action taken has an effect on the world around us and each and every possible reaction could theoretically happen in an alternate reality, so every show, film, book, comic and idea can be called canon by those who realized it and "wrote" it down and those who follow it, by simply stating it is a story that happens in one of these alternate realities.
So the new Star Trek films can be called canon by those who follow it, but only in the JJVerse and not in GenesVerse and likewise everything in the Star Trek Online universe can be viewed and treated as canon by those who follow it, but only in the OnlineVerse and not in the JJVerse or the GeneVerse and so on.
Heck that can even apply to the series of novels entitled Star Trek vs X-men and the mere thought of that makes me shudder, but it's applicable canon within its own context and its creators alternate universe.
Cryptic may have been trying to erase the Romulan Star Empire from people's thoughts since the expansion release, but they're definitely still around. Before Legacy of Romulus was released, after all, all Romulans in the game were RSE. Even when the reputation system launched, for the first few weeks the Romulan reputation tree was referred to on screen as 'Romulan Star Empire Reputation'. Then they merged the entire RSE military into the moustache twirling Tal Shiar villains they'd made for the LoR expansion, and quickly changed all the references to shoe horn in their new Romulan Republic.
Personally, I still consider the Empire to be separate of both the Republic (which is a minor scattering of worlds at the crossroads of Romulan, Federation, and Klingon space), and the Tal Shiar (which long ago abandoned the Empire and the Romulan people to serve the Iconians instead). Sure, the Tal Shiar still have a strong presence in the Empire, but the Mountain Pass mission of the Romulan Reputation shows them having been driven underground after the loss of Brea III and the death of Hakeev, giving the Imperial Romulan military and civilian officials a chance to rebuild the Empire without them. Again, personal preference here, but I would much rather play a Romulan Star Empire officer trying to restore the Empire, than the new Rebel Alliance faction, that just has the word 'Bajoran' crossed out, and 'Romulan' written over the top.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
This character is why I don't play my Romulan any more. Tovan Khev is NOT my BFF! Get him off my bridge!
Well, things to consider in regard to canon, should a decision to make a new TV series that takes place after the year 2409 (the approximate year that STO take place in), the producers are not at all likely to consult the game developers on what was established in the game for the sake of canon and continuity for a new series.
Does the game follow canon?
Technically, the JJ Abrams Star Trek universe is not the same one as was seen in the original series, and all TV series that followed after that. But, it has been established in the original series, Next Gen, and DS9 that there are alternative universes where different events unfolded much differently then in the "main" universe.
The game uses elements from the TV series and pre-Abrams movies but also from JJ Abrams reboot movies, and in addition altogether new material.
So, it is not strict canon, and anything that strays away from canon is easily explained that it's taking place in an alternate universe.
An example to consider in STAR TREK ONLINE:
Romulans and Remans are building a home on New Romulus because in the year 2387, the Hobus supernova destroyed their homeworlds of Romulus and Remus. This destruction was was establish in JJ Abrams Star Trek Universe.
However, also established in the JJ Abrams universe, via backward time travel, the plant Vulcan was destroyed by Nero in the year 2258, some 129 years prior to the destruction of Romulus and Remus. Yet, in STO, the original planet Vulcan is fully intact.
In this case, it would seem STO takes place in yet another alternate universe where the homeworlds of Romulus and Remus have been destroyed by the Hobus supernova, but Vulcan was never destroyed at all.
Clearly we can say that STO is not canon, it is loosely based on Star Trek canon.
That's because Spock traveled to another reality where the JJ Abrams stuff happened.
Romulus was destroyed in Spock's original reality, and that original reality is the one STO is set in.
Comments
CLASSIFIED
[/SIGPIC]
But if you need hand-holding with an official stance, STO is officially not canon.
And btw in tv shows what are officially canon we learn that with warp 7 we are somewhere in few hour and on same place with warp 9 in several days, another we can not fly faster than warp 10 and somewhere we can warp 13. In TOS the romulans have not a warp (yay what a nonsence). So i talking only about light speed.
Writers do not care if the thing is canonical or is not, mainly if it looks good in the show. Some nerd's argument they are not interested about.
Why was this Pandoras box opened!?
*spoiler* Pandora lock-box?
Lucas said this wasn't canon except for when the Sith Lord appears at the end of surface tension and kills those Klingons. But Jackson did approve of Tim Russ' version of Legolas in step between the stars and the eye of sauron in surface tension and Ridley/Cameron approved of the new aliens models climbing walls in the 8472 content. I think he said that the surface tension earth space dock section is an official sequel to aliens. Also during surface tension if you look close in some cutscenes you can see the fields were humans are grown, from the Matrix. The Wachowki's said that was official and also a teaser for the new Matrix sequels, that Cryptic games is making a mmo for.
GQ and William Shatner approved of doctor cooper's hair too, probably the most important thing to take away from this whole post.
Here's PROOF of all the canon content -
Sith moments:
https://31.media.tumblr.com/3750c18903b0c012be4a3f9800ce34c2/tumblr_n6q63uqghu1qjr5yyo1_1280.jpg
https://24.media.tumblr.com/f4f58ad374d661fc02413cec6434d73c/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo5_1280.jpg
Chewbacca cries:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/069824fce748deb46b8d0c0d28ac805a/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo9_1280.gif
Eye of Sauron:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/cd351e7c75bbaa4daf2e904420864de7/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo6_1280.jpg
Morpheus talking to Dr Copper in the Matrix Construct:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/a05d9c1f53f640950e37817efbf813bd/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo7_1280.jpg
Fields in Matrix 4:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/c61f5612ee33f0fbf2a09401042153b0/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo2_1280.jpg
Majin Cooper
https://24.media.tumblr.com/7e62363a81d68a765167cb4bf1f34cd3/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo8_1280.jpg
Medal Award Scene redone by Lucas one last time:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/e8bf15467121e581b49cd7218fe00018/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo1_1280.jpg
Lando and that other alien:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/fc1926a6229e59e7b706d5ae3dc0497e/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo4_1280.jpg
Kidding
Hahaha! Made me laugh, someone posted this in another thread. Relevant.
Pretty sure Christopher Nolan said this was canon.
Sorry I meant Christian Bale said that was all Canon with the Equlibrium movie. Not sure why I said Nolan.
Here's other proof:
Here's PROOF of all the OTHER canon content though, Prepare yourself-
Sith moments:
https://31.media.tumblr.com/3750c18903b0c012be4a3f9800ce34c2/tumblr_n6q63uqghu1qjr5yyo1_1280.jpg
Kind of disturbing scene where someone uses that new canon power "Force Melt"
https://24.media.tumblr.com/f4f58ad374d661fc02413cec6434d73c/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo5_1280.jpg
Chewbacca cries:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/069824fce748deb46b8d0c0d28ac805a/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo9_1280.gif
Eye of Sauron:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/cd351e7c75bbaa4daf2e904420864de7/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo6_1280.jpg
Morpheus talking to Dr Cooper in the Matrix Construct:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/a05d9c1f53f640950e37817efbf813bd/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo7_1280.jpg
Fields in Matrix 4:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/c61f5612ee33f0fbf2a09401042153b0/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo2_1280.jpg
Majin Buu Cooper:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/7e62363a81d68a765167cb4bf1f34cd3/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo8_1280.jpg
Medal Award Scene redone by Lucas one last time:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/e8bf15467121e581b49cd7218fe00018/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo1_1280.jpg
Lando and that other alien:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/fc1926a6229e59e7b706d5ae3dc0497e/tumblr_n6q592fZS31qjr5yyo4_1280.jpg
Remastered Opening Scene from New Hope:
https://31.media.tumblr.com/ece34f95ddee50efa1f43fe42b67c96b/tumblr_n6q7snlrCb1qjr5yyo3_1280.jpg
New Transformer:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/675a959028287a17f2a225f2aea543a1/tumblr_n6q7snlrCb1qjr5yyo4_1280.jpg
Wampa::
https://24.media.tumblr.com/721ff60570d12e765c10c6f109564294/tumblr_n6q89x7Ylq1qjr5yyo2_1280.jpg
Do you think that's "air" you're breathing?:
https://24.media.tumblr.com/03f3cd8b6de04b71a69f2e033f745acc/tumblr_n6qa6dYnyu1qjr5yyo1_1280.jpg
It's all...
https://31.media.tumblr.com/2850c11cbe2d6a2f74cc7d63e4b44dde/tumblr_n6qcq8H8nB1qjr5yyo1_1280.jpg
I'm just kidding btw :P
Haha! Don't forget "The Breach" aka Death Star where you do a trench run like ANH and destroy the main power plant and have to escape in time like in ROTJ.
Oh yeah I forgot about that trench run and also the sentinels in the undine reputation missions.
Also don't forget that Borderlands planet and the Undine Infiltration on Naboo.
I wish I could make a foundry mission of all this.
Rickey you sound like a fun person to talk to, if you appreciate all this hard work I've done to uncover the canon proof in STO.
It was in jest. If you read the prior post madblooddoll made it jokes that STO is canon, but comprised of everyone else's canon (not original, not Trek).
Well, things to consider in regard to canon, should a decision to make a new TV series that takes place after the year 2409 (the approximate year that STO take place in), the producers are not at all likely to consult the game developers on what was established in the game for the sake of canon and continuity for a new series.
Does the game follow canon?
Technically, the JJ Abrams Star Trek universe is not the same one as was seen in the original series, and all TV series that followed after that. But, it has been established in the original series, Next Gen, and DS9 that there are alternative universes where different events unfolded much differently then in the "main" universe.
The game uses elements from the TV series and pre-Abrams movies but also from JJ Abrams reboot movies, and in addition altogether new material.
So, it is not strict canon, and anything that strays away from canon is easily explained that it's taking place in an alternate universe.
An example to consider in STAR TREK ONLINE:
Romulans and Remans are building a home on New Romulus because in the year 2387, the Hobus supernova destroyed their homeworlds of Romulus and Remus. This destruction was was establish in JJ Abrams Star Trek Universe.
However, also established in the JJ Abrams universe, via backward time travel, the plant Vulcan was destroyed by Nero in the year 2258, some 129 years prior to the destruction of Romulus and Remus. Yet, in STO, the original planet Vulcan is fully intact.
In this case, it would seem STO takes place in yet another alternate universe where the homeworlds of Romulus and Remus have been destroyed by the Hobus supernova, but Vulcan was never destroyed at all.
Clearly we can say that STO is not canon, it is loosely based on Star Trek canon.
As a Starfleet Officer, a Vice Admiral no less, you can fly Jem'hadar, Ferengie, Tholian, Undine, Cardassian, Adapted Borg, Voth, Future, and Hirogen ships... Do you really have to ask if this is Canon?
Same! Maybe we can run through the Starship Troopers Tholian BZ sometime.
In the meantime I'll be on my SC2 Hyperion, er, Bortasqu' wearing my Tron energy armor.
So I guess Star Trek IV, and DS9 episode "A Time to Stand" is not canon
Nice attempt to Troll but I suppose I will bite out of boredom.
In both cases they used an enemy vessel but they were not the long-term Captain of said vessel. It was a temporary arrangement. Do you ever see Starfleet in ANYTHING Canon allowing their Captains to Command Enemy Vessels outside of Special Ops or special circumstances?
Did Kirk keep that B'rel? No. He went back to Federation ships.
Did Sisko keep the Scarab? No. He went back to flying the mishapen brick and or being the Captain of DS9.
Not that I really need to say any of that because you were already aware that your argument was invalid.
Who says the Romulan Star Empire is destroyed?
Let's go with Star Trek 2009 even, but back with the Prime Universe.
Romulus... POOF.
Seat of the RSE and military HQ, gone. Any shipyards and other facilities in that area, gone, as well as billions of lives.
Gone.
But what of the rest of the Empire? You think EVERY SINGLE leader of the Romulan military, Tal Shiar, and every single government figure and Senator was on Romulus when it went boom?
No. There would still be a heirarchy, a chain of command, and some sort of structure, though very shaken it may be. But the Empire exists, but very weakened.
However, even with the government in that state, what of the rest of the Romulan military? Tal Shiar? Whoever was around Romulus when it went are gone, but the rest of their sizable military would still be spread out. Because, you know... they were patrolling the Empire's space, or the Tal Shiar doing whatever the Tal Shiar does.
If you started some TRIBBLE with the RSE, they still have a very strong military.
It's the same thing that would have happened in Nemesis if Shinzon had succeeded in using his Thalaron blast on Earth. Okay. The seat of the Federation government, gone, as well as Starfleet HQ and the Academy, and billions of lives, gone. But you still have all the other members of the Federation, you still had the remaining chain of command of Starfleet, you still had the remaining portions of the Federation's government. You still had the other shipyards of the Federation that wasn't at Earth.
In the end, you'd have a really pissed off Federation with blood in their minds with the atrocity of Thalaron weapons going off on Earth. The Romulans would reap a terrible whirlwind that they wouldn't be able to handle. And this was why Donatra, in the end of Nemesis, betrayed Shinzon. If he succeeded, a truly bloody war would engulf both the Federation and Romulan Star Empire.
For all of Shinzon's brilliance (he was well proven in the Dominion War according to Nemesis), his plan of blasting Earth is so stupidly lame like every terribly written, stereotypical villain. The only thing he was missing was a Dr Evil laugh.
Everything else is not considered canon and can be used or disregarded as the person/company involved with whatever project they are doing at the time.
So in that sense no, STO is not canon, in so much as if anything was made regarding Star Trek around the time the games take place, the creators of said "whatever" would most likely be free to disregard whatever they felt they wanted to do.
However, with in the confines of its own little slice of the Star Trek lore know as "Star Trek: Online" everything in STO is 100 percent canon and relevant.
Keep in mind though, That STO is a game and an MMO too. In that respect certain things are changed/added or just flat out played fast and loose with to cater to the gamer community in which this game depends on for survival.
While flying Undine, Cardassian, Tholian, and whatever other "Alien" vessels might seem silly in terms of a TV series, and I have no doubt that and TV series that may or may not ever see the light of day would probably never have a captain of a Starfleet ship in a Tholian vessel, many fans of the series might like their spider ships.
the Uniform Code update and Dual citizenship adds to lore are also part of this "loose" canon. Used to explain how one captain can be in a TNG style uniform, while another is in a TOS era one (for the former), or how you have so many Ferengi and Klingon Captains in Starfleet (for the later.)
Exactly my point.
There is a universe where Romulus and Remus was destroyed, but Vulcan was not. The universe STO takes place in. Thus, STO is not in the Prime universe, nor is it in JJ Abrams universe.
This.
That's not true. Canon is defined by what was seen on TV or movie screens. I don't know why people claim that Star Trek canon is complicated and nebulous, the definition is quite clear.
Now, when you venture into apocryphal canon that's another story: Do you consider the technical manuals "in-line with canon" (and not canon, since the definition excludes everything that was not a show or movie), which are refurbished versions of the writer's guide to explain how the universe worked? But hard-canon is defined quite clearly.
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Much like in real life with alternate reality theories, in entertainment literature such as the DC Multiverse and as defined already in original cannon Star Trek with episodes such as Mirror, Mirror and novels like Dark Mirror, we already see the solution.
Each and every action taken has an effect on the world around us and each and every possible reaction could theoretically happen in an alternate reality, so every show, film, book, comic and idea can be called canon by those who realized it and "wrote" it down and those who follow it, by simply stating it is a story that happens in one of these alternate realities.
So the new Star Trek films can be called canon by those who follow it, but only in the JJVerse and not in GenesVerse and likewise everything in the Star Trek Online universe can be viewed and treated as canon by those who follow it, but only in the OnlineVerse and not in the JJVerse or the GeneVerse and so on.
Heck that can even apply to the series of novels entitled Star Trek vs X-men and the mere thought of that makes me shudder, but it's applicable canon within its own context and its creators alternate universe.
It''s the only sane answer.
Personally, I still consider the Empire to be separate of both the Republic (which is a minor scattering of worlds at the crossroads of Romulan, Federation, and Klingon space), and the Tal Shiar (which long ago abandoned the Empire and the Romulan people to serve the Iconians instead). Sure, the Tal Shiar still have a strong presence in the Empire, but the Mountain Pass mission of the Romulan Reputation shows them having been driven underground after the loss of Brea III and the death of Hakeev, giving the Imperial Romulan military and civilian officials a chance to rebuild the Empire without them. Again, personal preference here, but I would much rather play a Romulan Star Empire officer trying to restore the Empire, than the new Rebel Alliance faction, that just has the word 'Bajoran' crossed out, and 'Romulan' written over the top.
This character is why I don't play my Romulan any more. Tovan Khev is NOT my BFF! Get him off my bridge!
That's because Spock traveled to another reality where the JJ Abrams stuff happened.
Romulus was destroyed in Spock's original reality, and that original reality is the one STO is set in.