The most recent issue claims the Iconians tricked the Borg into invading Undine (Species 8472) space, the Romulans to somehow make a star explode, the Vulcans to refuse to provide "red matter" that could save Romulus and Remus from destruction (through Undine infiltrators on Vulcan Science Council)... In short, turn Star Trek into Warhammer 40,000.Memory Alpha wrote:The storyline is based on Species 8472, who have identified themselves as the "Undine", infiltrating many of the high ranking personnel amongst the Alpha Quadrant powers. The Federation does its utmost to preserve peace in both Alpha and Beta Quadrants, but ultimately fails as open war erupts between The United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire, the Romulan Star Empire, the True Cardassian Way, and the Dominion.
The Klingon Empire uses the chaos brought about by the destruction of the Romulan and Reman homeworlds to expand their territory. As the Klingons progress, the chairman of the high council is attacked by three aliens. After defeating them, J'mpok, the chairman, interrogates them. The aliens are the Undine, and reveal that they were attempting to take control of the Klingon Empire by killing him. This incident brings about open war between the Klingon Empire and Species 8472. Worf asks the Federation for assistance, but when he is rebuffed, he cuts all ties to the Federation. As more Undine are interrogated, they learn of the infiltrations of the Gorn Hegemony and Orion Syndicate. After defeating the Gorn, the Gorn become a member of the Klingon Empire. Afterwards, the Klingons and Gorn engage the Orions, who have hired the Nausicaans for assistance. When the Orions surrender, the Nausicaans do as well. The Federation, unable to keep the peace with the now-aggressive Klingon Empire, begins preparations for war. War is declared between the two powers not too long after after Klingons blockade a Federation planet that is, by sudden declaration, a planet of the Klingon Empire.
On the other side of the Quadarant, the Romulans now want revenge for the loss of both Romulus and Remus. They begin to build subspace weapons and mass produce Scimitar-class ships. In this time, 2 praetors have to power since the destruction of the worlds. One, an ex-Admiral, makes weapons like the aforementioned subspace weapons and "crushing the Federation" a top priority for the Romulan Star Empire. In her reign, peace is lost between the Federation and Romulan Star Empire, but war is not declared. War comes under the second Praetor, an exiled Romulan who journeyed to the Delta Quadrant and brought the Hirogen back with her. Because of this, the Hirogen, under the promise of "free hunt," are allied with the Romulan Star Empire.
Hop across the galaxy to Cardassian space, and the Cardassian Union is still in ruin after the Dominion War. Still trying to recover, the new Cardassian Union and Federation are very close allies now. In this alliance, the Federation provides military defense while the new Cardassian Union reforms under a democratic-like system, similar to what the Federation has. However, a movement has begun to return the Cardassian Union to its former state as a major military power in the Quadrant. This movement, called the True Cardassian Way, spreads throughout Cardassian space. This new faction is very desperate to a "return to the old ways," as they go as far as to recruit the newly formed Terran Federation, formerly the Terran Empire, of the parallel universe to aid in their conquest. Another aid to the True Way comes from the ex-allies from the Dominion War, the Dominion themselves, namely the Jem'Hadar. There are also many sightings of Founders and Vorta in this region of space. While the last major power, the Breen, is no where to be found, it is theorized that they will be placed in the game at a later date.
I'll be first to admit I want more action in the series, but this is ridiculous! It takes the optimistic message, "A dream that became a reality and spread throughout the stars," and replaces it with "In the grim darkness of the future, there is only war."
