AboutDeran McKean Expertise I am a 38 year fan of all the incarnations of Star Trek from the original show to the newer incarnations, to the books, comics and toys. I can answer most questions regarding the storylines and characters including their non-screen histories.
Experience Thirty-Eight years of collecting Star Trek merchandise, pouring over the books, comics and attending a number of conventions
Education/Credentials I have a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and an MBA
Question QUESTION: How would A) the Dominion; and B) the Federation react if the following asked them if they could join their side during the Dominion War?
A) Kelvans
B) Q
C) Organian
D) Douwd
E) Caretaker
F) Calamarain
G) Nomad
H) Apollo
I) Lore
J) Traveler
K) 8472
L) Metron
M) Trelane
N) Edo god
O) Kes
P) Gary Mitchell
Q) Armus
R) Nagilum
S) Sheliak
T) Excalbians
U) Crystalline Entity
V) Tin Man
ANSWER: Hi John -
A) Kelvans - I think either side would welcome the Kelvans and their advanced scientific capabilities. The Dominion would be especially interested since the Kelvans would make excellent infitration agents.
B) Q - Either side would jump at the chance to have Q as an ally!
C) Organian - My guess is both would welcome the Organians onto their side.
D) Douwd - Definitely they would both accept aid from the Douwd.
E) Caretaker - I think the Federation would accept the Caretaker's help more readily since the Founders had an innate mistrust of 'solids'. (Even though they used them as their lieutenants and soldiers in the war.)
F) Calamarain - Both sides would put the Calamarain into the war effort immediately.
G) Nomad - I think the Founders would put Nomad to work, but the Federation would be hesitant given the drastic methods Nomad employs (like completely emptying the minds of his opponents.)
H) Apollo - I doubt either side would readily trust or want to ally themselves with Apollo. He's just too unpredictable.
I) Lore - I doubt either side would accept help from Lore either, the Founders would distrust an automaton created by 'solids' and the Federation would consider him too untrustworthy and/or cruel in his tactics.
J) Traveler - Both would eagerly accept his help.
K) 8472 - My guess is both sides would accept their aid. The Federation was desperate for powerful allies and the Founders would probably make an acception against their 'no solids' policy since 8472 comes from another universe.
L) Metrons - I'd bet both would accept Metron intervention.
M) Trelane - Most likely both sides would work with Trelane.
N) Edo God - I doubt either faction would turn his help away.
O) Kes - The Federation would accept Kes more quickly than the Founders, again because of their innate distrust of solids.
P) Mitchell - Both groups would probably have a similar reaction as they would to Kes.
Q) Armus - My thought is that the Founders would readily accept Armus but the Federation would not under nearly any circumstances.
R) Nagilum - Hmmmm, probably both sides would welcome his help.
S) Sheliak - I think both groups would find a use for the Sheliak
T) Excalbians - both would probably put the Excalbians on the payroll (so to speak) but I think the Founders would verify that those 'solid' individuals didn't pose a threat to them first.
U) Entity - I bet both would utilize the Entity in their efforts.
V) Tin Man - I'm sure both sides would find some way for Tin Man to serve.
Thanks!
Deran
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I wasn't sure if the Federation would trust Q (Picard wouldn't let him become a member of the crew), trust Trelane, trust Nagilum (he could start experimenting on the Federation just for kicks), or the Dominion trust Nomad (it could start eliminating the imperfect changelings and Jem'Hadar).
Also, I wonder if the Dominion would really trust Armus, a being that's totally evil, which could easily lash out at an ally if he decided to be perverse.
You have to wonder why Sisko or Picard (behind the scenes) never mused over the idea of inviting Q in. Q could end the conflict in a nanosecond and he wasn't totally in opposition to the Federation, or else the Federation would simply not exist.
You just can't call Q over subspace radio, of course, but surely they could have voiced their ideas into the air (Q presumably hearing them).
Answer Hi John -
Ordinarily you'd be right, the Fed wouldn't probably deal with those individuals, but during the Dominion War Starfleet Command and the Federation Council were growing very desperate.
Captain Sisko and Elim Garak were even involved in a very questionable operation that resulted in the arranged death of a Romulan senator as a means to convince the Romulan Empire to enter the War as allies of the Federation. Section 31 was using biological weaponry against the enemy and, in the midst of the conflict, Starfleet had to deal with an attempted military coup by rogue Starfleet officers.
As with just about any war type situation, the Federation (like many governments on this planet) found itself having to compromise or 're-interpret' many of its guiding principles in the interests of survival.
Negotiations even opened up with the Tholians in the Federation's search for allies to fight the Cardassian/Dominion Alliance, showing just how desperate things had become.
I doubt the Dominion would trust anyone, but I think they would ally themselves with anyone they thought might be of benefit to their cause. Indications were there that the Dominion didn't really trust the Cardassians or Breen, but they were only too willing to join with them if it meant doing so would further their goal of domination of the Alpha Quadrant.
That is a good question about Q, if I were Sisko or Picard and the situation was really that desperate I'd be making attempts to contact Q, the Cytherians, etc. anyone I thought might be able to bring a stop to the conflict and prevent the massive loss of lives on both sides.
