What would a first contact situation look like in a Star Trek/Star Wars crossover?

[jaehaerys48]

Trek vs Wars power level fights are some of the oldest squabbles on the internet. Basic gist is that Star Wars ships are much, much faster than Trek ships, and much more numerous, while Trek ships potentially have more "tricks," so to speak (better tactical FTL, transporters, etc). As for weapons strength, both franchises are all over the place in terms of their depiction of that, so who knows. As a note, these debates generally focus on the Federation and comparable powers (Klingons, Romulans, Dominion). Star Trek as a whole has numerous entities way beyond the comprehension of both the Federation and the Galactic Republic/Empire. If Q shows up and puts Palpatine on trial then the Dark Lord of the Sith is not going to be able to do much but cry.

I don't want to get into the power level debate because it's been done so much. I will say that if I were to ever write a Trek-Wars crossover fic I'd probably just resolve the speed disparity by saying that hyperspace and subspace are fairly similar (because they are), just differing due to the differing physics of the two universes.

Politically speaking I think the Federation and Republic - if the two encounter each other during the reign of the latter - would be on fairly good terms. The Republic is more corrupt and less egalitarian, but their government is at least based on similar ideals to that of the Federation - diversity, legislative democracy, and the rule of law. The Republic is also not particularly aggressive, lacking any sort of significant military for centuries prior to the Clone Wars. I expect that the two sides would be able to build up a peaceful dialogue and explorers from both universes would begin to learn about how things work "over there."

The Federation would take a less favorable approach to the Empire, but not intervene in its politics. If the two universe are connected by some kind of portal this might play out a bit like the Bajoran wormhole after the first encounter with the Dominion - the Federation would largely keep to their side and if things look bad prepare for the worst. I'm actually not that certain that Palpatine would be super interested in plowing into the Star Trek Milky Way, however. While he is an authoritarian dictator, the Empire is not as expansionist as one might expect - under Palpatine it focuses more on consolidating rule than conquering new territories. Palpatine's own goal is complete mastery of the force, something that he may discover that the Milky Way seems to mostly just lack. If it looks like the Federation or any other Star Trek powers are leaving the Star Wars galaxy alone, he may do the same. Of course, if this portal opens up in, say, Borg space, things would be very different.

 

[dswynne1]

What goes in the favor of the UFP is that the Starfleet is made up of smart people with intellectual curiosity. Meanwhile, the Empire not only discourages intellectual curiosity, but actively squashes it. So, while the Empire's military machine is powerful, and has an edge, Starfleet has the capabilities to bridge the weapons gap if necessary. Plus, we don't know what Section 31's arsenal consist of. Thankfully, there are only two Sith Lords and their acolytes to worry about, and they are few. And even then, I am sure there is a way to limit the Force's effectiveness, giving time.

 

[Tuskin38]

think the spiritual concept of Force and its mysterious nature are incompatible with the scientific approach of Star Trek.
It would be better for them to stay in their galaxy, and for us to stay in our galaxy

Ah yeah, the scientific approach of the Q. Or the galactic barrier giving people force like abilities

 

[Owain Taggart]

If set during the original trilogy, I could perhaps see Starfleet, or more precisely Picard, wanting to help out the Rebel Alliance in their cause, but not before trying to enter diplomatic negotiations with the Empire and failing. If happening in parallel to the events of that movie and witnessing the destruction of Alderaan, Starfleet could be forced to intervene after personally witnessing the horrors of planetary destruction.

 

[jaehaerys48]

If set during the original trilogy, I could perhaps see Starfleet, or more precisely Picard, wanting to help out the Rebel Alliance in their cause, but not before trying to enter diplomatic negotiations with the Empire and failing. If happening in parallel to the events of that movie and witnessing the destruction of Alderaan, Starfleet could be forced to intervene after personally witnessing the horrors of planetary destruction.

Worth noting that planetary destruction isn't too unfamiliar for the Federation. The main alpha quadrant powers can't blow a planet to smithereens in an instant, but they can kill everything on it pretty quickly. The Romulans and Cardassians for example estimated that their initial bombardment of (what they thought was) the Founder homeworld destroyed 30% of the planet crust. And that was just the opening salvo.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Worth noting that planetary destruction isn't too unfamiliar for the Federation. The main alpha quadrant powers can't blow a planet to smithereens in an instant, but they can kill everything on it pretty quickly. The Romulans and Cardassians for example estimated that their initial bombardment of (what they thought was) the Founder homeworld destroyed 30% of the planet crust. And that was just the opening salvo.

Well, sure, but we're talking crossover scenarios aren't we? And even so, it wouldn't make it any less horrific, and in fact past experience could in fact make them more likely in wanting to help.

 

[Shawnster]

If set during the original trilogy, I could perhaps see Starfleet, or more precisely Picard, wanting to help out the Rebel Alliance in their cause, but not before trying to enter diplomatic negotiations with the Empire and failing

Would Picard? We might want to believe so, but would the Prime Directive prevent him? The Rebellion to Restore the Republic sounds like an internal dispute.

Perhaps Data could play a transmission where a pretty little princess pleads "Help me Jean Luc Picard, you're my only hope".

 

[Owain Taggart]

Would Picard? We might want to believe so, but would the Prime Directive prevent him? The Rebellion to Restore the Republic sounds like an internal dispute.

It's a fair question, but let's say they witness what's happening themselves and feel the need to intervene. It might be worth breaking the Prime Directive in order to do something helpful and face any consequences from that later, including a possible tribunal. The punishment might still end up being worth breaking the rules. And sometimes in life, you have to break the rules for progress to be made.

 

[FederationHistorian]

Would the Federation end up befriending the Jedi? Would they wage war with the Empire? Whose starship technology would fare better in battles?

It depends on not just the era (both Star trek and Star Wars), but the species and even individuals involved. There are many, many ways first contacts could unfold.

- There is a peaceful first contact between the Federation and the Rebal Alliance. But relations sour once the Rebel Alliance finds out abut the Maquis. They also aid the Bajoran Resistance in the fight against the Cardassians. And they attempt to found a new Galactic Republic once they learn of the struggles of various species against the Borg.

- The Galactic Empire would be riddled with spies from Section 31, Obsidian Order, Tal Shiar, the V’Shar, and Klingon Intelligence. They learn how to either build the weapons of the Empire, or how to counter it.

- The Federation would treat the Jedi like they treat the Prophets, the Sith like they treat Armus, and droids like they do Data.

- The Founders would make an attempt to form an alliance with the Trade Federation and the Galactic Empire. And when talks fail, The Jem’hadar would swarm the Trade Federation station/Kamino cloning facilities and the Death Star and Imperial Fleet until they was destroyed.

- The Galactic Empire would be mystified that small ships in the Star Trek Universe are able to cloak (Romulan scouts, Suliban cell ships).

- The entire Star Wars universe would be mystified by the Voyager EMH, as well as the holodeck and replicators.

- The Galactic Republic, the Galactic Empire, the First Order, and the Trade Federation would all be overwhelmed by Species 8472.

- Starkiller Base - particularly if it destroyed a planet - would result in another Federation/Klingon/Romulan/Cardassian alliance. The subsequent conflict would likely only last days.

- The Orion Syndicate would compete with Jabba the Hut, while the Ferengi Alliance would try to strike a deal with him.

- The Ewoks would make fools of many Star Trek species that would try to engage in a guerrilla war with them.

- Someone from Starfleet would find a way to get into a messy love triangle with Anakin and Padme. And catch the ire of Anakin, as well as be responsible for him falling to the darkside.

- Q would bother Palpatine and Vader. And maybe Han Solo if he’s bored.

- Redshirts would die in situations that the heroes character of Star Wars wouldn’t.

- The only chance the Empire would have to take the Klingon Empire would be in the aftermath of the Praxis explosion. And an Imperial spy would succeed in stealing Chang’s Bird-of-Prey to reverse engineer the cloak for the Empire.

- The galaxy would have never heard of the Xindi again if they attacked Coruscant like they did Earth.

- Cultural contamination would look radically alter the Star Wars universe were they to get their hands on Star Trek technology. Like completely unrecognizable alliances and governments in existance.

 

[publiusr]

The 1980's was the best time for a crossover.

Having Saavik and David escape a doomed Enterprise at the end of a retconned ST II: TWOK with their escape shuttle blown clear by Genesis would be the MacGuffin to use... at the end of ROTJ Alderan is restored.

Or post ST III where Kirk sees Luke as a surrogate son.

As far as '09 Trek...Quinton's Spock talking to Carrie Fisher's older Leia would have been perfect:

"You don't know what it's like...losing a planet...the inner turmoil..."

"Oh? I know all about that."

Capaldi's Doctor Who would be perfect for 09'

I can just see him lecturing the kids.

TOS wise... McCoy would be horrified at light sabers and the casual mayhem.

 

[at Quark's]

Ah yeah, the scientific approach of the Q. Or the galactic barrier giving people force like abilities

Or of the Prophets. Picard very much supported the entry of the Bajorans into the Federation, but we never got his reflection on the wormhole aliens, or, more specifically, the relation Sisko had with them nearing the end of the series.

 

[jackoverfull]

There have been several fan fictions on this (including mine!), most of them involving the empire invading the federation somehow (I had setup a portal that easily allowed ships to cross dimensions already, so that was easy).

 

[Darth Thanos]

I do have to wonder if the Force would be something specific to that galaxy* or if every galaxy would have something similar to the Force that the Jedi could tap into.

There could be some story mileage in having the Jedi have to adjust to the energies of a different Force.

*The Force is always described as binding the galaxy together, not the universe.

The Ocampa are strong in the Force