I finally got around to seeing the new Star Trek film. Overall, it is enjoyable, but I couldn’t figure out why Eric Bana is so pissed off all the time. Then I realized that we’ve never really heard his side of the story, only Spock’s. Let’s try to approach this as reasonably as possible from what we know from the film.
- Supernovas certainly can end life on nearby planets, but the phenomenon is very predictable.
A star consists of particles undergoing a sustained fusion reaction. As the particles fuse, they form larger, denser particles until the materials for fusion runs out and the outward pressure ceases, causing the core to collapse. If the star is big enough, the collapse results in a violent supernova. The entire process takes billions of years, and even with today’s understanding of the universe, we are able to observe and predict when and where there will be supernovae long before they ever happen. The Romulan certainly knew about the supernova even before they became a space-faring race.
- The Romulans are capable of evacuating the planet in lieu of the upcoming supernova. What is the most straight-forward solution to avoid devastation from a supernova? Move out of its way. It is safe to say, based on the sophisticated mining vessel, that the Romulan possess the technology and infrastructure to transport all inhabitants from their home planet to a safer colony. It would not be an easy task by any means, but they have had thousands of years to figure out the details.
- The fact that the Romulans did not evacuate would mean they view the threat of the supernova to be averted.
The two options the Romulans have to avoid diaster, then, is to either move off the planet, or create a black hole near the dying star such that the contents of the star will be slowly sucked into the black hole, avoiding a supernova. It is entirely possible there exists a third option to save the planet, but for sake of this argument, there needs to be at least one alternative solution to red-matter-induced black holes. Any number of alternative solutions beyound one is less important.The understanding is that through some sort of negotiation, Spock is assigned the task of containing the star, but as he tells the story, the supernova has just occurred as he reached that part of the galaxy. The Romulans were not prepared for the supernova and it ends with their home planet in destruction.
Given points 1 and 2, it would seem implausible that the Romulan would choose to stay on their planet unless the cost of relocating (or any other alternative solution) far outweighs the slim possibility of the red matter failing. Given the enormous quantity of red matter stored on a single one-manned ship (compared to what is actually needed to do the job), I would guess that they have long developed the red matter technology and containing aging stars in black holes may even be a rutine activity.
It takes much longer to find another suitable planet, and move billions of people from one to another, than to enlist the Federation to contain the dying star. If the Romulans do not start the process of relocation prior to a set amount of time, then they would risk having the supernova go off while a portion of their population is still on their home planet. Therefore they must have made the agreement with the Federation to use red matter before this point in time arrived. In other words, if a plan with the Federation is not made to contain the dyign star by that point in time, then the most logical thing to do would to be proceed with the backup relocation plan. This would have given Spock ample time to complete the mission, contrary to his claim.
- Spock failed to stop the supernova, and is therefore, responsible for the destruction of the Romulan planet. We know that Spock was supposed to stop the supernova, and that he very likely had more than enough time to carry out the task. He failed to do so and resulted in the death of billions. He may not have intended for all of those people to die, but be it willful blindness, or objective mens rea, he should be accountable for what had happened.
Tags: Star Trek
Just as planned!
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