With the sudden appearance of Species 8472 in the Borg Advance storyline, it makes sense
to research what we know of them since their initial appearance in this lore timeline episode,
based on Star Trek Online. The species considers life not indigenous or at least similar to
their own dimension’s as impure. As the home dimension is a mass of organic matter
in a semi-fluidic state and all their technology is indifferent from their own biology, their
description of what is impure is rather extensive. Starfleet’s first encounter with them was
technically at the hands of the crew of the USS Voyager in 2373, though as this vessel
was stranded in the Delta Quadrant at the time, the wider federation would not have
been alerted to their presence for at least another 3 years, when Project Pathfinder established
two way communications with the lone vessel and a full report could be shared.
Species 8472 had been responding to the threat of a Borg invasion into their own realm and
the crew of the USS Voyager had to ally with the Collective to drive them back. Shortly
after, in 2375, the ship reencountered the tripod species as they were conducting extensive
espionage training by impersonating Starfleet personnel.
Voyager’s aiding of the Borg had convinced them that Starfleet was a threat to their
existence too despite Captain Janeway’s assurances to the contrary. It’s speculated
that the Undine, while somewhat alleviated, likely moved forwards with their plans to
infiltrate the Federation and its neighbouring powers. After all, Starfleet might not be
a threat, but what of the Klingons? The Romulans? In 2387 while on Vulcan, Worf reported to
have been attacked by a member of Species 8472, however no body was found to confirm
his claims. In 2389, a televised baseball game revealed
the presence of an Undine infiltrator in the Gorn Hegemony’s team seemingly confirming
the presence of the species in the Beta quadrant. Near the end of 2390, The USS Enterprise E
returns from a survey into the McAllister C-5 protostellar nebula with worrying news.
Captain Data’s log mentions residue of multiple singularities that bear identifiers of Fluidic
space, but no further signs nor evidence of Species 8472. Just footprints of their passing.
This led Starfleet to form a taskforce of scientists, researchers, security consultants
and diplomats to search for potential Undine infiltrators.
While Starfleet was on guard and searching for the infiltrators, many of its resources
were being diverted to Romulan and Cardassian relief efforts, in the face of Dominion War
and Hobus supernova. The Klingon Empire, meanwhile was also dealing with Species 8472.
In 2392, Ja’Rod backs J’Mpok for leadership of the Empire and in 2395, Ja’Rod of House
Duras was attacked on Rha’Darus by agents that were revealed to be Undine. Their mission
had been to dispose of and replace Ja’Rod to have the ear of the new chancellor J’Mpok.
Ja’Rod begins his own campaign to try to uncover the Undine, seeing the beginnings
of a major usurping of the Empire, even executing Captain Klor of the IKS Kang, his CO, for
refusing to aid in his investigation. J’Mpok makes minimal effort to pursue the IKS Kang,
likely repaying a favour for Ja’Rod. In 2399, Ja’Rod returns to Qo’Nos with
evidence that the Undine have usurped control of the Gorn Hegemony and brings it to his
chancellor. J’Mpok uses this to declare war against the Gorn, a war the Federation
strongly disapproves of. The Federation never saw, nor had uncovered
any further evidence of Undine involvement. Officially.
In reality, the captain of the USS Cochrane a Vulcan called T’Vix was in fact an Undine
infiltrator had had been discovered in 2396. The incident was completely classified. In
response to the Federation’s strong condemnation of the Klingon-Gorn war, the Empire dissolves
the Khitomer Accords. In 2400, Ambassador Worf reaches out to his
Federation contacts to call for aid in their campaign against the Undine. His appeals were
denied and whether from frustration, disappointment or duty to his people, he cut ties with the
Federation to help the Klingon Empire. In 2401, the House of Konjah is almost wiped
out when it is revealed that their head had been replaced as an Undine. The survivors
of the house flee the Empire. It should be noted that only the head of the house had
been confirmed as a member of Species 8472, yet the entire house was penalised.
In 2403, the hegemony surrenders to the Klingons and it is absorbed as a vassal state. The
Empire the very publically executes all the captured Undine, seemingly finally proving
the veracity of their claims. Alongside these events, Councillor Garak of
Cardassia says he encountered a suspected Undine spy, but after interrogation, the suspect
vanished and The Department of Temporal Investigations reports an Undine attempt of time-travel.
Much as the Cochrane incident, these records were highly classified.
What becomes apparent very quickly, is that there is a resumed push from the Undine to
place agents in positions of power and influence many in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. And
the Federation had reason to suspect this. Starfleet elected to downplay issues, classify
them and move quietly to root out its usurpers. An understandable approach when dealing with
rooting out spies as they didn’t want to tip off their targets.
In opposition to this approach, the Klingons pretty much acted on a hunch and the word
of one of their own. Once they had reason, they resorted to a full on war with the Gorn,
a war which claimed many and all but enslaved the species. While ultimately proved true
with a very public display of execution, the Klingon Empire nevertheless put countless
innocents in harm’s way and the war ends with a power grab.
The fact that the Federation called it the “Klingon-Gorn War” even though it was
an “Undine Hunt” shows galactic opinion on the matter clearly. It was seen as a push
from a new Chancellor to start a war and seize glory for his rule, just as Martok before
him had the Dominion war, J’Mpok too would have his campaign. The Federation could not
support the Empire without acknowledging publically the Undine threat and risking their own investigations.
Neither of these approaches is ideal, but nothing about being compromised is.
As for the Undine’s motivations? Well we can only speculate, but it seems that, understandably
while Captain Janeway convinced the Undine leaders in the Delta Quadrant of the nature
of the Federation, whatever ruling caste they have was less willing to accept her at her
word. While agents were discovered within Starfleet, their efforts seemed focused on
more aggressive species, such as the Klingon and Gorn.
Actions from the federation against the Klingon and in rooting out its own agents further
pressured Species 8472 into action. In 2409, the Undine have begun ramping up their influence
in the Federation when it was revealed that Ambassador Sokketh of Vulcan had been replaced
too. We covered this mission early on in our let’s play of Star Trek Online, as will
any Federation player, sufficed to say it continues a trend of the Federation playing
down accusations until it’s too late. The Undine’s sudden interest in Starfleet
also has another third party factor behind it, one that we will explore further in the
Story Series. Until then, thanks for watching and I look forwards to seeing you in the next
video. Who do you think had the better approach with dealing with the Species 8472? The Klingon’s
were far more effective but had to resorted to a hammer-like approach whereas Starfleet
responded with secrecy and trying to play the Undine at their own game. Both powers
had been through similar scenarios with the Founders during the dominion war, so their
responses were justified to an extent. Anyway, Thanks for watching again and Goodbye.