I agree. My feeling (and there is nothing concrete to back it up) is that this is a ‘rogue’ Romulan faction or small group who has chosen to undertake this task—whatever that may be.

Agreed so far.

“If Bob Orci says ‘anything which ‘appears’ to violate canon will have a canon explanation’, then I see no reason to doubt that. What that says to me is simply that the story may debunk some fans preconceived notions about the characters’ backstories, but not actually openly contradict canon.”

For the most part, I agree. however, the one “out” they have, and the reason why I’ve aked a much more specific question that has remained unanswered for months, is that alternate timelines and an Everett-esque concept of a multiverse are canonical in Trek, so simply saying that there’ll be a canon explanation doesn’t lay that concern to rest. But when they say that their intent is that the movie is to be considered part of the Trek world that we know, that’s a stronger statement.

Now, if they will simply confirm, simply and straightforwardly, that whatever happens (and I don’t need to know that part ;) ), the result of this film is still intended to lead directly into the same Trekverse we’ve always had, or one so similar that what’s already been established remains established, I can rest easy and enjoy what’s coming out about the film without reservation. The fact that the question I have asked remains unanswered, when a simple, non-plot-revealing “Yes” would suffice, continues to leave the rebootista door open just enough of a crack for me to remain uncomfortable.

“I’m not worried about the timeline. If anything, changes to the original timeline will “protect” the sanctity of the original series—not disrespect it.”

We can but hope.

“When I see a Romulan attack on the USS Kelvin prior to “Balance Of Terror”, yet after the Earth-Romulan War, I assume that something has unbalanced the timeline (unless it was previously unknown what happened to the Kelvin). However, we do not know to what extent that change will affect the timeline we know.”

That’s the thing, of course. The Kelvin’s crew (and anyone else) may never have known it was a Romulan attack. After all, we’re talking about a ship from over a century in the future (assuming what we think we know about the scene is correct). But was that ship “meant” to be destroyed in the regular Trekverse, or does this spark a change? And since we also have heard that there may be multiple alternate timelines in response to various strategems by Nero, it’s hard to know whether one incident is the core of the situation, or merely one thing building on another, etc. (Consider the overlapping complexities of such actions in “Year of Hell”, though in the end the original continuum was restored.)

(snip)

“The question may very well be, how significant is the attack on the Kelvin? The Romulans must have thought it significant.”

Ahh, but which Romulans? There’s not yet a sense that the Romulan government, in either timeframe (23rd Century or post-”Nemesis”), has a clue what’s going on. ;)

I’ve yet to see anything but asthetic changes, something we all know had to happen.

If Bob Orci says “anything which ‘appears’ to violate canon will have a canon explanation”, then I see no reason to doubt that. What that says to me is simply that the story may debunk some fans preconceived notions about the characters’ backstories, but not actually openly contradict canon.

I’m not worried about the timeline. If anything, changes to the original timeline will “protect” the sanctity of the original series—not disrespect it.

When I see a Romulan attack on the USS Kelvin prior to “Balance Of Terror”, yet after the Earth-Romulan War, I assume that something has unbalanced the timeline (unless it was previously unknown what happened to the Kelvin). However, we do not know to what extent that change will affect the timeline we know.

Does Federation politics take a somewhat more militaristic turn in the wake of that attack? If so, how does that affect Starfleet and the paths of the iconic characters with which we are so familiar?

Imagine the United States never having experienced the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001—or probably even more dramatic in its effect upon history—never having experienced the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The effects of those changes in the timeline we know would have tremendous reprecussions.

The question may very well be, how significant is the attack on the Kelvin? The Romulans must have thought it significant.

“As an older student, he and Kirk could possibly have met at the Academy…or perhaps later. We don’t know that they meet at the Academy, even in this film.”

I forgot about that pic of the two of them in the shuttle. The film does establish that they know each other at the Academy. To be fair, this film won’t be the first Trek project to speculate that, and it still doesn’t contradict anything. :)