In the Free2Play MMO Star Trek Online, the Iconians will soon make their appearance. This is the culmination of a story that has been five years in the making.
In an interview with the US site Massively Op, Al Rivera, the lead designer of Star Trek Online, explains the significance of the “Iconians”.
God-like, ancient, vengeful alien race
The Iconians are a race of nearly omnipotent aliens who were repelled 200,000 years ago by an alliance of all other races. Since then, relics of their existence have been scattered across numerous planets. And, as we are now learning, they are working on their comeback, which is imminent.
They are said to be technologically advanced to the point where their technology is indistinguishable from magic. Throughout the entire history of Star Trek and Star Trek Online, they have already been pulling the strings: they were behind the attempt to seize control over the Federation’s high command with “brain parasites”. (The most British of the French Starfleet captains barely managed to prevent that.)
Caution, the following video contains early 90s TV special effects and a rather atypical willingness to use violence for Star Trek:
The Iconians have constantly tried to weaken the connection among the peoples, so that upon their return they would only face scattered and weak resistance.
Since there are so few of them left, they have employed other races as their minions, Rivera explains. They have used the Elachi, the Solane, and the Dewan as their servants. They have formed an alliance with the Vaadwaur and the Tal Shiar.
Now they are returning, among others with the Heralds. This is not a subjugated and enslaved race, but a species that developed alongside the Iconians on Iconia long ago. The Heralds revered the Iconians as gods.
To address this threat, the existing forces of the universe will likely need to be consolidated: No power in the universe of Star Trek is great enough to take on the Iconians. In the game, efforts are currently being made to recruit Delta recruits.
