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Star Trek often aims at broadening the horizon of understanding space and technology like never before. One such technological feat that fascinated the audience is the advancement of androids among the living. In Star Trek: Picard, we learn that the Synthetics, a kind of primitive android, were commissioned by the Federation to work as laborers.
The Synthetics suddenly turned against the Starfleet commanders and organized an attack on Mars that resulted in the death of thousands and destruction of numerous starships. The Federation was left in shock. Starfleet immediately put a ban on Synthetic lifeforms citing a fatal code error. The truth, however, lies in the secret operation of a mysterious Romulan faction called Zhat Vash.
Star Trek: The Next Generation has often brought up the topic of the coexistence of artificial lifeforms in the galaxy and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) would advocate for granting rights to them. With AI making some monumental developments in the real world, the subject hits close to home.
Why were Synthetics banned in Star Trek?
Star Trek: Picard begins with the surprising revelation that the synthetic lifeforms have been banned by the Starfleet. Picard, who had a meaningful relationship with Lieutenant Data (played by Brent Spiner) often reminisces his moments with the android, who sacrificed his life for him in Star Trek: Nemesis. Picard is seen grieving Data’s death even after years.
The Federation authorized Synthetics to work as laborers in shipyards orbiting Mars, where rescue fleets to save Romulans from a supernova were being constructed. The Synthetics suddenly turned against the commanding officers and destroyed Utopia Planitia shipyards. The incident left thousands of people dead. The Federation is rattled by the events and put an immediate ban on synthetic lifeform. Picard was distraught by Starfleet’s decision and decides to go into retirement.
However, when he encounters Data’s daughter Dahj (played by Isa Briones), he learns about a secret plot against the Synthetics. A mysterious group of Romulans, known as Zhat Vash, are hunting the artificial lifeforms and want to put an end to their creation.
Why do the Romulans hate Synthetics?
Zhat Vash are a secret faction of the Romulan intelligence agency known as Tal Shiar. Their existence is largely fueled by rumors. The secret society is known as keepers of secrets. Zhat Vash was formed before 24th century when they discovered the Admonition on the planet Aia. They experience the memories of the devastation caused by a synthetic destroyer known as Seb-Cheneb, about hundreds of thousands of years ago.
The synthetic Armageddon on Aia saw the survivors bringing together eight suns at the center of the octonary star system, as a warning to others against artificial lifeform. After learning the events, Zhat Vash wiped out the star system from Romulan star charts to keep the secret. Zhat Vash have since been working in every star system, protecting the secret. Half-Romulan half-Vulcan Commander Oh (played by Tamlyn Tomita) is a Zhat Vash operative, who has been working in Starfleet.
The Zhat Vash members would re-experience the Admonition, which drives many of them mad. The surviving few would take the mission forward to secretly destroy the synthetic life forms across the galaxy. Commander Oh also shows Dr. Agnes Jurati (played by Alison Pill), a vision of the Admonition using mind meld so she can become their spy and help the cause.
After the ban, Dr. Bruce Maddox (played by John Ales) disappears to build a race of Synthetics away from the Federation. These Synthetics were even more advanced than Data. Upon learning this, Zhat Vash takes it upon themselves to ensure that the calamity does not occur again and eliminate the artificial life forms created by Maddox.
Though they are shrouded in secrecy, when the agents kill Dahj Asha on Earth, Picard learns about the group and their existence.
Soji (Dahj’s twin sister), a synthetic, is tricked into revealing details of her hidden home world to a Romulan spy Narek (played by Harry Treadaway) so they can destroy others like her. Zhat Vash believe that the synthetic life will evolve and reach a threshold that may lead them to eliminate all organic life forms.
The Federation would later come to believe that Zhat Vash were likely responsible for the Synthetics to go rogue on Mars and take off the ban on artificial lifeforms.
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