So I've got a Vulcan character who rejects her heritage later in her life. Can't tell you why, because spoilers.
I want her to pass as a Romulan, but I'm not sure if it's doable. Has it been done before?
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Sign up to join this communitySo I've got a Vulcan character who rejects her heritage later in her life. Can't tell you why, because spoilers.
I want her to pass as a Romulan, but I'm not sure if it's doable. Has it been done before?
In a word, yes. There are a few of instances where Vulcans have been able to successfully infiltrate Romulan society and live among Romulans without arousing (immediate) suspicion. Note, however that in every case they're ultimately caught.
In the episodes TNG: Unification, Part I and Part II we see Spock walking around in public surrounded by a crowd of unsuspecting Romulans. The picture below was apparently taken with the equivalent of a long lens implying that he's been going around with his head uncovered. Obviously if he was recognisable as a Vulcan he'd have been immediately denounced and arrested.
In the TOS comic Blood Fever we meet Xon, ostensibly a Romulan scientist but in reality a Vulcan intelligence agent. The crew of the ship that's supporting his science experiments are oblivious to his true nature.
In the Star Trek novel Shards and Shadows we encounter Selar, a Vulcan who's been physically altered to look Romulan and has been posing as a Romulan on Romulus for multiple years. Note that this is a Mirror Universe story so the usual rules may not apply.
She closed her eyes a moment in irritation and then composed herself. Then she turned her attention back to the woman standing before her. “Selar. Your name is Selar. And you’re a Vulcan.”
“There is no logical reason to deny that which you have already, and rudely, discerned.”
“But why? Why hide what you are?”
Selar hesitated but then clearly decided that there was no point in prevaricating. “I am part of an underground group,” she said. “Spies, for lack of a better word. Since Romulans are nominally allies of the Alliance, I have more latitude for movement within the Alliance, and on Romulus, as one of…you.”
“Vulcans spying on the Alliance? Why?”
Was looking for the situation of a Vulcan as a Romulan and came across the opposite first.
Talok was a long-term, deep-cover Romulan operative who posed as a Vulcan military officer in the 22nd century. (ENT: Episode 4x09 "Kir'Shara")
And after further research you have T'Paal in TNG episode 7x05 "Gambit,Part II". T'Paal is played by Robin Curtis and was a Vulcan female who in 2369 posed as a Romulan mercenary by the name of "Tallera"
So yes, a Vulcan can pass as a Romulan
Coming at this from the opposite perspective, 'vulcan' ambassador T Pel was a romulan who passed herself off as vulcan. I would assume during her time in the federation she probably was checked by a doctor at least once without being detected as a romulan.
Another partial example is Simon Tarses, a crew member who lied and said in his starfleet application that he was a quarter vulcan when in reality he was a quarter romulan. He was caught based on a background investigation, not a medical investigation, so genetically the species seem to be too similar to differentiate.
Cultural differences and mental discipline would be the key differences I think.