10 Bizarre Star Trek Theories (That Might Be True)

In the excellent Deep Space Nine episode Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges, Section 31 is attempting to manipulate the Romulan Senate into placing a Federation-sympathetic Romulan on the Continuing Committee, to further their alliance. Dr. Bashir, used as a pawn in this plot, angrily confronts Luther Sloan about the levels that Starfleet would sink to. But Sloan counters that these are simply the next moves in a conflict against the Romulans, even though they are allies against the Dominion for the time being.

Sloan explains that the Dominion will be forced back to the Gamma Quadrant, the Cardassian Union will be occupied, the Klingon Empire will spend the next ten years recovering from the war and won't pose a serious threat to anyone. That leaves two powers to vie for control of the Quadrant, the Federation and the Romulans.

From Sloan's declaration here, we can deduce that Section 31 considers the Romulans the real threat, in much the same way that Churchill knew that conflict with Stalin was inevitable once the Nazis were defeated. If Section 31 were able to acquire a Trilithium device or weapon, then they could very well devastate the Romulan Star Empire.

Trilithium (as explained by Worf in Star Trek Generations) can theoretically inhibit all nuclear fusion within a star, indeed this was how Soren was able to change the course of the Nexus. So if Section 31 were able to obtain some kind of Trilithium device, causing a super-nova would be within the realms of possibility for them. In 2387, the Hobus star went supernova and it was unlike any nova seen before or since, devastating multiple systems and destroying whole worlds, including Romulus and Remus.

They had the means, the motive and, doubtless, they could have found the opportunity. They're heartless enough to have done it, so why wouldn't they? Star Trek Online has its own answer for what caused the supernova, but this theory (put forth by YouTuber Major Grin) suggests a sinister alternative.