Second History was a Romulan project to change the shape of history and ensure that the United Federation of Planets never existed, thus making the Romulan Star Empire more powerful. Initially, the Romulans were able to change history, and create an alternate timeline. However the results were not what the Romulans intended. While the United Federation of Planets did not exist in the timeline, the Vulcans were still powerful, and able to keep the Romulans from conquering all of known space. The Vulcans also helped the survivors of Earth, which had been devastated in a war brought about by Romulan tampering, to get back on their feet.