Think of the Kelvin Timeline as another Mirror Universe. It’s always been there, always been different, it just so happens that our Spock got stuck there.
this may be the official line, but one ignores the official line for moment and just watches Star Trek 09, they will get the idea that Nero traveled back in time and changed history and thereby changed the prime universe into the kelvin universe. Otherwise, how did Spock Prime get into the kelvin universe? I think the movie just makes it look like he went back in time, not from one dimension/universe to another.
As for the lead not being a Captain, there’s a lot of possibilities there. From what I understand, The West Wing started out focusing on everyone but the President.
It didn’t stay that way for long.
Or think of “Lower Decks” or similar episodes, which explored what life was like for non-senior staff members, which could make for an interesting series.
it makes for an interesting episode, but a whole series based on this? I’m not seeing it.
Or the senior staff is wiped out in the first 10 minutes and she’s the highest ranking person on board.
that would explain why wasn’t captain for the first few episodes, but why wouldn’t Starfleet either make her the next captain or find someone else to replace the dead captain? (unless this going to be something like Voyager).