- This page details a counterpart of Romulan Star Empire in the Kelvin timeline; for the Romulan Star Empire in the primary universe see Romulan Star Empire; for the Romulan Star Empire in the mirror universe see Romulan Star Empire (mirror); for the Romulan Star Empire in the mirror universe of the Kelvin timeline see Romulan Star Empire (mirror) (Kelvin timeline); for the Romulan Star Empire in all other alternate universes see Romulan Star Empire (alternates).
The Romulan Star Empire was the state of the Romulan people in the alternate reality created by the temporal displacement of the Narada. The Empire was situated in the Beta Quadrant with significant boarders with the United Federation of Planets and Klingon Empire. (TOS movie & novelization: Star Trek; ST reference: Star Charts)
History
The history of the Empire prior to the divergence of the timelines in 2233 is identical to that of the prime reality; the Empire was created after the Sundering when a group of Vulcans left Vulcan and settled on Romulus. In the mid-22nd century the Romulan Empire went to war with Earth, with an eventual victory for Earth, bringing about the formation of the Romulan Neutral Zone along the Federation/Romulan boarder. Following the war the Romulans made no further contact with the Federation. (TOS novel: The Romulan Way; TOS episode: "Balance of Terror")
- For a more comprehensive history of the pre-divergence Romulan Empire see the relevant sections of the Romulan history page.
Moments after the arrival of the Narada in 2233, George Samuel Kirk, Sr., the first officer of the USS Kelvin, correctly identified the Narada's crew as Romulan, citing them as the nearest known genetic relations to the Vulcans, but notable more emotional. Captain Richard Robau questioned this, pointing out the Federation had had no contact with the Romulans since before 2180, but ultimately agreed with Kirk's assessment.[1] (TOS movie & novelization: Star Trek)
Shortly after this the Kelvin was destroyed when Kirk piloted it on a collision course into the Narada to allow escape vessels to get clear. Onboard the damaged Narada the crew had realised they had travelled back in time and some sought to return to the Romulan Empire of the present, to enjoy time on Romulus, which they had only recently witnessed destroyed by the Hobus supernova in 2387. Captain Nero declared they would return to Romulus, but only once they had saved its future by destroying the Federation. Those adamant they wished to return to Romulus were granted use of one of the Narada's shuttles to make the journey, but were shot down by Nero as soon as they departed, as a show of strength to his crew. (TOS comic: "Nero, Number One")
When the Narada attacked Vulcan in 2258 Captain Christopher Pike of the USS Enterprise, considering the attack to be an act of war on the part of the Romulan Emprie, demanded Nero withdraw, offering to arrange a conference with the Romulan leadership at a neutral location. Nero immediately rejected the offering, rejecting any affiliation with the Empire.
A short time later, while attempting to disable the Narada's plasma drill, Cadet James T. Kirk wondered how the Romulans had managed to make such huge technological advances, questioning whether the Federation had any reliable contacts within the Empire that had let the advancement get by unnoticed. Only later was the true future origin of the Narada determined. (TOS movie & novelization: Star Trek)
At some point in the 2250s forces of the Romulan Empire engaged in battles with Starfleet vessels.[2] (TOS video game: D-A-C)
Technology
A Centurion-class flagship.
As of the 2250s[2] Romulan starship designs were typically symmetrical and featured hull designs with a variety of spindly elements[3]. They were comparable in capabilities to Starfleet vessels of the period, and were typically armed with directed energy and/or projectile weapons. In addition to standard systems most ships of the period could also be armed with the repulsion charge and holo-mines, and could be equipped with a cloaking device and energy flux.
Starships in the Romulan fleet of that period included the Centurion-class flagship, Cetratus-class bomber, Gladius-class fighter, Securis-class missile cruiser, and Patronus-class support frigate. The empire also operated at least two types of drone-ship, the ramming drone and demolition drone, both of which caused explosive damage upon impact with enemy vessels. (TOS video game: D-A-C)
Appendices
Background
- ↑ How George Kirk became aware of the genetic similarities between Romulans and Vulcans, allowing him to identify the crew of the Narada as Romulan, is unknown. Given he did this mere moments into the new timeline he must also have had the same knowledge in the prime reality. At first glance this would appear to be a contradiction to the unknown appearance of the Romulans as late as 2266 in the prime reality in the episode "Balance of Terror", however Kirk makes his assessment without apparently being entirely sure, and the rest of the Kelvin crew appear surprised by the conclusion, even if they are readily willing to agree with its logic.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 D-A-C gives no date, but as it features the USS Enterprise it is presumably set after the events of Star Trek, which featured the launch of the Enterprise in 2258. The reason for the Federation/Romulan confrontation at this time is not made clear.
- ↑ Pre-release publication for D-A-C indicated that Romulan ships in the game were inspired in design by the Narada.[1] In actual game play the Romulans are indicated to be affiliated to the Empire, so it is not clear what, if any, relationship the D-A-C Romulans might have Narada, and what led the Romulans to advance from their familiar bird-like designs to those seen in D-A-C.
Connections
| Interstellar nations in the Kelvin timeline | |
|---|---|
| major powers | Klingon Empire • Romulan Star Empire • United Federation of Planets |
| Alpha Quadrant states | Borg Collective (Unimatrix 12) • Breen Confederacy • United Federation of Planets |
| Beta Quadrant states | Augments faction • Fibonan Republic • Gorn Armada • Gornar Hegemony • Klingon Empire • Metron Consortium • Orion Syndicate • Romulan Star Empire • Teenaxi Delegation • Tholian Assembly • United Federation of Planets |
| Alpha or Beta Quadrant states | Varkolak Assembly |
| Gamma Quadrant states | Dominion |
| Delta Quadrant states | Borg Collective • Dark Market Syndicate |
| mirror universes | Klingon Empire • Terran Empire |
Appearences and references
- TOS movie & novelization: Star Trek (referenced only)
- TOS video game: D-A-C
- TOS comic: "Nero, Number One" (referenced only)
- TOS comic: "Star Trek Movie Adaptation, Number Four" (referenced only)