Romulan
From BetaWiki
- "Romulans. So predictably treacherous!" -Weyoun
This handsome, dusky olive skinned race is a passionate race. They are fierce in war, love, and play. In this respect, they have changed little from their heritage of Ancient Vulcan. They enjoy good food and trustworthy companions. Their love of life is seen in the stunning vitality, clarity and ferocity of their art. Their devotion to duty, and their loyalty to the Empire exceeds even that of the most fanatical Klingon. Rihannsu starships are all equipped with powerful fusion explosive devices for use in the destruction of the craft. Rather than be taken prisoner, the Rihannsu would rather die with their ship. In the history of contact between the Rihannsu and the Federation, only a handful of Rihanha officers have ever been captured, and all killed themselves during imprisonment.
Cautious at best, xenophobic at worst, the Rihannsu people have a right to paranoia born of their violent history. The experience with the Orion pirates on ancient Vulcan burned a lesson into their minds forever: Never trust an alien. In the mind of a Rihannsu, only another Rihannsu person is worthy of respect and civility. All others are discounted.
Visit the Romulan Star Empire to find out more about the Romulan Government.
Contents |
Romulus vs. Remus
The political center of the Romulan Star Empire is the star system 128 Trianguli . The sun (Eisn) is a dwarf type K star, surrounded by six planets. The third planet is ch'Rihan (Romulus). Ch'Havran (Remus) orbits ch'Rihan much the same as Luna orbits Terra in a double-planet configuration.
Ch'Rihan was the first world settled by those who left Vulcan a thousand years ago. When they first arrived, they were surprised that their future home was so unlike Vulcan. In comparison it was a paradise, and it took the Rihannsu people time to adjust biologically and psychologically to their new environment. Their culture had to change to inlcude water-dependent activities, such as agriculture, and leisure sports such as fishing and sailing
Ch'Rihan is a beautiful "M" Class planet of forests, lakes, and waterfalls. Aside from several large cities on the planet, ch'Rihan is largely forest and protected wilderness. Several areas on the planet's surface are very mountainous. The Apnex Sea is a very beautiful ocean on ch'Rihan. Ch'Havran and two moons orbit the planet: Pirek and Elvreng.
Ch'Rihan is where the main capital Ra'tleihfi is situated. On Ch'Rihan are the most government offices and agencies. The Romulan Senate is located on ch'Rihan as well, as is the Praetor's office. Headquarters for both the Romulan Military and the Tal Shiar are located on ch'Rihan. Orbital facilities include communication satellites, defense satellites, a manufacturing facility, and a vast power station which contains a network of singularities which it taps for power and beams down to the planet's cities and homes.
Ch'Havran, which orbits ch'Rihan is smaller and cooler than ch'Rihan. The planet is densely forested and has a narrow tropical band around the equator. Weather in the sub-tropics and tropics tend to be stormy and hurricanes and tornadoes appear in their seasons. The planet has no moons, but residents can see ch'Rihan in the night sky.
Colonized by settlers some hundred years after ch'Rihan was settled, Ch'Havran is the military-industrial center of the Empire. Several orbital factories are visible from the planet's surface: ore processing, massive shipyards, and research laboratories. Rumor has it that the Tal Shiar have a cloaked orbital station somewhere above the planet. Ch'Havran is also noted for its violet skies and lush hunting grounds.
History
It is often a truism that cultures are shaped by their history, but with the Rihannsu it is a demonstrable fact. To trace the history of this race, it is necessary to go back to the history of ancient Vulcan.
History Part I, Ancient History
Ancient Vulcans were not at all like Spock, the most well known Star Trek Vulcan. Early Vulcans were an extremely emotional, violent and warlike people. The planet was divided into hundreds of small clans and city-states, each with diverse governmental structures and religions. Because Vulcan was (and is) an extremely dry world, water and resources were scarce. Clans and cities fought violently to acquire the resources to continue to survive. In fact, during any given period on the planet, it was unlikely that any more than 10% of the planet was not at war.
Around 80 BC, in Terran dating, a Vulcan named Surak began publicly espousing the mental practice of logic, and the philosophies of peace. As one could expect, in a turbulent world filled with wars and warriors, his philosophies were slow to spread. However, spread they did, and Surak gradually gathered a small following of devoted followers, the first true Vulcans, as we now know them. Among these followers was one named S'Task, keen of mind and heart, and Surak's finest pupil.
In the year 20 BC, Vulcan received its first contact with aliens from other stars. The signals beamed in from the edge of the Vulcan system by alien vessels so shocked the Vulcans that several wars and declarations of war were put on hold until the matter could be settled one way or another. Officials met, and it was decided that the planet would meet the aliens united. Contact was made via transmissions from Vulcan, and a time and place of meeting agreed upon. On the day of the meeting Surak was detained by vehicle troubles, but his pupil S'Task was there in his stead.
Unfortunately, the aliens were not true to their word of peace, for they were Orion pirates, intent on enslaving the unsuspecting world. When the aliens landed, the Vulcan emissaries were greeted with stun rays and blasters, rather than overtures of friendship, and a large proportion on the leadership of Vulcan was taken prisoner and held for ransom, among them S'Task.
Thus began the "Ahk", the greatest of all Vulcan's wars, which they fought in their primitive ships using their not at all primitive psionic powers. With their mind talents, Vulcan adepts could force Orion pilots to attack each other, or dive their ships into the sun, and the Orions quickly learned that they should not have tangled with this superficially primitive species. S'Task himself escaped captivity during the war, organized an in-ship rebellion, overpowered his captors, and eventually crashed the ship into the Orion mothership, narrowly escaping in a rescue pod. He was found, many weeks later, drifting in space, half-starved, and clinging to life only through the force of his own anger.
In this way began the split between Surak and his student S'Task. After his experience with the Orions, S'Task renounced the teachings of Surak, saying that pacifism was inappropriate in the hostile universe waiting in interstellar space. However, S'Task was not willing to promote his philosophies actively against Surak, for fear of prodding Vulcan back into a state of war and anarchy. Surak had long preached that "The structure of space/time is more concerned with means than ends: beginnings must be clean to be of profit", and S'Task agreed with his old master. It was with this in mind that S'Task proposed an alternate solution. The world was not working as it was, said S'Task, so a clean beginning was in order. The followers of S'Task would use Vulcan's newly advanced space technology and venture out into interstellar space to find a new world and make a clean beginning.
Fifty years later, the first Vulcan far-travel ship, Rhea's Helm, cut in its engines and left orbit, leaving on "The Journey of the Sundering," sealing a rift in the species which has not been sealed to this day. In all, there were 20 far-travel ships in the fleet, each carrying approximately six thousand of the "Declared", those who committed to the journey and placed all their property into a trust to build the ships. When the ships left Vulcan, it was with the belief that they would be able to find a suitable planet within 30-50 years of ship time. The ships were designed with a 100 year viability envelope, so this left plenty of time for the Travelers to find an appropriate world, should the first few stops be unfruitful. Unfortunately, the travelers planned their route using data taken from captured Orion vessels, and used the data in a very negative way. Because the Orions had lied to them before, the Travelers were inclined to distrust the data, and planned their trip so as to avoid any star mentioned in the databanks. In this way, the Travelers hoped to avoid any further contact with hostile aliens. The undesirable concomitant of this strategy was that the Traveler's course led straight through a particularly barren, lifeless, and consequently unexplored section of the quadrant. Rather than taking 30 years, their journey stretched out over 100 years, and they barely arrived at a habitable world before their ships fell apart from old age.
In the course of the journey, 14 of the 20 original ships succumbed to various disasters: mind destroying aliens, black holes, and gravity wells. The six remaining craft carried only 28,000 descendants of the original 120,000 Travelers, and were rewarded for their perseverance with the discovery of not one, but a binary pair of habitable worlds orbiting the star 128 Trianguli. After some discussion, the worlds were named ch'Rihan and ch'Havran, "of the Declared" and "of the Travelers", in the tongue which the Travelers evolved from the Ancient Vulcan dialect to replace their Vulcan language. In this new tongue, the travelers called themselves "Rihannsu", or "The Declared". At planetfall, the Travelers found themselves suddenly with two empty worlds to populate. Land was distributed by lottery, and most of the population debarked, leaving only a few small "Ship Clans" who were reluctant to abandon the far-travel ships completely. However, life on the two worlds was not idyllic: within ten years of their arrival and colonization of the twin planets, over 10,000 of the original 28,000 Rihannsu settlers had died.
Oddly enough, these beings did not die of disease or starvation, but mostly from the violent deaths of war. Upon settling down the Rihannsu promptly picked up where things had left off on Vulcan; warring and feuding for various reasons, but primarily for territory and resources. In such an atmosphere it was only a matter of time before a warlord emerged to impose a central structure on the factions and clans by force, and such a warlord was T'Rehu, the first Ruling Queen.
T'Rehu built up an army in about 67 AS (After Settlement) and within 10 years had more might than any in the Two Worlds. When her power was sufficient, she brought her armies to the Grand Council and there demanded recognition. Only S'Task stood before her, and turned and left when the Council granted her demands. A few years later when famine struck the South Continent she called the Council, including S'Task, together. She derided the Council for incompetence, and when S'Task turned his back on her dishonorable display she had him killed, setting herself up as Ruling Queen. As head of the Grand Council and later as Ruling Queen, T'Rehu dabbled in tyranny and beneficence, taking lives and saving them at her whims for some 18 years.
However, 20 years is a short time in the history of a world and after smarting under her rule for several years the warlike clans of the Eastern continents of ch'Havran revolted and defeated her armies. In place of the Ruling Queen a Tricameral house of Praetorate and Senate was set up which was sufficiently resilient to have survived to this day.
So in relative stability, with regular localized factional wars, the Rihannsu lived for well over 1000 years. The Rihannsu enjoyed all the arts and developed them over this time: sculpture, music, painting, science and war. All were relished and enjoyed. And then, the Rihannsu suffered a rude awakening.
History Part II, Modern History
In approximately 1600 AS, the Earth vessel USS Carrizal came out of warp at the far edge of the 128 Trianguli system and began surveying the area. They found, to their surprise, two worlds there with an apparently highly developed agrarian civilization on each. The crew dubbed the worlds "Romulus" and "Remus" in reference to an ancient Terran legend. In standard first contact procedures they beamed in messages of peace and good will. They received no response. After surveying the system for a time, they returned to Earth with the news of their discovery.
On the Two Worlds the arrival of the aliens had an extremely disturbing effect. Tales of the Orion pirates had survived through the years, and the settlers still remembered that the Orions had preceded their treachery with offerings of peace. They were determined not to allow history to repeat itself, and set about organizing their defense. Over the past 1600 years, the Rihannsu had developed an extremely effective industrial system. They knew they could not match the technology of the ship that had entered their system, but years of war had taught them that sheer numbers could overwhelm any technological advantage. By the time the next Federation ship arrived, the Rihannsu had constructed some 7,000 crude, cylindrical vessels -- impulse powered with particle beam weapons. When the USS Balboa coasted into the Trianguli system, it was blown to bits by the massed particle beams of 50 spacecraft. Shortly thereafter, the Rihannsu captured the USS Stone Mountain, took her apart, studied the design, and added warp drive to their primitive craft. Thus began what was known to the Humans as the "First Romulan War".
StarFleet was stymied and confused by their inability to defeat the Rihannsu, who were flying craft that were little more than tin cans with warp power drives. Time and again, larger and larger task forces were sent into Rihannsu space and were systematically obliterated by the Rihannsu. At about this time, the Federation finally queried the Vulcans, who were the oldest space-faring race of the Federation, and asked them if they knew anything about this seemly maniacal race. The Vulcans responded with characteristic caution: they knew of some who might match the description, but that they had left Vulcan long ago. As StarFleet continued to send task forces into Rihannsu space the Vulcans suggested that, if these were indeed the ones who had left long ago, it would be best to make peace.
It took StarFleet several more years to realize that they were never going to prevail, and a treaty was eventually negotiated -- the only treaty in Federation history to be negotiated entirely by data upload, as the Rihannsu refused to meet the aliens in person. The treaty stipulated a band of space between the Federation and Rihannsu territories one light year thick, which has since become known as the "Romulan Neutral Zone".
A few years after the treaty with Starfleet, the Rihansha came into contact with the Klingon Empire. Sensing a kindred race, the Rihansha entered into a treaty with the Klingons, which was to last almost 100 years. During this time, there was considerable exchange of technology between the two races, which led to the installation of cloaking devices aboard Klingon starships, and an enhanced warp drive for the Rihannsu, in addition to new technologies such as replicators and transporters. The exchange also allowed the Rihannsu to study new weaponry and ship-building techniques, and the seeds were sown for the modern generation of Birds of Prey and Warbirds, armed with the more powerful disrupter weapons. However, the idea of photon torpedoes was never adopted, the Rihannsu preferring to stay with their own plasma 'torpedo'. While having a shorter range than photon torpedoes, these weapons deliver over twice the destructive damage to their target.
History Part III, Post Modern
Almost 150 years after the treaty with the Federation, the Rihannsu Galae launched a pre-emptive strike against several Federation outposts. The Galae Commander at that time believed that the treaty was merely a temporary cease-fire in the war against the Federation and restricted the RSE from claiming its rightful position as overlords of the galaxy. To test the alert status and combat readiness of the Federation prior to a full invasion, he sent a Bird of Prey through the Neutral Zone on attack missions. These attacks led to the Tomed Incident, in which the Federation finally got their first look at the Rihannsu people, by tapping into the Bird of Prey's viewing system. This was when StarFleet finally learned what the Vulcans had suspected all along; the common ancestry of the Vulcan and Rihannsu. Through the efforts of Captain James T. Kirk and the USS Enterprise, the Romulans were destroyed, and the invasion plans called off. For many years after, there was little contact between the Rihannsu and the outside.
The destruction of Praxis caused the Federation and Klingons to begin overtures toward peace, something that the then Emperor, Tiercellus tr`Rllailieu, viewed with apprehension. He ordered the Tal'Shiar to work with renegade elements of the Federation and Klingon Empire, hoping to precipitate a war between the two powers. That would leave the Rihannsu free to defeat both when their forces were depleted and become the undisputed rulers of the galaxy. Again, however, Captain James T. Kirk and the USS Enterprise aided by the USS Excelsior, foiled this plan. Following this incident, the Rihannsu withdrew fully from galactic view for many years, with sparse examples of contact. One exception to this was the attack and destruction of Khitomer, undertaken as an act of revenge by the Rihannsu against the Klingons for a failure almost 100 years before.
After almost 3000 years, moves were made within both Vulcan and Rihannsu society to bring about a reunification of the two, now diverse, races. As a part of this Ambassador Spock of Vulcan spent many years on ch`Rihan, working covertly with the Rihannsu Reunification Underground. This laid the seeds for many great changes in the history of the Rihannsu, and indeed of the whole galaxy. In 2390, prompted by concern for the Empire, the Commanding Officer of a Romulan Warbird, Ahk`kaleh, contacted the Commanding Officer of a Federation starship, USS Berlin, to discuss "matters that concern our great nations." The two conducted secret subspace communications, discussing a possible problem they had both seen arising in their governments.
A month after that first contact, a major gathering of Romulan, StarFleet, Klingon, and Cardassian Commanding Officers occurred in complete secrecy. All there agreed that the highest levels of each of their governments had been showing signs of extraordinary and odd behaviors. The group vowed en masse to take a stance against this by forming a fleet of their own. With no hope of victory, they engaged to find the source of the problem. It was the Klingons and Federation that found the cause first. With less restriction on their activities, the Klingon and StarFleet Commanding Officers were able to insinuate spies into the higher levels of their governments, where they discovered a symbiotic race had taken over several key members of their governments. This race controlled the mind and actions of the "host" it inhabited, breathing by means of a small gill-like 'tail' protruding from the back of the host's neck. This race had previously been seen by the Federation over 25 years before.
An all-out war between the 'patriots' in the governments, and the 'traitor' fleet then developed. Armed with the new information, the Tal'Shiar were able to locate the 'mother creatures' who inhabited several of the key officials of the Rihannsu Empire, including (sadly) the Emperor himself. After killing these creatures, and their unfortunate hosts, the Tal'Shiar brutally exterminated the remaining symbionts, while the Intelligence forces of the other governments destroyed their own threats, finally vanquishing the aliens in 2392. Talks then commenced between the remaining leaders of the four governments, to discuss the unification of their respective peoples into one cohesive force. The proposal's initial name was put down as the United Galactic Alliance of Planets, and the four governments set into motion plans to complete the unification within one standard year.
In mid 2393, the fledgling alliance was rocked by its first open revolt when a bomb exploded in StarFleet Academy, killing almost 800 people. Over the next year, several more incidents are reported among the four governments, including the destruction of two StarFleet vessels in a minefield, and the bombing of the Rihannsu Galae's major shipbuilding facility. The Rihannsu people began to question the wisdom of joining the proposed UGAP, remembering their history and the reasons for leaving Ancient Vulcan. Eventually, the Galae Commander ordered both the military and the Tal'Shiar to take steps to pacify the people. Purely by accident, the threat to the UGAP was discovered. A new alliance between the Cardassians and the Dominion had allowed the infiltration of key projects by Dominion forces. Several Dominion shape-shifters who had infiltrated the UGAP project itself then went on a killing spree, before they were themselves killed. Investigations revealed that the Cardassians themselves were responsible for many of the terrorist attacks, and the Rihannsu call for the Cardassians to be excluded from the new alliance.
Pressured by the Rihannsu delegation, the Cardassians were barred from the UGAP alliance, and returned to report their failure to the Dominion. Meanwhile, preparations began for the full implementation by the end of 2394. When the new alliance was formed it took the name of the United Confederation of Interstellar Planets. Each of the three major race's governments retained it's existing infrastructure, although two additional Councils were formed. The UCIP interplanetary Council for civilian matters, and UCIP Fleet Command, which oversaw the three fleets: the Klingon Defense Force, StarFleet, and the Rihannsu Galae.
Even though the governments retained its autonomy, the Rihannsu people remained daunted by the idea of being overseen by an outside Council comprised of 'barbarian alien species'. As a result, the Rihannsu Government and Military remained basically unchanged, as does the Rihannsu economy. All Rihannsu remember the deception of the past, and none want the Empire to be tricked in such fashion again.
After two years of wrangling, argument, and typical Rihannsu politics, the Praetorate formally announces that no new Emperor of Rihannsu will be coronated. Instead, they acknowledge the military as the "Keeper of Mnhei'sahe" (a title formerly reserved for the Emperor). As such, the Galae Fvillha, Erei'riov Aiel t`Kazan, becomes the titular ruler of the Rihannsu Star Empire.
The following year, and with the unanimous support of the Praetorate, Senate, military, and Tal'Shiar, the now Enarrain Aiel t`Kazan, is pronounced both Fleet Commander and Empress of all Rihannsu. Declaring war upon both the Federation and Klingon Empire, the Rihannsu launch a series of surprise, lightning attacks on their unsuspecting former allies. The Rihannsu Galae quickly captures several key strategic planets and bases in both Federation and Klingon territory; the most important of which was the Federation-built Starbase 220 in the Tomika system. Located in the precise center of what was once 'neutral space' between the three powers, Starbase 220 becomes a major launching point for invasion into both Klingon and Federation territory.
Eventually, and despite numerous unsuccessful attempts to recapture Starbase 220 from the Rihannsu, the Klingon Defense Forces and StarFleet managed to fight the Rihannsu attacks to a standstill as a result of combined fleet efforts. A new treaty is drafted between the three governments, re-instituting the Neutral Zone around the Rihannsu Empire. Previously unused monitoring stations are hastily upgraded and reactivated to keep a close watch on the new borders by all three fleets. Thus is the situation as it now stands. The Rihannsu once more stand alone against a hostile galaxy, fiercely defending their territory.
History Part IV, Present
In the times following the first SF / RSE war the Empire had fallen into decay. Corruption, greed, and dissension have caused its once great navy to fall into near civil war status. The Empress' dominance of the senate and general lack of military competence, has brought many Officers and crews to move against her.
The deepest secret in the hole of the empire, one only known by the highest ranking in the Tal`Shiar, has finally come to light. Of the 14 lost craft from the original 20 in the traveler's fleet, one was not in fact destroyed. It had been the third ship lost, disappearing into a system and been presumed lost.
Hundreds of years later, a single Rihannsu assault craft happened upon that very system- only to find the chief planet populated by an offshoot from there own people. To the horror of the Rihannsu, the race had devolved under the intense level of radiation emitted by the system's sun. The 'descendants' had apparently no knowledge of where they had come from or what they had been searching for. The society had become very industrial and, though advanced, was no match for the Rihannsu. The Captain of the craft issued a false quarantine of the system and hid the secret from his people. Over the years the secret was maintained, as was a science facility in orbit around the planet. Specimens were taken from the local populace and studied. Many young Revellians (as they had been labeled) were sent into serves in the Armies of the Empire and, as they showed considerable talents in killing things, excelled in those posts.
EnRiov tr`Ronga, former director general of the Tal`Shiar, has moved here. Ronga opened diplomatic negotiations with the collective peoples of the planet- ultimately laying the foundation for the armies of the NRR. The Pact: Ronga offered the peoples of ch`Revellion all the advanced technology of the Empire and teachers to train the populous in exchange for the right to openly use the populous in his army. The Revellian leaders agreed and in little over a six months their system was completely changed. The billions of ch`Revellion quickly spread through out the system. They proved to be apt pupils and soon they had constructed one of the most productive and advanced ship yards in the whole empire. Other dissidents in the empire slowly migrated to this 'rumored' system, eventually forming into an organized political body. Thus was the NRR created.
Together with forces of the Galae, the NRR would return to ch'Rihan, and defeat Ael t'Kazon. With the death of the Empress the Romulan Star Republic is established and the Senate is formed into 1 unicameral legislature.
Early in its life the Romulan Star Republic would be forced into an engagement with the Klingon Empire after the destruction of a Romulan warship along the Klingon/Romulan Border. The short lived war would end upon the discovery that the warship was not destroyed by the Klingons, but rather a Starfleet agency who framed them. Using this as a reason for war the Romulan and Klingons both attack the Federation. The result is a major victory for the Romulan Republic, the Romulans would aquire control of Codis, Belian II, Coriel IV, Draco System (Omnius), Draken III, SB18, SB185, Tarod, Jouret, Gamma Hydrae, and Iconia. See Romulan-Federation Treaty of 2401 for more details.
Successful in some ways, the Romulan Republic would begin a slow collapse in 2403, spured on by the selection of a corrupt Admiral to be Praetor. EnRiov Vrih tr'Mandak would become Praetor through a series of secret ballots. Upon his appointment he assured the Romulan Senate and Military that he would go about restoring Romulan Glory, and completing the conquest of the Federation that fell short in 2401. However, the true plans were more insidious. Kidnapping a Torhie queen, tr'Mandak faked the destruction of the 19th Fleet forcing the Republic into a war stance. Moving the Western fleets from the neutral zone he ordered them to gather at ir'Rak Prime. His plan was to have the Torhie destroy the western fleets in an act of vengence against them, and then to lead the insectoid race through Federation space. With the western fleets gone, Mandak equipped his own personal fleet with subspace and protomatter weaponry. Arresting and imprisoning the Speaker of the Senate t'Anaka, and Latasalaem Praetor tr'AAnikh, tr'Mandak solidified his powerbase.
Discovering the plans of the Praetor, Tal'Diann Director Khre'Riov Ameh'ah t'Neyl along with former vang'radam (traitor) Lessa t'Brennan would gather a fleet against the Praetor. Revealing tr'Mandak's traitorous plans, t'Neyl's forces gathered at ir'Rak prime. With the knowledge the western fleets lefts ir'Rak prime, while the Eastern fleets refused to engage, leaving only the Praetor's personal fleet to protect him. The assault against the Praetor would be costly, Lessa t'Brennan would be killed in the fighting, however the Praetor is finally killed and the war ends.
Realizing that they moved too fast, the Romulan Senate votes a return to the Romulan Star Empire. Many of the Republic changes are left intact in the change. In 2406 a bulk of the Romulan Senate on ch'Rihan is assasinated. Though an all out civil war is avoided, the new Chief Praetor tr'AAnikh oversees a return to a bi-cameral legislature, with an upper and lower house. With renewed calm in the Empire, the Romulans begin to rebuild their fleets.
Mnhei'Sahe, The Ruling Passion
At the center of the Rihannsu code of behavior is the importance of "mnhei'sahe." It is an abstract measurement of a Rihannsu's personal honor and is often used as a status symbol in their culture. Mnhei'sahe, which translates loosely to "the ruling passion," centers around a strong respect and appreciation of honor, duty, courtesy and strength. In all interactions between Rihannsu, it is imperative that all parties leave afterward feeling that their honor and "face," is intact. If not, it is paramount to denying mnhei'sahe to the offended party. If the offending party feels he can apologize without himself losing face, he does so. Wars, executions and deaths of entire households can be required to satisfy mnhei'sahe. If mnhei'sahe is always intact within the Empire, the Rihannsu believe that they can never lose.
If the disgraced party is beyond redemption, those present may simply execute him or recommend he commit ritual suicide by sending him swords in order prevent further disgrace and loss of mnhei'sahe. Above all, mnhei'sahe is sensitive to the context of the situation and is a rather interpretive concept. It is not a specific codified set of rules, but an unspoken understanding which guides the actions of all Rihannsu throughout life. Rihannsu honor their word when it is given to another Rihannha. To break with one's word means dishonor and a loss of mnhei'sahe, a fate worse than death. Politeness, respect, and quiet dignity are always required if mnhei'sahe is to be satisfied.
Rihannsu honor power as much as they honor loyalty. The goal of each Rihannha is power. If not for one's self or House, then always for the Empire. Rihannsu are always loyal to the Empire itself, not to any one person. For the Rihannsu, power can not be defined in the standard Terran terms, but is the power of mnhei'sahe, and it defines the structure within Rihannsu society and the daily decisions each Rihannsu makes.
If you show respect for those around you and are polite in your interactions with other Rihannsu, chances are you have shown mnhei'sahe in your actions. Good roleplaying involves knowing how to properly roleplay a Rihanha and knowing just what the typically Rihannsu citizen is.
Becoming a troublemaker or improperly roleplaying your character affects not only yourself, but every other Rihanha with whom you come in contact. It is expected that at all times, you will behave in an honorable way. Inappropriate childish and immature behavior will be dealt with with disciplinary measures. As an eredh, (student) or citizen you should treat your superiors with respect at all times. This doesn't mean that you can't joke around, but when a situation is serious act accordingly. Failure to treat your superiors with respect and acting without mnhei'sahe is a sure way to earn the wrath of the Tal Shiar and a path to a slow and painful execution.
As a citizen or eredh of the Rihannsu Empire, your behavior, manner, and conduct reflect upon our Empire. The one true goal and duty of all Rihannsu is the glory of the Empire. Wherever you are, your behavior reflects upon the training that you have received at the Phi'lasasam and upon the Empire in general. Do not forget that our duty is to the Empire and that the pristine face that is the Empire should never be marred by your actions. You are to serve the Empire to the death if the Empire so requires it, regardless of the reasons. It is not the place of citizens of the Rihannsu Empire to question their orders or the word of their superiors and the Praetorate. As a Rihannsu, your life is service to the Empire.
Romulan Culture
To better understand the Rihannsu culture of today one must look at the Vulcan culture of the past. The Vulcans of the past were an extremely warlike and emotional people. It was the only the teachings of Surak that brought about the logical Vulcan culture of today. It was a student of Surak's, S'Task, who determined after the deception of the people by a "barbarous and cruel universe" that logic and peace were not the answer. Thus, he lead a group of people out into the stars to create a new way of life. Based on the fundamentals of ancient Vulcan society, Rihannsu culture is a liberal admixture of old Vulcan traits and ideas evolved during their travels, called 'The Journey of Sundering' in the ancient texts of both the Vulcan and Rihannsu people.
There is an old Rihannsu proverb that sums up the culture rather well: "Certain it is and sure: love burns, ale burns, fire burns, and politics burns. But cold were life without them." Rihannsu people enjoy all aspects of life to the fullest, reveling in their experiences. Even seemingly unpleasant experiences like death, and war, are cherished for their intensity. One of the most surprising things to outsiders, is the discovery that the Rihannsu are a very poetic and artistic society as well, balancing their fierce warrior ethic with the sensitivity of true artistry.
All Rihannha usually practice some form of creative endeavor in their spare time like painting, sculpting, music, or creating literary works. Museums abound throughout the Rihannsu territories, and many mediums are expressed in their artwork and creative endeavors. Epic poetry is considered one of the most favored styles of literature. Another art form that the Rihannsu hold in high regard, are the Martial Arts, and sword play.
Often, Rihannsu by the thousands flock to the Arena's to enjoy the demonstrations of their finest athletes. It is not unusual to see the spectators challenge the athletes themselves, more to learn a new technique that had been demonstrated, than out of any great desire to defeat the champions.
The Rihannsu also enjoy a great deal of games. The most well known are: D'elo the game of stones and sticks that traces back to ancient Vulcan, Lhi the game of wits and riddles, and even three-dimensional chess has become popular within Rihannsu space. The Rihannsu also enjoy Khariat, a game made up of pieces that are removed one at a time from the structure. The one to draw the piece that causes the structure to fall is the loser. Trayatik is a dice game, similar to 'craps'. Villrillu are the Rihannsu's versions of playing cards, and there are numerous games to be enjoyed with them. Another popular game, Tyr'llryanniha, is a full-contact, often a brutal and bloody, sport. It is similar to Earth's football, but with the added danger of razor-sharp, bladed weapons. It is not unusual to see at least half of the players carried off the playing field before the first half of the game is finished. The Rihannsu also relish nature, and enjoy the outdoors a great deal. Most Rihannsu are avid hikers and campers, and participate in a wide variety of other outdoor activities as well.
Romulan Religion
Rihannsu religion is similar to the practice of Wicca or Druidism. They have no particular Gods or Goddesses. Rihannsu religion instead centers around the elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Space, as well as the Archelement which oversees all. In connection with this, the Rihannsu celebrate festivals to honour these elements. Each element has a festival devoted to it, with one culminating festival to the Archelement. Some of these festivals likely date back to the pre-Reformation era on Vulcan as do a few other Rihannsu practices in the area of religion. Though Rihannsu do not preserve 'katras' as the Vulcans do, many religious ceremonies retain a distinctive Vulcan flavor.
Surprisingly, there are priests and priestesses of various sects in large numbers. Each element has, in theory, a single sect devoted to it (although in reality, many sects exist for each, some competing at cross purposes. But such is the way of the Rihannsu). There is no central leader to the sects, only a five person 'Key'. The Key is a group of High Priests and Priestesses (one from each of the primary sects of each major element) who hold the sects together and advise the Praetorian directly when asked. As already mentioned, there are 5 major elements -- Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Space. Strangely, there is no sect for the Archelement, although all sects join together to worship and celebrate it equally. Each of the sects has three scrolls as its basis.
These scrolls govern the daily life of the Elementals and the populace. S'Task and his followers created these scrolls and each tell of tales or legends for easy understanding without misunderstanding the true meaning. Each scroll stands for Mind, Heart, and Soul. Together they are the key to the understanding of the Archelement. There are many, many rituals, ceremonies, prayers, songs, poems, stories, tales, legends, and sonnets for respect and empowerment.
The Rihansha further believe that the
existence of a 'thing' gives it the right of nobility -- to be honored and
appreciated; to be named, and hence to be able to respond to that name. The
Rihannsu language is therefore rich with phrases which acknowledge the
sentience of the Universe such as: "Oh Elements, avert it!", "What in the
Element's name?", "Elements be thanked!", "Oh Fire & Air & Earth!", "Powers
and Elements!", "Elements granting" and so forth.
Romulan Society
Respect is the basis of Rihannsu society -- to be disrespectful is to show a lack of mnhei'sahe. Showing respect to elders and superiors is a must in day-to-day Rihannsu life. Every Rihannsu knows by the bearing and actions of another what rank and social status that person has. Non-verbal cues, reputation, military rank, and past experience all dictate the respect owed to each individual Rihannsu. To an extent, Rihannsu social status and the rank of military personnel operate in parallel. Because the Rihannsu are a militarily oriented society, geared to the protection and promotion of the Empire, military service and accompanying rank are very important indicators of social status.
The person with highest status in the Empire is the Shiar'Fvillha, or chief Praetor, the Speaker of the Praetorate and one of the highest authorities within in the Empire. Next most important is the Galae'Fvillha (Fleet Director), followed by the other members of the Praetorate. Other people's status is ordered according to rank, house status and personal accomplishments in a long chain until ending with the lowest status, that of a prisoner. Prisoners are considered even lower than slaves -- a prisoner is without honour and is not fully Rihannsu.
The Rihannsu social structure is actually much more complicated than what is presented above: there are structures within structures within structures, to the point where it is rare for any two Rihannsu to have the exact same social standing. Finally, although prestige and social standing are often related to rank, social status should not be confused for military chain-of-command. Ranks effect social structure, not vice versa.
There are many methods of which an individual may rise in status: merit and achievements (as well as military honors), subterfuge and betrayals (including blackmail and strategic use of personal or political secrets), the gaining of powerful allies, "elimination" of opponents, wealth (buying of support) and pressure tactics.
Romulan Education
Each House, whether it be a Greater or Lesser house, has one or more of it's own Tutors. The Hfihar'Afweirha (House Tutor) is usually a member of the House that have dedicated their lives to studying various subjects. Indeed most of the House Tutors have also served their military career by being instructors in one of the various Academies throughout Rihannsu space. It will fall upon the Hfihar'Afweirha to teach the very first lessons in the Rihannsu child's formal education, and to be the guiding factor in the child's future educational process, up until the time the child joins the military, which is mandatory by the age of 18.
The formal education of Rihannsu children actually starts at the earliest possible age. As soon as a child begins to walk and talk, around two years old, they are sent to the nearest Hfihar'Afweirha. These very first lessons consist of the basics of the Rihannsu concepts of Honor, religion, respect, duty, strength, service to the Republic, self-sacrifice, and the concepts and principles of the House they were born into. The classes are conducted within the House Tutor's own estate, in a nursery or classroom type setting. The lessons a child learns between the ages of two and five are extremely important. Indeed, how well a child learns these very first lessons is a grave matter of life and death. For at the age of 5 both males and females alike must pass the testing of the d'sora: a testing of the child's intelligence, adaptability, and strength.
The test of d'sora dates back to planetfall, when resources were scarce. Those who were too old or infirm to contribute to the greater good of the people would die honorably rather than put undue strain on the few resources that the early settlers had. If children were ill or infirm in any way, then they too were deemed an undue strain of the people's resources, and they would be quietly, quickly, and painlessly put to death. This has since been written as a law, and all children by the age of 5, must prove themselves worthy of becoming productive members of society. Those children that fail this test are subject to the euthanasia law, their names are never written in the House histories and they are never spoken of again. It is as if the child had never existed at all. But once a child had reached the age of 5 and passed the d'sora they are no longer subject to the euthanasia law. These children are honored within their House by a celebration of feasting and ceremony. They are taken to the Temples where their names will be recorded in the House histories, be blessed by the Priests, and recognized by the Elements.
After these first lessons have been learned, and the d'sora has been passed, all children are taught the fundamentals of the sciences, art, history, literature, martial arts or swordplay, along with more advanced lessons of the basics concepts outlined above. This is a grueling curriculum, and will continue until the child enters the military, which must happen by the age of 18.
For those citizens of the Republic that are not fortunate enough to have access to their House's Hfihar'Afwierha, whether because they are part of a small system, on a colony world, or because they're part of an isolated farming community, the Republic has provided a general educational system for the children of these citizens. There is a small public school for each 100 children within a magistrate. All of the basic lessons are taught at these public schools, except for the principles and concepts of each individual's House, as these family virtues, while similar, often differ from House to House. The House-lessons are left up to the child's own parents and other family members to teach.
Romulan Houses/Families
At the root of Rihannsu political organisation is the House system. Houses are family groups or clan-like organisations, with hereditary succession structures. Unlike feudal family organisations, however, Rihannsu Houses encompass a much broader spectrum of society. For example, servants of a House Lord are considered part of the family, and adopt the House name and use it as their own. That is not to say that they are equal members, but they are included. Each house that has its own rank and status accorded in Rihannsu society. Houses are considered either Great Houses or Lesser Houses. Great Houses have many family members that are high in the social standing of the Empire. The members of Great Houses have proven their service to the Empire in past honours and loyalty. Lesser Houses have not received the honour and glory, but serve an integral and vital role within the Empire. It is their quiet service that supports the Empire and brings greater glory to it. The status of House members reflects directly on the status of their House and vice versa. Within each House, are various positions, as detailed in the following table:
Position Function
hru'hfirh Head of House
eri'hfirh Heir of House
rianov Weaponsmaster
auethnen Advisor
llaugh Representative
hru'diranov Grandfather
hru'nanov Grandmother
di'ranov Father
ri'nanov Mother
ira'dianvm Oldest Brother
ia'rinam Oldest Sister
dianvm Brother
rinam Sister
eria'rianv Cousin
v'rian Adopted Cousin
v'rinam Adopted Sister
v'dianvm Adopted Brother
v-Di'ranov Adopted Father
v-Ri'nanov Adopted Mother
v-hru'diranov Adopted Grandfather
vadi Uncle
vadia Niece
vadii Nephew
vada Aunt
The most important person in a House is the hru'hfirh or Head of House. The hru'hfirh is responsible for the members of the House, maintaining the House's mnhei'sahe, and the day-to-day financial and social dealings of the House. The eri'hfirh, or Heir, assists the hru'hfirh. The status of the House and the responsibilities are decided by the hru'hfirh, but usually the importance of House members is as follows: hru'hfirh, eri'hfirh, Auethnen, and then Llaugh and Rianov with equal rank. The other status and importance follows as listed above. As you can see is the chart above, there is the added complexity of adoption. An adopted member of the family has the same rank and receives the same respect as a blood member, but with the added responsibility of another House, perhaps. Adoptions are commonplace.
Another commonplace is a unique form of revenge, usually prompted by a mnhei'sahe in the case of the murder of a child, is known as "hostage fostering". In this situation, a House steals the children of a rival House and rears them as their own. A family that has lost their child in this manner usually never sees them again.
A typical Rihannsu family is made up of a mother and a father, with as many children as the parents desire. Each family unit is within a House, and Houses can be huge. The family unit does not look to one parent as superior, both mother and father have equal status. Although boy children are favoured, girl children do not have a social stigma.
Divorce and separation are rare with Rihannsu families, because the bond between the husband and wife is so very deep. A typical Rihannsu family is very happy and devoted to each other, with the bond of love. Within the family unit the first lessons in mnhei'sahe will be taught, to ground a child in the basic morality of Rihannsu life. The family also includes every single blood member of the House. Each member of the House is responsible to see that all of the children are raised in the proper traditions of the House and that the lessons of mnhei'sahe are taught and learned.
Women and men are equals in the social structure. Sexuality is expressed via eye color changes. Violet and Black. Violet is the color showing sexual desire or desire for mate. In time to choose a mate, it is involuntary and only occurs with a mate whom also exhibits the same reaction in direct contact via palm to palm. If no reaction or if one sided, then there is no contact. If the reaction is mutual then a mating is found to be possible. Recent social changes have enabled multiple mates to be enjoyed, but only one lifebond can be chosen. When the time is not for finding a lifebond (usually during the middle of the year known to Vulcans as 'Amok Time' and around the 30 to 40th year of life is it generally practiced though no age is set) but is for 'romantic' interludes, of which can produce a lifebond in time, it is more of actual interest than biological (though can also be interest and not limited to just mating with the Rihannsu people). This form of mating is akin to serious dating in humans. At this instance, a conscious or unconscious change in eye color is available to show desire. Bonding does not require the religious sect, but can be brought in for marriage or even to break or strengthen bonds. Only bonded mates are telepathic with each other. Other than this bonding, which is both empathic and telepathic, there is no other psychic ability apparent except for in the Elementals.
The Rihannsu are rather proud of their names and heritage. First and middle names are usually given with reservation, usually to friends and family. The last name is the family/clan name. A fourth name, a very private and personal name, is rarely spoken, and only known by those who are life long intimates.
A woman's clan name is often preceded with (t') and a man's name is usually preceded by (tr').
Examples of women's names: Thue t'Radaik, Arrhae ir-Mnaeha t'Khellian, Ekkhae t'Thusaith, S'anra t'Hwaehrai, Hanaj t'Eleijha, Ael t'Rihaul, Aidoann t'Rehu, N'ale t'Rllailieu, Dhiove t'Hrienteh, Janicka t'Maekh, S'Tarleya t'lllailhlae, Meira t`Kethry, Ullho t`Rhenn.
Examples of men's names are: Valdus tr'Tomalak, H'daen tr'Aimne, Lhaesi tr'Khev, Vaebn tr'Hheinha, M'Narth tr'Lhell, Nnerhin tr'Hwersuil, Lai I'Ranmau tr'Ehhelih, Llunih tr'Raedhoel, Tiercellus tr'Khnailmnae, D'tan tr'Keirianh, Donal tr`Rhagarokk.
Romulan Fashion
The three main sectors of the Empire all have their differing styles, in which the traditional and the modern seem to be constantly at odds, and are only now just beginning to merge together. Traditionally, the Rihannsu are very conservative in their style of dress, preferring to stay with plain, functional clothing that was the norm within the days of the Empire. However, with the ending of the civil war, the young people of the Empire have discovered the more radical (to the traditionalists) fashions of the Northern Sector of the Empire, and have slowly, much to the horror of their elders, started to adopt this newer style. The color pallet of the Romulan people hasn't changed as much as the rest of their fashions have. They still prefer the blacks, deep browns, darker greens, and light to dark gray hues of the older styles. Though it is not uncommon to see dark, almost midnight or cobalt blues, deep purples, and the darkest of reds. This is especially true of the attire preferred by females within the Western and Northern Sectors of the Empire.
Western Sector It is within the Western Sector of the Empire, including the twin-worlds of ch'Rihan and ch'Havran, that a revolution between the two styles (traditional and modern) is currently taking place. The elder Rihannsu still prefer the more traditional styles of the old Empire, and the common brown and gray robes of civilians and nobles are still the much preferred unisex mode of dress with the over 200-set. House uniforms are also still very much cherished, and can still be seen at the more formal occasions. However, the younger Rihannsu, have begun to cast aside the more traditional attire and no longer wear the common robes of their elders. These younger Rihannsu prefer the more formfitting, gender-specific clothing of the North, and it is not uncommon to see them wear the more provocative styles in place of the more traditional House uniforms as well, despite the fact that their elders obviously do not approve.
Young men tend to wear the more close-cut pants or slacks, either ankle-length to below mid-calf boots, and fitted tunics or jackets with either a mid or high collar. Capes may also be worn in both casual and formal attire by those of nobility. Perhaps the most radical change for the Republic is not so much the attire adopted by the younger men, but the fashion that was embraced by the young women. For it is these young women who have ultimately thrown out the old unisex style of the Empire, and have taken to wear the more figure-revealing dresses and casual wear of the North. It is not uncommon to see the young women of the Empire wearing formfitting pants; loose-fitting blouses with or without embellishments; and ankle-length boots, or soft slipper-like shoes. Dresses are not an uncommon sight with the younger women either. Most of the dresses worn within the Western Sector are suitable for either day or evening. Two of the most popular styles are: long sleeved, off the shoulder, empire-waist, floor length gowns; and dresses that are long-sleeved, form fitting, and either knee or ankle length hemmed. Many females who are not in the military (or if they are, when they're not on duty) have begun to wear the newer fashions at every opportunity, much to the dismay of their elders.
Northern Sector The Northern Sector of the Empire is the center for all the fashion that has been the talk of controversy among the elders of the other sectors of the Republic. It is here at the planet ch'Revellion, with it's much harsher environment then either of the twin-worlds, that a more relaxed and provocative style was born. It is not uncommon to see both males and females with nothing on their feet, but beaded thongs for embellishment. The Men wear tunics or jackets in the colder seasons, and lightweight shirts, either long or no-sleeved during the hotter seasons. The attire for women is much more provocative here in the Northern Sector as well. The preferred dresses of the Western Sector females can be seen here often in the colder seasons, but the Northern Sector females most often prefer the mid-thigh skirts and dresses for the warmer seasons. One of the most popular styles of dresses are either sleeveless, or with halter-type straps that encircle the neck, back-less, and either with one or two side slits on the longer skirts, from either hem-to-mid-calf or hem-to-hip.
Eastern Sector The Eastern Sector of the Empire is the furthest out from either the twin-worlds or ch'Revellion, and is therefore still clinging very much to it's fundamentalist attitude in many areas, not the least of which is fashion. It is here that the more traditional attire is always worn. The brown and gray robes of casual wear still is the norm, House uniforms haven't changed since they've first been adopted; even the haircuts are still the same close-cropped ones from the days of the old Empire. One would be hard pressed to distinguish between the genders while in the Eastern Sector of the Empire.
Romulan Appearance
Rihannsu Males
Height:between 5'7" and 6'3"
Weight:between 145lbs to 250lbs
Hair: black or dark brown Eyes: dark colours, nearly black Strength: stronger than the average Terran
Facial Features: softer than the sharp angles of the Vulcans, but there is still a chiselled like feature. The ears are less pointed than their Vulcan cousins.
Rihannsu Females Height: between 5'6" and 5'9"
Weight: between 125lbs and 165lbs
Hair: black or dark brown
Eyes: dark colours or brown
Strength: stronger than the average Terran
Facial Features: softer than the chiselled like features of the males, ears are less pointed than that of their Vulcan cousins.
Rihannsu blood chemistry is significantly different from that of Terrans. Like their Vulcan ancestors, the Rihannsu have copper based blood, which is green rather than red. The Rihannsu physiology is not identical to that of Vulcans however, since the two races have had two millennia to evolve in different directions. The most noticeable features of the Romulan are two small bone ridges located on the forehead.
Living on the Two Worlds, which are somewhat colder and a good deal wetter than Vulcan, the Rihannsu have undergone a few changes. Their long pointed ears, used by Vulcans to radiate excess heat, have shortened somewhat. Rihannsu have slightly more exterior insulating body fat, and lack the gaunt look of Vulcans. Rihannsu skin is a slightly lighter shade of green than Vulcans, since they do not need the extra sun protection provided by excess skin pigmentation.
Romulans, like Vulcans, are also extremely intelligent. This is due to a highly evolved cerebral cortex. They tend to be aggressive and are, in this respect, the exact opposite of their cousins, the Vulcans. Vulcans are very logical, and reject aggression, while the Rihannsu look upon logic with some skepticism, preferring to rely on strength and cunning.
Note that Rihannsu age very slowly. The difference is minimal in teen years but increases dramatically as age progresses. In the first 16 years, it is near 1:1 when compared to humans. After reaching the age of 16, the body changes to 0.842:1. Aging is reflected in this difference by becoming a mere 336 years of age using human standards of the average human lifespan of 150. Average Rihannsu lifespan is 400 e'ayy-d. In this instance, Rihannsu do not grow old with age.
Revellions Height: between 6' and 7'
Weight: between 180lbs and 280lbs
Hair: black or dark brown Eyes: pupilless
Strength: stronger than the average Rihannsu
Facial Features: Harsh and sun beaten features, including a reddish skin tint. Their ears are in between Rihannsu and Vulcan's in length and point.
Again, like the Rihannsu, the Revellions share much base physical characteristics in common with their Vulcan cousins. Unlike the Rihannsu, the Revellions ended up in a harsher enviroment than Vulcan. ch`Revellion has both higher atmospheric pressure, and more radical temperature swings than either ch`Rihan or ch`Havran. As such, the Revellions have a very dense musculature, and stoic personality. Though not logical per se, they think in a very linear way - locking on to what needs to get done and implementing actions, no matter how clearly ruthless, to get their tasks done.
Life on ch`Revellion is harsh at best. As the planet's orbit is not even around the system's star, Sub-zero winters turn rapidly into blistering summers. Shifts in light levels quickly destroyed the 'Vulcan' settler's eyes and forced them to develop alternative peripheral senses. Evolution forced the Revellions' already strong vulcan psi ability even further- they developed instinctual abilities of space- seeing purely through their minds.
Like their kin, the Revellions do not age quickly. The average life span is 350-375 Terran equivalent years.
Recent Timeline of Events
2399??.?? – Romulans enter a brief civil war overthrowing Ael t’Kazon and establishing the Romulan Star Republic. The two tier senate is disbanded in favor of a unicameral body.
240012.?? – Starfleet Secret Service Agents destroy a Romulan warbird, framing the Klingon Empire. The Romulan Republic retaliates by destroying a Klingon colony. A short war between the two powers is ignited.
240102.?? – Discovering the Federation involvement in their war, the Romulan and Klingons enter a brief alliance. Both governments conduct a surprise attack on Federation holdings. Caught off guard by the combined Klingon and Romulan forces the Federation loses several star systems including Arcadia colony, Codis, and Omnius in the beginning of the war.
240105.?? – The Federation-Romulan-Klingon War ends when Romulan forces are driven back at the battle of Yadalla. A short time later the War officially ends with Romulan-Federation Treaty of 2401. The aftermath is severe; all told billions are killed and displaced, including Zakdorn, which was left in ruins after Romulan bombardment. Estimates are the Federation lost over 3000 ships, while the Romulan losses were estimated at 1500, and Klingon losses around 1000.
240306.?? – The Romulan Government sends its first observer to the Confederation since the War of 2398, Ambassador Arrenhe t’Ahaefvthe arrives in Ra’Mid
240312.?? – An Eastern Fleet Admiral becomes Chief Praetor through of a series of secret negotiations. Chief Praetor EnRiov Vrih tr’Mandak promises the Romulan Senate and Praetorate that he will reestablish the Romulan Star Empire and destroy the Federation.
240403.?? – Praetor tr’Mandak uses the destruction of the 19th Galae [Fleet] to begin moving the Romulan western fleets to ir’Rak Prime. With the western fleet’s gone tr’Mandak surrounds Romulus with his own personal fleet which is equipped with subspace and protomatter weaponry. Tr’Mandak dissolves the senate imprisoning Senate Speaker t’Anaka and Senator tr’AAnikh.
240404.?? – Discovering that tr’Mandak’s main goal is to destroy the western Romulan fleets using a captured Torhie queen and then wrest control over then entire Republic, Tal’Diann Legate Khre’Riov Ameh’ah t’Neyl, along with former vang’radam [traitor] Lessa t’Brennan, organize a rebellion against the Praetor. The Praetor and t’Neyl’s forces clash over ir’Rak Prime. The Eastern and Western Fleets refuse to engage each other, leaving only Mandak’s personal fleet in opposition. After a long battle tr’Mandak is killed by t’Neyl, and the short lived civil war ends. In retaliation Gai’Shian loyal to tr’Mandak run amuck in the Romulan Capital killing hundreds.
240405.?? – Feeling that they have taken too many steps before they were ready, the Romulan Star Empire is officially reestablished. Although the unicameral senate is left in place.
240612.?? – A majority of the Romulan Senate is assassinated creating a short lived civil war. The Romulan Emperor Ra Tellus would intervene preventing a major conflict. Tr’AAnikh is chosen by the Emperor to become the new Chief Praetor. The Romulan Government is reorganized and the Senate reestablished. Ameh’Ah t’Neyl is promoted to Galae EnRiov and accepts the title of Galae Director.
240702.?? – With renewed calm after the short civil war ended, the Romulans begin the monumental task of rebuilding their fleet to pre 2401 levels.
Categories: Romulans | Romulus | Species
