The Romulans are the most long-lasting adversaries of the Empire, being the instigators of Earth's first interstellar war. The Empire was young then, and a hard-won victory resulted in a new balance of power, with little territory exchanged, but the Empire has since matched and in some fields exceeded the Romulans' capabilities.

Presumed weakness on the Empire's Beta Quadrant borders, and expeditions to exploit this, led to the bloodiest war in Empire history in 2362-3. Nearly 30% of the Romulan Star Empire fell to Starfleet in a series of brutal battles, and only the sheer volume of the Romulan fleet, and the distraction provided by Klingon intervention, prevented Romulan space from being completely overrun.

A buffer-zone, heavily patrolled and monitored on both sides, is now in effect. Of all the Empire's adversaries, the Romulans are best equipped to resume hostilities, constantly expanding their own territory along their own Beta Quadrant borders

Annexed Worlds

A large number of unexceptional worlds were claimed by the Empire in the most recent conflict, forming part of the old Neutral Zone. One of these, however, is believed to be the ancient homeworld of the fabled Ikonians, and is the site of much Imperial research and study.

So far, no captured planet has yielded significant quantities of the materials necessary to manufacture the Romulans' most deadly weapon, the cloaking device. Imperial ships currently have to make do with outdated models, salvaged from the Klingons or acquired on the black market, or that rarest prize - a new version, captured from a Romulan star-ship.

All Romulan ships are under strict orders to destroy their cloaking device, rather than allow it to fall into the hands of the Empire.