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The Tal Shiar
Weapons of the Tal Shiar and Romulan Star Empire
Starfleet's Intellegence Report on Romulans
Talon Class Star Ship Infomoration
"Back to The Talon Project"

MILITARY

The military is the central organization in the Romulan Empire. In order to protect themselves after the appearance of the Federation in their system, the Romulan provided sweeping powers to their military. This emphasis on military service lead in turn to the social importance of military service. The military is lead by the High Command, which consists of the Naval admiralty and the Legion heads of all military legions, including the Forces Command and Tal Shiar. Members of the military are expected to follow the Chain of Command, reporting problems and progress to their immediate superiors as a matter of course.

IMPERIAL STRUCTURE

 THE IMPERIAL SENATE
 Under the coordination of Imperial Praetor. The Senate governs through the Information Directorate, and coordinates the Imperium.

IMPERIAL FLEET COMMAND
The main force of the Imperium with patrolships & battleships.

INTELLIGENCE COMMAND, THE TAL SHI'AR
Loyal to the Imperial Praetor and seeks to preserve the Imperium from within. For members who seek honor and danger by infiltrating the Federation and the Klingon Empire to gather vital information. Assignments are varied.

PRAETORIAN GUARD
 An elite force that represents the Imperium at it's best and also acts as an Honor Guard. Entrance is by recommendation only.

COLONIAL OPERATIONS
 Military and non-military objectives. Responcible for the formation of colonies.

ROMULAN DIPLOMATIC CORP.
Diplomatic Officers seek contacts for the Imperium.



THE ENEMY

After the first war with the Federation, the Romulan bent their engineering skills towards creating a ship to defend the Empire. The result was the "Warbird" class starship, acknowledged by everyone, including the Klingons and the Federation, to be one of the finest, solidest, most maneuverable warp-capable craft every designed. In addition to the impressive Warbird, the Romulan were the first species in the quadrant to develop a working cloaking device. A prototype device was stolen by the Federation shortly after it's development, but was not entirely compatible with their propulsion systems, and is not in common use in their fleet. The Klingons also succeeded in stealing the device, some time later, and successfully adapted it to their ships. Most Romulan ships are equipped with the cloaking device for the impressive tactical advantage it provides. After the war with the Federation, and several wars with the Klingons, the Romulan found their economy in desperate shape, and were forced to sign a trading agreement with the Klingons. Under the agreement, the Romulan were forced to buy a number of Klingon ships for their fleet. Though heavily armed, the Klingon ships proved to be poorly made, and the Romulan have been trying to phase them out of the fleet ever since. New break throughs in Romulan technology, new high class ships have been dominating the Romulan fleet, the Fleets of D'deridex-class Warbirds soon became standard and could rivial any ship in the Klingon or Federation fleets.



ROMULANS TRAITS

 Cautious at best, xenophobic at worst, the Romulan 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 Romulan, only a Romulan person is worthy of respect and civility, all others are discounted.

At the center of the Romulan code of behavior is the importance of "mnhei'sahe". It is a measurement of inner strength and a status symbol in the culture.

Romulan honor their word, but only when it is given to another Romulan.

Even Romulans who are not of pure blood are shunned and treated much as aliens, generally shown neither respect nor mercy. This attitude was demonstrated in the Rihannsu's Treaty of Algeron with the Federation, which was negotiated completely via subspace radio, and through the countless confrontations with the Klingons and Federation.

To Romulans honor power as much as they honor loyalty. The goal of each Rihanha is power -- if not for self or House, then always for the Empire. Romulans are always loyal to the Empire itself, not to any one person. For the Romulans, power can not be defined in the Terran terms of monetary wealth, it is the power of mnhei'sahe, and it defines the structure within Romulan society.

Mnhei'sahe is not a vague or academic term. Wars, executions and deaths of entire Households can be required to satisfy mnhei'sahe. If mnhei'sahe is always intact within the Empire,
the Romulans believe that they can never lose.




SOCIETY

Respect is the basis of Romulan 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 Romulan life. Every Romulan 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 Romulan. To an extent, Romulan social status and the rank of military personnel operate in parallel. Because the Romulans 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 "Fvillha", or chief Praetor, the Speaker of the Praetorate and the highest authority within in the Empire. Others peoples statuses are ordered according to rank and civilian status in a long chain until ending with the lowest status, that of a prisoner. Prisoners are considered even lower than slaves -- a prisoner is considered to be without honor and is almost less than Romulan.




MILITARY CIVILIAN
Federation Romulan Federation Romulan
Cadet Equatorium Citizen Hfehan
Ensign Erein Student Erredn
Lieutenant JG erei'Arrain Developer Ne'Ustlha
Lieutenant Arrain Merchant Ustlha
Lt. Commander khre'Arrain Professional El'Ustlha
Commander erei'Riov Jn. Executive Ne'Ihlrah
Captain Riov Executive Ihlrah
Fleet Captain galae'Riov Vice President Ne'Praetelh
Commodore Enarrain President Praetelh
Rear Admiral khre'Riov Landowner Praetor
Admiral Enriov Civilian Admin Ne'Deihu
Fleet Admiral khre'Enriov Civilian Coord Deihu
Director Fvillha Head Praetor Fvillha
OTHER
Ambassador El'Llaudh
Chief Ambassador Hru'Llaudh
Advisor Auethnen
Chief Advisor Hru'Auethnen