A Fragile Peace

Don't know if any of the LUG-ites are reading this, but random speculation is welcome here to, especially for those who've run this adventure...

Two planets in the sector are described as having been part of the Romulan Star Empire in the early 22nd century but after the Earth-Romulan War fell on the Terran side of the Neutral Zone.

This begs the question - didn't at some point the humans and later, Federation, ask "so what did those Romulans who ruled you for decades look like?" A normal question, but one that could not have been asked (or at least answered) given that "Balance of Terror" is the first time the Romulan appearance became common knowledge....

"Well, you see, they looked.... Well nothing at all like those Vulcans. Nope not even close. I mean they wore helmets..." ;)

I'd chalk that up to YATI - Yet Another Trek Inconsistancy.

Seriously, though, it's always been my understanding (thanks to Diane Duane) that the Romulans weren't really interested in colonization or space exploration until the war, when they realized that there were other threat races out there.

Unfortunately, there's just not much canon out there :/

To which book are you referring?

I would be interested in reading it.

Sorry, rereading my post it is a little unclear what I'm referring to. I'm referring to the Last Unicorn Games Adventure Book "A Fragile Peace".

Actually, I guess I was unclear.

I really enjoy Star Trek novels from all eras. I think Diane Duane is an author of a few Trek books and I was curious if "riemero" was talking about one of her novels.

It's been years since I read it, but it sounds like "The Romulan Way".

Perhaps they prefered Romulan rule (or resented being tossed around between powers, wanting their freedom) and so did not cooperate with providing intel on the Romulans.

Over two or three generations they became accustomed to the Federation--even members perhaps--but had lost the information somehow. Having lost the planets maybe the Romulans did a "scorched earth" thing and all records were lost. The verbal information was not passed on to other generations, and was lost, even if they had wanted to tell what the Romulans were like.

Who's to say they'd ever seen Vulcans to compare with?

Yep these 'Romulans' wore this funcky grey uniform, looked humanoid. Had slightly pointed ears and a bowl haircut.

Plus they wore helmets most of the times.

You may not have even got that good of a description!

Perhaps the populace at large never dealt directly with the Romulans, having the planetary leaders to do that.

And then the planetary leaders might have kept quiet for fear of reprisal from Romulan agents still on the planet.

Just a thought.

I like the idea of the Romulans not interacting with the public, just the leaders. Seems very Romulan. A few executions and purging of records on the way out and you've got some ignorant citizens...

"You told us that Romulans looked just like Humans!"

"And?"

"They have pointed ears!"

"That's supposed to signify a separate race to us?"

"Yes!"

"Try to see it from our perspective. Remember when we mistook your black and white Humans as two different races?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Did your representatives not laugh at us?"

"That was totally unprofessional on their part."

"After that little gaffe, we didn't want to point out another 'insignificant' visual discrepancy."

Heh, that one made me laugh out loud....

For some reason I picture Archer and company debriefing them after the War.

How about simply: "Balance of Terror" was wrong?

After all, isn't this the same episode where Scotty says that the Romulans only have impulse technology, and no Warp? That means the Romulan's transit time for their little "cloak & smash" mission would have been longer than the Enterprise's five year mission!

Or maybe the whole "no one has ever seen..." is just 23rd Century urban legend.

I personally find the "no one has ever seen..." concept to be a bit too gimmicky for my tastes, yet it's a Trek favorite. After Kirk lifts the veil on the Romulans, the producers decide to reuse the gimmick to allow Picard to lift the veil from the Ferrengi.