Well, let's just suppose, that the Romulan ship's warp core is only charged up and running when it is about to actually go to warp, so if it is cruising at impulse the warp core wouldn't show up on scans and appear to be a non-warp capable ship. So when it was cruising the neutral zone and taking out the outposts, it was running on a finite supply of energy (the fusion reactors use fuel and isn't nearly as powerful as a matter/antimatter reactor). They could have turned back when the Enterprise came on the seen, but their orders were to test Federation defenses, so they engaged the first Federation starship they encountered. In the ensuing battle, it's energy supply was reduced to the point to where they could no longer maintain a warp field (let's suppose that it cannot warp and cloak at the same time) it was forced to limp back to the neutral zone under impulse power. There was probably a re-supply ship waiting on their side of the neutral zone. If successful, it would have re-fueled the Bird of Prey, and they both would have returned home to tell of the effectiveness of the new plasma torpedo and cloak. But instead the Romulan commander activated a self-destruct, so the Romulans would assume that their new technology wasn't advanced enough and that more R&D was needed. Of course a tech exchange with the Klingons wouldn't hurt. The Starfleet Battles history has them exchange the cloaking tech for some old D-5 and D-6 cruisers, second line ships by Klingon standards. The Klingons probably thought they got a great deal. But the Romulans reverse engineered the Klingon ships and were soon building ships of their own design. This leads to the Hawk, War Eagle, Raptor, and Condor classes. The War Eagle was the Warbird (Bird of Prey) with "conventional" warp drive, this actually allowed it to carry more weapons (the newer techology was more compact than the old). But this is just another theory to explain what was seen on TV.
And here's my version of it, managed to cram in the equipment to make it a contender.
Romulan Bird-of-Prey
Origin: Romulan Star Empire
Class and Type: Bird-of-Prey cruiser
Commissioning Date: 2245
Lead Engineer: Anton Spletstoser
Hull Data:
Structure: 20
Size/Decks: 4/5
Length: 124.5m / Height: 22.5m / Beam: 237.5m
Complement: 205
Propulsion Data
Warp System: RWC, Warp 3/4/5 (B)
Impulse System: RIB-1, .5c (AA)
Operational Data
Atmosphere Capable: No
Cargo Units: 40
Operations System: Class 3 (D)
Life Support: Class 3 (D)
Sensor Systems: Class 2 +2/+1/0/0/0 (C)
Separation System: No
Shuttlebays: 1 aft
Shuttlecraft: 4 size worth
Tractor Beams: 1 aft
Transporters: 2 personnel, 2 Cargo, 2 Emergency
Tactical Data
Disrupters: RPFD-2 (X2, C)
Penetration: 3/3/2/0/0
PlasmaTorpedo Launchers: RPT-3 (C)
Plasma Penetration: 5/4/3/2/1
Deflector Shield: PFF-2a
Protection/Threshold: 13/2
Miscellaneous Data
Maneuver Modifiers: +1 C, +1 H, +1 T
Traits: Outdated (+2 TN to Command tests)
Background:
This is the Romulan Star Empire’s primary starship of the 2200’s. One was updated with new technology and sent across the Neutral Zone to test Federation defenses in 2266. It managed to destroy several outposts and even engaged a Constitution-class starship, which had responded to the last outpost’s distress signal. In the ensuing battle, both ships were damaged, but the Bird-of-Prey was disabled. The commander of the vessel then set the ship’s self-destruct device and destroyed the prototype less it fall into Federation hands. This represents the Bird-of-Prey that has been refit with warp drive and other modern systems. But the design still shows the signs of its age, the ship’s command systems are outdated.
Last edited by Antonsb214; 07-30-2003 at 10:02 AM.
"Retreat?! Hell, we just got here!", annonymous American Marine, WWI
"Gravity is a harsh mistress....", The Tick