User:MJ/sandbox/Earth-Romulan War
The Earth-Romulan War was one of the most devastating interstellar conflicts that took place during the mid-22nd century. The war itself was incited by the Romulan Star Empire's covert expansionism and an aggressive foreign policy. Neither side ever spoke face-to-face with a few audio exchanges taking place during the war. The war ended with victory for Earth and its allies signing a peace treaty with the Romulans.
Prelude to War
First Contact
The Romulans had shown their aggressive tendencies towards Earth when Enterprise NX-01 accidentally entered one of their star systems in early 2152. After Enterprise was heavily damaged by a mine, the Romulans revealed their presence and demanded the Earth ship leave the system at once.
The Babel Crisis
Two years later and Enterprise found itself once again engaged in with the Romulans. While escorting Tellarite diplomats to Babel through Andorian space, the ship responded to the distress call of the IGS Kumari and found the ship destroyed, it's crew all in escape pods. Further investigation by the Human vessel determined that the Romulans were attempting to destabilise the peace in the region by igniting a war between the Andorian Empire and the United Planets of Tellar. Thanks to the intervention of Captain Jonathan Archer, the opposite happened and an alliance between Tellar, Andoria, Earth and Vulcan was established to remove the Romulan threat. After discovering that the ships they were using were drones and being controlled by telepresence technology, they were able to combat the threat.
Formation of the Coalition of Planets
Realising that many of them had encountered a common threat and the need to for further stability was required for the region, many worlds banded together to discuss finalising an alliance that would not just be military based but would allow further exchanges in ideas and the development of strong trading ties. Where officials from Earth, Vulcan, Andoria and Tellar were certain they wanted to go ahead with the coalition, others like the Rigellians, Denobulans and Coridanites needed more assurances. As such it was agreed by the former worlds that this needed to be taken seriously, so as Earth was one of the most neutral parties they led the diplomatic missions to all three home worlds of the latter states. Once again the need for the alliance was reenforced as the task forces that were sent to each world were attacked by mercenaries who were hired by an unknown benefactor at the time (it was later discovered to be the Romulans). That said the diplomatic efforts of these crews were ruined when Coridan was attacked by a singular ship after it rammed into the world at high warp igniting the mass amount of dilithium crystals that the planet had. This assault left half a billion Coridanites dead and the planet in ecological ruin. Diplomatic overtures and relief efforts were made to the Coridan government, as were similar offers made to the Denobulan and Rigel governments but all three states felt that joining the alliance at that time would be fateful for them. Instead the treaty was signed by the United Earth Commonwealth, the Confederacy of Vulcan, the Andorian Empire and the United Planets of Tellar. This treaty solidified peace in the region and was one of the crowning achievements for Earth to bring the Vulcans, Andorians and Tellarites to the table to agree to ever-lasting peace especially as there had always been constant tension, friction and conflict among these nation states. The Romulan attempt of prevent the alliance was stopped and the worst fears had come to light.
The Docana Invasion
The alliance in its early days saw action quite quickly when the Andorian colony on Docana was invaded by a joint Malurian-Nassican armada. Challenger (NX-03) led the task force sent to deal with the incursion later discovered that it was in fact the Romulans who had hired mercenaries from criminal organisations from the Malurian and Nausicaan societies. At the time the allies, realising that they were not ready for a war with the Star Empire, agreed to keep the Romulan involvement in the Docana occupation quiet from public knowledge. However it did force the coalition to begin preparation for war, the conflict seemed inevitable.
The Kobayashi Maru Incident
By 2155 it was soon discovered that the Romulans were using their telepresence units again, but for other purposes. Instead of controlling their own fleet, they were using a trojan like computer virus that used telepresence technology to take control of alien ships. Several ships from the coalition were attacked, along with those that were their trading partners. The Romulans focussed their attacks on civilian trading ships, as these were easier targets, and were able to take over Klingon ships. One notable event was when Enterprise was forced to abandon the ECS Kobayashi Maru when it was attacked by Klingons ships (that were under Romulan telepresence control). If the Enterprise hadn't departed the Romulans would have gained controlled of it and more than likely used it against the coalition. This no-win scenario was one of many that would test many commanders in the coalition.
The Deltan-Carreon Conflict
Wanting to prevent the Coalition from expanding further, the Romulans diverted some of their resources in escalating a conflict between the Deltan Union and the Imperial Realms of Carrea. Stuck in the centre of the fight, the starship Challenger had to fight its way out of the region. The conflict resulted in Earth unable to formalise any treaty with the Deltans, but more tragically it caused significant loss of life between the Deltans and Carreons.
Declaration of War
Further attacks against various worlds, ships and stations by the Romulans was enough for the coalition to declare war. The Coalition declared war on July 24th 2155 and fierce fighting took place. The Vulcan, Andorian and Tellarite fleets were brutally being destroyed by the Romulans through the use of their telepresence capturing technology. Coalition scientists and engineers determined that the more advanced designs, compared to Earth ships, were more susceptible to the computer virus that allowed the Romulans to take control. All three governments withdraw a majority of their forces from the frontlines and it was down to Earth and its Starfleet to defend the Coalition.
The War
2155-2156
For most of 2155 the attacks by the Romulans were quick hit and runs against the Coalition. A majority of them gave the Romulans a victory.
One of the first attacks against an Earth world was against the colony on Gault. The Romulans attempted to destroy the farming colony but were unsuccessful thanks to the arrival of a task group led by Discovery NX-04. Eventually it was decided that the colony should be evacuated due to its lack of technology to fully defend itself without Starfleet support. The Gault colonists were taken to Alpha Centauri.
Around the same time, the Vulcan colony on Merak was attacked. Merak II was home to one of the biggest starship construction facilities in the Vulcan Confederacy (it almost rivalled the shipyards in orbit of Vulcan). The Romulans had somehow avoided detection, had circumvented pass the outer worlds in the Merak system and launched an assault against the Vulcan fleet and some of the dry-docks. Their attack hadn’t lasted long, but it resulted in heavy casualties for the Vulcan people after the Romulans had launched kamikaze attacks after they inflicted high damage. The first ship to arrive was the Atlantis NX-05. After this attack, the Coalition were able to meet the Romulans in a number of decisive battles.
Significant Battles
The First Battle of Deneva
On October 23rd 2155, a Starfleet task group of eight ships engaged fifteen Romulan ships. The Romulans attempted to use their drone ships again, this time en-masse. Starfleet were able to defend themselves and the colony against the attack and thanks to an ingenious idea, the crew of Discovery were able to trick the last two drone ships in following them into the nearby region known as the Barrens. The subspace node was effective in block the Romulans long range communications in controlling their ships. From inside the Barrens, the Discovery was able to capture one ship and with the assistance of Challenger.
The Battle of the Bassen Rift
Thanks to the capturing of the Romulan drone, the crews of Challenger and Discovery launched a covert attack after discovering the home base of the Romulan drone ship. They also discovered that the Romulans were using an artificial micro-singularity to amplify their telepresence signals from the Bassen Rift. The attack was successfully carried out, it resulted in the destruction of the Romulan base, its support craft but Challenger lost a few of its crew.