User:MJ/sandbox/Earth-Romulan War
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| Earth-Romulan War | |
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July 24th 2155-November 9th 2160 |
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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.
The Battle of Rator
The Battle of Krios
The Battle of Sol
On December 31st 2155, the Romulans launched an unprovoked and daring attack against Starfleet at the heart of the Commonwealth in the Sol system. A fleet of Romulan ships broke passed the outer defence detection grid and made its way across the system. In orbit of Mars, as well as in orbit of Earth, Starfleet prepared its fleet and the two sides met in a deadly and fierce battle. However the Romulans had not been properly prepared for Earth's government to use its defence systems. As a result the Romulan force was made to retreat after taking heavy losses, nevertheless the Romulans were able to give Earth and its forces a bloody nose. A number of nuclear warheads were fired against Earth and a number of Starfleet ships and civilian vessels were lost during the fight.
The Second Battle of Deneva
At the start of 2156, Endeavour led Earth's forces in defending Deneva colony from its second attack. The battle was fierce and resulted in an Earth victory, but again a number of lives, ships and resources were lost. The colony was heavily damaged and discussions about abandoning it were discussed shortly thereafter.
The Battle of Kreetassa
On 20th February 2156, the starship Endeavour intercepted a distress call from the Kreetassan homeworld. When they arrived they discovered the Romulans had attempted to wipe out the Kreetassan military, however their assault failed due to the fact that Kreetassan technology, like Earth technology, was almost immune to the tele-capturing devices. Endeavour would go on to help the Kreetassans and this act would go on to begin diplomatic overtures which resulted in the Kreetassans joining the war effort as an ally of Earth.
The Battle of Berengaria
Annoyed and frustrated with their defeat with the Kreetassans, the Romulans next target was to take out Earth's beachhead on Berengaria VII and remove Starbase One. The attack took place on 29th February 2156. Once again the Romulans inflicted heavy damage to Earth's forces. Not only did they land troops on the planet but attempted to capture the starbase too. With thanks to their new allies, the Kreetassans, Earth was able to take back the damaged Starbase One but the Earth forces ended up loosing their battle on Berengaria VII. The Romulans ended up detonating a nuclear warhead, killing a majority of Earth's forces who were sent down to liberate the miners. The entire mining community were wiped out with their captors too.
The Battle of Devron
5th April 2156, the starship Endeavour led a combined Starfleet-Kreetassan task force to attack a Romulan repair outpost in the Devron system. The allies suffered the loss of many brave men and women while the Romulans lost their base and several ships too. The Romulans had been wiped away from the map for good from the Devron system. After spending almost three days in the system, Starfleet forces felt they had done all they could to secure it and prevent the Romulans from ever using it again. The fleet had planted a range of mines in the asteroid field along with a basic detection grid. If the Romulans did return then Starbase One would know and the Romulans would encounter a few surprises.
The Battle of Nelvana
In May 2156, Starfleet forces, led by the Endeavour tricked the Romulans in thinking that Starfleet had established a beachhead on the third planet by placing a probe on the planet's surface. The probe emitted false readings, appearing to send signals from a concealed base. The Romulans sent eight ships into the system to remove the apparent forward base. Not expecting to find a hidden Starfleet task force waiting for them, the Romulans were outgunned two-to-one and were completely obliterated.
The Battle of Altair
On June 21st 2156, a month after the Battle of Nelvana, the Earth colony on Altair VI was successfully defended. The Romulans, thinking they could have a go at taking the planet, had not expected to find a joint Earth-Andorian-Tellarite task force waiting for them at Altair. As such, after loosing ships at Nelvana and now, once again out-gunned, found themselves having to be quite ruthless to damage their enemies. Once again Endeavour led the combined coalition forces to victory, however the battle resulted in a majority of the Andorian and Tellarite forces being lost. This high cost resulted in both sides withdrawing from supporting the defence of other worlds that were not part of their own states.