Difference between revisions of "Romulus"


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Romulus, or ch'Rihan to the natives, was the homeworld of the [[Romulan]] people and the capitol planet of the [[Romulan Star Empire]] until it was severely damaged by a supernova in 2387.  Romulans from this planet enjoyed a higher standard of living than those on the colony worlds and had better healthcare, better jobs, more opportunities in the Romulan Star Navy and [[Tal Shiar]].  On the other side of this coin, the Romulus population was under much more scrutiny from the Senate and the Tal Shiar.  The people have been moved to another planet whose name the [[Federation]] does not know and it is unknown whether the population continues to at once enjoy both a higher and lower standard of living than the colonists.  The climate was somewhat humid, lending to some Romulan's preference for higher temperatures and greater humidity.
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Romulus, or ch'Rihan to the natives, was the homeworld of the [[Romulan]] people and the capitol planet of the [[Romulan Star Empire]] until it was severely damaged by a supernova in 2387.  <font color="#ffc74e">Romulans from this planet enjoyed a higher standard of living than those on the colony worlds and had better healthcare, better jobs, more opportunities in the Romulan Star Navy and [[Tal Shiar]].  On the other side of this coin, the Romulus population was under much more scrutiny from the Senate and the Tal Shiar.  The people have been moved to another planet whose name the [[Federation]] does not know and it is unknown whether the population continues to at once enjoy both a higher and lower standard of living than the colonists.  The climate was somewhat humid, lending to some Romulan's preference for higher temperatures and greater humidity.
  
 
== Economy ==
 
== Economy ==
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=== Cities ===
 
=== Cities ===
[[Image:HallofState.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The Hall of State at Ki Baratan]]'''Ki Baratan'''<br>
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</font>[[Image:HallofState.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The Hall of State at Ki Baratan]]'''Ki Baratan'''<br>
 
'''Ki Baratan''', originally called '''Dartha''', was the capitol city of the [[Romulan Star Empire]].  People in this city were under even more scrutiny from the Tal Shiar than elsewhere on Romulus due to the government offices being located in this city.  It was where the Romulans first settled the planet after the journey from Vulcan and was originally little more than a seaside village.  It was bordered by the Apnex Sea on one side, plains to the north, and hills to the east and south.  Ki Baratan attracted all manner of peoples, from government officials and military personnel, to senators and noble families, to the commoners who simply wished to see the capitol for a day.  Over twenty million Romulans once called this place home, a good many of them employed by the government.  Over a thousand years ago, Ki Baratan was rebuilt as a more structured and planned community to appeal to the Romulans' sense of organization, efficiency, and grandeur and as such many of the most magnificent buildings and statues were from this time period.  Walking the streets of Ki Baratan and looking upon large buildings constructed in an ornate style topped with towers one could gain a sense of wonder, which was in fact the entire point.  On the less traveled roads, the buildings became smaller with a more personal feel to them yet keeping the sense of grandeur in their designs.
 
'''Ki Baratan''', originally called '''Dartha''', was the capitol city of the [[Romulan Star Empire]].  People in this city were under even more scrutiny from the Tal Shiar than elsewhere on Romulus due to the government offices being located in this city.  It was where the Romulans first settled the planet after the journey from Vulcan and was originally little more than a seaside village.  It was bordered by the Apnex Sea on one side, plains to the north, and hills to the east and south.  Ki Baratan attracted all manner of peoples, from government officials and military personnel, to senators and noble families, to the commoners who simply wished to see the capitol for a day.  Over twenty million Romulans once called this place home, a good many of them employed by the government.  Over a thousand years ago, Ki Baratan was rebuilt as a more structured and planned community to appeal to the Romulans' sense of organization, efficiency, and grandeur and as such many of the most magnificent buildings and statues were from this time period.  Walking the streets of Ki Baratan and looking upon large buildings constructed in an ornate style topped with towers one could gain a sense of wonder, which was in fact the entire point.  On the less traveled roads, the buildings became smaller with a more personal feel to them yet keeping the sense of grandeur in their designs.
 
<br><br>
 
<br><br>
'''Dal'gareth'''<br>
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<font color="#ffc74e">'''Dal'gareth'''<br>
 
Dal'gareth was the largest city on Romulus before the supernova, and thus the most influential in politics and in culture.  Many celebrities lived here, and many clothing designers were from Dal'garath, located in the southern region of Bral'kar on the coast of the Nelrek Ocean.  It is also what equates to a whaling town as well as a fishing town and has a maritime museum, showing the evolution of Romulan sailing techniques.
 
Dal'gareth was the largest city on Romulus before the supernova, and thus the most influential in politics and in culture.  Many celebrities lived here, and many clothing designers were from Dal'garath, located in the southern region of Bral'kar on the coast of the Nelrek Ocean.  It is also what equates to a whaling town as well as a fishing town and has a maritime museum, showing the evolution of Romulan sailing techniques.
 
<br><br>
 
<br><br>
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Many game hunters and assassins lived in '''Dinala''' due to the large game preserves surrounding the city.  Many Tal Shiar operatives honed their skills here while hunting competitions regularly took place in the forests surrounding Dinala.
 
Many game hunters and assassins lived in '''Dinala''' due to the large game preserves surrounding the city.  Many Tal Shiar operatives honed their skills here while hunting competitions regularly took place in the forests surrounding Dinala.
 
<br><br>
 
<br><br>
'''Krocton Settlement'''<br>
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</font>'''Krocton Settlement'''<br>
 
The '''Krocton Settlement''' was an urban area on Romulus that held over 1 million people.  The Romulan dissident movement, aided by Ambassador Spock, was active in this settlement and spread quietly throughout the surrounding region.  [[Captain]] Picard and then-[[Lieutenant Commander]] Data came to Krocton to find Ambassador Spock and bring him back to the [[Federation]] for trial, not knowing about the dissident movement.
 
The '''Krocton Settlement''' was an urban area on Romulus that held over 1 million people.  The Romulan dissident movement, aided by Ambassador Spock, was active in this settlement and spread quietly throughout the surrounding region.  [[Captain]] Picard and then-[[Lieutenant Commander]] Data came to Krocton to find Ambassador Spock and bring him back to the [[Federation]] for trial, not knowing about the dissident movement.
 
<br><br>
 
<br><br>
'''Caranam'''<br>
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<font color="#ffc74e">'''Caranam'''<br>
 
The most interesting thing about the city of '''Caranam''' were its walls that surrounded the city.  The [[Romulan]]s claimed that the stones for the walls were brought to Caranam from the D'Kalla Mountains to the northwest.  Visitors often climbed to the parapets by means of the stairs and looked out over the sands to the north as the Caranamsu did long ago while on the lookout for invasion.  Visitors often noticed the gren-brown color of the stones on the northeast corner of the city which were stained with the blood of many Romulans in an ancient battle.  The basis for this was a ballad by L'Reanas, a great storyteller on Romulus.
 
The most interesting thing about the city of '''Caranam''' were its walls that surrounded the city.  The [[Romulan]]s claimed that the stones for the walls were brought to Caranam from the D'Kalla Mountains to the northwest.  Visitors often climbed to the parapets by means of the stairs and looked out over the sands to the north as the Caranamsu did long ago while on the lookout for invasion.  Visitors often noticed the gren-brown color of the stones on the northeast corner of the city which were stained with the blood of many Romulans in an ancient battle.  The basis for this was a ballad by L'Reanas, a great storyteller on Romulus.
 
<br><br>
 
<br><br>
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*Atremon Trel
 
*Atremon Trel
 
*Ch'eren
 
*Ch'eren
*Fel'voth
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*Fel'voth</font>
*Rateg
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*Rateg<font color="#ffc74e">
 
*Varald
 
*Varald
  
 
=== Bodies of Water ===
 
=== Bodies of Water ===
 +
</font>
 
*Apnex Sea
 
*Apnex Sea
*Balsanra River
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*Balsanra River<font color="#ffc74e">
 
*D'Gansar River
 
*D'Gansar River
 
*Garenak Sea
 
*Garenak Sea
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*Sen'lanaarc Mountains
 
*Sen'lanaarc Mountains
 
*T'aresh Mountains
 
*T'aresh Mountains
*Wall of Fire Mountains
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*Wall of Fire Mountains</font>
**Firefalls of Gal'Gathong
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**Firefalls of Gal'Gathong<font color="#ffc74e">
  
 
=== Other ===
 
=== Other ===
 
*D'vrex Archipelagoes
 
*D'vrex Archipelagoes
*Keldrak Peninsula
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*Keldrak Peninsula</font>
  
 
=== Flora ===
 
=== Flora ===
*Aleberry bush
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*Aleberry bush<font color="#ffc74e">
 
*Gresh
 
*Gresh
 
*Melanth
 
*Melanth
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*Ter'ak
 
*Ter'ak
 
*Thrai
 
*Thrai
**Northern Thrai
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**Northern Thrai</font>
 
*Veruul
 
*Veruul
  
 
=== Points of Interest ===
 
=== Points of Interest ===
'''Ar'hael Desert'''<br>
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<font color="#ffc74e">'''Ar'hael Desert'''<br>
'''Ar'hael''' was a large desert on Romulus located near the equator.  It was one of the few deserts on Romulus that the Romulan people were not able to terraform due to the mountain range on its northern and eastern side, preventing rainfall from the south due to their sheer size.  On the west, powerful winds from the White sea drove away rain from the Garenak sea from the east.  This created a large desert several million kilometers in size.  The lowest point in the desert was the '''Valley of Fire''' which was known to reach temperatures of 54C (130F).
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'''Ar'hael''' was a large desert on Romulus located near the equator.  It was one of the few deserts on Romulus that the Romulan people were not able to terraform due to the mountain range on its northern and eastern side, preventing rainfall from the south due to their sheer size.  On the west, powerful winds from the White sea drove away rain from the Garenak sea from the east.  This created a large desert several million kilometers in size.  The lowest point in the desert was the '''Valley of Fire''' which was known to reach temperatures of 54C (130F).</font>
 
<br><br>
 
<br><br>
 
'''Hall of State'''<br>
 
'''Hall of State'''<br>
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The Firefalls of Gal'Gathong were located in the broad, beautiful valley that was known by the ominous name of H'aareld va Groth'Chok, translated to The Mouth of Perdition.  The Firefalls were one of the galaxy's most amazing sights, generated by the Wall of Fire's only remaining active volcano, Karethvek.  An enormous flow of lava cascaded over the mountain's northern cliff in a constant stream of magma, creating a literal firefall.  Some of the magma spread and cooled at the base of the cliff, but most of it seeped back into the cracks in the ground to sink into the heart of the planet.  Romulans came from all over the quadrant to see the Firefalls and bathe in the valley's hot springs, whose heat was of course generated by Karethvek.  Other than the Firefalls, the H'aareld va Groth'Chok hardly deserved its name as the flora made the valley a beautiful place to enjoy the springs.  Many Romulans mourned the loss of such a landmark.
 
The Firefalls of Gal'Gathong were located in the broad, beautiful valley that was known by the ominous name of H'aareld va Groth'Chok, translated to The Mouth of Perdition.  The Firefalls were one of the galaxy's most amazing sights, generated by the Wall of Fire's only remaining active volcano, Karethvek.  An enormous flow of lava cascaded over the mountain's northern cliff in a constant stream of magma, creating a literal firefall.  Some of the magma spread and cooled at the base of the cliff, but most of it seeped back into the cracks in the ground to sink into the heart of the planet.  Romulans came from all over the quadrant to see the Firefalls and bathe in the valley's hot springs, whose heat was of course generated by Karethvek.  Other than the Firefalls, the H'aareld va Groth'Chok hardly deserved its name as the flora made the valley a beautiful place to enjoy the springs.  Many Romulans mourned the loss of such a landmark.
 
<br><br>
 
<br><br>
'''Mount Al'kathel'''<br>
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<font color="#ffc74e">'''Mount Al'kathel'''<br>
 
Located in the northern regions of Brel'kar and the highest point on the planet, '''Mount Al'kathel''' attracted many rock climbers and mountain climbers, all eager to test themselves against the best.  Competitors often trained here as Al'kathel offered some of the steepest slopes on the planet.
 
Located in the northern regions of Brel'kar and the highest point on the planet, '''Mount Al'kathel''' attracted many rock climbers and mountain climbers, all eager to test themselves against the best.  Competitors often trained here as Al'kathel offered some of the steepest slopes on the planet.
<br><br>
+
<br><br></font>
 
'''Jeweled Forest of Ath'rashaar'''<br>
 
'''Jeweled Forest of Ath'rashaar'''<br>
 
Like the Wall of Fire, the Allerash Mountains contained many long-dead volcanoes but also contained a few dormant ones.  Millions of years ago, one of these volcanoes erupted, completely covering a nearby small forest with magma and ash.  The trees died, but as time passed, the minerals in the lava and ash seeped into the wood, petrifying and preserving it.  Eventually the soft stone around the petrified trees eroded away, leaving the trees glittering and sparkling in the light of the sun and moons due to tiny flakes of mica. The result was a forest of "jeweled" trees, unlike anything else in the galaxy.
 
Like the Wall of Fire, the Allerash Mountains contained many long-dead volcanoes but also contained a few dormant ones.  Millions of years ago, one of these volcanoes erupted, completely covering a nearby small forest with magma and ash.  The trees died, but as time passed, the minerals in the lava and ash seeped into the wood, petrifying and preserving it.  Eventually the soft stone around the petrified trees eroded away, leaving the trees glittering and sparkling in the light of the sun and moons due to tiny flakes of mica. The result was a forest of "jeweled" trees, unlike anything else in the galaxy.
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More recently in the early 2380s, Romulus began sending athletes to the [[Federation]] to compete in the Olympics.  Thus the three powers, Federation, Klingon and Romulan, kept the peace between them.
 
More recently in the early 2380s, Romulus began sending athletes to the [[Federation]] to compete in the Olympics.  Thus the three powers, Federation, Klingon and Romulan, kept the peace between them.
 
<br><br>
 
<br><br>
However, in 2387, a star close to Romulus called Hobus went supernova, damaging the planet and its star, Eisn.  Romulus is now uninhabitable due to the devastating nature of a supernova, and Eisn is unable to sustain life on that world.  Ambassador Spock attempted to warn the Romulan Senate but was turned away, largely due to the [[Tal Shiar]]. However, a few weeks later, the Romulans saw that Hobus was increasing in mass and becoming more unstable which led to them admitting that Spock was indeed correct.  A scientist predicted that it would take a few weeks at most for the shockwave to reach Romulus.  Thus, they began to make preparations.  Farmers took their prize animals and seeds for crops.  Families took heirloom possessions and photographs.  Though not many knew how many people managed to survive, the praetor was one of them and he promised the empire would survive and that he would find his people a new home.
+
<font color="#ffc74e">However, in 2387, a star close to Romulus called Hobus went supernova, damaging the planet and its star, Eisn.  Romulus is now uninhabitable due to the devastating nature of a supernova, and Eisn is unable to sustain life on that world.</font> Ambassador Spock attempted to warn the Romulan Senate but was turned away, largely due to the [[Tal Shiar]]. However, a few weeks later, the Romulans saw that Hobus was increasing in mass and becoming more unstable which led to them admitting that Spock was indeed correct.  A scientist predicted that it would take a few weeks at most for the shockwave to reach Romulus.  Thus, they began to make preparations.  Farmers took their prize animals and seeds for crops.  Families took heirloom possessions and photographs.  Though not many knew how many people managed to survive, the praetor was one of them and he promised the empire would survive and that he would find his people a new home.
  
 
{{MemoryAlpha}}
 
{{MemoryAlpha}}

Revision as of 01:03, 19 March 2013

Romulus, or ch'Rihan
Romulus-Orbit.jpg
Class:

Class-M

Type:

Planet

Status:

Damaged

Satellites:
Circumference:

39,843 km (24,757 miles)

Gravity:
(Comparative to Earth Sea Level)

1G

Landmass Percentage:

31 Percent

Length of Day:

25 hours

Location:

Hobus System, Beta Quadrant

Affiliation:

Romulan Star Empire

Romulus-Surface.jpg
The Krocton Settlement
[ Source ]


Romulus, or ch'Rihan to the natives, was the homeworld of the Romulan people and the capitol planet of the Romulan Star Empire until it was severely damaged by a supernova in 2387. Romulans from this planet enjoyed a higher standard of living than those on the colony worlds and had better healthcare, better jobs, more opportunities in the Romulan Star Navy and Tal Shiar. On the other side of this coin, the Romulus population was under much more scrutiny from the Senate and the Tal Shiar. The people have been moved to another planet whose name the Federation does not know and it is unknown whether the population continues to at once enjoy both a higher and lower standard of living than the colonists. The climate was somewhat humid, lending to some Romulan's preference for higher temperatures and greater humidity.

Economy

Romulus' economy greatly included farming and livestock for the population to make into food, as well as taverns, several shipyards, and many military installations as well as government offices. Needless to say, included in the economy are restaurants, clothing manufacturers, and other areas needed for a functioning society.

Food and Liquor

The famed Romulan ale
See also: Farmer Gurri

The making of liquor and farming, both crops and livestock, employed some 38 percent of Romulan workers. This did not include their children who assist with the chores after their studies are done, as every set of hands is needed. Crops included aleberries, fruits, and grains, the aleberries and vareet made into Romulan Ale by the people who grow them, similar to winemakers on Earth and other planets. The farmers and drink makers of Romulus typically lived in smaller townships, due to the amount of land needed for the plants and animals. However, after the supernova, most of these crops and animals were lost and now are in the process of being replaced with others such as cows, chickens, or wheat.



Government Employees

Government employees, including those in the shipyards, made up around 37 percent of the workforce on Romulus. Perhaps the largest parts of this group were the Tal Shiar and the Star Navy Shipyards, though there were shuttlecraft shipyard found in cities such as Mirek and Varald where old sailboats were made and the shipyards were converted to shuttlecraft yards.

Tal Shiar Headquarters

The government offices made up around 43 percent of the economy of Romulus. The location of the Tal Shiar headquarters was unknown, however it was believed to have employed around 900,000 people who did not dress in their uniforms until they showed up to work for their own safety. The R&D Division was the most populous as it was full of scientists and engineers working on projects for use by the Tal Shiar. There were also prisoners of war and captured civilians from other powers such as the Federation, the Klingon Empire, the Cardassian Union, the Gorn Hegemony and others for experimental study for bioweapons against these peoples to be used by the Tal Shiar and the Romulan Star Navy. The Mind Warfare Division was the smallest division given the sensitive nature and ethical questions surrounding it and its members were selected very carefully. Also, Tal Shiar agents out of uniform constantly walk the streets of Romulus, ensuring the loyalty of the population, creating a mood of paranoia and suspicion.

Local Governments

Governments of the many cities and provinces of Romulus did not have much power considering how close they were to the heart of the Imperial government. The Imperial government often overrode orders of the local governments and did not give them prior notice. However, the local governments took their frustration out on the local people by adding to their already high taxes. This does not mean that the local governments were all well run; some of the city and provincial governments allowed situations like hovercar garages or roads in disrepair to become extreme before actually handling the situations, and then took a longer time than necessary finishing the job.

Senate and Imperial Government

See also: Romulan Senate

The Senators themselves were born to their positions although they are a small fraction of the government. Indeed, it was their various aides, secretaries, janitors, and other employees that make up most of the senatorial staff. The aides had some influence with their employers, though not much and were careful to not overuse it as they may be killed for doing so. The secretaries knew much about what happens in each senator's day, however, they did not always know the details as half the time it is not written down out of self-preservation. Each aide and secretary kept their silence to keep themselves alive, unless they happened to be a part of the dissident movement.

Romulan Star Navy Shipyard

The shipyard found in orbit of Romulus was destroyed at the time of the supernova but when it was there it employed some 3 million Romulan workers in positions of engineer, secretary, and administration jobs among others. Many of the Romulan warships in the Star Navy were built here, though the ones that were in progress in 2387 were also destroyed.

Gurrhim tr'Sedhri

Gurrhim tr'Sedhri owned around 60 percent of the farms for both crops and livestock on the planet, causing many to call him Farmer Gurri and criticize him for being a simple farmer when he could have been much more. However, his family and clan were large enough that they consolidated under one person to take care of everyone in the family, and that was Gurrhim. Gurrhim and his clan became so rich that he opened his own research and development office, officially for the genetic engineering of plants and animals. However, he also created technologies such as a device that cloaked itself, its carrier, deadened any listening devices, stored around 500 petabytes of information, along with several other functions. However, Gurrhim died when Hobus went nova and it is unknown whether any of his property survived.

Geographical Data

Continents and Islands

The Brel'kar Continent

The continent of Brel'kar was the largest continent on the planet Romulus occupying half the eastern hemisphere and as such was the most ecologically diverse. It was also home to the larger part of the population and the home to the highest point on the planet, Mount Al'kathel. The northernmost parts of Brel'kar reached almost to the artic region of Romulus and was home to many types of artic wildlife such as the Northern Thrai. The temperature was frigid and, similar to the northern and southern regions on other planets, night was constant in the winter though summer provided much sunshine as a balance to this. The winds coming off the polar ice cap made for some frigid weather, though they met warmer air coming over the mountains, creating summer thunderstorms and winter snow. The natives of this region, once called the the T'areshi, thought it was a tundra half the year and a cold swamp the other half. Floods were always a danger in this region.

The Tallasreld region surrounded two inland seas, the Sea of Vrekess and the Sherdak Sea and the climate ranged from northern temperate to temperate. Great forests dominated the landscape where it was not devoted to farming or urban areas. Trees ranged from smaller fruit trees to enormous evergreens, the largest of which were found near the T'aresh mountains. The area near the T'aresh mountain range could be quite cold due to the elevation and location though the rest of this area remained warmer because of the many seas in the region. These seas lent to an enormous amount of rainfall, meaning it was good for agriculture including the aleberries and the golden wheat-like grain that was also used in the ale, vareet.

The capitol city of Ki Baratan
South of the Thal'Tharin river and Sherdak Sea the landscape became plains occasionally broken by groups of hills. This region, along with the central plains, produced around one-third of the naturally-grown food on Romulus. Waves of grains could have been seen for months at a time in this part of the planet along with hundreds of farm animals including domestic hlai. Though they were not suited for agriculture, the wooded hill areas housed many of the ale makers of Romulus due to the natural springs located there, though the exact plants that were used in each brewery's recipe were closely guarded secrets. In the towns on the plains one may have found a bakery instead of a brewery. Brel'kar breads and pastries were among the favorites on the planet. The western plains of Brel'kar were also the most populous on the planet due to the large capitol city of Ki Baratan located on the Apnex Sea.



The eastern hills and Kae'Raktar Mountain Range on Brel'kar filled the eastern central part of the continent, and only a small strip of flat land existed between the hills and the ocean. Though this part of Brel'kar continent was cut by the equator, the altitude caused the temperature to be much cooler than one might expect and created a very pleasant climate. Many small forests were here, from evergreen forests in the higher elevations and more jungle-like growths at lower elevations.

The central plains and southern woodlands seemed bucolic next to the western coastal plains, even desolate in places. Dwellings here were relatively sparse, and few of them would have qualified as cities. Instead, much of the land was given over to large robotic farms that grew stapes of the Romulan diet including gresh, a ricelike vegetable. In places it was left wild, such as the southernmost part of the continent which contained several swampy jungle areas that were largely unexplored. However, it was rumored that the Tal Shiar had a few facilities in those swamps.

The Novok Continent

The Novok continent was home to the Ar'hael Desert and to the lowest point on the planet, the Valley of Fire. Running parallel to Brel'kar, it was a narrow, mountainous continent and was once part of a much larger landmass. Novok, Folloss, and Umrika were believed to have formed a single continent that would have dwarfed any of the other continents. Millions of years ago geological forces ripped this megacontinent apart, forming three smaller continents. Other tectonic activity wore away at Novok, tearing islands away from it here and there, eventually forming several archipelagoes, including the D'vrex. What remained was a thin strip of land supported by a large chain of mountains, the Sen'lanarc. Where the continent "bent" slightly in the middle, a desert, the Ar'hael, was formed.

Much of the northern part of Novok had a tropical or subtropical climate due to the equator "slicing" the continent. Only the northern third qualified as temperate but many who lived here believed it was the nicest place on the planet to live. Three major rivers, each coming the high peaks of the Sen'lanarc Mountains, flowed through this part of Novok. The largest, the Balsanra River was one of the few northward-flowing rivers on the planet and was broad, deep, and slow. Superstitious old people told the legends of the water spirits who lived in it. In contrast to the Balsanra, the H'relgath and Tai'eld were fast, noisy, and shallow. All three supported many towns and small cities which used them for water, commerce, and fishing.

The southern third of Novok streched south and east away from the equator until it barely touched the South Mendlanar Sea. One would normally expect parts of it to have been much colder, but the currents in the Sea of Lerodan and warmer weather patterns pushing their way down from Brel'kar kept the temperature raised to temperate levels. The portions of the Sen'lanarc Mountains in this part of the continent were once mined for minerals. Coastal cities such as Ch'eren and Varald, were seaports and shipyards, but the ships they helped build shortly before the supernova were mainly shuttlecraft for space not sailboats, though a few boatsmiths could have still been found.

Folloss Continent

Folloss was the smallest landmass on Romulus and was known as the "Island Continent". It had a reputation for being a cold, inhospitable place and while this was true for the northern portions of the continent, which approached the world's artic circle, its southern subcontinent was actually near the equator, making it a very comfortable place to live, the favorite of many Romulans. It rested between the North Mendlanar, White, and Apnex Seas. Poets had often written of its "windswept shores" and the "wave-tossed souls" of its people, but the continent had much to offer that had nothing to do with the sea.

The part of Folloss that was the most well-known in Romulan culture was Fal'seras--the far northern third of the continent (generally defined as all parts north of the Anverok Mountains). The first Romulans to reach Folloss settled here centered around large community meeting halls, where people would gather in winter to pass the long nights. Although not nearly as cold as the lands of the T'areshi in the far north of Brel'kar, the Fal'seras could be quite frigid when the artic winds blew down from the North Mendlanar Sea. Farther inland on the northern bank of the Gend'eroth River was the largest city of the Fal'seras, Namreshand, which boasted a population of over a million Romulans. It was founded over 1500 years ago to serve as a trading post for the various small communities and families scattered across the Fal'seras. The Anverok Mountains themselves were mined for the mineral kavlarium and Namreshand and other towns became mining towns when it was discovered.

The Anverok Mountains in the north and the Des'Reval Mountains on the south dominated the central regions of Folloss. The combination of altitude and latitude led to a northern temperate climate. which, while appealing to some, limited the growing season of plants and led to the invention of Romulan replication technology, enabling more people to live there. The only exception to this was the Keldrak Peninsula on the western coast. The peninsula thrust out and westward as if to point an accusing finger at the continent of Valcaria, which the peninsula nearly touches. The narrow strip of water between them, the Jendranax Strait, was an important commercial route for over a thousand years. The Jendranax Current flowed from northeast to southwest and helps to warm the peninsula.

The delta of the vast D'Gansar River was called the Tel'Garch Subcontinent by Romulans. The D'Gansar River flowed almost straight south from the Des'Raval Mountains to empty itself in the Apnex Sea. Though not as fast or fierce as other rivers, the D'Gansar was the broadest river on the planet.

The Umrika Continent

Umrika was known to some as the "Southern Continent" because it was the only continent on the planet that existed almost entirely in the southern hemisphere. It ran from the hot, humid, swampy and jungle covered Beld'Rath Peninsula to the wide grasslands of the interior that the kerosh call home, to the cold southern coastal plain. Some of Romulus's most famous natural wonders, such as the Firefalls of Gal'Gathong and the Jeweled Forest of Ath'reshaar, attracted thousands of visitors to Umrika every year, some of them not Romulan.

The westernmost part of Umrika, above the western part of the Wall of Fire Mountains, was known as the Beld'Rath Peninsula. It jutted northward over the equator, approaching the continent of Valcaria but not quite touching it, similar to Novok. The Terelix Strait, the Nelrek Ocean's only gateway into the Apnex Sea, ran between them. Due to its position on Romulus's equator, Beld'Rath had an equatorial climate (except where the rising elevation near the Wall of Fire cooled the temperature somewhat). It rained frequently and in some places on an almost daily basis. and the humidity could be intense and quite uncomfortable to those not acclimated to it. Due to these weather patterns, houses and buildings tended to be large and tall, with broad windows to catch breezes and airy rooms to prevent mildew and mold. Similarly, the Romulans who live here adapted to the peninsula's climate by having a slower and more easy-going lifestyle than most Romulans and often had a much more relaxed attitude about many subjects. The Romulans would have said "a Beld'Rathian in the Tal Shiar" the same way some humans would have said "a fish out of water". Beld'Rathians were also known for their often skimpy clothes that scandalized "proper" Romulans from latitudes where thicker, more elaborate dress was the only appropriate fashion due to the climate. The Beld'Rath contained few large cities as the soil and weather discouraged such settlements. The only one of note was Fel'voth on the western coast which traded extensively with the city of Mirek on Valcaria.

Umrika's northern coast, the strip of land above the Wall of Fire next to the Apnex Sea, was one of the most temperate and delightful regions on Romulus, despite the occasional minor earthquake. Small cities and towns dotted the coast and only Bareldak Trel could have truly been considered a major city. In fact, a Praetor ordered that not other urban area in the region could grow big enough to become a metropolis as the Romulans wanted to preserve the area's country charm.

Broad, windy grasslands filled the central part of Umrika. An occasional small forest broke the monotony of the tikrik grass. Even in recent times, most of that area was wild as the Romulans preferred to maintain the region as a wildlife sanctuary. The most famous denizen was the kerosh, a horselike quadruped. Many Romulans rode tame kerosh as a hobby and some travelled to central Umrika on "nature safaris" to view the herds of wild kerosh running across the grasslands. Many Romulans views their mastery of the plains an analogy for the eventual Romulan mastery of the Endless Sky.

Romulans referred to the temperate region of Umrika between the Garenak Sea and the Allerash Mountains as East Umrika While many Romulans lived there, mostly in the cities such as Torven, the region was best known for another of Romulus's beautiful natural wonders: The Jeweled Forest of Ath'reshaar.

Valcaria

Surrounded by the cold, active waters of the North Mendlanar Sea, the crashing surf of the Nelrek Ocean, and the gentle waves of the Apnex Sea, Valcaria was a heavily populated landmass with many cities and a lively economy. Due to the number of mountains and forests, Valcaria managed to maintain a wild and unsettled quality. In shape, Valcaria vaguely resembled an enormous "L" tipped on its side. The lower bar, Southern Valcaria, pointed southwards toward Umrika and the larger bar ran roughly parallel with the equator. About half the continent's population was scattered across the wilder northlands. Very few people lived on the northernmost coast, above the Ladrosh Mountians for the winders were long and even the summers were cold.

South of the twisting, sharp peaks of the Raas'trek Mountain range, Valcaria was temperate with a fine climate marked by frequent rainstorms and several snowfalls each winter. One of the most heavily settled regions on the planet, Southern Valcaria contained three major cities, Mirek, Dorvek, and Kromtar Trel.

In primeval times, several enormous forests covered the north-central region of Valcaria. Far more recently cities and towns broke up the forests, but large portions of them were preserved, some of the areas untouched. To the Romulans, it was always a dark and brooding place where one could easily get lost in the trees and fall prey to a ter'ak--a small, agile, feline hunter--or fall into one of the rushing rivers and drown. The stereotypical north-central Valcarian was a quiet, serious, driven individual who seems to keep wildness and chaos at by seemingly sheer force of will. The people who lived here tended to support the Praetor with extreme loyalty and long service and the Tal Shiar found many recruits here.

Cities

The Hall of State at Ki Baratan
Ki Baratan

Ki Baratan, originally called Dartha, was the capitol city of the Romulan Star Empire. People in this city were under even more scrutiny from the Tal Shiar than elsewhere on Romulus due to the government offices being located in this city. It was where the Romulans first settled the planet after the journey from Vulcan and was originally little more than a seaside village. It was bordered by the Apnex Sea on one side, plains to the north, and hills to the east and south. Ki Baratan attracted all manner of peoples, from government officials and military personnel, to senators and noble families, to the commoners who simply wished to see the capitol for a day. Over twenty million Romulans once called this place home, a good many of them employed by the government. Over a thousand years ago, Ki Baratan was rebuilt as a more structured and planned community to appeal to the Romulans' sense of organization, efficiency, and grandeur and as such many of the most magnificent buildings and statues were from this time period. Walking the streets of Ki Baratan and looking upon large buildings constructed in an ornate style topped with towers one could gain a sense of wonder, which was in fact the entire point. On the less traveled roads, the buildings became smaller with a more personal feel to them yet keeping the sense of grandeur in their designs.

Dal'gareth
Dal'gareth was the largest city on Romulus before the supernova, and thus the most influential in politics and in culture. Many celebrities lived here, and many clothing designers were from Dal'garath, located in the southern region of Bral'kar on the coast of the Nelrek Ocean. It is also what equates to a whaling town as well as a fishing town and has a maritime museum, showing the evolution of Romulan sailing techniques.

Dinala
Many game hunters and assassins lived in Dinala due to the large game preserves surrounding the city. Many Tal Shiar operatives honed their skills here while hunting competitions regularly took place in the forests surrounding Dinala.

Krocton Settlement
The Krocton Settlement was an urban area on Romulus that held over 1 million people. The Romulan dissident movement, aided by Ambassador Spock, was active in this settlement and spread quietly throughout the surrounding region. Captain Picard and then-Lieutenant Commander Data came to Krocton to find Ambassador Spock and bring him back to the Federation for trial, not knowing about the dissident movement.

Caranam
The most interesting thing about the city of Caranam were its walls that surrounded the city. The Romulans claimed that the stones for the walls were brought to Caranam from the D'Kalla Mountains to the northwest. Visitors often climbed to the parapets by means of the stairs and looked out over the sands to the north as the Caranamsu did long ago while on the lookout for invasion. Visitors often noticed the gren-brown color of the stones on the northeast corner of the city which were stained with the blood of many Romulans in an ancient battle. The basis for this was a ballad by L'Reanas, a great storyteller on Romulus.

Calanista The town of Calanista was widely known for its wine known as nectar in Federation Standard. Many others tried to imitate the quality of the Calanistsu nectar-makers, however none were able to do so. The low fields near the river's mouth provides year-round irrigation while the temperature, humidity and water quality make for perfect conditions for the ovila grain used in this unique drink. Calanistsu Nectar used to be quite expensive due to the limited amount of ovila that could be grown. Some of the Calanistsu nectar-makers were able to leave with their equipment and some seeds they needed for the nectar.

Portora
Portora was the site of the original council where S'Task and his colleagues voted on the issues facing the Romulan people. The chambers were changed to a museum after S'Task's death though nothing of the museum remains.

Kannassarum
The town of Kannassarum was noted at once for the great mountains that surrounded the city and for being the Empire's first space center. The people in Kannassarum were hardier than the rest of the population due to the need for strength, endurance, lung capacity, and adaptability. The space center continued to employ several thousand Romulans until its destruction in 2387. The Romulans are in the process of rebuilding what they lost at Kannassarum.

Peldrad
At the very tip of the Keldrak Peninsula is the city of Peldrad which was home to more than six million Romulans. The Romulans said that whatever one sought--finances, fortune, fame, or philosophy--could be found in Peldrad. Nearly three-fourths of the entertainment industry had their bases here and more performers and poets could be found on street corners and in cafes, trying to get a break. Though many entertainers and artists lived here, the city also had a thriving business and manufacturing community.

Omrashar
The largest city on the northern part of Novok was Omrashar, located on the coast of the White Sea at the delta of the Tae'eld River. One of the cities first founded by the Romulans, Omrashar retained much of its sleepy, backwater feels. Tall buildings built mainly of ivory-colored and rust-colored stone line the streets which themselves are generally narrow. These large buildings blocked the sweltering sun at all times except high noon. Many people vacationed here to take advantage of the tranquil lifestyle.

Tephren
On the D'Gansar River was the city of Tephren, one of the holiest places on Romulus. It was founded by several priestly orders a few centuries after the Romulans first landed on the planet. The city contained the largest, most ornate temples on the planet and even those who did not believe in the Romulan gods experienced awe when they saw their vastness and beauty.

Mirek
On the southern tip of Valcaria, Mirek was settled about one thousand years ago on bluffs overlooking the Terelix Strait. Due to this location, Mirek quickly became a center of trade for ships and passengers traveling through the Strait. Controlled growth allowed the city to maintain some of its oldworld features such as narrow streets that encourage foot traffic rather than vehicles, streetlamps in the early Romulan style, and spacious villas and residential apartments and houses hidden behind high walls. More recently, Mirek was a center for space travel as shuttlecraft were constructed in Mirek and a state-of-the-art spaceport at Mirek's edge provided local factories with a conduit to send parts, supplies, and completed shuttlecraft to the shipyards in orbit.

Dorvek
Located at the mouth of the river with the same name, the city of Dorvek served primarily as a commercial port. People living in the interior of Dorvek shipped large boats filled with goods to the city down the Dorvek River, which remained safe for navigation for most of its length. Workers unloaded the barges at the city and transferred the goods to the ships (whether water-based or air-based) for journeys to every town, village, and city on Romulus. Thanks to such extensive trade, Dorvek was a very cosmopolitan city where Romulans from all over the planet, and even from elsewhere in the Empire, could come to mingle. Ever-changing fashions and styles constantly preoccupied many of the citizens, especially the younger ones. Dorvek also had shuttlecraft factories that built shuttles and then sent them to the shipyards in orbit of the planet.

Kromtar Trel One of the cities which supplied goods to Dorvek, Kromtar Trel was as modern and diverse as any Romulan city yet remained best known for its artistic heritage. Craftworks and art are two of the city's economic mainstays, and the famed Imperial Academy of the Arts called Kromtar Trel home. Those wishing to experience the cultural life of the Romulan people without the frantic pace of Peldrad came here to see the sights and sip fine local ales in small, family-run cafe's.

Other Cities

  • Atremon Trel
  • Ch'eren
  • Fel'voth
  • Rateg
  • Varald

Bodies of Water

  • Apnex Sea
  • Balsanra River
  • D'Gansar River
  • Garenak Sea
  • Gend'eroth River
  • Haverelar Sea
  • H'relgath River
  • Jendranax Strait
  • Sea of Lerodan
  • Nelrek Ocean
  • North Mendlar Sea
  • Sherdak Sea
  • South Mendlar Sea
  • Tae'eld River
  • Terelix Strait
  • Thal'Tharin River
  • Sea of Vrekess
  • White Sea

Mountain Ranges

  • Allerash Mountains
  • Anverok Mountains
  • Des'haval Mountains
  • Ladrosh Mountains
  • Kae'Raktar Mountains
  • Raas'trek Mountains
  • Sen'lanaarc Mountains
  • T'aresh Mountains
  • Wall of Fire Mountains
    • Firefalls of Gal'Gathong

Other

  • D'vrex Archipelagoes
  • Keldrak Peninsula

Flora

  • Aleberry bush
  • Gresh
  • Melanth
  • Nocturnal crawling spine
  • Ovila
  • Romulan Fig Tree
  • Tikrik grass
  • Vareet
  • White Star of Night
  • Y'gora tree

Fauna

  • Bloodwing
  • Hlai
  • Kerosh
  • Mogai
  • Neirrh
  • Nhaidh
  • Ra'tar
  • Romulan Green Whale
  • Set'leth
  • Ter'ak
  • Thrai
    • Northern Thrai
  • Veruul

Points of Interest

Ar'hael Desert
Ar'hael was a large desert on Romulus located near the equator. It was one of the few deserts on Romulus that the Romulan people were not able to terraform due to the mountain range on its northern and eastern side, preventing rainfall from the south due to their sheer size. On the west, powerful winds from the White sea drove away rain from the Garenak sea from the east. This created a large desert several million kilometers in size. The lowest point in the desert was the Valley of Fire which was known to reach temperatures of 54C (130F).


Hall of State
The Hall of State was where the Imperial government offices were located and where Senate meetings and votes took place. It was also where the Senators had their offices and kept their files, unless it was sensitive information and then they might have taken it home to put on their personal computers. A round circular building whose shape every Romulan knew, it was located on one side of the Plaza of the Endless Sky and its steps rose almost 100 ft, said to be a challenge to whoever entered its halls. Only a true Romulan would be able to climb those steps and not be so winded as to stop for breath before entering. This was later to be proven to be a superstition as it required physical endurance only to climb the stairs. In the middle of the staircase stood a huge statue of Valkis, the first Romulan emperor. His hand stretched out to benevolently shelter his people from harm and as the senators pass beneath the statue each day, they were reminded of the ideals and honor which the statue represents. It also contained a massive library used by many Romulans, similar to the Library of Congress on old Earth. Unfortunately, this library was lost when the star went nova.

Plaza of the Endless Sky
The Plaza was a large open area two square kilometers wide and broad. It was the center of the government quarter and much of the city's social life was focused there. Many events and festivals took place there and many thousands of Romulans went there simply to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. On other times, speeches by the Praetor or Military personnel took place here or other civic events.

Boulevard of Heroes
The Boulevard of Heroes was noted for being so large it was capable of being seen from space and ran from the shores of the Apnex Sea to the center of Ki Baratan. War monuments and statues of historic Romulan war heroes lined the median. These included the statue of Emperor Salangen, the Laneshra Monument, and the Mausoleum of Reldek the Great among others. Though the lease on such a location was exorbitant many shops, both elegant and quaint, lined the boulevard. Grass, fruit trees, and other flora were present to beautify the boulevard, which terminated at the Plaza of the Endless Sky.

The Praetor's Palace
The side of the Plaza of the Endless Sky opposite the Hall of State was home to the Praetor's palace, formerly the Emperor's palace. This building was where the praetor lived and where he held many of his government functions. The Praetorian Guard, elite soldiers from the ground forces in the Romulan Star Navy, stood guard at every entrance to the building. The palace, which was in fact more of a compound than a single building, was almost a city in itself. It had not only offices and apartments, but gardens and recreation centers for the praetor and his guests to enjoy.

The Valley of Chula
Valley of Chula

The Valley of Chula, one of the most loved areas on Romulus, cut right through the heart of the Kae'raktar Mountains. The Valley was very large and contained picturesque views throughout the year and the most beautiful climate on the planet. At the western pass into Chula, the Praetor's Summer Palace was perched on a high hill overlooking the valley. Similar to the palace in Ki Baratan, it consisted of many buildings grouped together to form a small administrative city. The Praetor came here during the hot summer, as it was cooled by the Valley's breezes. The Tor'ren River had roiling rapids that have defied many boaters and is one of the great recreation areas in the Valley. The nearby Fareldi Brewery, perhaps the greatest of the Romulan brewers, used Tor'ren water to create their ales. Many resorts catering to the wealthy could have been found throughout the Valley.

Firefalls of Gal'Gathong and H'aareld va Groth'Chok
The Firefalls of Gal'Gathong were located in the broad, beautiful valley that was known by the ominous name of H'aareld va Groth'Chok, translated to The Mouth of Perdition. The Firefalls were one of the galaxy's most amazing sights, generated by the Wall of Fire's only remaining active volcano, Karethvek. An enormous flow of lava cascaded over the mountain's northern cliff in a constant stream of magma, creating a literal firefall. Some of the magma spread and cooled at the base of the cliff, but most of it seeped back into the cracks in the ground to sink into the heart of the planet. Romulans came from all over the quadrant to see the Firefalls and bathe in the valley's hot springs, whose heat was of course generated by Karethvek. Other than the Firefalls, the H'aareld va Groth'Chok hardly deserved its name as the flora made the valley a beautiful place to enjoy the springs. Many Romulans mourned the loss of such a landmark.

Mount Al'kathel
Located in the northern regions of Brel'kar and the highest point on the planet, Mount Al'kathel attracted many rock climbers and mountain climbers, all eager to test themselves against the best. Competitors often trained here as Al'kathel offered some of the steepest slopes on the planet.

Jeweled Forest of Ath'rashaar
Like the Wall of Fire, the Allerash Mountains contained many long-dead volcanoes but also contained a few dormant ones. Millions of years ago, one of these volcanoes erupted, completely covering a nearby small forest with magma and ash. The trees died, but as time passed, the minerals in the lava and ash seeped into the wood, petrifying and preserving it. Eventually the soft stone around the petrified trees eroded away, leaving the trees glittering and sparkling in the light of the sun and moons due to tiny flakes of mica. The result was a forest of "jeweled" trees, unlike anything else in the galaxy.

Imperial Academy of the Arts
Located on Romulus, the Imperial Academy of the Arts was situated in the city of Kromtar Trel on the continent of Valcaria. The city's culture and heritage of arts and craftwork were one of the area's economic mainstays and was made so by the presence of the Academy.

History

See also: Romulan History

The Firefalls of Gal'Gathong
Originally, Romulus was uninabited though it was very suitable for humanoid life. Some theorize that Romulus and Remus were actually one planetary body before being broken into four parts: Romulus, Remus, Pirek and Elvreng. This planetary body in the distant past is called Romii. The biggest change that geologists say that Romii existed 5.3 billion years ago when another planetary body, which was sixty percent Romii's size and in retrograde orbit, collided with it and stripped the outer crust. In less than two hundred years, the ejecta had formed a the four bodies that would come to be known as Romulus, Remus, Pirek, and Elvreng. Some evidence seems to point to this theory as Elvreng does not have the normal proportions for a moon. In fact it is rather oblong with the points at the poles as if it cooled with centrifical motion. But others still disagree and there is no way to prove it.



In the 4th century, a group of Vulcan rebels let their homeworld in search of a new home. Some of them settled Calder II, Dessica II, Draken IV, Yadalla Prime, and Barradas III. These colonies came to be known as the Debrune and were seen as a predecessor of the Romulan Star Empire. Some of the Vulcans continued their journey and settled on Romulus, a planet that seemed to everything they needed to start a new civilization and named it ch'Rihan. Others settled on ch'Rihan's twin, called ch'Havran, and tried to make a new start there, eventually evolving into the Reman people.

When Humans found it, they called the two planets Romulus and Remus, after the twin demigods in ancient Earth mythology.

Dahar Master Kor led Klingon ships to Romulus for an attack sometime prior to 2372. Other aliens that went to Romulus included Obsidian Order operative Elim Garak who worked at the Cardassian embassy there as a gardener.

During the Dominion War, Captain Benjamin Sisko was paying a criminal known as Grathon Tolar to forge a holoprogam that would lead the Romulans to believe that Romulus would be attacked less than three weeks later. Later, wounded Romulan soldiers would be taken to Romulus for medical care until Senator Kimara Cretak persuaded the Bajorans to let them establish a hospital on the moon of Derna in orbit around Bajor. In the year 2375, a Federation Alliance conference was held on Romulus to discuss the possible courses of action that could lead to victory. Later in the year, the Female Changeling in charge of the Dominion's Alpha Quadrant forces promised General Thot Gor of the Breen control of the planet Romulus if his people did well at the Battle of Cardassia.

More recently in the early 2380s, Romulus began sending athletes to the Federation to compete in the Olympics. Thus the three powers, Federation, Klingon and Romulan, kept the peace between them.

However, in 2387, a star close to Romulus called Hobus went supernova, damaging the planet and its star, Eisn. Romulus is now uninhabitable due to the devastating nature of a supernova, and Eisn is unable to sustain life on that world. Ambassador Spock attempted to warn the Romulan Senate but was turned away, largely due to the Tal Shiar. However, a few weeks later, the Romulans saw that Hobus was increasing in mass and becoming more unstable which led to them admitting that Spock was indeed correct. A scientist predicted that it would take a few weeks at most for the shockwave to reach Romulus. Thus, they began to make preparations. Farmers took their prize animals and seeds for crops. Families took heirloom possessions and photographs. Though not many knew how many people managed to survive, the praetor was one of them and he promised the empire would survive and that he would find his people a new home.

Information on what Pegasus Fleet considers Trek Canon on this topic can be found at: Memory Alpha.