The Romulans - Episode I: The New Republic

[Aerandariel]

CHAPTER III

The Romulan-Reman Borderlands
Treizen 28th, 1555 CE

The city-state of Remus, some several hundred kilometers away from the burgeoning Romulan Republic, was becoming increasingly alarmed at the sudden rise in power in Romulus and feared that the new Republic would try to take over - whether diplomatically or by force - the rest of the city-states of the Quadrant. Even so, Remans had grown to distrust, even outright hate, the Romulans and did everything they could to undermine Romulus.

With the establishment of the Romulan Republic, the Remans organized their own nation, the Reman Hegemony, to try and check Romulus's influence. War seemed inevitable between Romulus and Remus, and tensions were further inflamed by the news that in coming days the city-state of Sienae would be putting to its citizens a referendum to join the Romulan Republic. The Remans were not amused by this move, and sought to gain its own allies. However, unlike Romulus who was expanding via diplomacy, Remus was expanding by force. Within two weeks after the formal establishment of the Romulan Republic, the Hegemony stormed the city-state of Nequencia, overthrew the local government there and established a Reman governor. At the same time, the Remans appeared poised to attempt to march on Sienae to prevent that city from joining the Romulans.

With this activity occurring in the southern end of the Quadrant, panic filled the northern cities of Brea and Nimbus and the southwestern city of Virinat. Officials in all three cities became worried that if the Romulans and Remans were that intent on expanding their power in the Quadrant, it would only be a matter of time before their armies came marching on their cities' doorsteps. The three cities formed a pact called the Trimetro Alliance, a defensive pact which the three cities thought would guarantee one another's safety in case of war. The Alliance increased the strength of local militias and began to organize financial efforts when and if war came.

For its part, Romulus watched these events unfold with some measure of confusion. Though they figured Remus would act so aggressively, the Romulans did not understand the panic and worry of the Alliance cities. Proconsul Tydarius largely ignored the Alliance and focus squarely on the issue with Remus, as the Hegemony seemed very interested in trying to stop the entrance of Sienae into the Republic. Tydarius sent a small Romulan army to Sienae to demonstrate the Republic's resolve and to perhaps show the Remans that the Romulans had some muscle to flex and were not afraid to use it.

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Vintyr 4th, 1555 CE

With the year ending, the Quadrant found itself divided in thirds. The Trimetro Alliance possessed the most territory, covering the north and western parts of the Quadrant. The Romulan Republic controlled the center of the Quadrant and the Reman Hegemony controlled the eastern part of the Quadrant. All eyes appeared to now lay upon the central city of Sienae, which was voting on whether or not to join the Romulan Republic. The Remans were not willing to see that happen, and threatened to attack Sienae if it voted to join Romulus. The Romulans threatened a reprisal if such an invasion was initiated.

For hours throughout the 4th, officials in every one of the Quadrant powers watched as Sienae made its decision. The Remans reported that they had assembled 12,000 men to the outskirts of Sienae. The Romulans had fewer troops facing them, but would likely have the advantage of playing defense. Hegemony gunboats were seen patrolling waters thought to be under the control of the Republic. At a quarter past nine in the evening, the final decision had been declared in Sienae…

It was joining the Republic.

The Remans were furious. The Romulans were pleased but nervous at the same time. The Alliance was stunned. Sienae, with little militia to speak of and with a much smaller Romulan army separating it from a stronger Reman army, stood on its feet and defied the threats of the Hegemony.

45 minutes crucial minutes passed. The Quadrant waited with bated breath to see if the Hegemony would open fire. In the meantime, Reman and Romulan diplomats scurried back and forth, trying to forestall the impending conflict. The two leaders of Romulus and Remus met in a private video conference to try and come to some agreement.

"The people of Sienae made their choice, General Obisek. I do not understand what it is you are so angered by." said Proconsul Tydarius.

Facing him on the other side of the viewscreen was the commanding General of the Reman Hegemony, Obisek, a tall, proud man who hated the Romulans with a passion. "We had a vested interest in the independent well-being of Sienae, Proconsul. Your Republic has interfered with our interests, and we intend to make our displeasure generally known!" he exclaimed.

Tydarius leaned forward in his chair, and said, "By opening fire on Republic troops and worse yet opening fire on civilians? Come now, General, you cannot tell me that you are so blinded in your hatred for us that you would be willing to put civilian lives at risk simply because you want to settle a score with us."

"It is YOU who are putting civilian lives at risk with this action! It is YOU and your weak Republic government that has brought us to this point! The Hegemony will not stand for this treachery!" Obisek exclaimed.

"Do you not realize that if war breaks out here and it gets to the point where I know you are wanting to take this that there is bound to be an international 'peacekeeping' force at our doorstep? Come now, Obisek, I know you have seen what happened in distant Tambossa. In Wadiyah? Kaljurand? I am not willing to see that happen here. Especially over something as petty as being mad over a free people making a choice that could have just as easily gone the other way." Tydarius fired back.

Obisek began to become even more visibly angry as Tydarius spoke. After several seconds of silence, Tydarius asked, "Is there no way that you and I can come to some kind of arrangement so that our peoples do not start slaughtering each other wholesale?"

"Yes," replied Obisek, "you and your Republic not interfere with the trade matters and dealings between the city of Sienae and the Hegemony. That you give Sienae autonomy to handle its own affairs."

"We have no problem about letting local officials handle affairs in their jurisdiction. But Sienae is now a Romulan Republic city, and as such our laws apply to it just as their own laws applied before. Now if it is trade you are so worried about then I have no issue with taking before our Senate a treaty that affirms your Hegemony as a favored trading partner and to lift most tariffs on goods coming out of the Hegemony and vice versa." Tydarius said.

Obisek replied, "Not good enough."

The Proconsul let out a heavy sigh, then said, "Then what else do you have in mind?"

"Your Republic can control the city, but it is not to be garrisoned." Obisek said.

"Are you kidding me? Why in the hell would you want such a stipulation?" Tydarius snapped.

Obisek said, "I am not willing to allow you to use Sienae as a stationing post so that the Republic can launch attacks against the Hegemony."

"I have no interest in doing that anyway, General. We do not use military force except when provoked, much like your trying to do now." Tydarius said.

Obisek lifted his head slightly, sneered, and replied, "So you say. But for now, consider this issue resolved... for now." The viewscreen cut off. Tydarius shuddered, then began to call on his military advisers for a report on the situation on the ground. The Romulan commanders reported that Reman troops had begun to back off from their positions and turn back toward Remus. Some injuries were reported, but were determined to not be of military origin. As dawn broke on the 5th, the Romulans could claim a small victory; they had survived the first test of their resolve. The Remans were still seething, but even they realized that war would not have been the best policy... at least not yet.