star trek romulan translator

F U N Translations

Romulan translator.

The Romulans are an extraterrestrial humanoid species from the planet Romulus in the science fiction franchise Star Trek. The Romulans were biological cousins of Vulcans, descended from those who rejected Surak's reforms during the Time of Awakening. The Romulan Star Empire was the Romulan polity and one of the major powers in the galaxy by the 24th century.

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welcome to startrek translator

Startrek fan? Then this app might amaze you! This app can translate your English into the famous fictional Startrek languages of Klingon, Vulcan and Romulan.

• The Klingon language is the language spoken by the fictional Klingons in the Star Trek universe. Within the fictional universe of Star Trek, klingon is derived from the original language spoken by the messianic figure Kahless the Unforgettable, who united the Klingon home-world of QoʼnoS under one empire more than 1500 years ago. Many dialects exist, but the standardized dialect of prestige is almost invariably that of the sitting emperor. Go to the Klingon Translator
• The Vulcan language is a fictional language in the Star Trek universe. Vulcan names as spoken and written among non-Vulcans were, at best, only approximations of actual Vulcan names. Correct pronunciations using Vulcan phonemes, and accurate type-setting was extremely difficult for non-natives. Linguist Marc Okrand is credited for creating the Vulcan spoken language for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. In the actual movies, the dialogues were usually spoken in English and later dubbed to Vulcan. Go to the Vulcan Translator
• The Romulan language was used within the Romulan Star Empire. Its written form consists of square and rectangular letters. The spoken language had three dialects, and was difficult to distinguish from the Vulcan language to those not proficient in it. It was also known as Rihannsu. There was a joint project between the Romulan Reclamation Site and the Borg Reclamation Project, thus announcements, signage and crew conversations tended to be in both English and Romulan. Go to the Romulan Translator

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Romulan alphabet   

The Romulan alphabet developed from an alphabet called Kzhad created in about 1988 by Monte Thrasher ( [email protected] ), a designer and illustrator in Los Angeles, who also designed the Romulan Imperial Insignia. Monte based Kzhad on the shapes of LED displays.

The Romulan or Rihannsu language was created by Diane Duane for use in her novel about the Romulans, a race of alien beings related to the Vulcans. Both Romulans and Vulcans appear in the Star Trek movies and TV shows.

Useful phrases in Romulan/Rihannsu, from Eric Koenig

Aefvadh - Welcome Jolan'tru - Hello Veisa notht? - How are you? Veisa vihroi? - What's your name? Vikra nnea au? - Where are you from? Viduus au paeti - Pleased to meet you Brhon mnekha - Good morning Aihkhmiite mnekha - Good afternoon Draomn mnekha - Good evening Temar mnekha - Good night Bedah - Goodbye Glohhaasi' mnekha - Good luck (Good hunting - Romulans don't believe in luck) Mhiohs - Cheers/Good health (success) Phralae ru au krowert - Have a nice day (speak to you soon) Llea - Bon appetit (enjoy) Mnekha havrae - Bon voyage Rhanne na docgae - I don't understand Fhaen phralae rawn - Please speak more slowly Ekhesai - Excuse me Veherr - Sorry Hann'yyo - Thank you Vikra oiius? - Where's the toilet? Kaeha bontwe vr'qiuu'n - This gentleman/lady will pay for everything (this [person] gives for all) I-jol au - I love you Mnekha vihroi krowert - Get well soon (good health soon) Veisa phralae ... hrrau Rihannsu? - How do you say ... in [your language]? Haenither nnea rhanne! - Leave me alone! Mehre efveh! - Call the police! (summon the authorities) Oehl d-navassa'tel - Happy Birthday Tivh faerla Klivamsu - It's Greek to me (It reads like Klingon) Kholairlha mnietasi' stelama - It's raining cats and dogs (Elements throwing stars) Awevh 'le yyhle - As easy as falling off a log (Easy as play) Io stelam 'nil io cehlaer - A sandwich short of a picnic (a star short of a galaxy) Rhifv Areinnye daeohre - When pigs fly (when hell freezes)

The Romulan Way

by Diane Duane

They are a race of warriors, a noble people to whom honor is all. They are cousin to the Vulcan, ally to the Klingon, and Starfleet's most feared and cunning adversary. They are the Romulans, and for eight years, Federation Agent Terise LoBrutto has hidden in their midst.

Now the presence of a captured Starfleet officer forces her to make a fateful choice between exposure and the chance to escape: maintain her cover -- or save the life of Dr. Leonard McCoy?

Here, in a startlingly different adventure, is the truth behind one of the most fascinating alien races ever created in "Star Trek" -- the Romulans.

Buy "The Romulan Way" by Diane Duane from: Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Information about the Romulan language http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Romulan_language http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Romulan_language

Romulan <> English dictionary http://home.planet.nl/~mbedaff/romdict.htm

Romulan Universal Translator Assistant http://members.aol.com/JPKlingon/uta/utarjv.html

Free Romulan fonts http://star-trek-fonts.fanspace.com/

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Romulan Language Guide

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Star Trek’s Translator Technology, Explained

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Star Trek: Why Are Romulan and Klingon Starships So Similar?

8 coolest starships in star trek: voyager, star trek: enterprise - what happened to jonathan archer.

The Star Trek universe is filled with a plethora of various different gadgets and gizmos, wondrous technologies and wild imaginings of a distant future. They have brought audiences the dizzying speeds of warp drive , tricorders, holograms, and molecule disassembling teleportation devices . Among the ranks of most sought after technology, the Universal Translator (sometimes referred to as UT or translator circuit) is right at the top. But what exactly is it?

The universal translator, or at least the Earth's version of it, was invented sometime just before the year 2151, as a technology to help translate any desired language into whatever the native language of the user was. The year is vague, as all that is officially known about its invention was that it was used first aboard the Enterprise NX-01, the first of its name and the main vessel captained by Captain Johnathan Archer during Star Trek: Enterprise . At this time the device was still fairly experimental, and not as polished or downright invisible during the chronologically later seasons of Star Trek. It took the form of a handheld device wielded by a skilled linguist who was still needed to decipher the sometimes complex and vague translations provided. In Enterprise this linguist was the wonderful Hoshi Sato (played by Linda Park) who by herself knew and spoke around 40 languages.

RELATED: Star Trek: Who Are The Betazoids?

This early version worked by having one party speak their unknown language into the device, until it gathered enough information to build what is known as a translation matrix. The translation matrix serves as a was like a Rosetta Stone of sorts, allowing for all received communications to be translated in relative real time. Sato was involved in improving the technology in the Enterprise episode “In a Mirror, Darkly” where she created the ‘linguacode translation matrix,’ allowing for the device to anticipate the vocabulary and alien words in order to speed up the whole process. At this time, the standard Starfleet communicators were all preprogrammed with the entire database of known languages. They could thus translate languages such as Akkali without the need for the linguist or Universal Translator device.

Up until the 2230s, the universal translator was a fairly experimental device, and felt quite rudimentary in comparison to what audiences had seen during shows like The Next Generation . At this point, however, universal translators were fully functional within communicators. Rather than translating the language into text, they were able to directly translate whatever was being spoken, in the speaker's own voice. They were also built into the framework of most Federation starships being built at this time , allowing for most incoming communications to be translated live upon reception. By the 24th century however, the Universal Translator had become such an integrated part of the lives of Federation member, that they had all but become invisible. The translators were advanced enough to be included as part of each and every Starfleet combadge. This allowed for almost any language, known or unknown, to be translated wherever it was spoken using the voice of whoever spoke it.

At this time, the Universal Translator did not seem to have many limitations. It could even successfully translate the binary language of some sentient nanites in The Next Generation episode “Evolution.” However, it did struggle from time to time. The advanced Universal Translator worked by interpreting various brain patterns and waves present within most humanoid life forms.

Luckily for Starfleet (as well as the budget department), most life in the Star Trek universe is humanoid , so it was not much of an issue. However, as became apparent during the Voyager episode “Nothing Human,” the translator was completely useless in translating cytoplasmic life forms. It also apparently left a watermark of sorts, detectable to those who knew what they were looking for. Because of this, when the groundbreaking character Commander Uhura was trying to sneak past a Klingon bird of prey, she has to use a dictionary to translate her words, as the Klingons would have detected the use of a translator.

While the history of the Universal Translator is fairly well known, how exactly it works is a bit less straightforward ( even less so in the Kelvin timeline ). The early iterations could be explained fairly easily: how it records a bunch of unknown language, and then analyzes it until it’s able to work out what it means. Later iterations, however, work more and more like magic, with much less consistency as to their mechanics. There is one episode from The Next Generation called “Darmok'' which suggests the later versions work in much the same way; however, how they are able to instantly translate unknown languages in an instant, as well as magically lip sync perfect English into the mouths of these aliens is never explained.

At the end of the day the universal translator is not only a fantastic piece of kit that shows how advanced humanity has become, but it’s a bit of a necessity for storytelling. Its existence is a way to streamline interspecies communication without suggesting everyone somehow speaks English, or that everyone is fluent in thousands of languages.

MORE: Star Trek: The Story Behind The Enterprise’s Iconic Design

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A Complete History of the Romulans in Star Trek

Since The Original Series, the Romulans have been one of Star Trek's most mysterious villains, but who are they and how do they relate to the Vulcans?

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The romulans were created to be star trek 'romans', the timeline of the romulan star empire, the romulan cold war and joining forces against the dominion, the destruction of romulus changed star trek timelines.

Some of the most mysterious villains in Star Trek are the Romulans, whose history with Earth dates back to before the time of Star Trek: The Original Series . The Romulans are depicted as an oppressive group with a militant culture and are arguably even less agreeable than the Klingons. Still, they have united in common cause with the Federation in some instances.

When Star Trek: Discovery advanced the timeline by 900-plus years, the Romulan Star Empire was no more. Their home planet, Romulus, was destroyed. Thanks to Spock's efforts to expose their culture to Vulcan logic, the Romulans found a new home on Ni'var, the renamed Vulcan homeworld. In fact, along with their distant, pointy-eared cousins, the Romulans are part of the Federation in the 32nd Century. Romulans went from unseen enemies in Star Trek 's history to cohabitating with humans' first alien friends, but have plenty of story left to tell.

How Gene Roddenberry Lost Control Over the Star Trek Movies

Before Star Trek returned for its second wave of stories, the creation of the Romulans was a point of contention. In a featurette on The Original Series Blu-ray, writer and franchise legend Dorothy Fontana said freelance writer Paul Schneider invented them by taking inspiration from the ancient Roman Empire. Schneider confirmed this in Captain's Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyagers by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman, calling his creation "an extension of the Roman civilization to the point of space travel." This is the impetus for their militaristic society, drive to conquer and fanatical loyalty to the unseen Emperor.

The Romulans appeared twice in Star Trek: The Original Series and weren't fully fleshed out as adversaries until the time of The Next Generation . Originally, they looked just like Vulcans, but makeup supervisor Michael Westmore added forehead ridges and a different hairstyle. The Romulans were considered to be the villains in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , but the production opted for the more popular Klingons. They would have taken the place of the S'ona in Star Trek: Insurrection . However, Patrick Stewart objected to their inclusion thinking fans wanted a fresh villain. Ironically, the opposite was true.

The Romulans also appeared as villains in Star Trek: Nemesis , Star Trek (2009) and in Season 1 of Star Trek: Picard . Because they were originally introduced as an "offshoot" of Vulcans, Leonard Nimoy appeared as Spock on The Next Generation to send the character to make peace with them. His final mission was to reintegrate the Vulcan and Romulan cultures as one society. Star Trek: Discovery revealed he succeeded indirectly by the 32nd Century. While there was an Earth-Romulan war, this story hasn't been told yet, likely because humans never saw their enemies in the flesh.

Star Trek: What's the Story Behind Every Enterprise Design?

In the Star Trek universe, it was discovered that most humanoid life could trace its genetic origins to a single star-faring species billions of years in the past. They traveled the universe colonizing many planets, and both Vulcans and Romulans share traces of this DNA. At some point in Vulcan's history, before the populace adopted the logic-based philosophy of Surak, a group of Vulcans went to the stars and eventually settled on Romulus. These beings became Romulans, and possibly Remans, the pale-skinned, scaled "slave caste" of the Romulan Star Empire, at least through the late 24th Century.

By the 22nd Century, the Romulan Star Empire was known by Vulcans, yet they had no contact with their long-distant cousins. In fact, this connection was lost to history among Vulcans, although Romulans retained that information. On Star Trek: Enterprise the NX-01 encountered a planet surrounded by cloaked mines. They briefly exchanged communications with this unknown race, but never identified them for certain. Later, the Romulans sent spies to Vulcan to attempt reunification, but when Captain Archer and T'Pring discovered Surak's teachings, the plans fell apart.

A long-distance Romulan plot also attempted to foster war in the galaxy via cloaked drones, controlled telepathically. This caused Captain Archer to form an alliance with founding members of the Federation , thereby starting the process of its creation. In 2156, Earth and Romulus went to war. The Vulcans, Andorians and Tellarites united again to defeat them in 2160, whereby the neutral zone was established. The treaty was negotiated via long-distance communication. The Romulans were never seen until the USS Enterprise encountered a cloaked vessel attacking Earth colonies near the edge of the neutral zone.

10 Star Trek Time Travel Stories That Changed Canon

Two years after this encounter, Captain Kirk was ordered to violate the Neutral Zone to steal a cloaking device. He succeeded and captured a Romulan commander as well. Later, in Star Trek: The Animated Series , the Romulans tried to steal the Enterprise, but were defeated. By the late 23rd Century, the Romulan Star Empire had an ambassador at Federation headquarters. He was part of the conspiracy to prevent the Klingon Empire and the Federation from signing the Khitomer Peace Treaty. The Romulans remained isolated until the mid-24th Century.

There was a Cold War between the Empire and the Federation with many incidents amounting to 45 appearances in the second-wave series and films. Notable encounters included the attempted defection of Admiral Alidar Jarok. A Romulan spy impersonated the Vulcan ambassador T'Pel. After a test of a new cloaking device failed, the USS Enterprise-D helped the stranded Romulans. The Enterprise conducted two cover missions on Romulus. First, they were sent to retrieve Spock who had decided to preach Surak's teachings to Romulans. They then sent Deanna Troi to help Vice-Proconsul M'Ret defect to the Federation.

The Romulans still engaged in conflict with the Klingons periodically throughout the 24th Century. They also tried to steal an experimental starship, thwarted by the ship's Emergency Medical Hologram and the EMH from the USS Voyager. The Romulans stayed out of the Dominion War, until Captain Sisko aided Garak in framing the Dominion for the death of one of their ambassadors. They remained allies until the war ended.

Star Trek: Discovery's Kenneth Mitchell Was Heroic On and Off Screen

The film Star Trek: Nemesis took place in 2379, when the Remans rose up against the Romulan masters. A clone of Captain Picard named Shinzon became the new praetor. He brought the USS Enterprise-E to Romulus under the ruse of peace talks, but he needed Picard to heal a medical malady. His plan was to launch a war with the aim of destroying Earth. His defeat led to true diplomatic negotiations, aided by Ambassador Spock. In the 2380s, a cosmic accident destroyed Romulus. Spock and a mining vessel captained by Nero were sent to the past and created an alternate timeline, in which Vulcan was destroyed.

Back in the Prime Timeline, Admiral Picard tried to help refugees from the (now so named) Romulan Free State relocate. The Romulan secret order Zhat Vash used synthetic lifeforms to destroy the Utopia Planitia shipyards and the relocation fleet. Years later, the group attacked two synthetic lifeforms -- "children" of Data -- and a retired Picard helped save them and a planet full of their kind from destruction. A group of Romulans also captured a Borg cube, creating the Borg Reclamation project. The Artifact, as it was called, ended up landing on the planet of synthetics, where they presumably took over the effort.

By the 32nd Century, the Romulans and Vulcans successfully reunified. Vulcan was renamed Ni'var, and while there remained cultural tension, the two cultures lived in relative peace. When a cosmic accident caused all the dilithium crystals to explode, which prevented warp travel and killed countless people, Ni'Var retreated from the Federation. With the help of Captains Michael Burnham and Saru, they agreed to rejoin the union. This means the forthcoming series Starfleet Academy could introduce Romulan cadets.

Star Trek series and films are streaming on Paramount+, save for Star Trek: Prodigy on Netflix and the first ten films currently on Max.

The Star Trek universe encompasses multiple series, each offering a unique lens through which to experience the wonders and perils of space travel. Join Captain Kirk and his crew on the Original Series' voyages of discovery, encounter the utopian vision of the Federation in The Next Generation, or delve into the darker corners of galactic politics in Deep Space Nine. No matter your preference, there's a Star Trek adventure waiting to ignite your imagination.

The Romulan Star Empire (or simply, Romulan Empire) is a major galactic regional power from the 22nd through 24th centuries, encompassing the Romulan people and their subject worlds and species. The Empire is known for its xenophobic character and policies of extreme secrecy and territorial protectionism.

• Surreptitious political disruption of rivals – as in the secret relationship with V'Las of the Vulcan High Command in the 2150s, participation in the Khitomer Conspiracy of 2293, secret alliances both with the Klingons- such as in the House of Duras from the 2340s or against the Klingons, or the aborted attempt to replace key Starfleet officers with clones in the late 24th century.
• Limited, surprise or covert military action – as in the use of telepresence-operated drone-ships to spark the "Babel Crisis" among neighboring powers in 2154, a single Bird-of-Prey used to attack the Federation border and gauge its weaknesses in the Neutral Zone incursion of 2266, or the attack on the Klingon outpost at Narendra III in 2344.

The Empire did resort to open warfare when it was deemed necessary, but in typical fashion, their reasons for war were less than candidly expressed, as in the Earth-Romulan War and the enigmatic Tomed Incident of 2311. Unlike the Klingon objectives of the Federation-Klingon War (2267), Romulans do not appear to have gone to war with neighboring powers under a flag of "expansion", and no competition existed for the development of Class M worlds along the Romulan Neutral Zone. Romulans expressed little resentment for the negotiated Zone they zealously guarded, and following their conflicts, the Empire withdrew behind the safety of the buffer for many decades of self-imposed isolation from Federation affairs.

After a clone intended to replace decorated Starfleet Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Shinzon, turned on the Romulans and committed a coup in 2379, the Federation (including Picard himself) helped stop Shinzon's plans of interstellar domination. The Romulans at that point suggested that an era of warmer relations may be beginning with the Federation.

The Romulan Star Empire is ruled by the Romulan Senate, which is overseen by the Praetor. The Continuing Committee is another powerful government body the praetor presides over. In 2373, Q considered the Romulan empress as an adequate mate.

The Senate represents an oligarchy; like an authoritarian system, an oligarchy is controlled by a small group of individuals, who govern mainly in their own interest. Clearly, given Tal Shiar ubiquity, the Romulans have a dictatorship; however, relatively little is known about the Romulan civil legal system.

The political structure of the Romulan Star Empire is unknown, but it seems to be unitary, since the central governments holds all power.

The Romulan Senate has dispatched ambassadors from time to time, including Caithlin Dar to the Planet of Galactic Peace and Nanclus to the United Federation of Planets.

See the original version at Memory Alpha

• View history

The Tal Shiar was a Romulan intelligence agency , described by the Federation as the Romulan secret police . They were a ruthless and efficient organization, whose purpose was to ensure loyalty; to defy them is to invite imprisonment, forced disappearance, or death . It was comparable to the Cardassian Obsidian Order and Section 31 . ( TNG : " Face Of The Enemy "; DS9 : " Inquisition ", " The Die is Cast "; PIC : " Maps and Legends ")

A Tal Shiar myth claimed that the organization was merely a mask worn by a far older cabal called the Zhat Vash . ( PIC : " Maps and Legends ")

Koval, the Tal Shiar chairman in 2375

Vreenak, the vice-chairman of the Tal Shiar in 2374

Deanna Troi disguised as Major Rakal in 2369

• 1 Organization
• 3 Assessment
• 5.1 Background information
• 5.2 Apocrypha
• 5.3 External links

Organization [ ]

It was common practice for the chairman of the Tal Shiar to be a member of the Continuing Committee . This was initially not the case for Chairman Koval , who was kept off the Committee, as he had often displayed anti-Federation sentiment and was opposed to the Federation Alliance against the Dominion . ( DS9 : " Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges ")

Senator Vreenak was the vice-chairman of the Tal Shiar during the 2370s , up until his untimely death in 2374 . ( DS9 : " In the Pale Moonlight ")

The Tal Shiar reported only to the highest levels of the Romulan government, and even so they undertook many missions without the direct knowledge of the Romulan Senate , conducting operations with virtual impunity throughout the Empire. Their authority superseded that of most Romulan military commanders , resulting in a mutual distrust and hatred between the two organizations. The Tal Shiar operated their own fleet , often to their own aims. ( TNG : " Face Of The Enemy "; DS9 : " The Die is Cast ")

History [ ]

At some point prior to 2369 , the father of Commander Toreth , an old man and devoted citizen, was dragged from his home and arrested in the middle of the night by the Tal Shiar for being an idealist and speaking his mind about the Empire. He was never to be heard from again. ( TNG : " Face Of The Enemy ")

In 2369, the Romulan underground movement forced Counselor Deanna Troi of the USS Enterprise -D to pose as Major Rakal of the Tal Shiar in order to facilitate the defection of Vice-Proconsul M'ret and his aides to the Federation. The real Major Rakal was killed prior to the operation. ( TNG : " Face Of The Enemy ")

In 2371 , the Tal Shiar formed a secret coalition with the Cardassian Obsidian Order , to carry out a preemptive strike against the Founders' homeworld in the Dominion . As part of this operation, they carried out the assassinations of several former Obsidian Order operatives, including (unsuccessfully) Elim Garak . However, the Tal Shiar itself had been infiltrated by the Founders , and their combined fleet of twenty ships was ambushed and annihilated at the Battle of the Omarion Nebula . ( DS9 : " Improbable Cause ", " The Die is Cast ")

Unlike the Obsidian Order, the Tal Shiar was able to be rebuilt after the attack on the Founders' homeworld. In 2374 , operatives of the Romulan Military hijacked the prototype starship USS Prometheus and attempted to bring it to the Star Empire. They were supposed to bring it to the Military but received orders during the operation to deliver it to the Tal Shiar's fleet instead. ( VOY : " Message in a Bottle ")

In late 2374, the Tal Shiar investigated the destruction of Senator Vreenak's shuttle . Their preliminary report pointed towards Dominion sabotage. ( DS9 : " In the Pale Moonlight ")

The chairman of the Tal Shiar during the Dominion War , Koval, was in fact a Federation collaborator who was planted in preparation for feared hostilities following the end of the war. Following covert maneuvering orchestrated by Section 31 , Koval became a member of the Continuing Committee from which he had been previously excluded. ( DS9 : " Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges ")

In 2375 , the Tal Shiar was responsible for the security arrangements of the Romulan Conference . ( DS9 : " Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges ")

In 2384 , Commander Kaseth led a team of Tal Shiar commandos to infiltrate Noble Isle and capture the USS Protostar . However, the Protostar crew were able to escape. ( PRO : " Masquerade ")

After the supernova of the Romulan sun in 2387 and the creation of the Romulan Free State , the Tal Shiar/ Zhat Vash had agents operating on Earth and at the Romulan Reclamation Site . In 2399 , these agents carried out multiple attacks on retired Starfleet admiral Jean-Luc Picard on Earth before a fleet of Red Lady -type warbirds nearly attacked the Federation protectorate world of Coppelius . ( PIC : " Remembrance ", " Maps and Legends ", " The End is the Beginning ", " Broken Pieces ", " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 ")

Assessment [ ]

While the Dominion considered the Tal Shiar a ruthless and efficient organization, and a definite threat, Obsidian Order head Enabran Tain always used to say that they were "sloppy". Indeed, according to Odo , not even the Tal Shiar could compete with the Obsidian Order when it came to intelligence gathering and covert operations. ( DS9 : " The Wire ", " The Die is Cast ", " Improbable Cause ")

Commander Konsab of the Romulan Intelligence Academy had strong opinions on the difference between the Romulan military and the Tal Shiar. He believed that in order to function, military officers have to trust each other. The Tal Shiar, on the other hand, trusted no one. They expected deception, and so they always found it. ( TNG : " Face Of The Enemy ")

Members [ ]

• See : Tal Shiar personnel

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

The Tal Shiar was first mentioned in the form of the Federation impostor Major Rakal in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode " Face Of The Enemy ". "Face of the Enemy" writer Naren Shankar named the organization as a homage to the tal-shaya , a Vulcan martial arts technique from TOS : " Journey to Babel ". ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  (2nd ed., p. 234))

The Tal Shiar insignia was designed by Ricardo Delgado . ( Star Trek Sticker Book , pg. 18)

In a line in the script but not the final version of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine second season episode " The Wire ", Benjamin Sisko mentioned Stolpan , a Romulan friend of his, being arrested by the Tal Shiar and taken to their headquarters . [1]

Apocrypha [ ]

In Star Trek: Countdown , in 2387 the Tal Shiar had been experimenting with Borg nanoprobe technology, and chose the miner Narada as a test-bed for the system – explaining how Nero 's "simple mining vessel" could become the all-but-invincible force seen in Star Trek .

In The Way of D'era , the Tal Shiar has a military counterpart, the Tal Diann. The Tal Diann was set up by the Romulan Navy to keep tabs on both the Tal Shiar and several fleets directed by Senators, reporting the former's actions to Star Command, and the latter's to the Praetor.

In Star Trek Online , set in the year 2409, the Tal Shiar are the main rivals of Empress Sela for control of the dying Romulan Empire, which has become engulfed by internal conflict since the destruction of Romulus in 2387. The Tal Shiar have aligned with the Iconians against the Federation, the Klingon Empire, and the dissident colony of "New Romulus", seeing the Iconians as their best bet of regaining their former glory. In the feature episode series "Cloaked Intentions", players from both the Federation and the Klingon Empire join the Reman resistance against the Tal Shiar and their commander, Colonel Hakeev, culminating in a showdown at a secret Romulan base that incorporates active Iconian gateways . In STO's expansion pack, Legacy of Romulus , the Tal Shiar is the principal antagonist of the Romulan Republic's story line, which ends with the five missions of "Cloaked Intentions".

External links [ ]

• Tal Shiar at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Compliance Division at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Office of Homeland Peace at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Office of Internal Security at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Praetorian at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Romulan Security at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Romulan State Security at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Tal Diann at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Tal Prai'ex at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Tal Shava at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works

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Star Trek: The Earth-Romulan War Explained

Quick links, what and when was the earth-romulan war, what was the legacy of the romulan war, how romulans have remained a key enemy in star trek, why hasnt the romulan war ever been seen on screen.

• The Earth-Romulan War is a critical event in Star Trek history, leading to the establishment of the United Federation of Planets.
• Plans to bring the Romulan War to screen have fallen through, but its build-up and aftermath has been felt through multiple Star Trek series.
• Despite the franchise never showing the war, Romulans have become a key enemy, known for manipulating events from the shadows of the Beta Quadrant.

The Earth-Romulan War is one of the most important events in Star Trek ’s dense history but also one of the least explored. A combination of factors and missed opportunities have left this explosive war surprisingly vague. Like the Romulans themselves, it has stayed in the shadows.

However, fans have seen a lot of the build-up and even more of the consequences across Star Trek ’s various series. Lurking in the Beta Quadrant, the Romulans have been a persistent threat, underpinning some incredible stories since their iconic first appearance in 1966.

Star Trek: Why Are Romulan and Klingon Starships So Similar?

The Earth-Romulan War was first mentioned in the Original Series ’ thrilling introduction to the Romulans, ‘Balance of Terror.’ That game of cat and mouse between the USS Enterprise and a Romulan Bird of Prey was the first time humanity and Romulans saw each other, and oddity explained as view screen technology not being available during the war.

Fans have only seen the build-up to and consequences of the devastating space war in the franchise. It was the crucial final element to turn the treaties and alliances achieved by the missions of Jonathan Archer’s Enterprise NX-01 into the United Federation of Planets.

6 Most Powerful Weapons In Star Trek History, Ranked

During Star Trek: Enterprise , fans saw Romulans seeking to unsettle and disrupt alliances forming on their border. Avoiding the direct continuity issues, the Romulans were a remote threat, seeding tension with drone ships and minefields. This aggression culminated in the Earth-Romulan War between 2156 and 2160 — a major, but unsophisticated interstellar conflict.

As Spock explains in ‘Balance of Terror,’ the war involved primitive ships and atomic weaponry. The war ended with the decisive Battle of Cheron, which inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Romulans at the hand of a Human, Vulcan, Andorian and Tellarite alliance.

The immediate effect was the establishment of the Neutral Zone , creating a buffer zone between the Star Empire and Starfleet that kept each other at arm’s length. However, the most significant impact was the establishment of the United Federation of Planets, as seen in the Enterprise finale ‘These are the Voyages…’ after the series had time jumped the war.

For the Romulans, the defeat would set the stage for centuries of interstellar policy. The political effects within the Romulan Empire lasted well into the 24th century, as seen in TNG episodes like ‘The Defector.’

Star Trek: The Relationship Between Vulcans & Romulans, Explained

Losing the war dictated Romulan tactics for many years, reinforcing their preferred method manipulating from afar. The defeat's influence is felt in their attempts to derail the Khitomer Peace Accords in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and shadowy interference in the Klingon Civil War at the climax of TNG ’s Fourth Season, among other nefarious schemes.

Romulans haven’t had the profile of their louder Beta Quadrant neighbors, the Klingons, but that suits both empires' characters. Still, if anything, the Romulans have been underused. After they were replaced as the villains of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (director Leonard Nimoy thought the theatrical Klingons were a better fit), it took 10 movies for them to take the villainous lead in the final film of the TNG era, Nemesis . Even then, the Romulan Senate had been overthrown by the suppressed inhabitants of Remus and a deranged clone of Jean-Luc Picard.

After skirmishes in the Original Series , some using Klingon-designed ships , TNG reintroduced them as a major villain at the end of Season One. ‘The Neutral Zone’ was an oddly structured episode but repeated the same trick as ‘Balance of Terror.’ After more than half a century of isolation, Romulans reappeared to an unsuspecting Federation with a new look, a devastating new Warbird, and the threat of “We are back.”

6 Darkest Star Trek Characters, Ranked

When Star Trek returned to TV screens after a long break, Star Trek: Discovery chose the Federation-Klingon War as the backdrop to its first season. However, it was notable that a few years later, Strange New Worlds threw Captain Pike into ‘Balance of Terror’ in the alternate reality of its first season finale, ‘A Quality of Mercy.’

By debuting with a bonafide classic episode, the Romulans seem to have won a battle but not a war with the Klingons. Half a century later, ‘Balance of Terror’ continues to be the benchmark for the Romulans, while the Klingons have never been defined by such an iconic introduction.

Star Trek: 8 Most Powerful Federation Starships, Ranked

One unfortunate similarity between the Klingons and Romulans has dictated the Star Empire’s path in recent years. In Star Trek VI , the explosion of the Klingon moon Praxis led to a new era of peace with the Federation — acting as a bridge between the Original Series and TNG . In 2009’s Star Trek , the destruction of Romulus when its star went supernova inadvertently established the Kelvin timeline and set the stall for the events of Star Trek: Picard .

Fans have been unlucky not to see the Earth-Romulan War on the screen. The closest it has come is through the build-up in Enterprise , where Romulan machinations inadvertently created the alliance that would form the basis of the Federation. Had Enterprise made it beyond four seasons, viewers would undoubtedly have seen more Romulan subterfuge and possibly even the war.

Star Trek: Why Did The War Between Klingons And The Federation End?

Another missed chance came on the big screen. The Romulan War was intended to provide the backdrop of the 11th movie in the franchise, Star Trek: The Beginning . Bridging Enterprise and the Original Series , the script for The Beginning suggested Jonathan Archer’s Enterprise had been stationed at Risa during the initial Romulan attacks that kicked off the war. The movie was shelved in favor of the Kelvin timeline reboot, which put a young Kirk back in charge of the USS Enterprise opposite the devastating Romulan villain Nero .

Romulan on-screen appearances remain as withdrawn and stealthy as the species, unlike their noisy neighbors in the Klingon Empire. Fans may one day see how the Romulan War unfolded, but until then, it’s unsurprising that the Romulan Star Empire is keeping some secrets to itself.

Star Trek: How Portrayals Of The Klingons Have Changed Since Their First Appearance

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Published May 10, 2024

RECAP | Star Trek: Discovery 507 - 'Erigah'

Never turn your back on a Breen.

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains story details and plot points for Star Trek: Discovery.

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Previously, L'ak reveals that his uncle is the Breen Primarch of the sixth flight . While he chooses to save Moll, he cannot kill his uncle, injuring him with a non-lethal phaser blast, in consideration for the man who raised him.

Book assures Moll that while she can hate him, he will not allow anything to happen to her or Michael Burnham; the fugitive courier is the only family he has left. Whereas Captain Burnham questions L'ak if he even knows what he's after; "power beyond all comprehension" in the Breen's hand will prove catastrophic. L'ak assures her that he and Moll will be long gone by then. There's an erigah on them, and the Federation could not wipe something of that magnitude away. In an ensuing skirmish with Burnham, L'ak is severely wounded. The two fugitive escape off the I.S.S. Enterprise via a Terran war pod with sickbay equipment — a life support system.

While on Halem'no , Tilly learns the symbols within the temple represent numbers in ancient Halem'nese. The clue vial Burnham took from L'ak bears the same marking as the one that represents the fifth tower. There, they find their next clue — a metal card with Betazoid text inscription.

In Episode 7 of Star Trek: Discovery , " Erigah ," with Moll and L’ak finally in custody, the Federation is pulled into a diplomatic and ethical firestorm when the Breen arrive and demand they be handed over. Meanwhile, a frustrated Book looks for ways to help as Tilly, Adira, and Reno work to decipher the latest clue.

• Michael Burnham
• Cleveland "Book" Booker
• Dr. Hugh Culber
• Moll (Malinne Ravel)
• William Christopher
• Charles Vance
• T'Rina
• Paul Stamets
• Sylvia Tilly
• Primarch Ruhn

• U.S.S. Discovery -A
• Federation Headquarters

In deep space, a recording of Moll's voice announcing, " Special offer. Courier services. Limited time only ," is being broadcast from the warp pod she used to escape from the I.S.S. Enterprise . The U.S.S. Locherer has secured the craft in a tractor beam, and the U.S.S. Discovery -A jumps to the scene. In Discovery 's corridors, Commander Nhan briefs Captain Michael Burnham about the message, which was transmitted on subspace frequency Epsilon 19 — a courier channel. "Special offer" is code for SOS, so the captain deduces that Moll hoped a courier would rescue her and save L'ak. Under Admiral Charles Vance's orders, Nhan and her security are to assist Discovery as they transfer Moll and L'ak to Federation Headquarters. The Barzan officer hands Burnham the Romulan diary she confiscated from Moll. Written by Dr. Vellek, it chronicles the Romulan scientist's research into the Progenitors ' tech.

Burnham and Nhan approach the entrance to Sickbay, where two Starfleet guards are preventing Cleveland "Book" Booker from accessing the room and meeting with Moll when she beams over. Palpable tension exists between Nhan and Book, but the Kwejian argues that he might be able to get Moll to start talking. Nhan recalls the last time she saw Book — another "personal situation" in which he fired photon torpedoes at Discovery and set off an isolytic weapon. Book's desire to make things right doesn't ease Nhan's stern expression, but the captain speaks up to vouch for him. The Barzan reluctantly states she will find him if they need help during their debrief, prompting Book to depart in an equally hesitant fashion. Burnham expresses her trust in Book, and the two exchange smiles as Nhan jokingly confides that is why she "went easy" on him.

"Erigah"

Sickbay's doors slide open, revealing Dr. Hugh Culber standing next to a biobed as he awaits Moll and L'ak's arrival. L'ak is in bad shape and will be beamed directly into the biobed, while Moll — dehydrated and half-starved — will also be held within the same containment field. Captain Burnham contacts the Locherer to greenlight the transfer, and Nhan draws her phaser in a precautionary stance. The two couriers are beamed into the room alongside two security officers. L'ak writhes in pain, and Moll becomes combative toward the captain while blaming her for her partner's injury.

Culber scans his patient before taking Burnham aside to deliver his assessment. L'ak is fading — a vital organ must have been hit, but Breen physiology is still largely a mystery. The captain describes the situation as politically charged, believing the death of a Breen fugitive in Federation custody could inflame an already tenuous diplomatic situation. Relying on Dominion War era medical research which indicates the Breen are capable of somatic cell regeneration in extreme cold, Culber proposes placing L'ak in a captured Breen refrigeration unit being stored at Fed HQ. The technology could allow them to turn the biobed into a low-temperature ICU unit. The idea remains a longshot, but Burnham agrees and beams out to brief Headquarters.

The Discovery approaches Federation HQ, where two other Starfleet vessels are also currently stationed. On the Bridge, Lieutenant Christopher shares that Admiral Vance would like to speak to the captain before they dock. The matter is classified, so Burnham retreats to her Ready Room and hands the conn over to Commander Rayner. As the captain enters her office, Vance transports in bearing an unsettled look on his face. Moll and L'ak must remain in Discovery 's custody, and the ship must jump away immediately. The admiral calls up a transmission in which the Breen warn the Federation that they must turn over the two fugitives who have incurred an Erigah . Scans show a Breen dreadnought on a course for Fed HQ at maximum warp, and President Laira Rillak is off at a diplomatic summit on Tellar Prime.

Vance does not consider handing Moll and L'ak over to the Breen to be an option. Although the Breen can not become aware of the Progenitors' technology, Burnham takes issue with the admiral's strategy of simply denying the Federation has the couriers. Vance has a slight issue with the captain's decision to speak so freely, but he concedes that having the prisoners elsewhere will force the Breen to consider how far they're willing to push the Federation in order to fulfill the Erigah . Burnham counters, noting the Breen will eventually figure out the ruse, begin tracking Discovery 's jump signature, and leave carnage in their wake as they track the ship. Permitting Discovery to stay will speed up the inevitable and coerce the Breen into dealing with the Federation. The admiral accepts Burnham's solution and directs a troubled gaze at the holographic that depicts the Breen dreadnought.

Ni'Var’s President T'Rina walks into Federation HQ's Briefing Room, where Vance, Burnham, and Rayner have gathered to analyze the situation. President Rillak has delegated T'Rina to lead negotiations in her stead. T'Rina has reviewed all records of diplomatic relations with the Breen, but there has been no official contact since before the Burn. Although recent intelligence is limited, the Federation knows the Breen Imperium has experienced unrest since the death of its Emperor. Six primarchs are waging a war for the throne, though they do not know which faction is on its way to Fed HQ. Rayner defiantly proclaims that all Breen are the same — the word 'diplomacy' is not in their vocabulary, and he sees teaching it to them to be more of a pipe dream than a tactic. T'Rina insists this faction seeks power, reasoning that there must be something the Federation can offer which will negate the Erigah . Arms crossed, Rayner points to what happened the last time the Breen entered Federation space. Vance remarks that this situation is different, as more Starfleet ships are on their way. His goal is to keep things calm until backup arrives.

Captain Burnham chimes in, observing that the Breen don't need to come into Federation territory to make this demand. The excursion is a risk for them, so there must be another reason the Breen want Moll and L'ak. Since the most powerful weapon in diplomacy is information, T'Rina contemplates a recent report from Captain Saru, who is away on a diplomatic mission near Breen space. The Breen's factional wars stem from a succession dispute involving competing claims from disparate branches of the royal bloodline. Frustrated by the discussion, Rayner interrupts and states that none of this will matter if the Breen believe they can win. The first officer suggests they install thoron emitters on the hull and use duranium shadows to give the impression that they're armed to the gills.  

Burnham attempts to diffuse his anger, but Rayner makes reference to the Romulan saying, "Never turn your back on a Breen." T'Rina is taken aback by the xenophobic statement, yet Rayner insists that the Breen view genocide as a necessity — their version of a Prime Directive. Burnham halts the exchange by asking her first officer to wait for her outside. Upon Rayner's exit, the captain offers to place her limited rapport with Moll and L'ak to the test to see if they'll share what they know. Vance agrees, but requests that she keep her Number One in line. They can't afford any missteps once the Breen reach Fed HQ.

Leaning against a wall in the corridor, Rayner awaits his captain. As soon as he sees Burnham approach, he launches into a spirited declaration that the admiral's defensive position is an invitation to be decimated. Burnham cuts him off, leading her first officer down the hallway and voicing her concern for his ability to handle this situation. She senses this is personal for him, and he apologizes for his tone. Burnham reflects on this for a moment, opting to dismiss Rayner rather than pursue her suspicion any further. The captain contacts Lieutenant Gallo and orders her to place Discovery on Yellow Alert.

In one of Discovery 's own corridors, Commander Paul Stamets hurries to catch up with Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly as she carries her luggage to the Shuttlebay. The Academy instructor is intent on heading to Fed HQ to help defend her cadets from the Breen, but Stamets presents her with a metallic card that was attached to the clue from the fifth tower on Halem'no. Inscribed with a Betazed logo, the item's text translates to " The Labyrinths of the Mind. " If Tilly and Ensign Adira Tal focus on the meaning of that phrase, the astromycologist can figure out the properties of the metal. Considering the Breen destroyed an entire city the last time they paid a visit to the Federation, Tilly is surprised that Paul is focusing on the clue.

Stamets emphasizes the magnitude of their mission. The U.S.S. Mitchell is standing by in case it receives an encrypted message from Discovery . Or, as Tilly puts it, in case Discovery can't complete the mission because they're all dead. Holding up the clue, Stamets declares it to be the most important thing in the Federation at the moment — they must prevent the Breen or another power from obtaining the Progenitors' tech. Paul reminds Tilly that Fed HQ is probably the safest place her cadets can be, finally convincing the lieutenant to stay.

Captain Burnham visits Dr. Culber in Sickbay, where the containment field continues to surround Moll and L'ak. With subzero gasses promoting a strong immune response, the Breen courier's condition has improved. Keeping warm in a cozy Starfleet jacket, the doctor allows the captain to chat with the prisoners. Having intercepted Moll's SOS, the Breen are on the way to Fed HQ. Burnham is curious as to what the couriers' plan had been, but Moll insists that she and L'ak have always been partial to winging it. The captain also wonders what else the Breen might accept as payment to lift the Erigah , though L'ak is adamant there is not another way.

Burnham eyes Moll. The captain doesn’t buy the excuse, citing the presence of a Breen dreadnought — the most powerful warship class in the entire Breen Imperium — as evidence that this Primarch really wants Moll and L'ak. The couriers would prefer to be released so they can take their chances on their own, and L'ak comments that some things are worse than death. Burnham evaluates the remark, realizing that the Primarch doesn't actually plan on killing the prisoners. Recognizing there must be a familial connection, she asks if L'ak is the Primarch's child, sibling, or cousin.

The captain's query is met with silence, so she hypothesizes that — since the Primarch wants the throne — they can somehow get it for him. For people who fought for their freedom, being under the Primarch's thumb would be worse than death. Moll glances at L'ak, unintentionally helping Burnham reach a stunning conclusion. L'ak is the bloodline, not the Primarch. L'ak responds, disdainfully admitting that he is the direct descendant of the Emperor and the Scion of the Breen Imperium. L'ak ends the discourse by imploring that Burnham spit in his uncle's face for him once he gets to Fed HQ.

In the Science Lab, Zora reports to Tilly and Adira, informing them that she has found a match for the metal card's inscription. Labyrinths of the Mind is the title of a Betazoid manuscript written by Dr. Marina Derex in 2371. Derex was one of the scientists who helped hide the Progenitors’ tech, but only a few thousand copies of the work were published in the 24th Century. While no copies are known to have survived, the punctuation of the Betazed symbols point to this being the root text for the original, handwritten manuscript. Zora has no record of where it could be, but Adira asks Zora to scan Starfleet personnel files for anyone with expertise in ancient manuscripts. 

As the artificial intelligence combs through data, Adira notices a look from Tilly. Despite the ensign's fear about being on the Bridge, the lieutenant notes that they did a great job during the Halem'no mission and are continuing to excel in their current assignment. Adira is finding their way, and Tilly recommends they not be afraid to take on more. As Adira appreciates the advice, Zora confirms that she has found someone whose curriculum vitae lists experience as a rare and antiquarian bookseller. The two officers are shocked to learn that the person is Discovery 's very own Commander Jett Reno.

Tilly and Adira locate Reno in a corridor, where she kneels to make repairs to a targeting matrix in preparation for possible hostilities with the Breen. Adira is dismayed by the depressing outlook, and Reno insists her perspective is rooted in the Breen's whole "faceless helmet vibe." Truncheons, jackboots — where’s the nuance? Tilly cuts to the heart of the matter, but the engineer confesses that she may have padded her resume. She used to move hard to find folios for a shady antiquarian archivist — a smuggler, in Adira's words. Reno elaborates, mentioning that she had many odd jobs before committing to Starfleet, such as VIP shuttle pilot, deep mercury welder, bartender at a cozy little dive on Ashalon IV. in fact, she’s supposed to pick up a guest shift tonight at Red's Lounge. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried her "Seven of Limes."

Adira laughs, stating that Reno has "really got around" before they anxiously adds "not like that." Reno turns back from an open panel and affirms, "Oh, yeah. Like that." Tilly sees this as a story for another time, awkwardly shifting back to Labyrinths of the Mind . Reno thinks it over, stating that it could have ended up in a private collection, museum, or landfill. Tilly's need to find the last clue has left her nervous, but the engineer is confident they can figure it out. Reno guides them down the hallway so that she can overhaul the shield emitters, but they listen as a shipwide announcement takes them to Code One Alpha. The corridor is cast into a deep shadow, and Reno curses, "Shit! They’re here." An immense Breen dreadnought takes a position near Federation HQ and dwarfs its adversaries.

Captain Burnham joins Vance and T'Rina in Fed HQ's Command Center, where the station is placed on a Yellow Alert. The dreadnought is the same ship that destroyed Headquarters in the time bug cycle. Scans can't penetrate its shields, but Burnham shares her recent discovery with the admiral and president — without L'ak, this Primarch has no claim to the throne. They just need time to figure out how to use that information to resolve this peacefully.

Primarch Ruhn responds to a hail, and Lieutenant Teemo translates the mechanical Breen vocalizations into Federation Standard. Ruhn demands the fugitives be transferred to his ship, stressing that there will be no negotiation. T'Rina counters that they will need four hours to draft and approve extradition orders, but Ruhn gives them one hour — failure to comply will be considered an act of war. Burnham takes note of the president's "extradition orders" excuse, and T'Rina jokes that it seemed more believable than a tribble infestation. With the one hour deadline in mind, the captain has an idea as to how to proceed.

Meanwhile, Zora presents Stamets with an expansive holographic map of planetary systems in Engineering. The astromycologist asks her to eliminate systems that aren't rich in ionized beryllium or gadolinium-154, then alters his request by imploring her to remove entries that contain alloys, minerals, or compounds that are not detected in the Betazoid card. A handful of systems vanish from the projection. The lack of progress deflates Stamets' hopes, though he is pleasantly surprised when Book enters the room and offers to help. The Kwejian professes that he is "shite at sitting around," so Stamets presents him with the dilemma of narrowing down where the Betazoid card was made — a needle in a hundred million haystacks.

Captain Burnham finds Commander Rayner at Federation HQ, where he stares out a viewport at the green glow of the Breen starship. They're running out of time, so Burnham is direct — What does he know about Breen leadership? Given Rayner's strong reaction to the Breen, the captain did some digging and found that Kellerun had been used as a Breen outpost for a number of years. The first officer wrings his hands, his voice quaking as he reveals it's not a time he likes to talk about. He is not familiar with a Primarch Ruhn, as Primarch Tahal had controlled his homeworld. Without any warning, Breen ships showed up and filled Kellerun’s sky like a swarm of Golor beetles. Intent on using the planet as a munitions resupply hub, Tahal clear-cut Kellerun's forests, poisoned its seas, blackened its skies, and killed many of its inhabitants — including Rayner's entire family. In the commander's estimation, the Breen can not be negotiated with when they want something, yet Burnham believes he just provided her with a way to satisfy Primarch Ruhn's demands without giving him Moll and L'ak.

Aboard Discovery , Commander Reno reminisces about her 800-year-old contacts in the book trade — all of whom are pushing up daisies now — and hones in on the notion that the Betazoid manuscript is one-of-a-kind. Since Dr. Derex would have wanted to protect it, Reno posits that Tilly and Adira should check the Eternal Gallery and Archive, a bank-like neutral facility that welcomes all worlds and safekeeps countless rarities. Unfortunately, the Archive stays secure by remaining on the move. The clue and its inscription might even be the manuscript's library card. Armed with this intel, Tilly and Adira thank Reno — who replies with an informal salute — and speed off to continue their investigation.

In Sickbay, Dr. Culber is pleased to let L'ak know that he is now in stable condition. The Breen courier opines that Captain Burnham is making a mistake by believing his species thinks like humans do. Regardless of the differences between cultures, Culber has faith in common ground. L'ak denies this, arguing that Moll loves him because of their differences — not despite them. Moll fails to conceal a smile as she looks down at her partner in the biobed, then asks the doctor to give L'ak time to rest. Culber steps away so that a Starfleet security officer can raise the containment field. Moll takes a seat, seizing the opportunity to speak quietly with L'ak. They can't let his uncle take custody of them before they have the Progenitors' tech as a bargaining chip. L'ak counters that the Federation will never give them up, and being stuck in a brig is just another kind of stuck.

L'ak urges Moll to make a run for it, but she refuses to leave his side. The wounded courier suggests she steal a shuttle and beam him onboard, but he's certain she won’t like his plan to deal with the containment field. The guards notice the prisoners are discreetly conferring, so they take a few cautious steps toward the biobed. L'ak and Moll undescore their love for one another and prepare to enact their plan.

President T'Rina, Captain Burnham, and Commander Rayner stand by in Fed HQ's Command Center, listening as Admiral Vance orders Lieutenant Teemo to inform the Breen that they are ready to transfer custody of the fugitives. Green flashes spark around the room as Primarch Ruhn, Lieutenant Arisar, and a contingent of Breen guards beam in with their truncheons by their sides. Ruhn dispenses with pleasantries and relies on Arisar to translate his demands into Federation Standard. T'Rina delays, proposing they use their remaining time as a chance for conversation. Arisar relays that Ruhn has no need for conversation, but the President startles the Breen contingent by offering a more accurate translation — Ruhn has no need to speak with "spineless, insignificant achworms."

Vance pounces on the Breen's momentary unbalance, presenting them with an offer of 45 metric tons of raw dilithium in trade for lifting the Erigah on Moll and L'ak. Ruhn speaks in their own tongue to avoid any confusion — the only payment for a blood bounty is blood. Preferring to avoid conflict, T'Rina gives Ruhn a final chance to consider their request. She brushes aside the Primarch's declaration that he is insulted, stating that the Federation has been refused, rebuffed, and now ridiculed. Instead of handing the prisoners over to Ruhn, T'Rina announces that she will accept an offer they’ve received from Primarch Tahal. Captain Burnham says that Tahal is very interested in having L'ak by her side to bolster her claim to the throne — the same as Ruhn. The Breen's demands are not about an Erigah , they are about power.

Primarch Ruhn extends his arm in defiance, his truncheon materializing in his hand. The Breen guards stand ready, and Starfleet security officers raise their weapons in turn. Ruhn accuses T’Rina of lying, claiming Tahal would rather gnaw her own flesh than strike a deal with the Federation. The Primarch deems Burnham's insistence that his rival was "fierce and fair" to be a bluff which wouldn't fool a hatchling, but Commander Rayner takes pleasure in mixing his own intel into the ruse. Rayner knows Tahal well, aware that she named her flagship Tau Ceti after a lethal viper with a slow-acting venom. That's her favorite way to kill her enemies — including Rayner's kinfolk who stood against her at the Twin Gates on Kellerun — when she wants to watch them die by degrees. She only spared Rayner because she liked the way he fought — ferocious and relentless, almost like a Breen. Ruhn threatens to blast the station into atoms if they do not bring L'ak to him, but T’Rina is aware the Primarch can not afford to risk harming his nephew.

In Sickbay, Moll approaches the containment field and tells a guard that she needs to talk to Captain Burnham. L'ak covertly accesses vials on the side of his biobed, injecting himself with an entire day's dose and bursting out in a fit of pain. Culber has the field lowered and rushes over to help, but Moll harnesses the distraction by kicking a tube and venting cold vapors into the room. She freezes her cuffs in the sub zero gasses and breaks them against a guard's face. She incapacitates the two security officers in hand-to-hand combat, wrestling a phaser from one of them and using it to stun Culber. Nhan arrives and blocks the door, engaging Moll in a desperate fight through the chilled haze that had settled upon the room.

Over at Federation Headquarters, Primarch Ruhn falls victim to T'Rina’s gambit and submits that he will exceed whatever terms the Federation had agreed to with Tahal. The President has no desire to engage in a bidding war between factions, but she walks toward him and puts forth a third option — they reject the other Primarch's offer, and keep L'ak imprisoned at Fed HQ. If Ruhn does not accept, Discovery can activate its spore drive and take L'ak to Tahal in seconds. By taking the Scion off the table, the status quo between the factions will be maintained and the Primarchs can settle their dispute in battle. Ruhn seems open to this suggestion, though he notes that any harm done to L'ak in Federation custody will result in war. T'Rina promises that the Scion will be safe, but a call from Nhan interrupts the negotiation.

Captain Burnham beams into Sickbay, finding Nhan and her security officers recovering from the attack. As the Barzan treats a wound to her leg, she states that Moll escaped. Zora can't detect Moll's biometric data, so she may have some form of biometric cloaking technology implanted in her body. Frustrated, Burnham orders a lockdown protocol and sends Nhan in pursuit. Culber tends to L'ak, but he's losing him and needs to know more about Breen physiology. Burnham chooses to seek help from the Primarch and beams out.

Zora's voice emanates from the comm system in Engineering, announcing that all decks have been sealed under lockdown protocol. She informs Book that Moll is on the run, but Stamets is resolute that the Kwejian stay to assist him in narrowing down potential origin points for the Betazoid clue. Book inquires as to whether any terminals have been used to access the ship's schematics, and Zora confirms that someone logged in 30 seconds ago at Terminal C7 on Deck Five. Book gathers his jacket and moves to spring into action, only halting once the astromycologist underlines that the mission has to be the priority. Book relents, switching back into investigative mode.

Although the scientist was Betazoid, there are no trace elements from Betazed in the clue. Stamets latches on to Book's offhand comment that he feels they should be further along. Betazoids are telepaths, so what if Dr. Derex created a transitive link between the card and where it came from. Traces of her thoughts and emotions could have been left behind, and Book's empathic abilities could allow him to read them. Stamets hands Book the clue, and the Kwejian empath closes his eyes to focus on the card. In his mind, Book sees empty space followed by an orange-hued dust storm — a plasma storm rocked by explosive plasma blasts. Book also gets a feeling of "eternity" or "eternal," but that’s all. This narrows the field down a bit, so Book hurries off to locate Moll.

Captain Burnham beams back into Sickbay, where L'ak endures unbearable agony. She convinced Primarch Ruhn to provide a Breen medic, but he would only agree if he could also join them. Ruhn and his helmeted associates transport in, and their medic heads over to examine L'ak. Ruhn wonders where Moll is, so the captain covers by saying the other prisoner is elsewhere on the ship. The medic gets to work, and a diagnostic hologram opens to display L'ak's vitals. Meanwhile, Nhan coordinates with Book in Discovery 's corridors to find a more precise location for Moll. The Barzan is grateful for Book's tip about the terminal and mentions she might have misjudged him. Book says making things right is a process. The pair round a corner and spot Moll holding a phaser at a crew member. The courier takes aim at them, but Nhan calls out to tell her that the escape attempt backfired — L'ak made an error with the dose and may not survive. Moll doesn't believe her — she states that Nhan can sell her a goat farm on Bopak III while she's at it — but Nhan nods to Book to confirm the prognosis.

Book decides to give negotiation a try, stepping out into the open with his hands empty. He knows L'ak is Moll’s world, and he also knows what it's like to lose one. She maintains her defensive stance, but he implores her not to miss her chance to be there with her partner. Moll relents and surrenders her weapon. She is escorted to Sickbay, where she is surrounded by Burnham, Culber, and Ruhn as she makes a tearful approach to L'ak in his biobed. The Breen fights to keep his eyes from closing as he consoles Moll, who doesn't see this as how their story ends. L'ak succumbs to his injuries and lets out his last breath, causing Moll to lower her head and more tears to flow. Primarch Ruhn becomes furious and claims the Federation has killed the Scion. Burnham denies the accusation, and Culber explains that L'ak hacked the biobed and administered a massive dose of tricordrazine. Runh does not care for the intention, only the outcome.

Primarch Runh warns Burnham that she must prepare for battle and sends a message to the Breen soldiers who stayed in Fed HQ's Command Center — L'ak is dead, the troops must return to their ship, and all torpedo systems are to be armed. The Breen vanish, leaving Admiral Vance with no choice but to take Headquarters to Red Alert. Commander Rayner insists that Starfleet make the first move, but T'Rina cautions that what they do will make waves across many worlds. Lieutenant Teemo detects new warp signatures, and the senior officers watch as four Starfleet vessels arrive to reinforce the station.

Back in Sickbay, Captain Burnham continues to try and reason with Ruhn, while Culber points out that L'ak overdosed on a stimulant during an escape attempt. Their words mean nothing to the Primarch, but Moll wipes away tears and confirms their account. Ruhn does not believe the human, and she assesses that Ruhn thinks a war against the Federation will unite the Breen behind him. The Primarch concedes that if he cannot use the Sion in life, he will use him in death. Rolling up her sleeve to reveal a mark which L'ak also bears on his forearm, Moll notifies him that she goes wherever L'ak goes — that is the privilege of their joining. Ruhn calls the marriage an abomination, insisting that she will never be welcome among the Breen. Moll presents another factor in her favor, mentioning the Federation's search for the Progenitors' tech — a power so great that Ruhn wouldn't need L'ak to claim the throne. The Primarch mulls her offer, shifting his gaze to the various Starfleet officers around the room. Finally, he concludes that the Federation must release Moll to him as his price for averting a war, giving them five minutes to choose.

Book and T'Rina gather with the Starfleet team — Burnham, Rayner, Vance, and Nhan — in another meeting room at Fed HQ. Moll is confined to another containment field nearby, and Captain Burnham believes the courier has a plan. The field prevents Moll from discerning what her captors are saying to one another, so she doesn't hear Vance ask if Moll knows anything about the Progenitors' tech that she hasn't already told the Breen. Nhan points to a newly discovered passage from Dr. Vellek's diary which highlights the Romulan's view that the Progenitors' life-creating technology could potentially be used to revive the dead. Burnham deduces Moll wants to utilize it to bring L'ak back. By helping the Breen, she gets L'ak and freedom from the Erigah at the same time.

Rayner adds a strategic consideration, Moll doesn't have the clue from Halem'no. Although the Breen can track Discovery 's jump signature, speed will be on the Federation's side. Upset that this course is even being contemplated, Book desperately suggests that Moll should be tried for what happened on Q'Mau. T'Rina observes that Moll also committed crimes in Breen space, and would be held accountable according to the Imperium's laws. The President concludes that there is little to be lost by letting the Breen take Moll, but much to be lost by keeping her. Vance signals the security officers standing by the containment field, and they lower the barrier. Moll is transported over to the Breen dreadnought. Astounded by the outcome, Book turns to Burnham and avows that this is wrong. The Breen warship begins moving away from Federation Headquarters and engages its warp drive. 

Stamets, Tilly, and Adira meet with Burnham and Rayner in the Ready Room not long after the Breen vessel's departure. They've figured out that the next clue is in a place called the Eternal Gallery and Archive. The facility changes location every 50 years or so, but thanks to Book, they know the Archive is currently in a region with a lot of ionic discharge in close proximity. Stamets brings up a holographic map of possible locations, and Adira has Zora overlay 18 sets of coordinates depicting the Archive's position over the last 900 years. Tracing the path, Tilly determines that the Archive should now be in the Badlands.* Rayner's been there, and he says that it's as fun as it sounds.

The captain thanks her colleagues, but asks her first officer to stay behind as the science team makes their exit. Burnham acknowledges that today must have been difficult for Rayner. After all, she mutinied rather than give an inch back to the Klingons. She is impressed with the way Rayner handled himself, agreeing with Rayner's assessment that what the Breen did to Kellerun must never happen again. They tap their badges and beam to the Bridge, where they request status reports from the senior staff. Lieutenants Christopher, Linus, Gallo, and Naya certify that their stations are ready, and Lieutenant Commander Asha is enthusiastic about the challenge of navigating the Badlands' notorious turbulence. Seated in the captain's chair, Burnham takes Discovery to Black Alert.

* " The Maquis " — The Badlands was first introduced in this Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode as a Demilitarized Zone in the Alpha Quadrant bordering both the United Federation of Planets and the Cardassian Union.

• Written by M. Raven Metzner
• Directed by Jon Dudkowski

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Jay Stobie (he/him) is a freelance writer, author, and consultant who has contributed articles to StarTrek.com, Star Trek Explorer, and Star Trek Magazine, as well as to Star Wars Insider and StarWars.com. Learn more about Jay by visiting JayStobie.com or finding him on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms at @StobiesGalaxy.

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1-4 are streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the UK, Canada, Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and Austria. Seasons 2 and 3 also are available on the Pluto TV “Star Trek” channel in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The series streams on Super Drama in Japan, TVNZ in New Zealand, and SkyShowtime in Spain, Portugal, Poland, The Nordics, The Netherlands, and Central and Eastern Europe and also airs on Cosmote TV in Greece. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.