Romulan and Klingon Empires
Romulan Discovery
In approximately 1600 AS, the Earth vessel USS Carrizal came out of warp at the far edge of the 128 Trianguli system and began surveying the area. They found, to their surprise, two worlds there with an apparently highly developed agrarian civilization on each. The crew dubbed the worlds “Romulus” and “Remus” in reference to an ancient Terran legend. In standard first contact procedures they beamed in messages of peace and good will. They received no response. After surveying the system for a time, they returned to Earth with the news of their discovery.
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On the Two Worlds the arrival of the aliens had an extremely disturbing effect. Tales of the Orion pirates had survived through the years, and the settlers still remembered that the Orions had preceded their treachery with offerings of peace. They were determined not to allow history to repeat itself, and set about organizing their defense. Over the past 1600 years, the Rihannsu had developed an extremely effective industrial system. They knew they could not match the technology of the ship that had entered their system, but years of war had taught them that sheer numbers could overwhelm any technological advantage. By the time the next Federation ship arrived, the Rihannsu had constructed some 7,000 crude, cylindrical vessels — impulse powered with particle beam weapons. When the USS Balboa coasted into the Trianguli system, it was blown to bits by the massed particle beams of 50 spacecraft. Shortly thereafter, the Rihannsu captured the USS Stone Mountain, took her apart, studied the design, and added warp drive to their primitive craft. Thus began what was known to the Humans as the “First Romulan War”.
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StarFleet was stymied and confused by their inability to defeat the Rihannsu, who were flying craft that were little more than tin cans with warp power drives. Time and again, larger and larger task forces were sent into Rihannsu space and were systematically obliterated by the Rihannsu. At about this time, the Federation finally queried the Vulcans, who were the oldest space-faring race of the Federation, and asked them if they knew anything about this seemly maniacal race. The Vulcans responded with characteristic caution: they knew of some who might match the description, but that they had left Vulcan long ago. As StarFleet continued to send task forces into Rihannsu space the Vulcans suggested that, if these were indeed the ones who had left long ago, it would be best to make peace.
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The Klingon Empire
The modern Klingon Empire was founded some 1500 years ago by Kahless the Unforgettable, the brilliant strategist who killed the tyrant Molor, whom he killed with the first bat'leth, the sword of honor, thereby unifying his people. His legendary stories of valor and courage still stirs emotions of pride in his descendants, now warriors of the Klingon Empire. Kahless was a philosopher of sorts, and his work is still studied by Klingons centuries after his death. During his day, he came to realize his race was so consumed with victory that they resorted to treachery, to which he warned, "Watch your back. Friends may become enemies in less time than it takes to draw a dagger." But he did not heed his own advice, for he soon proved to be too popular and was murdered by K'ashked, the Klingon Emperor, in 2125, leaving the Klingon High Council in command of the Empire.
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The Klingon Empire has had a colorful and violent history, with many bloody conflicts such as the battle of Tong Vey, in which the ancient Emperor Sompek ordered the destruction of an entire city. By 2069, the empire was controlled by the Klingon High Council, which had grown so powerful that no emperor headed the empire from that year until the ascension of the second Kahless in 2369.
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