Star Trek Online's new Romulan ships

With the launch of the new Romulan faction for Star Trek Online on the way, we can expect lots of new Romulan ship designs! Cryptic have announced the basic designs which will be available to players for free. Other ships, and variations of these, will be available to purchase in the C-Store. Here's the basic the set-up for Romulan ships:

The Romulan Star Empire has long been one of the dominant powers in the Alpha Quadrant. Boasting unparalleled Cloaking technology, powerful Plasma and Disruptor weaponry, and the resourcefulness to quickly develop countermeasures for the tactics of other factions, Romulans were a key force in many conflicts since the 2150s.

Warbirds – the most iconic of Romulan vessels – have formed the backbone of the Romulan military for centuries. With the destruction of Romulus, these Warbirds have become a lasting symbol of the once mighty empire’s strength – as well as a new home for some of the many refugees in the wake of their planet’s destruction.

With an emphasis on the tactical use of potent abilities stemming from advanced Romulan technology, Romulan Warbirds are built to fight like the Romulans themselves – with a high risk, high reward style.

Five of the starter classes have been announced, a mixture of canon and new designs:

The T'liss Light Warbird was the most heavily utilized model during the 23rd Century. The T’liss is the fastest, lightest, and most maneuverable Warbird available. Like all Romulan ships, the T’liss is equipped with a Cloaking device, but vulnerable while cloaked.

The Dhelan Warbird was designed in the early 24th Century and utilized heavily by the Romulan Star Empire. It served as the model for many later ship models, such as the Mogai-class, and retains significant advantages over many modern ships. The ship is larger than the T'liss Light Warbird and much sturdier, as well as carrying a heavier payload of weapons. It sacrifices little mobility for these improvements, having an only slightly slower turn rate and impulse speed than the much smaller T'liss.

The Mogai Heavy Warbird was a powerful ship utilized by the Romulan Star Empire toward the end of the 24th century. The Mogai has an average turn rate and impulse speed, but carries more weapons than the Dhelan and has significantly increased hull strength.

The D'deridex Warbird Battle Cruiser was the foundation of the Romulan Star Empire's forces in the 24th century. Drastically heavier than the earlier T'liss and Dhelan models, the D'deridex was significantly more resilient and carried firepower comparable to a Federation Galaxy-class ship.

The Ha'apax Advanced Warbird represents the latest developments in Romulan technology. Larger than even the mighty D'deridex, it has superior firepower and even greater hull strength. While slow to maneuver, the Ha'apax is a juggernaut on the battlefield, capable of withstanding tremendous damage while unleashing its weapons on its foes.

Cryptic have also posted details of the story of the Romulans (and Remans); as the new faction launches players find themselves in the Romulan diaspora, trying to get on with life while other Romulan factions worry themselves about politics. Read the story after the jump:

After the tragedy of the Hobus supernova and resulting destruction of their homeworlds, the Romulan and Reman populations were separated into three primary groups.

First, there is the militant and ruthless Tal Shiar, led by Empress Sela. The Tal Shiar still abide by the old ways, keeping Remans in their role as workers and second-class citizens. As proven by recent and repeated attacks, the Tal Shiar seek to bring the old Romulan power back to the galaxy by any means necessary. They seek to rule and control through fear and oppression. They are willing to harvest and implement Borg technology. But most dangerous of all, they have enlisted the services of dark and mysterious forces; ancient enemies of the galaxy they believe they can control.

Empress Sela does not operate alone. Among her trusted Commanders within the Romulan Star Empire, one has a reputation for a brutality and unparalleled ruthlessness reserved for any who might defy the Tal Shiar. Former science officer for Praetor Taris, Commander Hakeev is this man. There is a rumor that he is the reason Sela has allied with the dark and mysterious forces, though it has yet to be proven.

The second group of Romulans and Remans has organized under the guidance and leadership of D'Tan, a reunificationist who learned under the tutelage of Ambassador Spock. D'Tan believes that in order to restore the greatness of the Romulan Empire, the old ways must be abandoned and all survivors need to come together to rebuild from the ground up.

D'Tan knows that with so few of their kind left, all Romulans and Remans must work and operate as equals. He is also working hard to break the xenophobia often associated with Romulans of old and has gone to great lengths to enlist the aid of both the Federation and Klingon Empire. This group of New Romulans has dubbed themselves the Romulan Republic.

Survivors make up the third primary group of Romulans and Remans. These are people scattered across the galaxy, doing their best to make a new life in the shadow of their homeworlds' destruction. They have rejected the iron fist of the Tal Shiar, but they also doubt that D'Tan and his forces possess the ability to achieve their goals.

You, the player, start as a member of this third group. Doing your best to simply live your life apart from Sela and the Tal Shiar, as well as D'Tan and the Romulan Republic, you have managed to reach a level of happiness and comfort as a member of an agricultural colony.

It remains to be seen if you will be able to stay unaligned in the long run, but for now, no one seems to even know your colony exists.