Created by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane on Aug 16, 2016 @ 2:12pm

THE ROMULAN NEUTRAL ZONE

The ROMULAN NEUTRAL ZONE is an uninhabited buffer zone, one light year across, between the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Star Empire. Established after the bloody Earth-Romulan War of 2156-2160 and later redefined under the Treaty of Algeron, the Neutral Zone remains the border zone between the two most powerful empires in the quadrant. There are several star systems inside the neutral Zone, including the ancient Iconian homeworld, but none of the systems are inhabited by sentient species.

Although entry into the Neutral Zone by a military vessel of either side is supposed to constitute an act of war, there have been numerous violations of the Zone by both sides in the nearly-three-centuries of its existence that have cost thousands of lives, and there have been two recent major fleet incidents when Romulan forces crossed the Neutral Zone to lay waste to the Federation side. Under the terms of the Treaty of Algeron, any starship caught inside the Neutral Zone will be seized and impounded by the opposing power, but to date this has not occurred.

Both borders are heavily militarised, with numerous listening posts, sensor networks, and patrolling pickets. As Romulan cloaking device technology advances, so must Federation sensor technology advance in step or risk being caught unprepared by their enemies. With the advent of transwarp conduits and the ability to now cross the Neutral Zone in under an hour, the advantage may swing back to the Federation, as the Romulans are not known to possess this technology.

With two major Romulan incursions in the last twenty years (2413 and 2429) and diplomatic relations on a knife-edge, the Neutral Zone remains an area of tense watchfulness for both sides, avoided by most civilian shipping.