I wonder if it is just a trying to face down an insurmountable enemy through superior numbers.
As much as I appreciate that Trek battles and fleets have varied over the years one thing I have appreciated is the idea that the dangers have become bigger, so fleets have moved to match it. It's very reactionary of recognizing when their fleets failed (i.e. against the Dominion twice!) or with the Scimitar, which shows how one big bad can be defanged and leave you without any recourse.
I think it is a change of combat doctrine, rather than just sticking with the bigger is better approach that has prevailed for so long.
Same here. I really am glad to have these Romulan designs.
Absolutely, mixed fleets are essential, you need smaller and faster ships to deal with the enemies smaller and faster ships, that was learned against the kamikaze Jem'Hadar Attack Ships in DS9.
You also still need Capital Ships that can give (big guns have big power requirements) and take (same for shields) serious punishment if needs be but they must be protected by mid size Destroyer screens to help soak up the incoming damage and stop smaller ships getting to the Capital Ships.
Its not going to be all that different from what we see in naval fleets.
Clearly the Zhat Vash/Tal'Shiar are not messing around, I am curious about the lack of larger ships in the Romulan fleet as they are generally better at orbital bombardment, then again they don't really know what to expect in terms of opposition around the Synth planet, so a fleet comprised of mostly small to medium size ships is understandable with just a few Capital Ships included for added punch.
The only problem is it could seriously cripple the Tal'Shiar if the fight doesn't go their way, someone or something else is going to intervene as a damaged Borg cube is no match for that number of ships.
I have no doubt Starfleet could match it but not at the drop of a hat.
Thing is we don't know what all those ships have been told, they may not realise what is actually going on here, in which case all the allies need to do is broadcast the truth or take out the lead ship with the Commodore on it.
Will Laris and Zhaban call in favors and bring in allies of their own from the Romulan Military or will the Intelligence just attack everyone instead.