Klingons vs. Romulans

[jmampilly]

The Klingon Empire and the Romulan Empire are two of the three major Alpha/Beta Quadrant powers. In the post-Nemesis era, which of the two sides would win a war? At first thought I am inclined to think the Romulans would win, because, in Agent Sloane's exchange with Dr. Bashir, it was indicated that the Klingons were devastated postwar and wouldn't pose a threat to anyone for at least a decade. However, I doubt the Romulans could realistically subdue the Klingons. They would never be able to occupy any Klingon colonies, because Klingons have an inherent aversion to being kept prisoner. And seeing as a war between the two would take many years to be finished, the Klingons would have time to rebuild their fleet. Not only that, but a war between the two could not realitistically continue without Federation intervention at some point, most likely on the side of the Klingons.

What do you guys think?

 

[F. King Daniel]

In the Next Gen "All Good Things" future (2395ish), the Klingon Empire had invaded and annexed Romulan space. In Star Trek, we see Romulus destroyed by a supernova in 2387.

Romulans lose.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Star Trek: Nemesis -- the Romulan Empire faced sever internal political strife, a disadvantage.

 

[bbjeg]

Romulan space is vast, and not just it's home world (I think Nero exaggerated when he said he's the last of the Romulan Empire) and the Klingons took a beating during the Dominion war. I think the Romulans will win and not honorably. They'll probably destroy worlds that they can't hold.

 

[JariM]

Romulans would beat the Klingons.
Romulans would laugh at the Klingons.
Romulans would beat the Klingons again.
And then the Klingons would win.

 

[Shawnster]

Romulan space is vast, and not just it's home world (I think Nero exaggerated when he said he's the last of the Romulan Empire) and the Klingons took a beating during the Dominion war. I think the Romulans will win and not honorably. They'll probably destroy worlds that they can't hold.

Ah, but, assuming Romulus/Remus are destroyed, what would happen to the Romulan Empire? Would they remain united and able to fight the Klingons or would the Empire splinter and fragment into civil war. A fragmented Romulan Empire might not stand before the Klingons.

 

[AgentCoop]

I think the Klingons would win. The TNG-era Romulans seem to be much more about scheming and manipulation. They'd do well in the short run, but they may not have the stomach for the kind of prolonged conflict such a war would undoubtedly be. I think even a weakened Klingon Empire could inflict enough losses on the Romulans to make them eventually yield.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Romulan space is vast, and not just it's home world (I think Nero exaggerated when he said he's the last of the Romulan Empire) and the Klingons took a beating during the Dominion war. I think the Romulans will win and not honorably. They'll probably destroy worlds that they can't hold.

Ah, but, assuming Romulus/Remus are destroyed, what would happen to the Romulan Empire? Would they remain united and able to fight the Klingons or would the Empire splinter and fragment into civil war. A fragmented Romulan Empire might not stand before the Klingons.

They couldn't cope when their senate was killed in Nemesis. With their heartworlds destroyed they likely wouldn't have a chance.

I'm really looking forward to what the novelverse does in 2387 and beyond.

 

[jmampilly]

Romulan space is vast, and not just it's home world (I think Nero exaggerated when he said he's the last of the Romulan Empire) and the Klingons took a beating during the Dominion war. I think the Romulans will win and not honorably. They'll probably destroy worlds that they can't hold.

Ah, but, assuming Romulus/Remus are destroyed, what would happen to the Romulan Empire? Would they remain united and able to fight the Klingons or would the Empire splinter and fragment into civil war. A fragmented Romulan Empire might not stand before the Klingons.

I have always found the notion that the loss of the Romulus being severely devastating to be implausible. For an entity as powerful as the Romulans, surely their resources are not all concentrated in a single planet. Imagine the Federation. The destruction of Earth would be a blow, but not one that would lead to the disintegration of the Federation. In fact, it probably wouldn't even be a major blow to the human population. No doubt by the 24th century many more humans live offworld...

 

[Ilaliya]

1. Klingons would start to win
2. There would be strife amongst the great houses as everyone was vying for honor
3. Romulans would assassinate members of one house, pin it on another house... and generally exploit the internal politics
4. Klingons would go through a civil war to determine who gets to claim credit for the victory against Romulans
5. Romulans just keep their territory defended, let Klingons fight each other.

 

[jmampilly]

1. Klingons would start to win
2. There would be strife amongst the great houses as everyone was vying for honor
3. Romulans would assassinate members of one house, pin it on another house... and generally exploit the internal politics
4. Klingons would go through a civil war to determine who gets to claim credit for the victory against Romulans
5. Romulans just keep their territory defended, let Klingons fight each other.

I myself agree in that the Klingon political structure makes it very vulnerable. However the TV shows seemed to indicate that the Klingons generally came together when fighting common threats, and waited for said fighting to end before acting on internal squabbles.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Klingons are too arrogant, they'd throw everything they had at the Romulans, make advances and then get too cocky about their great warrior prowess. While they were gloating the Romulans would be scheming and plotting to get the upper hand, then they'd pounce with sound strategic cunning.