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The '''Romulan Neutral Zone''' was an area of neutral demilitarized space between within the [[United Federation of PlanetsRomulan Star Empire]] and along its border with the [[Romulan Star EmpireUnited Federation of Planets]] that . It was established after the end of the [[Earth-Romulan War]]. Entry by either side into and dissolved at the Zone constituted an act end of war. There were, however, several breaches, most the Fourth Romulan Civil War in the late 24th century2415.

After The Zone could be colonized and industrialized by the warEmpire, at least eight Earth Outpost Stations but no military facilities were allowed to be built on asteroids along within it. Romulan military vessels could patrol the Zonein the name of security but not deploy troops there. In 2266Entry by Federation starships into the Zone constituted an act of war, four of these outposts were destroyed and those vessels could be impounded by a Romulan Bird-of-Preythe Imperial Fleet. Commander Hansen was There were, however, several breaches, most in command of Earth Outpost 4 until its destructionthe late 24th century.

Over the years, the Zone became an important point of unofficial trade between the governments. Civilian vessels from each side were free to visit the several inhabited planets in the territory, such as [[Nevas IV]]. As such, it also became a hot spot for espionage, with agents from various governments interacting with each other away from the prying eyes of the military.  The Zone was patrolled by a civilian security force, which in truth consisted of [[Imperial Land Army]] personnel who temporarily received a discharge from service to join the force for two years and were then re-inducted into the Land Army when those two years were up. The security force answered to the civilian governors of the various planets within the Zone.  == History ==After the Earth/Romulan War, at least eight Earth Outpost Stations were built on asteroids along the Zone. In [[2266]], four of these outposts were destroyed by a Romulan Bird-of-Prey. Commander Hansen was in command of Earth Outpost 4 until its destruction.   In [[2311]], the Neutral Zone was reinforced and redefined in the [[Treaty of Algeron]]. [[Deanna Troi]] recalled this fact when she discussed the USS Pegasus with Commander [[William T. Riker|Riker]].  In [[2365]], the [[USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-D|Enterprise-D]] was ordered to investigate the Neutral Zone to solve a mystery concerning the disappearance of a string of [[Federation]] outposts. It is later presumed that the outposts were decimated by the [[Borg]] due to a signature obliterative technique unique to their kind. A crew member aboard the ship, [[Worf]], describes it: "''The outpost was just not destroyed, it's as though ''some great force'' just scooped it off the face of the planet''". Later that year, the ''Enterprise-D'' encountered a Borg cube that presumably obliterated several other populations in uncharted space in the same fashion. <br/>  In 2373, the [[USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-E|Enterprise-E]] was ordered to patrol the Neutral Zone during the second [[Borg]] [[Battle of Sector 001|assault on Earth]], as [[Star Fleet Command]] felt that [[Jean-Luc Picard]]'s experience with the Borg would make him a risk during the battle to defend [[Earth]].   Before the Romulans joined the [[Federation/Dominion War]] in late [[2374]], the bulk of their fleet was deployed along the Neutral Zone.   The ''USS Cairo'' disappeared and was presumed destroyed by the [[Dominion]] near the Neutral Zone. It was believed that the Dominion ships had crossed from the Romulan side of the Zone to attack the ''Cairo'', something they were allowed to do as per their nonaggression pact with the Romulans.   After the Third Romulan Civil War ended in [[2410]], the zone began to be used as a safe haven by rebel factions of the losing side. Those factions eventually united as the [[Uihvueri]], led by telepaths, which used the area as a base to bomb nearby Romulan and Federation targets as well as disrupt shipping. In [[2413]], the [[Tal'Shiar]] seized the Neutral Zone and militarized it, ending the Treaty of Algeron and closing the border in the name of security. Forced to act, the government attacked, and the ensuing Fourth Romulan Civil War turned the region into a battlefield as the Tal'Shiar and Uihvueri allied with each other to overthrow the ruling coalition on [[Eilhaunn]]. After the Tal'Shiar was defeated and disbanded, the Imperial government kept the zone militarized, ending its neutral status, a move tacitly agreed by the Federation in light of the potential for future trouble to erupt in the region again.