DECIPHER.com > Star Trek > Expansions > Reflections 2.0

...And Some Days the Bear Gets You

by Matt "Captain" Kirk

One of the few times the Enterprise-D crew was outmaneuvered by an enemy can be enjoyed by Romulan fans everywhere in the Next Generation episode "Data's Day". Reflections 2.0 brings us its star as the latest addition to the already formidable Romulan arsenal, Mendak, Duplicitous Admiral.

At first glance, his skills and attributes seem remarkably similar to another Romulan powerhouse, Koval. His keywords are useful, especially for the brand new dilemma Dignitaries and Witnesses. But his real power lies in his devastating ability that reshapes Romulan mission selection forever:

"While each of your non-headquarters missions is not a [Rom] mission, you may attempt each of them using your [Rom] personnel."

In a nutshell, this gives Romulans the unparalleled ability to attempt ANY mission in 2E. Adding to the increased mission repertoire from Infiltrators Kell and Selok, Mendak gives his people an entire galaxy of new possibilities. Previously inaccessible bounties such as Plot Invasion as well as only recently possible selections such as Signal for Rescue are now ripe for the taking. Simply keep Mendak aboard a Cloaking Device Ship aboard Engage Cloak for the entire game, and nothing will be able to deter your Romulans from spreading their wings into uncharted territories. (Except maybe One-Upsmanship or Stalling for Time.)

But like all things 2E, a commensurate cost must be paid for such power, and Mendak's fantastic skill comes at a high price. Romulan players must forsake some of their most favorite targets to gain nigh-universal mission access. Longtime standbys like Supervise Dilithium Mine and Treat Plague Ship will be unavailable to those Romulan players willing to use Mendak's ability. However, this can only lead to new favorites becoming ingrained in the hearts of Romulan players. The long-time dream of "endless sky" can finally be achieved! Go forth and conquer for the glory of the Star Empire!

November 22, 2004