Keras

"*In another reality, I could have called you 'friend'.*"

**Keras** of House Chironsala was a Romulan Commander in the mid-23rd century. In 2266, he commanded the first bird-of-prey to breach the Neutral Zone. After losing the Battle of Icarus IV to Captain James T. Kirk and the USS *Enterprise*, he sacrificed himself and his vessel in accordance with Romulan protocol. (TOS: "Balance of Terror", *ST* novel: *The Return*)

## History

Born on ch'Rihan in the 22nd century, **Keras i-Elehu tr'Chironsala** was descended from Ship-Clan and Southerner stock, and one of the oldest Noble Houses in the Romulan Star Empire. As a young man, he fought in the Earth-Romulan War, and forged a friendship with T'Auethn, an elder Centurion, that would last for more than a century. He was also a close friend and protege of Field Primus T'Cael i-Zaniidor tr'Kilyle. Keras eventually married a woman named Arenn, and they had two sons born in the 23rd century, Jannek and Gaius. Over his many years of military service, Keras grew weary of war, and did not wish to see the Romulan people caught up in another conflict with Earth. When the Praetor assigned him to command the prototype ghost ship on its mission to test the Federation's defenses, he strongly believed that it would be a suicide mission, and that such an eventuality might be for the best. (TOS: "Balance of Terror", *Star Trek: Pendragon*)

## Legacy

After their father's death, the sons of Keras had vastly different reactions: Jannek eventually became a diplomat and sought peace with the Federation, while Gaius wanted only revenge upon the Earthers, a hatred he passed on to his own daughter, Salatrel. (DS9 comic book *Blood and Honor*, TOS comic book *The Hollow Crown*, ST novel *The Return*, *Star Trek: Pendragon*)

In the aftermath of the defeat, Keras' family was disgraced. A century later, members of House Chironsala led by Salatrel would seek revenge against Kirk and the Federation, and were one of the forces behind the Romulan alliance with the Borg. (*ST* novel: *The Return*)

## Alternate timelines

In an alternate timeline where the United Earth never joined the Coalition of Planets, Keras was dispatched by the Romulan Star Empire to prevent the Earth government from joining the interstellar government. To accomplish this, he infiltrated Babel and pretended to be Vulcan ambassador Sarek in order to capture Lady T'Pol who was seen as a vital symbol of Earth joining the Coalition. When asked why he went to great lengths to appear as Sarek, Keras revealed that his features were normal and believed that he and Sarek shared an ancestor from the time of the Sundering. (*Star Trek: Myriad Universes* novel: *A Less Perfect Union*)

## Background

* The character was never named in canon; the name *Keras* originates from the Star Trek: Customizable Card Game, and is an anagram of *Sarek*, another character played by Mark Lenard. His full Rihannsu name comes from *Star Trek: Pendragon*.

## External links

* Romulan Commander article at ***Memory Alpha***, the canon *Star Trek* wiki.
* Keras article at ***Memory Beta***, the non-canon *Star Trek* wiki.
* Keras article at ***Star Trek Expanded Universe***, the fanon and fanworks *Star Trek* wiki.