Major Rakal's Romulan Review #8: Telak

Aefvadh! While we're on the subject of personnel, how about that new Security fella,

TELAK
Uncommon Romulan Personnel
Integrity 5, Cunning 6, Strength 9, [ST]
SECURITY: Treachery, Tal Shiar, Cybernetics
"Male bodyguard of Sela. Stationed on Romulus. Lieutenant operative in the Tal Shiar's new Android Research section."

Our first unique Romulan SECURITY. Though one point less Cunning than his universal comrades Jaron and Taul, he makes up for it with that critical extra Integrity point that lets him escape Firestorms, and the even Cunning protects him from Hunter Gangs. He's still vulnerable to Thought Fire unless you augment his Cunning with a PADD or Yellow Alert (though the latter negates his Hunter Gangs immunity).

SECURITY is a must for dilemmas (especially with the new Security Precautions), but it's not required for missions (with the sole exception of the 25-point Fed-Kli Hostage Situation just out in the new 2-Player Game), so you must make them do double duty through skills, not an easy job for the Rommies. Jaron is good only for Youth decks, unless you're fond of the 20-point Relief Mission. Taul is a staple in Archaeology decks. And that's all they're good for. Telak, on the other hand, now provides a crucial backup Tal Shiar for the good Major, making Quash Conspiracy less risky (not to mention possible using Uncommon personnel), as well as helping out as a leader for Romulan-Romulan attacks. Cybernetics (the only other source of which, for Romulans, is Ira Graves) will let you report Soong-type Androids, with their selectable classification, "for free". So although his skills are only good for one mission requirement, they're also useful in other ways.

Bottom line: no Roga Danar, but a lot more useful than the other Rommie SECURITY, and only Uncommon.

The Major's Combo:

• Telak + Major Rakal + Quash Conspiracy.