This is an example of the pride of the Romulan Fleet, the latest in a long line of proud vessels protecting the Romulan Star Empire from the aggressive forces of the Terran's Federation and Klingon Empire that both virtually surround it.
After the initial problems with the Federation which forced an alliance with the Klingons, the Romulan Star Empire retreated behind its borders enforcing a silence that was maintained for nearly a hundred Terran years until the Praetor's Council reversed it's decisions once more.
The above ship is the equal of any vessel currently in space and the Federation were forced to ally with the Star Empire in order to maintain its independance from the incursions from the Gamma Quadrant and the Cardassians. Romulan fleets were a vital part of the final invasion of the Cardassian Home World.