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{{Sidebar military conflict
 
{{Sidebar military conflict
| conflict_name = Battle of the Bassen Rift
+
| conflict_name = Battle in the Bassen Rift
 
| image = Scimitar.jpg
 
| image = Scimitar.jpg
 
| image_size =
 
| image_size =
| caption = The ''Scimitar'' begins to deploy the weapon on the ''Enterprise'' late in the battle.
+
| imagecap = The ''Scimitar'' begins to deploy the weapon on the ''Enterprise'' late in the battle.
 
| date = [[2379]]
 
| date = [[2379]]
| location = The Bassen Rift
+
| location = [[Bassen Rift]]
| result = [[Federation]] - [[Romulan Star Empire|Romulan]] victory
+
| result = [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] - [[Romulan Star Empire|Romulan]] victory
 
<!-- combatant 1 -->
 
<!-- combatant 1 -->
 
| combatant1 = [[United Federation of Planets]]<br />[[Romulan Star Empire]]
 
| combatant1 = [[United Federation of Planets]]<br />[[Romulan Star Empire]]
 
| commander1 = [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]]<br />[[Commander]] [[Donatra]]
 
| commander1 = [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]]<br />[[Commander]] [[Donatra]]
| strength1 = 1 ''Sovereign''-class ship<br />2 ''Valdore''-class ships
+
| strength1 = 1 {{Class|Sovereign}} starship<br />2 ''Valdore''-type warbirds
| losses1 = ''Enterprise'' heavily damaged<br />[[Data]] killed in act of self-sacrifice<br />Both ''Valdore''-class ships disabled
+
| losses1 = ''Enterprise'' heavily damaged<br />Both warbirds disabled<br />[[Data]] killed in act of self-sacrifice<br />At least one other ''Enterprise'' casualty ([[Branson]])
 
<!-- combatant 2 -->
 
<!-- combatant 2 -->
 
| combatant2 = [[Remus]]
 
| combatant2 = [[Remus]]
 
| commander2 = [[Shinzon]] &dagger;
 
| commander2 = [[Shinzon]] &dagger;
| strength2 = 1 ''Scimitar''-class ship
+
| strength2 = ''[[Scimitar]]''
| losses2 = 1 ship lost with all hands
+
| losses2 = ''Scimitar'' lost with all hands
 
}}
 
}}
'''The Battle in the Bassen Rift''' was an encounter between the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}}, assisted by forces of the [[Romulan Star Empire]], against the [[Reman]] warbird ''[[Scimitar]]'', which was commanded by [[Shinzon]]. Shinzon, allied with the Remans, had recently led a ''[[coup]]'' against the [[Romulan]]s, assassinating most of the [[Romulan Senate]] and assuming the role of [[Praetor]] himself. Shinzon was a clone of [[Starfleet]] [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]], and had developed a vendetta against his originator.
+
'''The Battle in the Bassen Rift''' was an encounter between the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}}, assisted by forces of the [[Romulan Star Empire]], against the [[Reman]] [[warbird]] ''[[Scimitar]]'', which was commanded by [[Shinzon]]. Shinzon, allied with the Remans, had recently led a ''[[coup]]'' against the [[Romulan]]s, assassinating most of the [[Romulan Senate]] and assuming the role of [[Praetor]] himself. Shinzon was a clone of [[Starfleet]] [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]], and had developed a vendetta against his originator.
   
The battle itself, fought in [[2379]], was a fierce engagement between the ''Scimitar'', a unique and heavily armed warbird of Reman design, and the {{ShipClass|Sovereign}} ''Enterprise''-E, which was assisted by two {{ShipType|Valdore}} warbirds. The battle ended with the defeat of the ''Scimitar'' only thanks to sabotage from within the Reman ship itself, and left the ''Enterprise'' and the warbirds severely damaged. ({{film|10}})
+
The battle itself, fought in [[2379]], was a fierce engagement between the ''Scimitar'', a unique and heavily armed warbird of Reman design, and the {{Class|Sovereign}} ''Enterprise''-E, which was assisted by two {{type|Valdore}} warbirds. The battle ended with the defeat of the ''Scimitar'' only thanks to sabotage from within the Reman starship itself, and left the ''Enterprise'' and the warbirds severely damaged. ({{film|10}})
   
 
== Prelude ==
 
== Prelude ==
Following the assassination of the Romulan Senate, Shinzon quickly made overtures to the [[Federation]], requesting that an envoy be sent for face-to-face meetings on [[Romulus]] for peace with the Romulans. The ''Enterprise''-E, the closest available [[starship]], was sent on the mission. However, it was not learned until later that Shinzon had arranged for the ''Enterprise'' to be the ship that would be sent by placing a lure for the ''Enterprise'' crew, in the form of the [[Soong-type android]] [[B-4]] on [[Kolarus III]].
+
Following the assassination of the Romulan Senate, Shinzon quickly made overtures to the [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]], requesting that an envoy be sent for face-to-face meetings on [[Romulus]] for peace with the Romulans. Admiral [[Kathryn Janeway]] sent the ''Enterprise''-E on the mission, as it was the closest available [[starship]]. However, it was not learned until later that Shinzon had arranged for the ''Enterprise'' to be the starship that would be sent by placing a lure for the ''Enterprise'' crew, in the form of the [[Soong-type android]] [[B-4]] on [[Kolarus III]].
   
Shinzon specifically wanted to divert Picard to Romulus, because he required a complete [[Blood transfusion|transfusion]] of Picard's blood in order to survive. Because his [[temporal RNA]] sequences had not been activated, his cellular structure was slowly breaking down. Shinzon also wanted to learn more about his counterpart and their "shared" identity.
+
Shinzon specifically wanted to divert Picard to Romulus, because he required a complete [[Blood transfusion|transfusion]] of Picard's blood in order to survive. Because his [[Temporal RNA sequencing|temporal RNA sequences]] had not been activated, his cellular structure was slowly breaking down. Shinzon also wanted to learn more about his counterpart and their "shared" identity.
   
 
However, the crew of the ''Enterprise''-E soon managed to see through Shinzon's deceptions. They determined that the ''Scimitar'' was equipped with a [[thalaron radiation]] generator, a type of [[biogenic weapon]] that could effectively destroy all life on a starship or an entire planet in a matter of moments. Although Shinzon managed to capture Picard via [[transporter]], Picard quickly escaped with the assistance of [[Data]], who had masqueraded as B-4. Once Picard and Data were safely aboard, the ''Enterprise'' departed Romulus at maximum warp.
 
However, the crew of the ''Enterprise''-E soon managed to see through Shinzon's deceptions. They determined that the ''Scimitar'' was equipped with a [[thalaron radiation]] generator, a type of [[biogenic weapon]] that could effectively destroy all life on a starship or an entire planet in a matter of moments. Although Shinzon managed to capture Picard via [[transporter]], Picard quickly escaped with the assistance of [[Data]], who had masqueraded as B-4. Once Picard and Data were safely aboard, the ''Enterprise'' departed Romulus at maximum warp.
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== The battle ==
 
== The battle ==
 
[[File:USS Enterprise-E fires full phaser spread.jpg|thumb|The ''Enterprise'' searches for the cloaked ''Scimitar'']]
 
[[File:USS Enterprise-E fires full phaser spread.jpg|thumb|The ''Enterprise'' searches for the cloaked ''Scimitar'']]
The ''Scimitar'' pursued the ''Enterprise'' while [[cloaking device|cloaked]], waiting for the right moment to strike. Shinzon himself continued to deteriorate both physically and mentally. On the ''Enterprise'', Picard and his crew realized that the ''Scimitar'' had to be destroyed, lest it continue to threaten the Federation with its massive weaponry and its planet-destroying thalaron weapon. Fortunately, they also realized that Shinzon needed Picard's blood quickly, or he would die &ndash; meaning that Shinzon would be forced to attack the ''Enterprise'' before launching any other campaign.
+
The ''Scimitar'' pursued the ''Enterprise'' while [[cloaking device|cloaked]], waiting for the right moment to strike. Shinzon himself continued to deteriorate both physically and mentally. On the ''Enterprise'', Picard and his senior staff realized that the ''Scimitar'' had to be destroyed, lest it continue to threaten the Federation with its massive weaponry and its planet-destroying thalaron weapon. Fortunately, they also realized that Shinzon needed Picard's blood quickly, or he would die due to his unstable genetic structure (Shinzon had been created with the intention that he would be rapidly aged at a certain point to match Picard, but he had never received such a 'signal' and his body was thus breaking down), meaning that Shinzon would be forced to attack the ''Enterprise'' before launching any other campaign.
   
The ''Enterprise'' was ordered to rendezvous with [[Star Fleet Battle Group Omega]] near the [[Bassen Rift]], where it would have the support of other starships. However, Shinzon had been planning ahead &ndash; when the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[subspace communications]] with Starfleet were disrupted by the rift, the ''Scimitar'' quickly launched its attack. Firing while still cloaked, the ''Scimitar'' quickly disabled the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[warp drive]] with a single shot and left it stranded, outgunned and unable to call for help. The ''Enterprise'' was able to land some hits on the ''Scimitar'' by triangulating its weapons fire and by further firing on any shield impacts, but the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s retaliation inflicted minimal damage to Shinzon's ship while the ''Scimitar'' was able to severely weaken the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[dorsal]] shields.
+
The ''Enterprise'' was ordered to rendezvous with [[Star Fleet Battle Group Omega]] near the [[Bassen Rift]], where it would have the support of other starships. However, Shinzon had been planning ahead &ndash; when the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[subspace communication]]s with Starfleet were disrupted by the rift, the ''Scimitar'' quickly launched its attack. Firing while still cloaked, the ''Scimitar'' quickly disabled the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[warp drive]] with a single volley and left it stranded, outgunned and unable to call for help. Although the ''Scimitar'' remained cloaked, the ''Enterprise'' was able to briefly locate and land some hits on the ''Scimitar'' by firing all the ''Sovereign''-class starship's phaser banks at a 0 degree elevation, scanning for shield impacts to attempt torpedo strikes, although the ''Scimitar'' was too fast for the ''Enterprise'' to reliably land hits. The ''Enterprise''{{'}}s retaliation inflicted minimal damage to Shinzon's starship while the ''Scimitar'' was able to weaken the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[dorsal]] shields.
   
A brief ceasefire ensued where Shinzon projected a [[hologram]] of himself into the [[captain's ready room]] where he offered Picard the chance to give himself up so that nobody else on the ''Enterprise'' would have to die. Picard refused and the battle was to resume. It looked like hope had all but disappeared when two Romulan ''Valdore''-type warbirds decloaked between the two ships. [[Commander]] [[Donatra]], [[CO]] of the {{IRW|Valdore}}, hailed the ''Enterprise'' informing Picard that the Empire considered Shinzon's attacks a matter of internal security and offered to assist in destroying the ''Scimitar''. Together, the three ships managed to score several direct hits on the Reman warship before the ''Scimitar''{{'}}s superior firepower destroyed one warbird and disabled the other.
+
A brief ceasefire ensued where Shinzon projected a [[hologram]] of himself into the [[captain's ready room]] where he offered Picard the chance to give himself up so that nobody else on the ''Enterprise'' would have to die. Picard refused, and the battle was set to resume. As it looked as hope had all but disappeared, two Romulan ''Valdore''-type warbirds decloaked between the two starships. Commander [[William T. Riker|William Riker]]'s initial fears of these starships as more hostiles were relieved when [[Commander]] [[Donatra]], [[CO]] of the {{IRW|Valdore}}, hailed the ''Enterprise'' informing Picard that the Empire considered Shinzon's attacks a matter of 'internal security' and offered to assist in destroying the ''Scimitar''. While triangulating fire between their three starships, the warbirds and ''Enterprise'' were able to score several direct hits on the Reman warship before the ''Scimitar''{{'}}s superior firepower disabled the warbirds.
   
On the ''Enterprise'' [[bridge]], meanwhile, ship's [[counselor]] [[Deanna Troi]] offered a means of tracking the ''Scimitar'' through its cloaking device &ndash; by [[telepathy|telepathically]] contacting the [[Viceroy (Reman)|Reman viceroy]] (who had previously contacted Troi in the same way), triangulating his position and disabling the ship's cloaking device.
+
On the ''Enterprise'' [[bridge]], ship's [[counselor]] [[Deanna Troi]] offered a means of tracking the ''Scimitar'' through its cloaking device &ndash; by [[telepathy|telepathically]] contacting the [[Viceroy (Reman)|Reman viceroy]] (who had previously contacted Troi in the same way), triangulating his position and disabling the starship's cloaking device.
   
With several quadrants of the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[deflector shield]]s failing, Shinzon then ordered that a [[boarding party]] be [[transporter|beamed]] aboard the ''Enterprise'' to bring him Picard. However, the Reman troops were quickly pinned down by ''Enterprise'' [[security]] personnel on Deck 29. The viceroy, who was leading the boarding party, was ultimately killed in the assault by [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|Riker]]. During the battle on Deck 29, the ''Scimitar'' fired a spread of [[photon torpedo]]es at the ''Enterprise'', destroying the front of the Federation flagship's bridge, causing an [[explosive decompression]], which killed [[Lieutenant]] [[Branson]] before an emergency [[force field]] was erected to seal the hull breach.
+
With several quadrants of the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[deflector shield]]s failing, Shinzon then ordered that a [[Away team|boarding party]] be [[transporter|beamed]] aboard the ''Enterprise'' to bring him Picard. However, the Reman troops were quickly pinned down by ''Enterprise'' [[Starfleet Security|security]] personnel on Deck 29. The viceroy, who was leading the boarding party, was ultimately killed in the assault by [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|Riker]]. During the battle on Deck 29, the ''Scimitar'' fired a spread of [[photon torpedo]]es at the ''Enterprise'', destroying the front of the Federation flagship's bridge, causing an [[explosive decompression]], which killed [[Lieutenant]] [[Branson]] before an emergency [[force field]] was erected to seal the hull breach.
   
 
[[File:USS Enterprise-E and Scimitar following collision extraction.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Enterprise'' and the ''Scimitar'', shortly after the ramming]]
 
[[File:USS Enterprise-E and Scimitar following collision extraction.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Enterprise'' and the ''Scimitar'', shortly after the ramming]]
With the battle deteriorating into one of sheer attrition, it appeared that the ''Scimitar'' would win thanks to its superior weaponry and shielding &ndash; the ''Enterprise'' had depleted its complement of photon torpedoes and [[phaser]]s were only operating at 4%, while the ''Scimitar''{{'}}s shields were still running at 70%. However, Picard wryly commented that in his youth, his first evaluation at [[Starfleet Academy]] had suggested that he was extremely overconfident &ndash; a trait he attributed to Shinzon as well. In order to stop the ''Scimitar'', Picard ordered the ''Enterprise'' to ram the enemy ship at full impulse, plowing the two opponents together.
+
With the battle deteriorating into one of sheer attrition, it appeared that the ''Scimitar'' would win thanks to its superior weaponry and shielding &ndash; the ''Enterprise'' had depleted its complement of photon torpedoes and [[phaser]]s were only operating at 4%, while the ''Scimitar''{{'}}s shields were still running at 70%. However, Picard wryly commented that in his youth, his first evaluation at [[Starfleet Academy]] had suggested that he was extremely overconfident &ndash; a trait he attributed to Shinzon as well. In order to stop the ''Scimitar'', Picard ordered the ''Enterprise'' to [[Kamikaze|ram]] the enemy starship at full impulse when Shinzon moved the ''Scimitar'' into position in front of the ''Enterprise'' so that he could look directly at Picard when ordering his surrender, plowing the two opponents together.
   
Although the ''Enterprise'' sustained critical damage in the ramming maneuver, the ''Scimitar'' remained primarily operational, though the ship's [[disruptor]]s were disabled. Picard tried to sacrifice the ''Enterprise'' by activating the [[auto-destruct]] sequence, but it was off-line due to heavy damage. In a final act of desperation, Shinzon ordered the activation of the thalaron radiation weapon, and ordered that every living thing on the ''Enterprise'' be killed.
+
Although the ''Enterprise'' sustained critical damage in the ramming maneuver, the ''Scimitar'' remained primarily operational, though the starship's [[disruptor]]s were disabled. Picard tried to sacrifice the ''Enterprise'' by activating the [[auto-destruct]] sequence, but it was off-line due to heavy damage. In a final act of desperation, Shinzon ordered the activation of the thalaron radiation weapon, and ordered that every living thing on the ''Enterprise'' be killed.
   
Picard ordered Commander [[Geordi La Forge]] to beam him aboard the ''Scimitar'' so Picard could stop the weapon from firing. Just after transport, however, the transporters malfunctioned, making it impossible to bring the captain back. Data decided to launch a daring rescue mission (being unaffected by the vacuum of space), hurling himself across the gap between the two ships to board the ''Scimitar'' as well.
+
Picard ordered Lieutenant Commander [[Geordi La Forge]] to beam him aboard the ''Scimitar'' so Picard could stop the weapon from firing. Just after transport, however, the transporters malfunctioned, making it impossible to bring the captain back. Data decided to launch a daring rescue mission (being unaffected by the vacuum of space), hurling himself across the gap between the two starships to board the ''Scimitar'' as well.
   
 
[[File:Scimitar explodes.jpg|thumb|The destruction of the ''Scimitar'']]
 
[[File:Scimitar explodes.jpg|thumb|The destruction of the ''Scimitar'']]
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== Aftermath ==
 
== Aftermath ==
 
[[File:USS Enterprise-E in drydock 2.jpg|thumb|The ''Enterprise''-E in drydock after the battle]]
 
[[File:USS Enterprise-E in drydock 2.jpg|thumb|The ''Enterprise''-E in drydock after the battle]]
The battle ultimately brought about a greater understanding between the Federation and the Romulans, as the two former enemies had fought side by side in battle. The valor with which the ''Enterprise'' fought against Shinzon greatly impressed the Romulans, and the Romulans' decision to assist the ''Enterprise'' also impressed Starfleet. Commander [[Worf]], a man who harbored deep hatred for the Romulans, even observed that the Romulans had "fought with honor" &ndash; very high praise coming from a [[Klingon]].
+
The battle ultimately brought about a greater understanding between the Federation and the Romulans, as the two former enemies had fought side by side in battle. The valor with which the ''Enterprise'' fought against Shinzon greatly impressed the Romulans, and the Romulans' decision to assist the ''Enterprise'' also impressed Starfleet. Lieutenant Commander [[Worf]], a man who harbored deep hatred for the Romulans, even observed that the Romulans had "fought with honor" &ndash; very high praise coming from a [[Klingon]].
   
Following the battle, newly-promoted Captain William T. Riker of the {{USS|Titan}} led a Starfleet task force to the Romulan border to engage in direct talks for a final peace between the two sides. It was hoped that this development would lead to greater understanding and a new era of peace in the [[Alpha Quadrant|Alpha]] and [[Beta Quadrant]]s.
+
Following the battle, newly promoted Captain William T. Riker of the {{USS|Titan}} led a Starfleet task force to the Romulan border to engage in preliminary talks for a peace accord between the two sides. It was hoped that this development would lead to greater understanding and a new era of peace in the [[Alpha Quadrant|Alpha]] and [[Beta Quadrant]]s.
   
 
{{bginfo|A cut scene from the script for ''Star Trek Nemesis'' revealed that the starship USS ''Hemingway'' towed the critically-damaged ''Enterprise''-E to [[drydock]] above [[Earth]] following this battle.}}
 
{{bginfo|A cut scene from the script for ''Star Trek Nemesis'' revealed that the starship USS ''Hemingway'' towed the critically-damaged ''Enterprise''-E to [[drydock]] above [[Earth]] following this battle.}}
  +
  +
== Background information ==
  +
=== Apocrypha ===
  +
''[[Star Trek Online]]'s'' description of the Bassen Rift (called in-game by its Romulan name Great Bloom) states that even 30 years after the battle the area continues to be irradiated with traces of thalaron radiation left over from the ''Scimitar's'' destruction.
   
 
[[de:Schlacht im Bassen-Graben]]
 
[[de:Schlacht im Bassen-Graben]]

Revision as of 14:26, 24 October 2015

The Battle in the Bassen Rift was an encounter between the USS Enterprise-E, assisted by forces of the Romulan Star Empire, against the Reman warbird Scimitar, which was commanded by Shinzon. Shinzon, allied with the Remans, had recently led a coup against the Romulans, assassinating most of the Romulan Senate and assuming the role of Praetor himself. Shinzon was a clone of Starfleet Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and had developed a vendetta against his originator.

The battle itself, fought in 2379, was a fierce engagement between the Scimitar, a unique and heavily armed warbird of Reman design, and the Sovereign-class Enterprise-E, which was assisted by two Valdore-type warbirds. The battle ended with the defeat of the Scimitar only thanks to sabotage from within the Reman starship itself, and left the Enterprise and the warbirds severely damaged. (Star Trek Nemesis)

Prelude

Following the assassination of the Romulan Senate, Shinzon quickly made overtures to the Federation, requesting that an envoy be sent for face-to-face meetings on Romulus for peace with the Romulans. Admiral Kathryn Janeway sent the Enterprise-E on the mission, as it was the closest available starship. However, it was not learned until later that Shinzon had arranged for the Enterprise to be the starship that would be sent by placing a lure for the Enterprise crew, in the form of the Soong-type android B-4 on Kolarus III.

Shinzon specifically wanted to divert Picard to Romulus, because he required a complete transfusion of Picard's blood in order to survive. Because his temporal RNA sequences had not been activated, his cellular structure was slowly breaking down. Shinzon also wanted to learn more about his counterpart and their "shared" identity.

However, the crew of the Enterprise-E soon managed to see through Shinzon's deceptions. They determined that the Scimitar was equipped with a thalaron radiation generator, a type of biogenic weapon that could effectively destroy all life on a starship or an entire planet in a matter of moments. Although Shinzon managed to capture Picard via transporter, Picard quickly escaped with the assistance of Data, who had masqueraded as B-4. Once Picard and Data were safely aboard, the Enterprise departed Romulus at maximum warp.

The battle

USS Enterprise-E fires full phaser spread

The Enterprise searches for the cloaked Scimitar

The Scimitar pursued the Enterprise while cloaked, waiting for the right moment to strike. Shinzon himself continued to deteriorate both physically and mentally. On the Enterprise, Picard and his senior staff realized that the Scimitar had to be destroyed, lest it continue to threaten the Federation with its massive weaponry and its planet-destroying thalaron weapon. Fortunately, they also realized that Shinzon needed Picard's blood quickly, or he would die due to his unstable genetic structure (Shinzon had been created with the intention that he would be rapidly aged at a certain point to match Picard, but he had never received such a 'signal' and his body was thus breaking down), meaning that Shinzon would be forced to attack the Enterprise before launching any other campaign.

The Enterprise was ordered to rendezvous with Star Fleet Battle Group Omega near the Bassen Rift, where it would have the support of other starships. However, Shinzon had been planning ahead – when the Enterprise's subspace communications with Starfleet were disrupted by the rift, the Scimitar quickly launched its attack. Firing while still cloaked, the Scimitar quickly disabled the Enterprise's warp drive with a single volley and left it stranded, outgunned and unable to call for help. Although the Scimitar remained cloaked, the Enterprise was able to briefly locate and land some hits on the Scimitar by firing all the Sovereign-class starship's phaser banks at a 0 degree elevation, scanning for shield impacts to attempt torpedo strikes, although the Scimitar was too fast for the Enterprise to reliably land hits. The Enterprise's retaliation inflicted minimal damage to Shinzon's starship while the Scimitar was able to weaken the Enterprise's dorsal shields.

A brief ceasefire ensued where Shinzon projected a hologram of himself into the captain's ready room where he offered Picard the chance to give himself up so that nobody else on the Enterprise would have to die. Picard refused, and the battle was set to resume. As it looked as hope had all but disappeared, two Romulan Valdore-type warbirds decloaked between the two starships. Commander William Riker's initial fears of these starships as more hostiles were relieved when Commander Donatra, CO of the IRW Valdore, hailed the Enterprise informing Picard that the Empire considered Shinzon's attacks a matter of 'internal security' and offered to assist in destroying the Scimitar. While triangulating fire between their three starships, the warbirds and Enterprise were able to score several direct hits on the Reman warship before the Scimitar's superior firepower disabled the warbirds.

On the Enterprise bridge, ship's counselor Deanna Troi offered a means of tracking the Scimitar through its cloaking device – by telepathically contacting the Reman viceroy (who had previously contacted Troi in the same way), triangulating his position and disabling the starship's cloaking device.

With several quadrants of the Enterprise's deflector shields failing, Shinzon then ordered that a boarding party be beamed aboard the Enterprise to bring him Picard. However, the Reman troops were quickly pinned down by Enterprise security personnel on Deck 29. The viceroy, who was leading the boarding party, was ultimately killed in the assault by Commander Riker. During the battle on Deck 29, the Scimitar fired a spread of photon torpedoes at the Enterprise, destroying the front of the Federation flagship's bridge, causing an explosive decompression, which killed Lieutenant Branson before an emergency force field was erected to seal the hull breach.

USS Enterprise-E and Scimitar following collision extraction

The Enterprise and the Scimitar, shortly after the ramming

With the battle deteriorating into one of sheer attrition, it appeared that the Scimitar would win thanks to its superior weaponry and shielding – the Enterprise had depleted its complement of photon torpedoes and phasers were only operating at 4%, while the Scimitar's shields were still running at 70%. However, Picard wryly commented that in his youth, his first evaluation at Starfleet Academy had suggested that he was extremely overconfident – a trait he attributed to Shinzon as well. In order to stop the Scimitar, Picard ordered the Enterprise to ram the enemy starship at full impulse when Shinzon moved the Scimitar into position in front of the Enterprise so that he could look directly at Picard when ordering his surrender, plowing the two opponents together.

Although the Enterprise sustained critical damage in the ramming maneuver, the Scimitar remained primarily operational, though the starship's disruptors were disabled. Picard tried to sacrifice the Enterprise by activating the auto-destruct sequence, but it was off-line due to heavy damage. In a final act of desperation, Shinzon ordered the activation of the thalaron radiation weapon, and ordered that every living thing on the Enterprise be killed.

Picard ordered Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge to beam him aboard the Scimitar so Picard could stop the weapon from firing. Just after transport, however, the transporters malfunctioned, making it impossible to bring the captain back. Data decided to launch a daring rescue mission (being unaffected by the vacuum of space), hurling himself across the gap between the two starships to board the Scimitar as well.

Scimitar explodes

The destruction of the Scimitar

On the Scimitar, Picard battled his way through the bridge, before he and Shinzon engaged in a final confrontation in the thalaron generator room as the seconds counted down towards the firing of the thalaron weapon. Picard managed to kill Shinzon in hand-to-hand combat with barely thirty seconds remaining in the countdown. At this point, Data arrived on the bridge and beamed Picard away using an emergency transport unit, and firing on the thalaron radiation generator with his phaser, destroying the Scimitar and sacrificing himself to save the eight hundred men and women aboard the Enterprise.

It should be noted that the two Romulan Warbirds were disabled far quicker than the Enterprise for the sole reason that Shinzon did not want to destroy his only means of curing himself - Picard.

Aftermath

USS Enterprise-E in drydock 2

The Enterprise-E in drydock after the battle

The battle ultimately brought about a greater understanding between the Federation and the Romulans, as the two former enemies had fought side by side in battle. The valor with which the Enterprise fought against Shinzon greatly impressed the Romulans, and the Romulans' decision to assist the Enterprise also impressed Starfleet. Lieutenant Commander Worf, a man who harbored deep hatred for the Romulans, even observed that the Romulans had "fought with honor" – very high praise coming from a Klingon.

Following the battle, newly promoted Captain William T. Riker of the USS Titan led a Starfleet task force to the Romulan border to engage in preliminary talks for a peace accord between the two sides. It was hoped that this development would lead to greater understanding and a new era of peace in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.

A cut scene from the script for Star Trek Nemesis revealed that the starship USS Hemingway towed the critically-damaged Enterprise-E to drydock above Earth following this battle.

Background information

Apocrypha

Star Trek Online's description of the Bassen Rift (called in-game by its Romulan name Great Bloom) states that even 30 years after the battle the area continues to be irradiated with traces of thalaron radiation left over from the Scimitar's destruction.