Romulan Tal Shiar
The Tal Shiar is the elite Intelligence organisation of the Romulan Star Empire. It is a highly respected and feared organization whose main objective is to enforce loyalty of Romulan citizens to the government and obtain enemy secrets, most notably from the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Their presence is often undetectable and their methods covert. At times, the operations of the Tal Shiar goes above the control of the government itself, as the agents themselves have the power to overrule the direct authority of most military commanders, which they utilize with little fear of reprisal.
Unlike the Federations Section 31, the Tal Shiar do not cover up it's existence, and even has a representative in the Romulan Senate. This representative is currently the head of the organisation, Chairman Vaebn.
Although he is not a very popular Romulan, he commands the respect he requires through fear. Because operatives of the Tal Shiar have the ability to over-ride the decisions of Romulan Military Commanders, both Vaebn and the Tal Shiar remain deeply unpopular with the Romulan Military, as well as with the Praetor himself.
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