Both Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Captain William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) had to assist the Romulans in cleaning up the mess left by Star Trek Nemesis. Having been enemies for centuries, the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire embarked on a temporary alliance in the 24th century. The alliance between the Romulans and the Federation was in response to the threat posed by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s Dominion. Nemesis took place four years after the Dominion War ended, and presented a new threat to the fragile peace with the Romulan Star Empire.

In the final movie to feature the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the crew of the USS Enterprise-E prevented Praetor Shinzon (Tom Hardy) from assuming control of the Romulan Star Empire. The Enterprise crew’s valiant efforts in Star Trek Nemesis further strengthened relations between the Romulan Star Empire and the Federation. In the years after the end of Nemesis, both Picard and Riker were deployed to maintain diplomatic relations with the Romulans. While Riker’s Romulan mission was presumably a success, Picard’s own Romulan mission ultimately led to him resigning from Starfleet.

Picard & Riker Both Got Romulan Missions After Star Trek: Nemesis

At the end of Star Trek Nemesis, the newly promoted Captain Riker takes command of the USS Titan, and his first mission is to go back to the Neutral Zone. Captain Riker was placed in charge of a task force that is spearheading discussions with the Romulans in the wake of Shinzon’s coup. Star Trek has never shown Riker’s Romulan mission on-screen, as the next time viewers see him is a year later, in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 1, in which the USS Titan is dealing with the Pakleds. The outcome of Riker’s Romulan mission has never been revealed.

Presumably, Captain Riker’s Romulan mission was a success, as six years later, in 2385, Admiral Picard was leading efforts to resettle refugees from the doomed planet Romulus. Star Trek: Picard revealed that Jean-Luc and Commander Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) played a key role leading the evacuation efforts when it became clear that the Romulans’ homeworld would be destroyed by a supernova in a matter of years. Tragically, the Attack on Mars in 2385 devastated the rescue armada and forced Starfleet to pull out of its mission of mercy. Picard was horrified by this dereliction of duty and handed in his resignation.

Why Starfleet Assigns Picard & Riker To Deal With Romulans

Captain Riker is presumably sent to the Romulan Neutral Zone after Star Trek Nemesis because he and Picard had already established a rapport with Commander Donatra (Dina Meyer). After Shinzon is defeated, Donatra tells the crew of the Enterprise that they have earned a friend in the Romulan Star Empire. Donatra also dispatched shuttles which provided the Enterprise crew with medical assistance and supplies after the ship was severely damaged by Shinzon’s Scimitar ship. Therefore, Picard and Riker were perfect envoys for Starfleet after the Romulans decided to talk with the Federation.

It’s also worth remembering that Picard and Riker were the first Starfleet officers to communicate with the Romulan Star Empire in decades. In Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s season 1 finale, “The Neutral Zone”, the USS Enterprise-D is sent to investigate attacks on Federation colonies, under the mistaken belief the attackers were Romulans. Picard negotiates cooperation with the Romulans, the first step in establishing diplomatic relations with the Romulans and setting him on a course for his final Starfleet mission in the years following Star Trek Nemesis.