We probably won't use the Romulans in the first session, but you're certainly welcome to specialize in them. Cloaking devices and plasma torpedoes add a little bit of complexity, so it'd probably be better to introduce the Romulans in the second or third game.

Out of town, alas.

The basics aren't that hard -- with some explanation, a tutorial game or two can be played in the first evening. There's a learning curve before you'll get to the point of being able to fight an experienced player with the full set of rules and equal forces, but you can learn enough to fight a basic game against another beginner in one evening, and it's easy to balance the game for player skill by adjusting the selection and number of ships involved.

Some other week, perhaps?