In 2368, the Romulans attempted to develop their own interphase generator and install it aboard a science vessel, but inadvertantly caused a forced chamber explosion in their resonator coil, severely damaging the ship. The USS Enterprise-D answered the Romulans' distress call, and assisted them in making repairs. Upon beaming back to the Enterprise, however, Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge and Ensign Ro Laren became contaminated with chronitons leaking from the Romulans' cloaking device, and became phased themselves, unable to interact or communicate with anyone but each other. La Forge and Ro were eventually de-phased when they were subjected to a high-intensity anyon emission. (TNG: "The Next Phase" )