Cerne Station
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Cerne Station (DS-118) is a Vision-class Federation station currently assigned to Fourth Fleet's Task Force 17, operating as the headquarters for the Farragut Exploratory Cruiser Division.
History
Originally commissioned in 2332 to study the phenomenon which was first classified as the Cerne Nebula, and then unofficially as 'The Red Expanse', Cerne Station was constructed initially as a twenty-person science outpost with the capacity to increase the mission complement by an additional one hundred and twenty should the need arise in the future.
Over the next several decades, the scale of the science team was gradually scaled back due to the fact that beyond the initial findings that the Red Expanse gradually and uniquely expanded and then contracted over a period of time, the nebula itself was completely impenetrable to Federation starships due to the localised impact that the Expanse had on EPS-based power systems which drained them within seconds of entering the nebula.
In 2361, an agreement was made with the Romulan Star Empire to attempt to enter the nebula using a Romulan science vessel. It was hypothesised that the plasma power systems of that race's vessels would not be as affected by the nebula as those employed by Starfleet.
The experiment failed.
By 2381, the standing crew of Cerne Station had been reduced to just four personnel but in 2385; and following the attack on Mars; the decision was made to mothball the station indefinitely and recall the remaining personnel.
This situation remained until 2403, when following USS Elysion's mission to investigate the disappearance of a missing Starfleet science vessel, Cerne Station was reactivated and updated to become the headquarters of the Farragut Exploratory Cruiser Division.
Station Layout
As a Vision-class station, Cerne consists of a central core with four pylons which have been designated North, South, East and West, and which extend out from the core, each at 90 degrees perpendicular to the last. Each pylon has circular modules attached to it, and these provide internal habitable space with each module being accessible from a central passageway running through the centre of the pylon. Each module contains between one and three levels, depending on its size.
Core
The very top of Cerne's Core section houses the station's communication arrays and the tractor beam assembly. Immediately below that, the upper levels proper contain station operations, the primary computer core, divisional and station office suites, several conference rooms and the command observation lounge. Below these levels are the main cargo bays, the station's auxiliary craft hangars and maintenance bays, and external docking ports for larger vessels. Further down the core are the secondary cargo storage and marshalling areas, two additional observation lounges and the station's arboretum. Finally, the lowest habitable section of the core contains the station's engineering and engineering support spaces, primary and secondary reactors, deuterium and water tanking, the secondary computer core, life support and environment systems, the station's SDF / IDF generators, waste processing and the station's escape pods.
Below the engineering section of the station are the station's primary sensor arrays which can be accessed for repair or modification using one of two Jeffries tubes. The sensor arrays extend a significant distance beyond the bottom of the habitable spaces of the station and contain the tactical sensor array, a short range lateral sensor array, a short- and medium-range passive sensor array and an extremely comprehensive long-range sensor suite.
As Cerne Station was constructed solely as a science and monitoring station, the sensor arrays have been progressively upgraded over the years until the point that it was decommissioned in 2385. Whilst now almost twenty years old, the long-range sensor suite in particular is comparable to the advanced systems found aboard a Centaur II Class science vessel or Reliant Class frigate from that period.
Pylon North
Pylon North is connected to eight circular modules of various sizes, predominantly accommodating enlisted crew quarters and those quarters assigned to the station's tactical and security officers. A further large module consists of three levels and contains the security ready room, offices, armoury, brig and equipment store. One module positioned close to the station core contains fitness facilities including a circular running track, a gymnasium and a small pool, whilst a smaller module positioned further along the pylon contains the station's sole transporter room.
Pylon East
This pylon is almost completely assigned to accommodation and welfare of the crew of the station, with five of the nine modules here designated as enlisted crew quarters, with three additional modules assigned respectively as a small crew lounge, a larger recreation lounge complete with bar and two holosuites, and a mess hall and galley.
Pylon South
Pylon South belongs solely to the station's expansive science department and the significantly more limited medical facilities. This pylon contains a number of configurable science laboratories, science offices, a dedicated stellar cartography laboratory and a bespoke module at the far end of the arm which houses Cerne Station's radio telescope which is slaved to the station's medium and long range sensor equipment and analysis processors. Towards the core-end of the pylon are the quarters assigned to the science and medical teams, as well as two medium-sized modules. One of these houses the station infirmary, dispensary, surgery and ICU facilities, whilst the second contains offices for the use of the CMO and other medical staff.
Pylon West
The fourth pylon contains a larger number of small- and medium-sized modules, and houses the quarters assigned to divisional and station senior staff as well as the quarters assigned to operations and engineering personnel. These modules are supplemented on the pylon by an officers' wardroom, galley, and lounge and a further three small-sized modules which are designated as diplomatic offices, the Federation envoy's quarters and a small suite of staterooms available for the use of VIPs. Finally, two large multi-levelled modules sit adjacent to the core and on opposite sides of the Arm. Both of these units can be accessed from either Pylon West or the Core and have been assigned to house civilian-operated crew support facilities and their associated quarters.
Dante's Roadhouse & Grill
The larger of the two civilian modules is three levels high, with the expansive lower level containing 'Dante's Roadhouse & Grill' - a bar and lounge operated by business partners Dan Morrow and Tiger Hollen. Dante's provides a traditional 'home-cooked' grill menu and an authentic range of beverages for the station's personnel. The second level of the module contains civilian accommodation.
Federation News Service
The third and uppermost level of the module which contains Dante's Roadhouse contains the offices which have been assigned to Federation News Service employees Will Caine and Tika Farlan and their quarters.
Kesra Mercantile
On the opposite side of Pylon West, the smaller of the two civilian modules has been assigned to Toran, Corat, Dayna and Eldon Kesra, four Cardassian siblings who operate the 'Kesra Mercantile' trading post, selling useful equipment, luxury goods and curios to the personnel and visitors of Cerne Station. The upper level of this module contains the siblings' quarters and their small cargo hauler is stored alongside the station's own auxiliary craft in the Core's hangar facility.
Station Auxiliary Craft
- USS Battuta (NCC-82588) - Arrow-class Runabout
- USS Scott (NCC-82965) - Arrow-class Runabout
- Shi'Kahr (DS-118/01) - Type-12 Personnel Shuttle
- Des Moines (DS-118/02) - Type 12 Personnel Shuttle
- Malmo (DS-118/03) - Type-20 Cargo Shuttle
- Belfast (DS-118/04) - Type-20 Cargo Shuttle