Deep Space 47
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Deep Space 47 (DS-47) is a Narendra-class station located in the Thomar Expanse, on the far side of the Badlands to Federation territory. It was established in 2400 as the new headquarters of the Fouth Fleet’s Task Force 47, to launch exploration missions through and beyond the perilous Expanse.
History
The Thomar Expanse has long been a fraught area for Starfleet, as an independent stretch of space between the Cardassian Union and the Breen Confederacy, whose relationship has been tense since the Dominion War. In the late-24th century, a spate of hostilities from the Breen against the Federation ushered in new agreements between the Federation and the Cardassians, their respective frontier forces urged to cooperate in the face of a potential mutual foe. These agreements opened the chance for exploration through the Thomar Expanse and beyond, precipitating the formation of the Fourth Fleet’s Task Force 47 to oversee this and similar missions.
The first Starfleet foothold in the region had specific needs: rapid assembly, decent defensive capabilities, and the capacity to support starships moving through and operating in the area. The swift and easy construction of a Narendra-class made the station an obvious choice, and Deep Space 47 was assembled and constructed in the early months of 2400, deemed operational by the end of the first quarter.
Current Status
Since mid-2400, Deep Space 47 has been operational and has established its regional defences to keep the station safe against threats from the Breen, the Tzenkethi Coalition, and even members of the Cardassian military who are less amenable to the new agreements. Starships beginning their missions in the Thomar Expanse, to operate within or head beyond through to the unknown regions past Ultima Thule, use DS-47 as a supply post.
Deep Space 47, as the hub of Starfleet operations within the Thomar Expanse, features a variety of Starfleet offices in order to support the wider mission of Task Force 47, as well as numerous civilian enterprises, both Federation and foreign powers seeking to make the most of the new opportunities for trade and cooperation that a fixed Federation presence in the area brings.
The Galleria
As Deep Space 47 is a newer Starfleet facility, the Galleria is still a work in progress. While most of the Galleria is now populated, it is still being modified to meet local needs and desires, just as the station was designed to accommodate.
Cosmos Repairs
Positioned on the far side of the Badlands from the Federation, Deep Space 47 sees a slightly higher-than-average need for civilian starship repairs and assistance. Filling in the civilian repair space is Cosmos Repairs. While the company maintains workspaces elsewhere within the station, working alongside Starfleet personnel, they also maintain a commercial frontage on the Galleria to handle customer enquiries and house their office personnel.
Cosmos Repairs has a well-earned reputation for efficiency and quality of work, if somewhat rough in their customer relationships.
Beans'd It, Food, & B'Aar
Beans’d It isn’t the best coffee place on Deep Space 47, merely the first one that passengers clearing the transit facilities from passenger docking services would encounter. They boast their use of 100% non-replicated coffee beans, sourced from twenty different worlds across the Federation, as well as genuine Delta Vega-produced coffee machines used in the making of their drinks. They are a no-frills establishment, with no seating available and only coffee on the menu. Despite this, they are a popular destination for their non-replicated drinks alone. Despite numerous requests, the proprietors have no interest in stocking raktijino and refer customers asking for it to the nearest replimat.
Food opened up directly next to Beans’d It within a month of the former starting operations. Seeing how Beans’d It was only serving drinks, Food serves only food. When asked why the name, the owner, Frank Zampatti, always said, “simple branding works”. Most items on the menu are simple one-handed bakery fare that pairs well with the drinks from their neighbour.
B’Aar sits proudly in the same retail space as Beans’d It and Food. Run by Klingon grandmothers, T’Mara & M’Reha, and following the same simple philosophy as their neighbours for both branding and their retail operations, B’Aar only serves alcoholic drinks. Their speciality is Bloodwine, made according to a recipe that has been in the owner’s family for many generations, and it is specially imported. The proprietors serve as both bar staff and bouncers should any patrons get out of hand. Perhaps because of this, they boast a 100% no-bar fight record.
Sssing
Sssing is a deceptively vast Karaoke bar nestled on the lower level just a short walk from the day-to-day favourites of the Galleria. Whilst Saurian owner L’Ton Johon is not the most musically talented being in the galaxy, neither will you be once you’ve had a few shots of his specially imported Brandy.
Deep Space 47 In-Play
- With its position on a dangerous frontier, DS-47 is a home for explorers and researchers, but also officers charged with its protection and negotiators stopping tensions from simmering over. While many live and work here with their families, it is a more difficult and dangerous place for civilians to live than many other stations.
- DS-47 is a large starbase, but more with the feel of a frontier town than a bustling city in the stars. Notable figures in the community, whether in Starfleet or the civilians who run the businesses and amenities aboard, will be recognisable faces and people you get to know who stick around.
- Starships stop here to resupply on their operations around or beyond the Thomar Expanse, and can be supported by the station’s maintenance team. Serious repairs or support will necessitate a return to Federation space.
- With the Badlands between DS-47 and the Federation, the station can sometimes feel cut off from immediate support, especially in a crisis.
Encounters
The following story prompt is open for adoption. If you’re interested in taking it on, please reach out to your Task Force staff to let them know. The bullet points below are meant as optional ideas for development rather than fixed requirements.
After an extended deployment - or with another already on the horizon - your ship finds a brief pause while docked at Deep Space 47. Shore leave is authorized, and the operational tempo eases. Crew members disperse into the station in search of food, entertainment, and the rare luxury of time not measured in alert statuses. But, of course, not everyone gets to relax.
- As new personnel transfer aboard and familiar faces rotate off, your senior staff is called into a closed briefing to prepare for the next mission or review past command decisions. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with other writers in your Task Force or Task Force staff.
- Meanwhile, cargo operations uncover a discrepancy in recent resupply shipments. Critical components are delayed, mislabeled, or rerouted, forcing your crew to negotiate with station logistics and other captains for limited resources.
- A quiet but charged conversation takes shape in one of the station’s lounges. Junior officers from your crew find themselves in discussion with an aide to a visiting Bajoran diplomat, trading perspectives on the mounting challenges faced by Free Haven, a long-range Bajoran colony close to Breen space.