Challenger Squadron

Challenger Squadron is a formation commanded by Commodore Elizabeth Wyatt operating within Fourth Fleet Operations. Challenger Squadron's early history is marked by bureaucratic indecision and upheaval, but after spending the Frontier Day celebrations at Coltar IV, Challenger Squadron was finally dispatched on the mission for which it was formed; exploration of formerly Dominion occupied territories in the Gamma Quadrant. Challenger Squaron was recalled to Federation space in September 2401.

History

2401
- January: Challenger Squadron is formed under the command of newly promoted Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester with the USS Challenger as the flagship. The USS Inverness and USS Higgs are also assigned to the unit with orders to prepare for long term exploration of the Gamma Quadrant.
- February - March: Starfleet Command delays the squadron's mission to the Gamma Quadrant several times.
- March: Challenger Squadron is dispatched to the Deneb Sector following reports of attacks by a Dominion fleet thought lost in the Bajoran Wormhole a quarter of a century earlier.
  - Challenger and Inverness assist in the defence and evacuation of a small colony near the Federation/Breen border.
  - The USS Higgs is assigned to transport parts and engineers to Galadkail Minor. Enroute, she comes under attack from a trio of Jem'Hadar fighters. The Higgs manages to fend of the attack, but Captain Anastasia Matheson dies in the attempt.
  - Challenger takes part in the Battle of Farpoint, which sees the remnants of the Dominion Fleet defeated.
- April: Challenger Squadron returns to Avalon Fleet Yards in the wake of the Deneb campaign.
  - Inverness and Higgs are reassigned, due to the damage sustained during the Deneb campaign.
  - Starfleet assigns the USS Toronto and USS Endurance to Challenger Squadron
  - At the request of the colony's Governor, Challenger Squadron is sent to Coltar IV to take part in the planet's Frontier Day celebrations. The ships are protected from the Borg signal due to interference from the Paulson Nebula.
  - Challenger Squadron enters the Bajoran Wormhole in late April and travels to New Bajor.
- May: After months of delays, Challenger Squadron begins its exploration of the Riada Sector.
  - Fleet Captain Forrester leads a small team to Janea II to track down a fugitive a the behest of Darox III's Prime Minister. During the mission, his team is ambushed and Forrester disappears without a trace.
  - Challenger Squadron spends the rest of the month searching for Fleet Captain Forrester, without success.
- June: Commodore Elizabeth Wyatt arrives in the Gamma Quadrant and assumes command of Challenger Squadron. She ends the search for Fleet Captain Forrester. Starfleet Command lists Forrester as missing, presumed dead.
- September: In the wake of rising tensions with both the Klingons and Cardassians, Challenger Squadron is ordered to return to the Alpha Quadrant.
  - USS Cygnus and USS Manchester are added to the squadron.
- November: Challenger Squadron is enlarged once more when the USS Ark Royal is assigned.
  - Ark Royal is assigned to a patrol of the Romulan border with orders to put the newly repaired and upgraded ship through it's paces.

Leadership

January 2401 - June 2401: Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester
June 2401 - Present: Commodore Elizabeth Wyatt

Squadron Staff

Commander: Commodore Elizabeth Wyatt
Deputy Commander: Captain Sofia Vestri
Chief of Staff: Vacant
Strategic Operations Officer: Commander Selina Callahan
Command Judge-Advocate: Simon Lightford

Current Composition


USS Challenger Odyssey-class Heavy Explorer	Flagship	Captain Tarven Rix
USS Ark Royal Sovereign-class Exploratory Cruiser	Tactical Operations	Captain Arlo Henris
USS Cygnus Nebula-class Exploratory Cruiser	Deep Space Exploration	Captain Sofia Vestra
USS Endurance Rhode Island-class Scout	Tactical Scout	Captain Theodore Dalton
USS Toronto Intrepid-class Light Explorer	Science and Exploration	Captain Victor Axelrod

Support Vessels


USS Cernan Aquarius-class Escort	Flagship Embarked Escort	Captain Taro Niya
USS Manchester Parliament-class Utility Cruiser	Engineering Support	Captain Jelani Zubira

Former Components

USS Inverness - Excelsior II-class heavy cruiser - The Inverness was due to act as the Squadron's logistical support, providing a regular link between the Gamma Quadrant based Squadron and the Alpha Quadrant. Captain Everett Ashford commanded the Inverness until 2401.
USS Higgs - Nova-class surveyor - The primary role of the Higgs was to be undertaking long term, in-depth surveys of the star systems in the Gamma Quadrant. Sadly due to bureaucratic infighting and the actions of the Dominion's Lost Fleet, it would never get to fulfil that mission. Captain Anastasia Matheson commanded the Higgs between December 2400 until her death in March 2401.