Difference between revisions of "USS Arcturus"

Latest revision as of 05:35, 22 October 2024

USS Arcturus is an Odyssey-class heavy explorer assigned to the Fourth Fleet under the command of Fleet Captain Michael Lancaster, serving as the flagship for Arcturus Squadron. Designed with higher density fuel storage tanks and hardened systems compared to her sister ships, Arcturus was intended to lead an extended mission in the Delta Quadrant for the Delta Exploration Initiative. Thanks to extenuating galactic events, however, she has spent most of her service life in the Alpha Quadrant, most recently leading exploratory efforts in the remote Olympia Sector out of Olympia Station.

Background

Following the destruction of Utopia Planitia in 2385, Starfleet's shipbuilding priorities were thrown into disarray, as a substantial number of the Federation's large shipyards had been temporarily diverted to producing evacuation transports for the Romulan relocation effort, at the expense of larger explorers and dedicated science vessels. In the chaos that resulted from the destabilization and reorganization of the Romulan Star Empire just a few years later, Starfleet began prioritizing vessels that could be assigned to defensive duties and which would be used to maintain the integrity of the Federation's borders. In the mid-2390s, though, certain factions within Starfleet's higher echelons were successful in securing resources to plan a return to long-range exploratory missions, especially in the form the compact, and long-range Luna-class light explorers, which represented new standards in automation, efficiency, and independence. While these vessels were especially well-suited for solo missions in the Alpha and Beta quadrants that would eventually be followed up on by science vessels, the Delta Exploration Initiative pushed for expeditions that would be able to support multiple starships for an extended period in an environment without bases or supply depots.

As such, the Arcturus was ordered in 2394 as an experimental variant of the Odyssey-class explorer which would include greater system redundancy and industrial fabrication capabilities to allow it to serve as a long-range base of operations for an expedition to the Delta Quadrant. As a proof of concept, she would embark on a three-month trial mission through the Barzan Wormhole into the Delta Quadrant starting in early 2399 and accompanied by a task group from the Fourth Fleet's Task Force 38. Even before construction had started, Commodore Elizabeth Hayden was selected as her commanding officer and of the task group. While many construction sites were considered, the Starfleet Corps of Engineers settled on Epsilon Indi Station, to test the feasibility of building large explorers at Starfleet's smaller construction facilities, using modular assembly protocols with individual sections of the ship brought in from other small bases and then integrated at Epsilon Indi, with the eventual goal of reducing the reliance on large fleet yards such as Utopia Planitia.

Construction at Epsilon Indi Station

Captain Akintoye Okusanya was selected to oversee the design and construction phases for the Arcturus, with the first hull sections beginning construction in early 2395. Construction proceeded without significant issues, and in 2397 Captain Michael Lancaster, the Chief of Staff of the Delta Exploration Initiative, began to develop a crew roster and equipment manifest suitable for the Arcturus's stated three-month trial mission as well as the very real possibility that the ship and those accompanying her would find themselves stranded 70,000 light-years from home and need to make their way back via conventional means, should the wormhole's stability fail.

Lancaster was eventually assigned as Hayden's first officer, alongside Okusanya as Captain of Engineering, and a fourth captain to lead the ship's medical department: Captain Alenis Anjar, M.D., both because of the sheer size of the ship's crew and to ensure that there would be a deep bench of command talent to pull from, should one or more of the ship's senior officers be killed during the course of the mission. Commodore Hayden assumed command of the Arcturus in November 2398, two months prior to her launch, with the rest of the senior staff joining the ship right up until her departure from the yard.

Design and Layout

Though several other ships of the class had already been built, the construction process for Arcturus was lengthened to allow for most critical systems to be hardened to increase her survivability on long-distance missions.

Deck 12, the widest deck of the primary hull, is home to a broad gallery that runs the perimeter of the exterior, from one impulse engine all the way around to the other. On the interior side are art installations, planters, and quiet spaces for nutrition and relaxation. On the exterior side are lounges that have many windows looking out into space, which are connected directly to the gallery itself. Based on deck ten of the Galaxy-class, this space is designed to give the ship's crew open spaces that would help fight against the natural isolation and claustrophobia that comes from long-duration exploratory missions. On the bow, there are several small lounges that provide quiet views of space beyond the ship, which is located in front of the ship's main promenade, a three-deck open area that includes further biological installations, restaurants staffed by holographic beings, and more open space to help the crew cope with long missions away from starbases by providing a large, open space that mimics a city center.

Senior Officers' Lounge

From the forward end of the lounge, there are several steps up from the observation area to the lounge itself.

From the forward end of the room, there are several steps up from the observation area to the lounge itself.

The Senior Officers' Lounge aboard Arcturus is located on the forward end of deck three. The compartment itself was salvaged from the original Constitution II-class Arcturus, which was originally found on the aft end of C Deck. Four extremely tall viewports give a sunken observation area commanding views of the stars, with seating areas located a few steps above this. The observation area and the lounge itself can be closed off from one another with two large partitions that slide up from the floor—on the lounge side they have viewscreens which can display art or other media.

The senior officers' lounge is paneled in dark wood with gold accents. It retains artifacts from the original vessel, and insignia in this space are rendered in a late 23rd-century idiom, with only the ship's registry number updated.

The Plowman's Tap

Located on Deck 5 with large windows looking out over the primary hull, the Plowman's Tap is the largest lounge on the Arcturus and the favored recreational spot for many of the ship's senior officers as well as the ship's queer community, between which there is a substantial overlap. The name refers to the constellation containing the star Arcturus: Boötes, which means 'plowman' or 'ox-driver' in Greek. It was selected by the lounge manager assigned to the Arcturus during the final stages of her construction in 2398, Miss Nomer, who enjoyed the innuendo one can find in the name if one looks hard enough. She also liked the irony that stems from the Plowman's Tap having no actual beer taps.

This lounge is twice as large as the forward lounge found on a Galaxy-class ship, with seating for approximately sixty people at maximum capacity. The entry doors to the Plowman's Tap are larger than other doors on the ship and have circular windows, painted blue with gold details. These entrances are to the sides of the bar, which has twenty stools and a commanding view of the rest of the room. Drinks are provided from two replicators behind the bar, flanking a large painting of a bucolic farming scene that prominently features an ox pulling a plow being led by a shirtless man in half-fastened overalls, created by Miss Nomer herself. She's keen to remind patrons that if they don't like it, they know where the nearest airlock is.

Lights are kept lower in the Plowman's Tap than on the rest of the ship, which contributes to a relaxed atmosphere. It's common for crewmembers to gather here for a drink, either by themselves at the bar or in small groups at tables spread throughout the room on three tiers. The furniture other than the bar stools and the bar itself is, in fact, holographic, which allows it to be configured at will to a number of different configurations. On Friday nights, the room is re-arranged to include a stage flanked by cocktail tables for a cabaret-style show put on by Miss Nomer and other drag performers from the crew.

The wait staff is a mix of organic special service crewmembers and holographic waiters, depending on the time of day and the particular event. Miss Nomer is known to have the computer match the waitstaff's outfits to her own, whether she's performing or not.

Integrated Auxiliary Vessels

Aquarius-class Escort: USS Hokule'a

The Hokule'a in flight.

Like all Odyssey-class starships, the Arcturus is equipped with a stern cradle to store and transport an Aquarius-class light escort. The Arcturus's support vessel is the USS Hokule'a (NCC-84000/1), which is the Hawai'ian name for the star Arcturus. This vessel is used for multiple mission profiles including defense of the mothership, scouting and survey missions, transport missions, and other tasks that are too complex for a simple runabout or shuttle to perform. The Hokule'a does not have its own crew and is manned by mothership personnel depending on the particular mission, but a skeleton crew is kept aboard at all times to keep it ready for launch at a moment's notice. When the Arcturus goes to yellow or red alert, a full standby crew is brought aboard to prepare for possible combat operations, under the command of one of the ship's officers of the watch. The Arcturus's Senior Officer of the Watch is the designated captain of the Hokule'a for these sorts of deployments.

Diplomatic Launch: Da Jiao

Similar in function to the captain's yachts found aboard other large starships, the Da Jiao (NCC-84000/15) is a large warp-capable craft intended for diplomatic transport duties and for hosting small conferences. This two-deck craft can maintain modest warp speeds and is suitable for system-to-system courier runs, though she is rarely used for this purpose in the Delta Quadrant. Its large size and significant unused internal volume make it ideal for hosting scientific equipment, even if this was not its intended purpose.

Service History

Since her launch in early 2399, the Arcturus has served as a front-line exploratory starship, though she has also engaged in significant tactical operations in both the Alpha and Delta quadrants as a result of circumstances rather than intentions.

2399

January 2399: Arcturus is commissioned at Epsilon Indi Station under the command of Commodore Elizabeth Hayden and ordered to proceed to the Barzan System for war games with the Andorian Imperial Guard.
- On the eve of the ship's departure to the Barzan system, the Waverider shuttle carrying the ship's first officer and a handful of other officers on their way to join the crew is hijacked. Captain Lancaster and his associates are able to defeat his plot to destroy Epsilon Indi station, and the Arcturus continued on schedule to its mission.^[1]
- Thanks to the actions of the crew of the Apollo, the Arcturus's task group wins the war games with the Andorians, leaving the ship ready to depart with a crew in good spirits from a recent win.^[2]
February 2399: For most of the month, Arcturus journeys from the Barzan Wormhole to Ocampa to undertake second contact. Along the way, cursory surveys are made of the region to plot future exploratory routes. After a successful second contact, Arcturus returns to the Barzan wormhole to report on the success of the proof-of-concept mission.
March 2399: Immediately upon returning to the Alpha Quadrant through the wormhole, Arcturus participates in the defense of Starbase 38 against a Breen dreadnought. During this battle, Vice Admiral Knox is killed aboard the Hephaestion and subsequently Commodore Hayden is promoted to Rear Admiral and ordered to reform Task Force 9 with her flag aboard Arcturus. Captain Lancaster assumes command of Arcturus.
- Arcturus has limited contributions to the Archanis Campaign through a Hazard team of prospective officers, and participates in the rescue of several hundred Orion refugees.^[3]
April to May 2399: Arcturus serves along the Breen border to put out tactical and diplomatic brushfires in the region, while Starfleet evaluates the potential for future Delta Quadrant missions.
June 2399: Arcturus is authorized for a full five-year mission in the Delta Quadrant and returns to that area of space.
August 2399: After a successful first contact with the Thalruatanians^[4], a species of four-legged humanoids inhabiting a vast ecumenopolis world, Arcturus successfully implements the Omega Directive^[5] and in the process defends Thalruatania from a concerted Kazon attack. The Hokule'a is severely damaged on this mission.^[6]
September to November 2399: Arcturus continues exploratory missions in the Delta Quadrant.
December 2399: Operating on a tip from a Vulcan survey vessel, Arcturus diverts to the Omicron Torrensis system, where they find an M-class world that has been teraformed into a perfect geological match for Ocampa IV, the homeworld of the Ocampa. This planet is revealed to be a Nacene installation, which forces Arcturus to return to Federation space via a similar means to that of the Caretaker's Array. The ship is damaged during this process and is repaired at Epsilon Indi Station.^[7]

2400

January 2400: Arcturus, under the temporary command of Captain Akintoye Okusanya, succesfully stabilizes the aerostat colony at Sentinel Minor and reconfigures the subspace telescope there for deep space weather prediction during the Century Storm.^[8]
February to April 2400: Arcturus conducts general exploratory and diplomatic missions in the Alpha Quadrant.
May 2400: Arcturus assists a refugee convoy resettle on Gamma Sagittarii III as part of the Sundered Wings Campaign.^[9] A refugee demands asylum in return for intelligence on the imperial forces stalking the convoy, but before a resolution can be achieved, an Arcturus officer retrieves this information by force and is later court-martialed and demoted.^[10]
Late 2400: Arcturus is dispatched to Omicron Uhurae III during the Blood Dilithium Campaign. There, they discover that the planet's natural superconscious interacted with the Blood Dilithium to magnify its effects—something that the Devore had anticipated and engineered. The crew are able to mitigate the effects of this phenomenon and neutralize the situation.^[11]

2401

Early 2401: Arcturus is ordered to the far edge of Federation territory in the Beta Quadrant as part of Commodore Brett Logan's squadron to study the Talvath Cluster.^[12]
- After surveying the brown dwarf HD 92018, Arcturus receives a distress call from the long-thought-destroyed USS Icarus, a Daedalus-class transport from the Earth-Romulan War in the Aldari system. A colony with descendants of both Human and Romulan ancestry is discovered, as is a plot by the Romulan Free State to cause the colonists to attack the Federation. During this mission Commodore Logan becomes increasingly less rational, culminating in a stand-off on the bridge of Arcturus when Captain Lancaster overrides the commodore to provide the locals with the revelation of Romulan interference. Logan attempts to have Lancaster relieved, but he was relieved himself under Starfleet Order 104, Section C.^[13] He is found to be the victim of Romulan brainwashing.
- Diverted to the Deneb Sector, Admiral Liam Dahlgren issues Arcturus with new orders: to track down a missing Federation science vessel, the Banting, which had been tracking astrozoan life forms, Farpoint Cnidarians. Foiling a Ferengi plot to gain control of these creatures on behalf of the Breen-Dominion offensive, Arcturus destroys several Breen ships, but the Dominion abduct the Ferengi and escaped. After this battle, Dahlgren promoted Captain Lancaster to fleet captain and gave him command of Arcturus Squadron.^[14]
- Arcturus intercepts the Dominion vessel with the remaining thought-makers and successfully liberates a Farpoint Cnidarian from nearly becoming assimilated during the events of Frontier Day 2401, thanks to the efforts of an away team of middle-deck officers.^[15]
Mid 2401: Arcturus is assigned to the Olympia Sector out of Olympia Station as part of a massive expansion of Arcturus Squadron. During the Underspace Crisis, Olympia Station is accidentally moved halfway across the quadrant through an emerging subspace corridor. Using the warp coils and deflectors of all of the ships in the squadron, Arcturus is able to pull the station back to its normal position.

Namesake & Lineage

The ship's seal, with the Starfleet delta over Arcturus (also known as α Boo), the brightest star in the constellation Boötes, meaning 'plowman.'

Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation Boötes, and the third brightest star in the night sky of Earth. The name Arcturus derives from the Latinization of the Greek word for bear ("ἄρκτος") compounded with the Greek word for guard (" οὖρος"), meaning Bear Guardian.^[16] In Greek mythology, Hyginus describes the tale of a young hunter Arcas, who is about to kill his mother, Callisto, with an arrow, not knowing that she has been transfigured into a bear, but Zeus transforms them both into constellations, him Arctophylax (the proper Greek formulation of bear guardian, and the Greek name for the constellation Boötes) and her Ursa Major (the greater bear).^[17] The constellation Boötes forms the crest of the starship's seal.

The three Federation starships to bear the name Arcturus.

On Earth, Arcturus was the name of five auxiliary vessels of the United States Navy in the 20th century, and the Arcturus-class attack cargo ship during the Second World War.^[18] The Royal Swedish Navy had three ships of this name in the 20th and 21st centuries, and the United Kingdom's Royal Navy had one in the Second World War. This name was also the designation for a United States Coast Guard flying patrol boat, a variant type of the Lockheed CP-140 Aurora, and an uncrewed aerial vehicle.^[19]

There have been two previous Federation starships to bear the name Arcturus:

USS Arcturus - NCC-1807 - Constitution II-class heavy cruiser
- 2275-2325 (Decommissioned)
USS Arcturus - NCC-49801 - Ambassador-class heavy cruiser
- 2341-2397 (Decommissioned)

Crew Structure

A standard Odyssey-class heavy explorer had a crew of 1,500 and can regularly embark anywhere from several hundred to a few thousand mission specialists and visiting personnel engaged in research completely separate from the ship's primary mission, with a total life support capability of 20,000 when packed to the bulkheads with refugees or passengers. Arcturus has a larger operational crew of 2,500, with the bulk of the additional personnel assigned to the engineering and science departments. Her larger crew allows her to operate on a four-shift rotation and reduces crew fatigue on long missions. To make up for this, the number of visiting crew members rarely exceeds 750. At any given moment, Arcturus carries about 3,000 souls, including visiting research teams and a small number of civilians.

Because of her larger crew, Arcturus's organizational chart differs from most Starfleet vessels. The first officer holds the rank of captain and is known as the Staff Captain to quickly distinguish them verbally from the ship's actual commanding officer, a term borrowed from civilian cruise liners. The senior engineer also holds the rank of captain and uses the title Captain of Engineering to distinguish them from the ship's three "Chief Engineering Officers" who oversee the three sub-divisions within engineering. The Chief Medical Officer also bears the rank of captain, as the ship has two hospital-grade medical facilities aboard. While on other ships bridge department heads like the Chief Flight Control Officer, Chief Security Officer, and Chief Tactical Officer would be amongst the ship's most senior officers, on Arcturus they report to the Senior Officer of the Watch who serves as the command division head. Similarly, the Chief Communications Officer reports to the Chief Operations Officer, and the Chief Counselor reports to the Chief Medical Officer. The division heads, namely the Senior Officer of the Watch, Captain of Engineering, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Chief Science Officer, and Strategic Operations Officer are the six officers between the department and section heads and the Staff Captain.

Commanding Officers

Stardate 2395—Stardate 2398: Captain Akintoye Okusanya (Construction Supervisor, Pre-commissioning)
Stardate 2398.12—Stardate 2399.3: Commodore Elizabeth Hayden
Stardate 2399.3—Present: Captain/Fleet Captain Michael Lancaster

Executive Officers

January 2399—March 2399: Captain Michael Lancaster
March 2399—December 2399: Captain Iro Rakan
January 2400—Present: Captain Larus Alesser

Other Information

Arcturus Knowledgebase

References

[1] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/34960

[2] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/34982

[3] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/35005

[4] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/36186

[5] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/38403

[6] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/40062

[7] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/43656

[8] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/47494

[9] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/54445

[10] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/57366

[11] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/67320

[12] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/69591

[13] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/75260

[14] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/76905

[15] ttps://bravofleet.com/mission/76920

[16] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcturus#Nomenclature

[17] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcturus#Mythology

[18] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Arcturus

[19] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcturus_(disambiguation)

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{TOC limit|3}}{{Starship
+{{Starship
 | name = Arcturus
 | prefix = USS
-| image = [[file:ArcturusNCC84000.png|375px]]
+| image = [[file:Arcturus.jpg]]
 | registry = NCC-84000
 | class = Odyssey
+| type = heavy explorer
 | affiliation = [[Starfleet]]
 | status = Active
 | commission = 2399
 | decommission =
 | destroyed =
+| role = Deep Space Explorer<br>Squadron Flagship
+| unit = Fourth Fleet Operations
 | taskforce =
-| quadrant = Delta Quadrant
+| taskgroup =
-| role = Explorer
+| squadron = Arcturus Squadron
-| co = [[bfms_char:14961|Captain Michael Lancaster]]
+| mothership =
-| xo = [[bfms_char:35454|Captain Iro Rakan]]
+| homeport = [[Olympia Station]]
+| co = [[bfms_char:14961|Fleet Captain Michael Lancaster]]
+| xo = [[bfms_char:28330|Captain Larus Alesser]]
 | dedication = [[File:ArcturusPlaque.png]]
-}}
+| seal = [[File:ArcturusSeal.png]]
-The '''USS ''Arcturus''''' is an [[Odyssey Class|''Odyssey'' Class]] starship assigned to the [[Fourth Fleet]] under the command of [[bfms_char:14961|Captain Michael Lancaster]], serving as the flagship for [[bfms_char:15254|Rear Admiral Elizabeth Hayden's]] long-duration [[Delta Quadrant]] expedition. As a member of the largest class in Starfleet, she has a crew of 2,500 and serves as a mobile base of operation for a flotilla of runabouts and a handful of smaller starships assigned to operations in the [[Nacene Reach]], with the goal of exploring the area first encountered by the starship ''Voyager'' in greater detail than was possible during the early days of her journey home. Unlike her sister ships, the ''Arcturus'' has been specifically built to command missions of extreme distance and duration, with greater system redundancy and industrial fabrication capabilities than is standard for ''Odyssey''-class ships which are more often used for diplomatic and command duties closer to the Federation.
+}}'''USS ''Arcturus''''' is an [[Odyssey Class|''Odyssey-''class heavy explorer]] assigned to the [[Fourth Fleet]] under the command of [[bfms_char:14961|Fleet Captain Michael Lancaster]], serving as the flagship for [[Arcturus Squadron]]. Designed with higher density fuel storage tanks and hardened systems compared to her sister ships, ''Arcturus'' was intended to lead an extended mission in the Delta Quadrant for the [[Delta Exploration Initiative]]. Thanks to extenuating galactic events, however, she has spent most of her service life in the Alpha Quadrant, most recently leading exploratory efforts in the remote Olympia Sector out of [[Olympia Station]].
-== Design and Layout ==
+== Background ==
-Though several other ships of the class had already been built, the construction process was lengthened by the modifications made to both the internal systems and the exterior hull geometry of the ''Arcturus'' for her specialized mission parameters, which resulted in a primary hull that was closer in shape to the older [[Galaxy Class|''Galaxy''-class]], the elliptical shape allowing for more quarters with viewports and expanded crew support facilities in the primary hull. The secondary hull was also given a rounder shape to accommodate the extra industrial replicator complexes, ship's stores, and a large recreation deck for the secondary hull crew. While the shield and phaser systems were identical to the base class, an additional set of torpedo launchers was added on either side of the main navigational deflector, to provide the ship with enough additional firepower to discourage hostile forces from engaging her.
+Following the destruction of Utopia Planitia in 2385, Starfleet's shipbuilding priorities were thrown into disarray, as a substantial number of the Federation's large shipyards had been temporarily diverted to producing evacuation transports for the Romulan relocation effort, at the expense of larger explorers and dedicated science vessels. In the chaos that resulted from the destabilization and reorganization of the [[Romulan Star Empire]] just a few years later, Starfleet began prioritizing vessels that could be assigned to defensive duties and which would be used to maintain the integrity of the Federation's borders. In the mid-2390s, though, certain factions within Starfleet's higher echelons were successful in securing resources to plan a return to long-range exploratory missions, especially in the form the compact, and long-range [[Luna Class|''Luna''-class light explorers]], which represented new standards in automation, efficiency, and independence. While these vessels were especially well-suited for solo missions in the Alpha and Beta quadrants that would eventually be followed up on by science vessels, the [[Delta Exploration Initiative]] pushed for expeditions that would be able to support multiple starships for an extended period in an environment without bases or supply depots.
-Deck 12, the widest deck of the primary hull, is home to a broad gallery that runs the perimeter of the exterior, from one impulse engine all the way around to the other. On the interior side are art installations, planters, and quiet spaces for nutrition and relaxation. On the exterior side are lounges that have many windows looking out into space, which are connected directly to the gallery itself. Based on deck ten of the ''Galaxy''-class, this space is designed to give the ship's crew open spaces that would help fight against the natural isolation and claustrophobia that comes from long-duration exploratory missions. Amidships is a large lounge forward, which is located in front of the ship's main promenade, a three-deck open area that includes further biological installations, restaurants staffed by holographic beings, and more open space to help the crew cope with long missions away from starbases by providing a large, open space that mimics a city center.
+As such, the ''Arcturus'' was ordered in 2394 as an experimental variant of the ''Odyssey''-class explorer which would include greater system redundancy and industrial fabrication capabilities to allow it to serve as a long-range base of operations for an expedition to the Delta Quadrant. As a proof of concept, she would embark on a three-month trial mission through the Barzan Wormhole into the Delta Quadrant starting in early 2399 and accompanied by a task group from the Fourth Fleet's Task Force 38. Even before construction had started, Commodore Elizabeth Hayden was selected as her commanding officer and of the task group. While many construction sites were considered, the Starfleet Corps of Engineers settled on Epsilon Indi Station, to test the feasibility of building large explorers at Starfleet's smaller construction facilities, using modular assembly protocols with individual sections of the ship brought in from other small bases and then integrated at Epsilon Indi, with the eventual goal of reducing the reliance on large fleet yards such as Utopia Planitia.
-=== The Plowman's Tap ===
+===Construction at Epsilon Indi Station===
-Located on Deck 12 directly on the ship's bow, the Plowman's Tap is the largest lounge on the ''Arcturus'' and the favored recreational spot for many of the ship's senior officers as well as the ship's queer community, between which there is substantial overlap. The name refers to the constellation containing the star Arcturus: Boötes, which means 'plowman' or 'ox-driver' in Greek. It was selected by the lounge manager assigned to the ''Arcturus'' during the final stages of her construction in 2398, Miss Nomer, who enjoyed the innuendo one can find in the name if one looks hard enough. She also liked the irony that stems from the Plowman's Tap having no actual beer taps.
-This lounge is twice as large as the forward lounge found on a ''Galaxy''-class ship, with seating for approximately sixty people at maximum capacity. The entry doors to the Plowman's Tap are larger than other doors on the ship and have circular windows, painted blue with gold details. These entrances are to the sides of the bar, which has twenty stools and a commanding view of the rest of the room. Drinks are provided from two replicators behind the bar, flanking a large painting of a bucolic farming scene which prominently features an ox pulling a plow being led by a shirtless man in half-fastened overalls, created by Miss Nomer herself. She's keen to remind patrons that if they don't like it, they know where the nearest airlock is.
+Captain Akintoye Okusanya was selected to oversee the design and construction phases for the ''Arcturus'', with the first hull sections beginning construction in early 2395. Construction proceeded without significant issues, and in 2397 Captain Michael Lancaster, the Chief of Staff of the Delta Exploration Initiative, began to develop a crew roster and equipment manifest suitable for the Arcturus's stated three-month trial mission as well as the very real possibility that the ship and those accompanying her would find themselves stranded 70,000 light-years from home and need to make their way back via conventional means, should the wormhole's stability fail.
-Lights are kept lower in the Plowman's Tap than on the rest of the ship, which contributes to a relaxed atmosphere. It's common for crewmembers to gather here for a drink, either by themselves at the bar or in small groups at tables spread throughout the room on three tiers. The furniture other than the bar stools and the bar itself is, in fact, holographic, which allows it to be configured at will to a number of different configurations. On Friday nights, the room is re-arranged to include a stage flanked by cocktail tables for a cabaret-style show put on by Miss Nomer and other drag performers from the crew.
+Lancaster was eventually assigned as Hayden's first officer, alongside Okusanya as Captain of Engineering, and a fourth captain to lead the ship's medical department: Captain Alenis Anjar, M.D., both because of the sheer size of the ship's crew and to ensure that there would be a deep bench of command talent to pull from, should one or more of the ship's senior officers be killed during the course of the mission. Commodore Hayden assumed command of the ''Arcturus'' in November 2398, two months prior to her launch, with the rest of the senior staff joining the ship right up until her departure from the yard.
-Wait staff is a mix of organic crewmembers (generally operations division yeomen in all-black uniforms which helps distinguish them from other personnel) and holographic waiters, depending on the time of day and the particular event. Miss Nomer is known to have the computer match the waitstaff's outfits to her own, whether she's performing or not.
+== Design and Layout ==
+Though several other ships of the class had already been built, the construction process for ''Arcturus'' was lengthened to allow for most critical systems to be hardened to increase her survivability on long-distance missions.
-== Auxiliary Craft ==
+Deck 12, the widest deck of the primary hull, is home to a broad gallery that runs the perimeter of the exterior, from one impulse engine all the way around to the other. On the interior side are art installations, planters, and quiet spaces for nutrition and relaxation. On the exterior side are lounges that have many windows looking out into space, which are connected directly to the gallery itself. Based on deck ten of the ''Galaxy''-class, this space is designed to give the ship's crew open spaces that would help fight against the natural isolation and claustrophobia that comes from long-duration exploratory missions. On the bow, there are several small lounges that provide quiet views of space beyond the ship, which is located in front of the ship's main promenade, a three-deck open area that includes further biological installations, restaurants staffed by holographic beings, and more open space to help the crew cope with long missions away from starbases by providing a large, open space that mimics a city center.
-Like all ''Odyssey''-class starships, the ''Arcturus'' is equipped with a large complement of embarked craft, which include shuttlecraft, runabouts, and two integrated auxiliary vessels.
-=== Shuttlecraft ===
+=== Senior Officers' Lounge ===
-Shuttles aboard the ''Arcturus'' are found in three types, allowing for a wide variety of mission types to be conducted. These shuttles were named by Elizabeth Hayden for famous 20th century jazz musicians while the ''Arcturus'' was under her command. Because of her runabout complement, the ''Arcturus'' does not embark the larger Type-11 shuttlecraft.
+[[File:ArcturusSeniorOfficerLounge.jpg|alt=From the forward end of the lounge, there are several steps up from the observation area to the lounge itself.|thumb|From the forward end of the room, there are several steps up from the observation area to the lounge itself.]]
+The Senior Officers' Lounge aboard ''Arcturus'' is located on the forward end of deck three. The compartment itself was salvaged from the original ''Constitution II''-class ''Arcturus'', which was originally found on the aft end of C Deck. Four extremely tall viewports give a sunken observation area commanding views of the stars, with seating areas located a few steps above this. The observation area and the lounge itself can be closed off from one another with two large partitions that slide up from the floor—on the lounge side they have viewscreens which can display art or other media.
-==== Type-8C Personnel Shuttles ====
+The senior officers' lounge is paneled in dark wood with gold accents. It retains artifacts from the original vessel, and insignia in this space are rendered in a late 23rd-century idiom, with only the ship's registry number updated.
-[[File:Type8Shuttle.jpg|thumb|The Type-8C shuttles aboard the ''Arcturus'' are nearly identical to the older Type-8 shuttle, with enhanced warp engines.]]
-Type-8C personnel shuttles are the standard shuttle type for most short duration missions, especially ship-to-ground transport missions. They seat up to eight passengers in the rear compartment, with two pilots forward. Functionally identical to the older Type-8 shuttles introduced with the ''Intrepid''-class, the Type-8C has elongated nacelles that incorporate some of the technical advances included in the ''Odyssey'' class's engines, increasing their top speed from warp 2.5 to warp 3.
-* #1 - ''Miles Davis''
+=== The Plowman's Tap ===
-* #2 - ''Duke Ellington''
+Located on Deck 5 with large windows looking out over the primary hull, the Plowman's Tap is the largest lounge on the ''Arcturus'' and the favored recreational spot for many of the ship's senior officers as well as the ship's queer community, between which there is a substantial overlap. The name refers to the constellation containing the star Arcturus: Boötes, which means 'plowman' or 'ox-driver' in Greek. It was selected by the lounge manager assigned to the ''Arcturus'' during the final stages of her construction in 2398, Miss Nomer, who enjoyed the innuendo one can find in the name if one looks hard enough. She also liked the irony that stems from the Plowman's Tap having no actual beer taps.
-* #3 - ''Louis Armstrong''
-* #4 - ''Charlie Parker''
-* #5  - ''John Coltrane''
-* #6 - ''Thelonious Monk''
-* #7 - ''Dizzy Gillespie''
-* #8 - ''Billie Holiday''
-* #9 - ''Count Basie''
-* #10 - ''Lester Young''
-==== Type-12 Personnel Shuttles ====
+This lounge is twice as large as the forward lounge found on a ''Galaxy''-class ship, with seating for approximately sixty people at maximum capacity. The entry doors to the Plowman's Tap are larger than other doors on the ship and have circular windows, painted blue with gold details. These entrances are to the sides of the bar, which has twenty stools and a commanding view of the rest of the room. Drinks are provided from two replicators behind the bar, flanking a large painting of a bucolic farming scene that prominently features an ox pulling a plow being led by a shirtless man in half-fastened overalls, created by Miss Nomer herself. She's keen to remind patrons that if they don't like it, they know where the nearest airlock is.
-[[File:Type12Shuttle.png|thumb|Type-12 shuttles are useful for longer distance missions that don't require a large crew.]]
-Type-12 personnel shuttles are significantly faster than the other shuttles carried aboard the ''Arcturus'', capable of sustaining warp 7 for missions that take them far from their mothership. They are more cramped, though, and generally are only suitable for carrying two or three people, though they can seat up to six between the small aft compartment and the pilots' stations forward.
-* #11 - ''Benny Goodman''
+Lights are kept lower in the Plowman's Tap than on the rest of the ship, which contributes to a relaxed atmosphere. It's common for crewmembers to gather here for a drink, either by themselves at the bar or in small groups at tables spread throughout the room on three tiers. The furniture other than the bar stools and the bar itself is, in fact, holographic, which allows it to be configured at will to a number of different configurations. On Friday nights, the room is re-arranged to include a stage flanked by cocktail tables for a cabaret-style show put on by Miss Nomer and other drag performers from the crew.
-* #12 - ''Art Blakey''
-* #13 - ''Nat King Cole''
-* #14 - ''Ornette Coleman''
-* #15 - ''Max Roach''
-* #16 - ''Coleman Hawkins''
-==== Type-18 Shuttlepods ====
-[[File:Type18Shuttlepod.jpg|thumb|Developed for use aboard the ''Defiant''-class escort, the Type-18 shuttlepod is a small but very survivable vehicle.]]
-Suited for the shortest of journeys, Type-18 Shuttlepods seat two pilots and two passengers. They are used primarily for ship-to-ship transit, or for inspection duties. Due to relatively heavy armor and uprated armaments, they are also considered appropriate for some light-duty tactical missions.
-* #17 - ''Bill Evans''
-* #18 - ''Keith Jarrett''
-* #19 - ''Wynton Marsalis''
-* #20 - ''Oscar Peterson''
-* #21 - ''Chet Baker''
-* #22 - ''Sarah Vaughan''
-* #23 - ''Freddie Hubbard''
-* #24 - ''Stan Getz''
-==== Executive Shuttles ====
-In addition to the six standard Type-12 shuttles carried in the main shuttle bay, two additional uprated Type-12A shuttles are carried in the Executive Vehicle Bay, which is located in the secondary hull between the two forward torpedo launchers beneath the separation plane. They are reserved for the use of the captain or the admiral, and serve the historical nautical purpose of a captain's gig or admiral's yacht, which is the fast and discrete transport of these two vary senior officers. With an even higher top speed, they have been further modified to include a private head, a dining area for two, and a fold-down bunk in the aft compartment.
-Captain Lancaster had these two shuttles and the bay holding them built after expressing his dissatisfaction with the ''Da Jiao''. Unique to the ''Arcturus'', the Executive Vehicle Bay was wedged into an area of the ship formerly home to an auxiliary targeting array. It's just large enough to contain the two parking berths for the shuttles, which face inwards towards a vehicle replicator and turn-table. The vehicles are moved into launch position via an overhead tractor beam. Special magnetic latches attach to the underside of the shuttle, which propel it forward through a launch tube to aid in quick deployment. If launched at warp, these shuttles can sustain much higher speeds than they would normally be capable of. They are named after the hero-protagonists of the two Homeric epics, the ''Odysseus'' serving Admiral Hayden in a blue-and-gold flag officer's livery, and the ''Achilles'' serving Captain Lancaster in standard red markings.
-* #E1 - ''Achilles''
+The wait staff is a mix of organic special service crewmembers and holographic waiters, depending on the time of day and the particular event. Miss Nomer is known to have the computer match the waitstaff's outfits to her own, whether she's performing or not.
-* #E2 - ''Odysseus''
-=== Runabouts ===
+== Integrated Auxiliary Vessels ==
-In her role as an exploratory flagship, the ''Arcturus'' uses its fleet of runabouts to conduct scouting missions in support of the ship's own exploratory duties and those of other starships in the area. In order to maximize the amount of area that can be covered at any one time, the ship embarks only the smallest runabouts, the ''Volga''-class, apart from one ''Waverider''-type atmospheric scouting vessel.
+====''Aquarius''-class Escort: USS ''Hokule'a''====
+{{For|article=[[USS Hokule'a]]}}
-==== ''Volga''-class runabouts ====
+[[File:USSHokulea.jpg|alt=The Hokule'a in flight.|thumb|The ''Hokule'a'' in flight.]]
-[[File:VolgaRunabout.jpg|thumb|Larger than a shuttle, the ''Volga''-class runabout is still quite compact.]]
+Like all ''Odyssey''-class starships, the ''Arcturus'' is equipped with a stern cradle to store and transport an [[Aquarius Class|''Aquarius''-class light escort]]. The ''Arcturus''<nowiki/>'s support vessel is the USS ''Hokule'a'' (NCC-84000/1), which is the Hawai'ian name for the star Arcturus. This vessel is used for multiple mission profiles including defense of the mothership, scouting and survey missions, transport missions, and other tasks that are too complex for a simple runabout or shuttle to perform. The ''Hokule'a'' does not have its own crew and is manned by mothership personnel depending on the particular mission, but a skeleton crew is kept aboard at all times to keep it ready for launch at a moment's notice. When the ''Arcturus'' goes to yellow or red alert, a full standby crew is brought aboard to prepare for possible combat operations, under the command of one of the ship's officers of the watch. The ''Arcturus''<nowiki/>'s Senior Officer of the Watch is the designated captain of the ''Hokule'a'' for these sorts of deployments.
-The ''Volga''-class runabout is the smallest runabout in Starfleet's inventory, but it has significant advantages over shuttles in terms of both range and carrying capabilities. A typical scouting mission will involve a crew of six, but they can carry up to twenty people for more involved missions. In an emergency, they can carry up to forty over short distances. Though they are not modular like the older ''Danube'' or much larger ''New Atlantic'', their main cabin area behind the cockpit can be reconfigured as needed. The default configuration of the ''Volgas'' aboard the ''Arcturus'' is optimized for reconnaissance duties. In most circumstances, about half of these runabouts are on away missions at any given time, with one on standby for immediate deployment and the remaining craft either undergoing overhauls or in storage. They are named for rivers in New York, the home state of Elizabeth Hayden, and bear a registry number derived from the mothership's but without the USS prefix assigned to fully independent runabouts.
-* NCC-84000/3 - ''Hudson''
-* NCC-84000/4 - ''Mohawk''
-* NCC-84000/5 - ''Saint Lawrence''
-* NCC-84000/6 - ''Genesee'' (Destroyed in 2399)
-** NCC-84000/6A - ''Genesee''
-* NCC-84000/7 - ''Delaware''
-* NCC-84000/8 - ''Susquehanna''
-* NCC-84000/9 - ''Raquette''
-* NCC-84000/10 - ''Niagara'' (Destroyed in 2399)
-** NCC-84000/10A - ''Niagara''
-* NCC-84000/11 - ''Sacandaga''
-* NCC-84000/12 - ''Oswegatchie''
-* NCC-84000/13 - ''Ausable''
-* NCC-84000/14 - ''Allegheny''
-==== ''Waverider''-class atmospheric transport ====
-Built for the ''Nova'' and ''Rhode Island''-class starships, the ''Waverider'' atmospheric transport is a large runabout that handles exceptionally well in atmospheric environments. As it is also warp capable, it is a good all-rounder exploration vehicle. A former science officer, Admiral Hayden requested one of these vessels be detailed to the ''Arcturus'' because she foresaw the need for enhanced exploratory support. The original Waverider was destroyed in 2399, during a terrorist incident. Both it and the replacement are named after the musician Ella Fitzgerald.
-* NCC-84000/2 - ''Ella Fitzgerald'' - Destroyed, January 2399.
-* NCC-84000/2A - ''Ella Fitzgerald II''
-=== Integrated Auxiliary Vessels ===
-====''Aquarius''-class Light Escort: USS ''Hokule'a''====
-Like all ''Odyssey''-class starships, the ''Arcturus'' is equipped with a stern cradle to store and transport an [[Aquarius Class|''Aquarius''-class light escort]]. The ''Arcturus''<nowiki/>'s support vessel is the USS ''Hokule'a'' (NCC-84000/1), which is the Hawai'an name for the star Arcturus. This vessel is used for multiple mission profiles including defense of the mothership, scouting and survey missions, transport missions, and other tasks that are too complex for a simple runabout or shuttle to perform. The ''Hokule'a'' does not have its own crew and is manned by mothership personnel depending on the particular mission, but a skeleton crew is kept aboard at all times to keep it ready for launch at a moment's notice. When the ''Arcturus'' goes to yellow or red alert, a full standby crew is brought aboard to prepare for possible combat operations, under the command of one of the ship's officers of the watch. The ''Arcturus''<nowiki/>'s Senior Officer of the Watch is the designated captain of the ''Hokule'a'' for these sorts of deployments.
 ==== Diplomatic Launch: ''Da Jiao''====
-Similar in function to the captain's yachts found aboard other large starships, the ''Da Jiao'' (NCC-84000/15) is a large warp-capable craft intended for diplomatic transport duties and for hosting small conferences. This two deck craft can maintain modest warp speeds and is suitable for system-to-system courier runs, though she is rarely used for this purpose in the Delta Quadrant. Indeed, neither Captain Lancaster nor Admiral Hayden have ever personally used this craft for its intended function, but on two occasions it has served as the anchor of a planet-side research base. Its large size and significant unused internal volume make it ideal for hosting scientific equipment, even if this was not its intended purpose.
+Similar in function to the captain's yachts found aboard other large starships, the ''Da Jiao'' (NCC-84000/15) is a large warp-capable craft intended for diplomatic transport duties and for hosting small conferences. This two-deck craft can maintain modest warp speeds and is suitable for system-to-system courier runs, though she is rarely used for this purpose in the Delta Quadrant. Its large size and significant unused internal volume make it ideal for hosting scientific equipment, even if this was not its intended purpose.
-== History ==
-==Pre-Service History (2394-2399)==
+== Service History ==
-Following the destruction of Utopia Planitia in 2385, Starfleet's shipbuilding priorities were thrown into disarray, as a substantial number of the Federation's large shipyards had been temporarily diverted to producing evacuation transports for the Romulan relocation effort, at the expense of larger explorers and dedicated science vessels. In the chaos that resulted from the destabilization and reorganization of the [[Romulan Star Empire]] just a few years later, Starfleet began prioritizing vessels that could be assigned to defensive duties and which would be used to maintain the integrity of the Federation's borders. In the mid-2390s, though, certain factions within Starfleet's higher echelons were successful in securing resources to plan a return to long-range exploratory missions, especially those that could be carried out by the newly-built ''[[Century Class|Century]]'' and [[Vesta Class|''Vesta''-class]] starships which represented new standards in automation, efficiency, and independence. While these vessels were especially well-suited for solo missions in the Alpha and Beta quadrants that would eventually be followed up on by science vessels, the [[Delta Exploration Initiative]] pushed for expeditions that would be able to support multiple starships for an extended period in an environment without bases or supply depots.
-As such, the ''Arcturus'' was ordered in 2394 as an experimental variant of the Odyssey-class which would include greater system redundancy and industrial fabrication capabilities to allow it to serve as a long-range base of operations for an expedition to the Delta Quadrant. As a proof of concept, she would embark on a three-month trial mission through the Barzan Wormhole into the Delta Quadrant starting in early 2399 and accompanied by a task group from the Fourth Fleet's Task Force 38. Even before construction had started, then-Fleet Captain Elizabeth Hayden was selected as her commanding officer and of the task group. While many construction sites were considered, the Starfleet Corps of Engineers settled on Epsilon Indi Station, to test the feasibility of building large explorers at Starfleet's smaller construction facilities, using modular assembly protocols with individual sections of the ship brought in from other small bases and then integrated at Epsilon Indi, with the eventual goal of reducing the reliance on large fleet yards such as Utopia Planitia.
-====Construction at Epsilon Indi====
-Captain Akintoye Okusanya was selected to oversee the design and construction phases for the ''Arcturus'', with the first hull sections beginning construction in early 2395. Construction proceeded without significant issues, and in 2396 then-Commander Michael Lancaster, the Chief of Staff of the Delta Exploration Initiative, began to develop a crew roster and equipment manifest suitable for the Arcturus's stated three-month trial mission as well as the very real possibility that the ship and those accompanying her would find themselves stranded 70,000 light-years from home and need to make their way back via conventional means, should the wormhole's stability fail. Lancaster was eventually promoted to Captain and assigned as Hayden's first officer, alongside Okusanya as Captain of Engineering, and a fourth captain to lead the ship's medical department: Captain Alenis Anjar, M.D., both because of the sheer size of the ship's crew and to ensure that there would be a deep bench of command talent to pull from, should one or more of the ship's senior officers be killed during the course of the mission.
-==Operational History (2399-Present)==
-[[File:ArcturusSeal.png|thumb|The ship's seal, with the Starfleet delta over Arcturus (also known as α Boo), the brightest star in the constellation Boötes, meaning 'plowman.']]
 Since her launch in early 2399, the ''Arcturus'' has served as a front-line exploratory starship, though she has also engaged in significant tactical operations in both the Alpha and Delta quadrants as a result of circumstances rather than intentions.
 === 2399 ===
-==== Shakedown in the Alpha Quadrant ====
+* '''January 2399''': ''Arcturus'' is commissioned at Epsilon Indi Station under the command of Commodore Elizabeth Hayden and ordered to proceed to the Barzan System for war games with the Andorian Imperial Guard.
+** On the eve of the ship's departure to the Barzan system, the Waverider shuttle carrying the ship's first officer and a handful of other officers on their way to join the crew is hijacked. Captain Lancaster and his associates are able to defeat his plot to destroy Epsilon Indi station, and the ''Arcturus'' continued on schedule to its mission.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/34960</ref>
+** Thanks to the actions of the crew of the ''[[USS Apollo|Apollo]]'', the ''Arcturus'''s task group wins the war games with the Andorians, leaving the ship ready to depart with a crew in good spirits from a recent win.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/34982</ref>
+* '''February 2399''': For most of the month, ''Arcturus'' journeys from the Barzan Wormhole to [[Ocampa]] to undertake second contact. Along the way, cursory surveys are made of the region to plot future exploratory routes. After a successful second contact, ''Arcturus'' returns to the Barzan wormhole to report on the success of the proof-of-concept mission.
+* '''March 2399''': Immediately upon returning to the Alpha Quadrant through the wormhole, Arcturus participates in the defense of [[Starbase 38]] against a Breen dreadnought. During this battle, Vice Admiral Knox is killed aboard the ''Hephaestion'' and subsequently Commodore Hayden is promoted to Rear Admiral and ordered to reform Task Force 9 with her flag aboard ''Arcturus''. Captain Lancaster assumes command of ''Arcturus''.
+** ''Arcturus'' has limited contributions to the [[Archanis Campaign]] through a Hazard team of prospective officers, and participates in the rescue of several hundred Orion refugees.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/35005</ref>
+* '''April to May 2399''': ''Arcturus'' serves along the Breen border to put out tactical and diplomatic brushfires in the region, while Starfleet evaluates the potential for future Delta Quadrant missions.
+* '''June 2399''': Arcturus is authorized for a full five-year mission in the Delta Quadrant and returns to that area of space.
+* '''August 2399''': After a successful first contact with the Thalruatanians<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/36186</ref>, a species of four-legged humanoids inhabiting a vast ecumenopolis world, Arcturus successfully implements the Omega Directive<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/38403</ref> and in the process defends Thalruatania from a concerted Kazon attack. The ''Hokule'a'' is severely damaged on this mission.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/40062</ref>
+* '''September to November 2399''': Arcturus continues exploratory missions in the Delta Quadrant.
+* '''December 2399''': Operating on a tip from a Vulcan survey vessel, Arcturus diverts to the Omicron Torrensis system, where they find an M-class world that has been teraformed into a perfect geological match for Ocampa IV, the homeworld of the Ocampa. This planet is revealed to be a Nacene installation, which forces ''Arcturus'' to return to Federation space via a similar means to that of the Caretaker's Array. The ship is damaged during this process and is repaired at Epsilon Indi Station.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/43656</ref>
-=====Departure from Epsilon Indi=====
+=== 2400 ===
-The ''Arcturus'' was launched in early 2399 from Epsilon Indi Station. [https://forums.bravofleet.com/index.php?p=/discussion/comment/342/#Comment_342 On the eve of the ship's departure to the Barzan system], the Waverider shuttle carrying the ship's first officer and a handful of other officers on their way to join the crew was hijacked by a Starfleet officer who had become disaffected with Starfleet's return towards pre-Mars shipbuilding levels, which he felt put the population of the Federation at the same risk of the thousands who lost their lives during the attack on Utopia Planitia fourteen years prior. Captain Lancaster and his associates were able to defeat his plot to destroy Epsilon Indi station, and the ''Arcturus'' continued on schedule to its mission.
+* '''January 2400''': ''Arcturus'', under the temporary command of Captain Akintoye Okusanya, succesfully stabilizes the aerostat colony at Sentinel Minor and reconfigures the subspace telescope there for deep space weather prediction during the [[Century Storm]].<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/47494</ref>
+* '''February to April 2400''': Arcturus conducts general exploratory and diplomatic missions in the Alpha Quadrant.
+* '''May 2400''': Arcturus assists a refugee convoy resettle on Gamma Sagittarii III as part of the [[Sundered Wings|Sundered Wings Campaign]].<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/54445</ref> A refugee demands asylum in return for intelligence on the imperial forces stalking the convoy, but before a resolution can be achieved, an Arcturus officer retrieves this information by force and is later court-martialed and demoted.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/57366</ref>
+* '''Late 2400''': ''Arcturus'' is dispatched to Omicron Uhurae III during the Blood Dilithium Campaign. There, they discover that the planet's natural superconscious interacted with the Blood Dilithium to magnify its effects—something that the Devore had anticipated and engineered. The crew are able to mitigate the effects of this phenomenon and neutralize the situation.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/67320</ref>
-=====Alpha Quadrant War Games=====
+=== 2401 ===
-Prior to departure from Guardian Station in the Alpha Quadrant, [https://forums.bravofleet.com/index.php?p=/discussion/comment/360/#Comment_360 the ''Arcturus'' engaged in a war game scenario with a wing of destroyers from the Andorian Imperial Guard], at the behest of the Delta Exploration Initiative's leader, Vice Admiral Jonathan Knox. The Andorians were selected as their vessels and tactics were believed to approximate what the [[Kazon Collective|Kazon]] in the Delta Quadrant could have achieved with thirty years of growth since the last time Voyager was present; their largely forward-oriented weapons and high maneuverability would be a substantial threat to a large vessel like the ''Arcturus''. Thanks to the actions of the crew of the ''[[USS Apollo|Apollo]]'', the ''Arcturus'''s battle group won the day, leaving the ship ready to depart with a crew in good spirits from a recent win.
+* '''Early 2401''': Arcturus is ordered to the far edge of Federation territory in the Beta Quadrant as part of Commodore Brett Logan's squadron to study the Talvath Cluster.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/69591</ref>
+** After surveying the brown dwarf HD 92018, ''Arcturus'' receives a distress call from the long-thought-destroyed USS ''Icarus'', a ''Daedalus''-class transport from the Earth-Romulan War in the Aldari system. A colony with descendants of both Human and Romulan ancestry is discovered, as is a plot by the Romulan Free State to cause the colonists to attack the Federation. During this mission Commodore Logan becomes increasingly less rational, culminating in a stand-off on the bridge of ''Arcturus'' when Captain Lancaster overrides the commodore to provide the locals with the revelation of Romulan interference. Logan attempts to have Lancaster relieved, but he was relieved himself under Starfleet Order 104, Section C.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/75260</ref> He is found to be the victim of Romulan brainwashing.
+** Diverted to the Deneb Sector, Admiral Liam Dahlgren issues ''Arcturus'' with new orders: to track down a missing Federation science vessel, the ''Banting'', which had been tracking astrozoan life forms, Farpoint Cnidarians. Foiling a Ferengi plot to gain control of these creatures on behalf of the Breen-Dominion offensive, ''Arcturus'' destroys several Breen ships, but the Dominion abduct the Ferengi and escaped. After this battle, Dahlgren promoted Captain Lancaster to fleet captain and gave him command of Arcturus Squadron.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/76905</ref>
+** ''Arcturus'' intercepts the Dominion vessel with the remaining thought-makers and successfully liberates a Farpoint Cnidarian from nearly becoming assimilated during the events of Frontier Day 2401, thanks to the efforts of an away team of middle-deck officers.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/76920</ref>
+* '''Mid 2401''': ''Arcturus'' is assigned to the Olympia Sector out of Olympia Station as part of a massive expansion of Arcturus Squadron. During the Underspace Crisis, Olympia Station is accidentally moved halfway across the quadrant through an emerging subspace corridor. Using the warp coils and deflectors of all of the ships in the squadron, ''Arcturus'' is able to pull the station back to its normal position.
-==== First Delta Quadrant Expedition ====
+== Namesake & Lineage ==
+[[File:ArcturusSeal.png|thumb|The ship's seal, with the Starfleet delta over Arcturus (also known as α Boo), the brightest star in the constellation Boötes, meaning 'plowman.']]
+Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation Boötes, and the third brightest star in the night sky of Earth. The name Arcturus derives from the Latinization of the Greek word for bear ("ἄρκτος") compounded with the Greek word for guard (" οὖρος"), meaning Bear Guardian.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcturus#Nomenclature</ref> In Greek mythology, Hyginus describes the tale of a young hunter Arcas, who is about to kill his mother, Callisto, with an arrow, not knowing that she has been transfigured into a bear, but Zeus transforms them both into constellations, him Arctophylax (the proper Greek formulation of bear guardian, and the Greek name for the constellation Boötes) and her Ursa Major (the greater bear).<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcturus#Mythology</ref> The constellation Boötes forms the crest of the starship's seal.
+[[File:ArcturusLineage.png|alt=|thumb|The three Federation starships to bear the name ''Arcturus''.]]
+On Earth, ''Arcturus'' was the name of five auxiliary vessels of the United States Navy in the 20th century, and the ''Arcturus''-class attack cargo ship during the Second World War.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Arcturus</ref> The Royal Swedish Navy had three ships of this name in the 20th and 21st centuries, and the United Kingdom's Royal Navy had one in the Second World War. This name was also the designation for a United States Coast Guard flying patrol boat,  a variant type of the Lockheed CP-140 Aurora, and an uncrewed aerial vehicle.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcturus_(disambiguation)</ref>
-=====Delta Quadrant Katabasis=====
+There have been two previous Federation starships to bear the name ''Arcturus'':
-Proceeding at high warp on a month-long journey from the wormhole towards [[Ocampa]], the Arcturus's first priorities in the Delta Quadrant were to demonstrate their ship's preparedness to operate independently from Starfleet and to document the current conditions in the Delta Quadrant along the 800 light-year corridor connecting the Barzan Wormhole and the area known as the Nacene Reach, to help decided future exploration and diplomatic priorities. During this journey, the ''Arcturus'' recovered the wreck of the USS ''Strickland'', a science vessel that had been thrown into the reach due to a warp coil imbalance and which later participated in the stabilization of the [[Barzan Wormhole]].
+* USS ''Arcturus'' - NCC-1807 - ''Constitution II''-class heavy cruiser
+** 2275-2325 (Decommissioned)
+* USS ''Arcturus'' - NCC-49801 - Ambassador-class heavy cruiser
+** 2341-2397 (Decommissioned)
+{{clear}}
-=====Ocampan Second Contact=====
+==Crew Structure ==
+{{For|article=[[User:CrimsonTacit/Arcturus/Arcturus_Full_Crew_Roster|Arcturus Full Roster]]}}
+A standard ''Odyssey''-class heavy explorer had a crew of 1,500 and can regularly embark anywhere from several hundred to a few thousand mission specialists and visiting personnel engaged in research completely separate from the ship's primary mission, with a total life support capability of 20,000 when packed to the bulkheads with refugees or passengers. ''Arcturus'' has a larger operational crew of 2,500,  with the bulk of the additional personnel assigned to the engineering and science departments. Her larger crew allows her to operate on a four-shift rotation and reduces crew fatigue on long missions. To make up for this, the number of visiting crew members rarely exceeds 750. At any given moment, ''Arcturus'' carries about 3,000 souls, including visiting research teams and a small number of civilians.
-Upon reaching the Ocampa system, the place that ''Voyager'''s journey home began, the ''Arcturus'' completed a detailed survey and inventory of the remains of the Caretaker's array, finding nearly all of the debris removed entirely from the site, followed by a detailed scan of the Ocampan homeworld. While initially believed to be uninhabited, the Ocampa were eventually revealed to be still living in their subterranean city, using tetryon reactors reverse-engineered from the array. This group of Ocampa believed that their survival was dependent on their isolation and they lived as if they were still being supported by the Caretaker, as his technology was now maintaining their way of life without his direct intervention. Contact was also made with splinter factions of the Ocampa, the two so-far known to exist being a militant isolationist faction which used commandeered and enhanced Kazon vessels to aggressively defend a small number of systems near Ocampa (and to respond to incursions on the Ocampan homeworld) and an exploratory faction who wanted to seek out connections with their neighbors. These ideologically-distinct factions were attributed to the societal development that occurred in the five Ocampan generations that had been born since ''Voyager'' left, as fewer Ocampa were willing to subscribe to orthodoxy following the Caretaker's death.
+Because of her larger crew, ''Arcturus''<nowiki/>'s organizational chart differs from most Starfleet vessels. The first officer holds the rank of captain and is known as the Staff Captain to quickly distinguish them verbally from the ship's actual commanding officer, a term borrowed from civilian cruise liners. The senior engineer also holds the rank of captain and uses the title Captain of Engineering to distinguish them from the ship's three "Chief Engineering Officers" who oversee the three sub-divisions within engineering. The Chief Medical Officer also bears the rank of captain, as the ship has two hospital-grade medical facilities aboard. While on other ships bridge department heads like the Chief Flight Control Officer, Chief Security Officer, and Chief Tactical Officer would be amongst the ship's most senior officers, on ''Arcturus'' they report to the Senior Officer of the Watch who serves as the command division head. Similarly, the Chief Communications Officer reports to the Chief Operations Officer, and the Chief Counselor reports to the Chief Medical Officer. The division heads, namely the Senior Officer of the Watch, Captain of Engineering, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Chief Science Officer, and Strategic Operations Officer are the six officers between the department and section heads and the Staff Captain.
-=====Return to the Wormhole=====
+=== Commanding Officers ===
-With second contact and diplomatic relations achieved between the Federation and Ocampa, the ''Arcturus'' left a communications relay in orbit connected to a network being deployed by engineering support ships in their group, which the Ocampa shielded with the same technology that allowed their city to remain hidden, and the Arcturus began her journey back towards the wormhole with data from other successful contacts from her task group to report back and to check the results of automated probes left in her wake. Along the way, the ''Arcturus'' rendezvoused with the ''Apollo'', which had suffered engine damage during an encounter with the Kazon. With the much smaller ship attached to the Arcturus via magnetic clamps, ''Arcturus'' proceeded through the wormhole back to Barzan II.
-==== The Breen Crisis & The Archanis Campaign ====
+* Stardate 2395—Stardate 2398: [[bfms_char:16177|Captain Akintoye Okusanya]] (Construction Supervisor, Pre-commissioning)
+* [https://bravofleet.com/command/34892 Stardate 2398.12—Stardate 2399.3]: [[bfms_char:15254|Commodore Elizabeth Hayden]]
+* [https://bravofleet.com/command/34892 Stardate 2399.3—Present]: [[bfms_char:14961|Captain/Fleet Captain Michael Lancaster]]
-=====Attack on Guardian Station=====
+=== Executive Officers ===
-When the ''Arcturus'' emerged, though, Guardian Station was under attack by the Breen. Moments after the Arcturus raised shields and prepared to engage, Admiral Knox's flagship purposefully rammed a Breen dreadnought, vaporizing both ships. The ''Sovereign''-class USS ''Seleya'' was burning in space, and the ''Challenger''-class USS ''Shahid'' had been destroyed completely. With an investigation underway and a sudden vacuum in leadership in the region, Fleet Captain Hayden was promoted directly to Rear Admiral and ordered to maintain order with a newly-reformulated Task Force 9 along the [[Breen Confederacy|Breen]] Border. Captain Lancaster was promoted to the ship's commanding officer.
+* January 2399—March 2399: Captain Michael Lancaster
+* March 2399—December 2399: Captain Iro Rakan
+* January 2400—Present: Captain Larus Alesser
-===== The Breen Crisis =====
+== Other Information ==
-Then-Rear Admiral Hayden led from the front, using the ''Arcturus'' in several major strike operations against Breen bolt-holes in the coreward Alpha Quadrant, both in retaliation for the death of Admiral Knox and to secure against future Breen attacks in the region. The ''Arcturus'', the ''Apollo'', and six other ships were used to destroy a second Breen dreadnought, which had the desired impact of giving the Breen enough pause to allow Starfleet to reinforce the region, which continues to be volatile. After six weeks on these duties, the ''Arcturus'' was relieved by a more combat-oriented vessel.
+* [[User:CrimsonTacit/Arcturus|''Arcturus'' Knowledgebase]]
+** [[User:CrimsonTacit/Arcturus/Arcturus_Duty_Roster|''Arcturus'' Duty Roster]]
+** [[User:CrimsonTacit/Arcturus/Arcturus_Full_Crew_Roster|''Arcturus'' Full Crew Roster]]
+** [[User:CrimsonTacit/Arcturus/Arcturus_Auxiliary_Craft|''Arcturus'' Auxiliary Craft]]
-===== The Archanis Campaign =====
+== References ==
-Before the ''Arcturus'' could return to the Delta Quadrant, she played a brief role in the [[Archanis Campaign]]. While the ship itself was only involved in one battle at the end of the campaign, a Hazard Team of officers meant to join the ship before its next trip to the Delta Quadrant was deputized by Fourth Fleet Command to scouting duties. With Admiral Hayden remaining temporarily on Starbase 38 to plan their next expedition into deep space, the ''Arcturus'' rendezvoused with her team in the Archanis sector to retrieve several hundred Orion refugees, which she transported into Federation space before heading back to the Barzan Wormhole.
-====Return to the Delta Quadrant====
-While Hayden was able to coordinate Starfleet's response to increasing Breen aggression and during the Archanis Campign, once more tactically-suitable vessels were brought into the region, Starfleet refocused its attention to using the ''Arcturus'' for its intended purpose: long-range exploration, and so the ''Arcturus'' was re-deployed to the Delta Quadrant with a new mandate for a five-year mission with the possibility for indefinite renewal.
-===== Thalruatania and the Tkon-Omega Crisis =====
-The ''Arcturus'' made first contact with the Thalruatanians in August of 2399 in an area of space approximately sixty light-years spinward of the course ''Voyager'' took through the Nacene Reach. This civilization of four-legged humanoids was notable for being one of the few observed races to have successfully created an ecumenopolis, a city that covered the entire surface of their planet. Their culture was noted for being both communally-oriented with little sense of individual needs or wants, while also being extremely materialistic: old structures were demolished when they outlived their usefulness, paved over to make way for newer, taller structures, which led to their fractured understanding of their own history.
-Following this first contact, provisions were made for a follow-up mission to install a subspace relay station in orbit of the planet, which would allow the Thalruatanians to contact the Federation through the Barzan Wormhole. While on course for the next world in her exploratory course, however, the ''Arcturus'' detected a substantial quantity of Omega molecules on Thalruatania. Before they could return to the planet to implement the Omega Directive, a small amount of the substance had interacted with the fusion reactor at the base of one of the planet's massive arcologies, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and moderate subspace distortions around the planet which made navigation and communication through subspace extremely difficult.
-Captain Lancaster and Rear Admiral Hayden made the decision to separate the ship, leaving Hayden and the bulk of the ship's complement on the warp-capable saucer far enough away from Thalruatania to allow Hayden to remain in contact with the other ships under her command nearby and to allow them a chance to escape, should Lancaster fail to destroy Omega. When the stardrive section returned to Thalruatania, Lancaster was forced to destroy a Kazon-Reloramar carrier harassing the planet's surface, as the Kazon thought that Omega was a secret weapon. Using the embarked support ship, the captain and a small team were successful in retrieving and neutralizing the remaining Omega from the planet, as the risk to life from using a graviton torpedo was too great. As Omega was being neutralized, however, the Kazon returned in force and Lancaster bluffed that Omega was indeed a weapon and that he would use it if he had to, forcing the Kazon to retreat with minimal casualties on their side.
-In possession of a probe from an unknown race but which had significant similarities with Tkon technology, the ''Arcturus'' was then tasked along with the rest of the [[Fourth Fleet]] with locating nearby Tkon beacons and reactivating them. After the probe was successfully translated, the ship travelled to Eta Torrensis IV, where it located and reactivated the beacon, stored deep within a long-forgotten museum of a dead race. During the course of this mission, the Arcturus engaged in a significant battle with the Kazon, during which a great many ships of the Kazon-Reloramar were destroyed, possibly altering the balance of power in the region. The ''Arcturus'' lost two runabouts and the ''Hokule'a'' suffered significant damage, with seventeen casualties in total.
-==Notable Crew ==
-With a crew of over twice the size of the previous largest starship in the fleet (the ''Galaxy''-class explorer) and an extended-duration mission profile, the Arcturus has more senior officers than most other starships, with a command structure closer to a major starbase than the average explorer. The ship's captain reports to the mission commander.
-=== Commanding Officers ===
-* 2395-2399: [[bfms_char:16177|Captain Akintoye Okusanya]] (Construction Supervisor, Pre-commissioning)
+<references responsive="0" />
-* Early 2399-Mid 2399: [[bfms_char:15254|Fleet Captain Elizabeth Hayden]]
+{{TOC limit|3}}
-* Mid 2399-Present: [[bfms_char:14961|Captain Michael Lancaster]]
-[[Category:Task Force 72]]
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Arcturus}}