Difference between revisions of "Challenger Squadron"

Revision as of 14:37, 16 September 2024

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.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 == History ==
-=== Formation (January 2401) ===
+* 2401
-Challenger Squadron was formed in January 2401 with the [[Odyssey Class|''Odyssey''-class heavy explorer]] [[USS Challenger|USS ''Challenger'']] as the core. The [[USS Inverness|USS ''Inverness'']], an [[Excelsior II Class|''Excelsior II''-class heavy cruiser]], and the [[USS Higgs|USS ''Higgs'']]'','' a ''[[Nova Class|Nova]]''[[Nova Class|-class surveyor]], were also assigned to the Squadron.
+** 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.
-The original plan for Challenger Squadron was to travel to the Gamma Quadrant where it would begin to explore areas that had recently opened up to Starfleet due to the withdrawal of the [[Dominion]] in the previous decade. However, their departure was almost immediately delayed for a week while [[Fourth Fleet Command]] argued with Starfleet Command. The departure date slipped further before the mission was put on hold indefinitely.
+** 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.
-=== Lost Fleet Crisis & Frontier Day (March 2401 - April 2401) ===
+*** 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.
-With the Squadron's mission scrubbed, the ''Inverness'' was removed and reassigned to operations along the Federation/Cardassian border, while the Challenger was assigned to various diplomatic tasks and the ''Higgs'' focused on operations within the Paulson Nebula. Challenger Squadron was dispatched to the [[Deneb Sector]] in March 2401 following reports of attacks by a [[The Lost Fleet|Dominion fleet]] thought lost in the Bajoran Wormhole a quarter of a century earlier. The ''Challenger'' assisted in the evacuation and defence of a small colony near the Federation/Breen border and the ''Higgs'' was assigned to transport parts and engineers to Galadkail Minor. During it's journey, the ''Higgs'' was intercepted by a trio of Jem'Hadar fighters. While they were able to fend off the attack, it came with a heavy price; the death of the ''Higgs''<nowiki/>' Captain, [[bfms_char:68762/|Anastasia Matheson]]. Later, Challenger Squadron would be present at the [[The Lost Fleet|Battle of Farpoint]], which saw the remnants of the Dominion Fleet defeated.
+*** ''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.
-Due to the damage sustained during the Deneb Campaign, the ''Higgs'' would have to spend the next few months undergoing repairs. Fourth Fleet Command replaced her with the [[Intrepid Class|''Intrepid''-class]] [[USS Toronto|USS ''Toronto'']] while at the same time adding the [[Rhode Island Class|''Rhode Island''-class]] [[USS Endurance|USS ''Endurance'']] to the Squadron in preparation for them to finally embark on their mission to the Gamma Quadrant. Only one thing stood between Challenger Squadron and the Gamma Quadrant; the Frontier Day celebrations at Coltar IV, which Fleet Captain Forrester had promised the colony's Governor. Due to the protection of the Paulson Nebula, Challenger Squadron was shielded from the Borg signal that effected the rest of the fleet. The crew could only watch in horror as the events of Frontier Day unfolded.
+*** ''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
-=== Into The Gamma Quadrant (April 2401 - September 2401) ===
+*** 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.
-Despite the damage caused to Starfleet on Frontier Day, Fourth Fleet Command decided to continue with Challenger Squadron's mission to the Gamma Quadrant. The squadron entered the wormhole in late April 2401 and, following a brief stop at New Bajor, began their mission of exploration and diplomatic outreach in the Riada Sector.
+*** 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.
-Challenger Squadron suffered a major setback with the loss of Fleet Captain Forrester after only a week in the Gamma Quadrant. Asked by the Prime Minister of Darox III to help them locate a fugitive, Fleet Captain Forrester led a small team to Janea II to track down the target. During that mission, the team was incapacitated. When they woke, Forrester was gone. Despite a month long search, he was never found. Commodore Elizabeth Wyatt was ordered to take command of Challenger Squadron and declared Forrester missing, presumed dead.
+*** 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.
-Challenger Squadron remained in the Gamma Quadrant until September, when it was recalled to the Alpha Quadrant in light of rising tensions with both the Klingons and Cardassians.
+** 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 - February 2401 ===
+* January 2401 - June 2401: Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester
+* June 2401 - Present: Commodore Elizabeth Wyatt
-* [[bfms_char:30476/|Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester]] - Commander
-* [[bfms_char:69212/|Captain Everett Ashford]] - Deputy Commander
-=== February 2401 - March 2401 ===
-* [[bfms_char:30476/|Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester]] - Commander
-* [[bfms_char:68762/|Captain Anastasia Matheson]] - Deputy Commander
-=== March 2401 - May 2401 ===
-* [[bfms_char:30476/|Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester]] - Commander
-* [[bfms_char:82982/|Captain Sofia Vestri]] - Deputy Commander
-=== May 2401 - Present ===
-* [[bfms_char:91105/|Commodore Elizabeth Wyatt]] - Commander
+== Squadron Staff ==
-* [[bfms_char:82982/|Captain Sofia Vestri]] - Deputy Commander
+* 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|USS ''Challenger'']] ''- [[Odyssey Class|Odyssey]]''[[Odyssey Class|-class heavy explorer]] - ''Challenger'' is the squadron flagship, commanded by [[bfms_char:69054/|Captain Tarven Rix]]. She is tasked with the bulk of the diplomatic work the squadron will take on. For this reason it's diplomatic detachment has recently been beefed up under the command of [[bfms_char:38696/|Commander Matthias Bentley]]. With it's extensive medical facilities, the ''Challenger'' also provides medical and counselling support to the rest of the squadron.
+{| class="wikitable"
-**[[USS Cernan|USS ''Cernan'']] - [[Aquarius Class|''Aquarius''-class escort]] - Embarked on the newly constructed USS ''Challenger'', the USS ''Cernan'' supports the work of her mothership and allowed for greater flexibility both in combat and in the flagship's scientific endeavours.
+|+
+|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
+|}
-* [[USS Ark Royal|USS ''Ark Royal'']] - [[Sovereign Class|''Sovereign''-class exploratory cruiser]] - Commanded by [[bfms_char:98531/|Captain Arlo Henris]], ''Ark Royal'' is the largest of Challenger Squadron's two exploratory cruisers. It's mandate is wide ranging.
+==== Support Vessels ====
-* [[USS Cygnus|USS ''Cygnus'']] - [[Nebula Class|''Nebula''-class exploratory cruiser]] - Having suffered a difficult few years in which the ''Cygnus'' and her crew endured much upheaval, command was given to [[bfms_char:82982/|Captain Sofia Vestri]], the deputy squadron commander, to bring a firm hand and steady influence to this proud vessel and her crew.
+{| class="wikitable"
-* [[USS Endurance|USS ''Endurance'']] - [[Rhode Island Class|''Rhode Island''-class scout]] - Thanks to her advanced sensors and tactical abilities, the ''Endurance'' has been assigned to act as Challenger Squadron's scout with a focus on tactical analysis of the regions of the Gamma Quadrant that have until recently been under Dominion occupation. [[bfms_char:76529/|Captain Theodore Dalton]] has recently been assigned to command the ''Endurance'', following the retirement of her previous commander, Captain Nikita Antonov.
+|+
-* [[USS Manchester|USS ''Manchester'']] - [[Parliament Class|''Parliament''-class utility cruiser]] - The ''Manchester'' serves as Challenger Squadron's engineering and logistical support vessel, carrying out a range of functions depending on the needs of the squadron. The ''Manchester'' is under the command of [[bfms_char:98528/|Captain Jelani Zubira]].
+|USS ''Cernan''
+''Aquarius-''class Escort
-* [[USS Toronto|USS ''Toronto'']] - [[Intrepid Class|''Intrepid''-class light explorer]] - The ''Toronto's'' role within the Squadron leans into her scientific abilities, acting as the Squadron's science vessel. Despite spending most <nowiki/>of his career as a staff officer, [[bfms_char:91229/|Captain Victor Axelrod]] has recently been given command of the ''Toronto''.
+|Flagship Embarked Escort
+|Captain Taro Niya
+|-
+|USS ''Manchester''
+''Parliament''-class Utility Cruiser
+|Engineering Support
+|Captain Jelani Zubira
+|}
 == Former Components ==