USS Daedalus
- "Soar higher."
- —Ship's dedication quote
USS Daedalus (NCC-72703) is a Rhode Island-class scout assigned to Starfleet's Fourth Fleet, Task Force 72. Amongst the first wave of refitted Nova-class frames Daedalus had operated with the fleet since its commissioning in 2385 as a fast response scout and first responder. Once one of the fastest fleet vessels, it has served with pride on the frontiers of Federation space where it combined its speed with advanced sensor systems to keep a watchful eye on the horizon.
With the successful production run of more advanced vessels like the Pathfinder-Class and Duderstadt class, Daedalus is slowly being outpaced amongst the fleet but remains an important part of the task force's operations. Now assigned to house Theta Squad, Starfleet Science's emergency response team, the small vessel has found a new calling as the quick stitch that keeps the Federation safe.
Service History
Commissioning & Early Service
An early member of the classes construction run, the core spaceframe of Daedalus was originally a Nova class explorer destined to provide scientific support to the internal regions of the Federation. Following the success of the USS Rhode Island (NCC-72701) several part-built space frames including Daedalus were quickly re-drawn to join the new class. In 2385 Daedalus sailed free of the dockyards and joined the fleet at large. Initially assigned to scouting and reconnaissance missions out of the Fourth Fleet's headquarters at Starbase Bravo she was transferred to Task Force 72 to provide support to the new scientific endeavours being undertaken on the Cardassian border. Providing a more tactically capable platform in response to the continued presence of the True Way, Daedalus now undertakes a variety of missions where the presence of a larger force may enflame tensions.
The Lost Fleet
When the Dominion force that came to be known as 'The Lost Fleet' returned to known space and annexed a large portion of space, Daedalus was amongst the first vessels dispatched to the new front. Ahead of the Fourth Fleet's deployment to the area Daedalus and her crew operated fast reconnaissance operations at the border that now ran through the Deneb Sector. Throughout the conflict the vessel ran scouting missions in both Dominion and Breen territory as well as acting as a courier for both personnel and materials to resupply the front.
During the conflict she provided support to the USS Nestus (NCC-88014) in their operation within the Oromal Cluster to eliminate a Breen research base, where intelligence suggested a new dampening weapon was being developed. Acting as a distraction to draw away the base's small defensive force she provided the team time to enter the base and remove the threat. Unfortunately the base was discovered to have been abandoned by the researchers and was being operated as a decoy. Daedalus along with Nestus were forced to retreat out of the system and rallied with the main fleet at Farpoint, both providing combat support during the battle.
False Shepherd Mission
In 2401, following the end of the Lost Fleet threat Daedalus started a new chapter as host for Starfleet Science's fast response team, Theta-Squad. With a minor refit to internal systems to support the new operating profile the vessel and crew found a renewed vigour working in familiar territory on the Cardassian border.
Their first mission took them to investigate Bletchley Base, a joint Cardassian/Federation research station located at the edge of the Former Demilitarized Zone that had been out of communication. Deployed to investigate and secure the base Daedalus departed Starbase 72 shortly before the Frontier Day celebrations were due to take place.