USS Arondight
The USS Arondight (NCC-86407) is a Reliant-class starship currently assigned to the Fourth Fleet. As of mid-2401, it is assigned to Arcturus Wayfinding Squadron, which is based out of Olympia Station. Arondight is assigned to regular patrol and reconnaissance missions in the Olympia Sector, a duty it shares with Buran, as two of Olympia Station's primary defensive assets.
History
Arondight was launched from Avalon Fleet Yards in 2390 as one of the first wave of Reliant-class frigates to be constructed, incorporating components from an earlier Miranda II-class vessel bearing the same name. Since then it has served mainly as a patrol vessel and transport in and around the Grazer Sector. In late 2400 it began its first major overhaul to bring it up to the standards of her newer sister ships. That six-month program of work was originally to be completed in the weeks following Frontier Day 2401, but this timeline was extended until Stardate 2401.6 to allow for the removal of all systems related to Fleet Formation Mode.
Following her re-launch and successful trials under the oversight of Avalon Fleet Yards personnel, Arondight was assigned to the Olympia Sector. After a ferry flight to Olympia Station under a caretaker captain with a skeleton crew, Arondight was assigned to Captain Blake Bennett and joined Arcturus Wayfinding Squadron on Stardate 2401.9.
Namesake
The precise etymology of the word "Arondight" is not known. Also spelled as Aerondight, Aroundight or Aroundyȝt, it is mentioned in the last section of Beves of Hamtoun, a Middle English chivalric romance (a narrative which is in this case in verse) by an unknown author. Here, it is the name of the sword borne by Lancelot of the Lake (Lancelot du'Lac), one of the greatest knights of King Arthur's Round Table, in Arthurian lore.[1]
The only other starship to bear the name Arondight was a Miranda II-class vessel (NCC-6407), which was launched in 2300, decomissioned in 2380, and recycled during the construction of the current Arondight from 2389 through 2390. The present iteration of the vessel incorporates several structural members, a variety of historical artifacts, and several furnishings and other fittings from the older vessel.
This lineage is reflected in the design of the ship's seal, which features two crossed swords: one representing the original starship Arondight and the other representing the present one.