Sarek Squadron
Sarek Squadron is a formation centred around the starship Sarek, a Sutherland-class heavy cruiser. It is currently under the command of Captain Taes of the USS Sarek. In a joint-mission of exploration with the Romulan Free State, this squadron is currently assigned to explore the area of space known as the Typhon Frontier, beyond the coreward borders of Federation space in the Beta Quadrant. Sarek Squadron is assigned to Task Force 17's deep space operations. Given the limited tactical capacity of Sarek Squadron, their missions outside Federation space are short-term in nature, with periodic returns to Deep Space 17 for re-staffing and re-supply.
Current Composition
As of 2400, Sarek Squadron is composed of two starships.
- USS Sarek, Sutherland-class heavy cruiser
- USS Olympic, Olympic-class research cruiser
History
Sarek Squadron was first constituted by Task Force 17 command, in partnership with the Romulan Free State, upon the commissioning of the USS Sarek in 2400. Operating out of Deep Space 17, the squadron was primarily assigned to broaden the Federation's understanding of the anomalous mysteries of the Typhon Expanse and the frontier beyond. As a mobile research platform with near-starbase capabilities in every scientific specialty, the USS Sarek was charged with reaching for the stars by solving imminent scientific mysteries, often amid humanitarian or diplomatic crises. The USS Olympic, by comparison, offers a venue for dialogue and competition between Starfleet and the Romulan Free State, by hosting scientific conferences, publishing the Olympic Journal, and serving as an escort and ferry to Romulan scientists crossing Federation space to explore the Typhon Frontier.
From the initial conception of its commissioning, Sarek Squadron was designed as one of Starfleet's great experiments to improve diplomatic relations with the Romulan Free State. Inspired by the Federation and Bajor's partnership at Deep Space 9, the USS Sarek was launched with a team of seventy-five civilian scientists from the Romulan Free State permanently embedded in the Sarek's science department. The very first Chief Science Officer assigned to the USS Sarek was held by a Romulan Free State science minister, Flavia ir-Llantriant. Aboard the USS Olympic, half of the science department was staffed by Romulan Free State scientists. Although the Sarek Squadron was assigned scientific mysteries of great import, the real mission was for both crews to work as one.
Given the recognition of Captain Taes and Flavia ir-Llantrisant's combined expertise, they were granted joint oversight of Sarek Squadron's mission planning to make full use of the squadron's capacity. The USS Sarek's first mission was to mediate treaty negotiations between colonists on the planet Tenope in the Typhon Expanse and the sentient clay they discovered to be native to the planet. When the USS Sarek moved on after negotiations were successful, the USS Olympic returned to Tenope to further the dialogue and study with the sentient clay. The USS Sarek, meanwhile, was dispatched to the Delta Quadrant in support of the Blood Dilithium campaign. The USS Olympic returned to Federation space, incapable of defending herself in the Delta Quadrant.