Deneb Sector

The Deneb Sector is one of the most distant frontiers of the United Federation of Planets. Stretching across their trailing-coreward border in the Alpha Quadrant, it lies nestled between the territory of the Breen Confederacy and the Kzinti Patriarchy, and reaches into some of the most remote and unexplored parts of the known galaxy. The main hub of Federation activity in the region is Farpoint Station.

History

The Federation first ventured into the region in the late 22nd century, where they met the highly hostile Kzinti. As encounters almost always ended in violence, early colonisation was exceptionally dangerous and Starfleet discouraged unnecessary travel or prospecting to the region. Some colonies were still founded, and to this day have flourished as some of the largest and most prosperous on this frontier.

Only in the 24th century, when the Kzinti became more insular and withdrew their influence from much of the sector, did the Federation begin exploration and settlement in earnest. As recently as the 2360s, Starfleet was reliant on locals such as the Bandi for assistance with regional infrastructure, such as with the settlement of the first Farpoint Station. The discovery of the true nature of Farpoint Station, that of an injured alien life form that could change its form, reinforced not only the elusive nature of this mysterious frontier, but the need for Starfleet to be vigilant in its operations.

The second Farpoint Station was built some years later, and the Deneb Sector continued as a ripe new frontier for colonisation and exploration. This caught the attention of the nearby Breen, however, who started to view Federation colonists as possible targets for their slavery. Starfleet contemplated whether to respond with more force or to discourage civilian activity on the frontier, but the decision was delayed and then forced with the rising military needs of the Borg incursions and then the Dominion War. The Breen’s entry into the conflict led to increased fortification of the region, with new defensive forces assigned to the region.

While the aftermath of the war stymied hostilities with the Breen, the established military infrastructure allowed the Deneb Sector to flourish. Now its locals were better armed against the Breen, the Kzinti, or any mercenaries who would deny ever being paid by the Ferengi, let alone the dangers of the unknown frontier beyond.

The border became somewhat set after the Attack on Mars, with Starfleet loath to expand any further, but for colonists who preferred as little interruption to their way of life from the central Federation as possible, a golden age of settlement, prospecting, and industry began.

Present Day

In 2399, the Breen began a new offensive into Federation space, including in the Deneb Sector. While local Starfleet forces and defences have stopped much of the aggression in its tracks, raiders have still on occasion pushed across the border on missions of theft and enslavement against Federation settlements. Likewise the Kzinti, while never consistently venturing too far from their space, have seen their Federation neighbours as ripe targets for raiding.

Starfleet defensive infrastructure has stopped large-scale assaults from these powers, but the settlements of the Deneb Sector are highly dispersed and the local Starfleet task group is relatively small and unable to protect everywhere at once. Settlers in the Deneb Sector, Federation colonists of all stripes and species, have grown accustomed to fending for themselves in defence as much as industry. While Starfleet is not viewed with hostility or suspicion, the colonists are a hardy breed generally prepared to go it alone, even against the likes of the Breen.

The Dominion Incursion

In February 2401, the Dominion ‘Lost Fleet’ - forces that vanished from the Bajoran wormhole in the Dominion War - appeared in deep space beyond the border of the Deneb Sector. They fell at once on the Federation, overrunning defences wholly unprepared for a massive militarised force. Some worlds they annexed, establishing garrisons and turning their resources at once to their military industry. Others they devastated and left behind to damage Starfleet logistics and local morale.

Elements of the Breen Confederacy who had been waging conflict on the Federation for over a year quickly fell into an alliance with the Dominion forces. They gave not only logistical support and up-to-date intelligence, but redoubled their own aggression, bolstering this fleet of dated ships with their own. They have conquered fewer worlds, but targeted locations ripe for plunder of resources or slaves.

Starfleet’s response has, bafflingly, been to downplay the severity of this situation. Even FNN reports this as nothing more than a minor Breen incursion, with the Dominion ships explained as leftover forces from the war in Breen hands. Task Group 514 has been almost overrun, but has also expressed reluctance in receiving more assistance, insisting they can handle this on their own.

Despite this, the Fourth Fleet has been deployed to repel this new incursion, directed to recover lost worlds and defeat the combined forces of the Dominion and Breen. They are not alone, with the Cardassian Union learning of this return of their former allies, and architects of the genocide against their people in the final hours of the war. They have dispatched the Third Order, a battle-hardened military force, to the Deneb Sector to assist in the defeat of the Lost Fleet.

Notable Locations

The Deneb Sector is dotted with various colonies, hubs of industry, starbases, and stellar phenomena. Many systems are poorly charted, with priority given to only the most obvious homes of life or precious resources, but untold secrets could remain on worlds even deep within the border.

Stations

Farpoint Station - the planetary station in the Deneb system itself, and main hub of Starfleet operations in the sector. Ships receive support, supplies, and maintenance from the Presidium-class station in orbit.
Starbase 514 - the Copernicus-class station near the Kzinti border. With limited capacity to support large Starfleet ships, SB514 provides ships and shuttles to conduct border patrols and support locals. It is also home to the regional Starfleet force, Task Group 514.
Pesak Repair Yards - a civilian ship repair facility
Messif Supply Depot - a civilian surface supply depot
Shangris Science Station - a Jupiter-class research outpost

Colonies

Stellar Phenomena

In Breen Space

In Ferengi Space

In Play

These events are part of The Lost Fleet, the first 2023 Fleet Action. Further details can be found here.
The Deneb Sector is the main setting for this storyline. All elements in the article can be used in writing, though individual wiki pages will specify if a location relates to a specific mission. If so, that location should be used appropriately - multiple ships could move through the same nebula, for instance, and characters could talk about a world that has fallen to the Dominion, but don’t change circumstances or set an adventure on a location belonging to someone else’s mission without consulting that member.