Difference between revisions of "Challenger Squadron"

	Challenger Squadron
Unit	Fourth Fleet Operations
Flagship	USS Challenger
	Leadership
Commander	CDRE Elizabeth Wyatt
Deputy Commander	CAPT Sofia Vestri
	Assignment
Quadrant	Gamma Quadrant
Headquarters	Fogg Station
Mission	Deep Space Exploration
	Template:Squadron

Latest revision as of 14:00, 24 February 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.

History

Formation (January 2401)

Challenger Squadron was formed in January 2401 with the Odyssey-class heavy explorer USS Challenger as the core. The USS Inverness, an Excelsior II-class heavy cruiser, and the USS Higgs, a Nova-class surveyor, were also assigned to the Squadron.

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.

Lost Fleet Crisis & Frontier Day (March 2401 - April 2401)

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 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' Captain, Anastasia Matheson. Later, Challenger Squadron would be present at the Battle of Farpoint, which saw the remnants of the Dominion Fleet defeated.

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 USS Toronto while at the same time adding the Rhode Island-class 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.

Into The Gamma Quadrant (April 2401 - Present)

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 diploamtic outreach in 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.

Leadership

Current Composition

Fogg Station - Jupiter-class station - Fogg Station is the headquarters for Challenger Squadron and home of the Joint Terraforming Project, a venture between the Federation and the Cardassian Union to terraform the Class N planet Naroli II, in the former Demilitarised Zone.
- USS Horatio - Reliant-class frigate - The Horatio has been tasked as the support vessel for Fogg Station. It's primary role is station defence, but also performs scientific duties, conducts planetary survey missions and provides a mobile platform for the crew of Fogg Station capable of performing a plethora of tasks.
USS Challenger - Odyssey-class heavy explorer - Challenger is the flagship, 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 Commander Matthias Bentley. With it's extensive medical facilities, the Challenger also provides medical and counselling support to the rest of the squadron.
- USS Cernan - 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 Toronto - Intrepid-class light explorer - The Toronto's role within the Squadron leans into her scientific abilities, acting as the Squadron's science vessel. Captain Sofia Vestri is a career science officer and is the perfect choice to lead the Toronto and her crew on their exploration of the Gamma Quadrant. Captain Vestri is also the Squadron's Deputy Commander.
USS Endurance - 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. Commander Theodore Dalton has recently been assigned to command the Endurance, following the retirement of her previous commander, Captain Nikita Antonov.
USS Manchester - 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 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 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Squadron|name=Challenger Squadron|unit=Fourth Fleet Operations|flagship=[[USS Challenger | USS ''Challenger'']]|co=[[bfms_char:30476| FCAPT Thomas Forrester]]|xo=[[bfms_char:68762 | CAPT Anastasia Matheson]]|quadrant=Alpha Quadrant|mission=Deep Space Exploration}}
+{{Squadron|name=Challenger Squadron|unit=Fourth Fleet Operations|flagship=[[USS Challenger | USS ''Challenger'']]|co=[[bfms_char:91105| CDRE Elizabeth Wyatt]]|xo=[[bfms_char:82982| CAPT Sofia Vestri]]|quadrant=[[Gamma Quadrant]]|mission=Deep Space Exploration|headquarters=Fogg Station}}
-'''Challenger Squadron''' is a formation centered around the starship Challenger, a ''Galaxy-class'' explorer. Formed in 2401 under the command of [[bfms_char:30476/|Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester]], Challenger Squadron was assigned to explore regions of the [[Gamma Quadrant]] that were previously occupied by the [[Dominion]]. Instead of being assigned to one of the [[Fourth Fleet|Fourth Fleet's]] task forces, Challenger Squadron was assigned directly to [[Fourth Fleet Operations]].
+'''Challenger Squadron''' is a formation commanded by [[bfms_char:91105/|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]].
 == History ==
-=== Formation (2401) ===
+=== Formation (January 2401) ===
-In 2397, the [[Dominion]] withdrew from the Riada Sector. Eager to explore this previously inaccessible region of the [[Gamma Quadrant]], Starfleet Science requested ships be assigned to this task only to be repeatedly rebuffed by Starfleet Command.
+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.
-Challenger Squadron was formed in January 2401 at the direction of [[Fourth Fleet Operations]] with the intention of exploring the Riada Sector. Previously only able to study the region by long range sensors and telescopes, Challenger Squadron's mission would finally allow Starfleet to conduct an in-depth study of the sector while also building relations with the civilisations there who, for the first time in centuries, are no longer living under [[Dominion]] occupation and providing whatever support they can. The squadron originally consisted of three starships, the ''Challenger'', ''Inverness'' and ''Higgs.''
+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.
-However, on the eve of the Squadron's departure from Starbase Bravo, Starfleet Command postponed their mission to the Gamma Quadrant for two weeks, instead assigning them to mundane tasks in Federation space. The mission was postponed again, this time indefinitely in late January. No reason was given for this and Fleet Captain Forrester was unable to find out through his contacts at Starfleet Command. In February 2401, the USS ''Inverness'' was removed from Challenger Squadron and reassigned to the Federation/Romulan Republic border with no ship immediately assigned to replace her.
+=== Lost Fleet Crisis & Frontier Day (March 2401 - April 2401) ===
+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.
+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.
+=== Into The Gamma Quadrant (April 2401 - Present) ===
+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 diploamtic outreach in 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.
 == Leadership ==
-=== 2401 - Present ===
+=== January 2401 - February 2401 ===
 * [[bfms_char:30476/|Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester]] - Commander
 * [[bfms_char:69212/|Captain Everett Ashford]] - Deputy Commander
-=== 2401 - Present ===
+=== 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
+* [[bfms_char:82982/|Captain Sofia Vestri]] - Deputy Commander
 == Current Composition ==
-Challenger Squadron is currently composed of two starships.
+* [[Fogg Station]] - [[Jupiter Class|''Jupiter''-class station]] - Fogg Station is the headquarters for Challenger Squadron and home of the Joint Terraforming Project, a venture between the Federation and the Cardassian Union to terraform the Class N planet Naroli II, in the former Demilitarised Zone.
+** [[USS Horatio|USS ''Horatio'']] ''- [[Reliant Class|Reliant]]''[[Reliant Class|-class frigate]] - The ''Horatio'' has been tasked as the support vessel for Fogg Station. It's primary role is station defence, but also performs scientific duties, conducts planetary survey missions and provides a mobile platform for the crew of Fogg Station capable of performing a plethora of tasks.
+* [[USS Challenger|USS ''Challenger'']] ''- [[Odyssey Class|Odyssey]]''[[Odyssey Class|-class heavy explorer]] - ''Challenger'' is the flagship, 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.
+**[[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 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. [[bfms_char:82982/|Captain Sofia Vestri]] is a career science officer and is the perfect choice to lead the ''Toronto'' and her crew on their exploration of the Gamma Quadrant. Captain Vestri is also the Squadron's Deputy Commander.
+* [[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/|Commander 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]].
+== Former Components ==
-* [[USS Challenger|USS ''Challenger'']] ''- [[Galaxy Class|Galaxy-]]''[[Galaxy Class|class explorer]] - ''Challenger'' is the flagship, 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 deck 12 given over entirely to medical facilities, the ''Challenger'' provides medical and counselling support to the entire squadron. In addition to commanding Challenger Squadron, [[bfms_char:30476/|Fleet Captain Forrester]] has also commanded the ''Challenger'' herself since late 2399.
+* [[USS Inverness|USS ''Inverness'']] - [[Excelsior II Class|''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|USS ''Higgs'']] - [[Nova Class|''Nova-''class surveyor]] - The primary role of the ''Higgs'' is to undertake long term, in-depth surveys of the star systems in the Riada Sector. It's envisaged that the ''Higgs'' will spend several months studying the systems that, until now, Starfleet has only been able to study on long-range sensors or through telescopes. [[bfms_char:68762/|Captain Anastasia Matheson]] has commanded the ''Higgs'' since December 2400 and was promoted to Deputy Squadron Commander in February 2401
+* [[USS Higgs|USS ''Higgs'']] - [[Nova Class|''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. [[bfms_char:68762/|Captain Anastasia Matheson]] commanded the ''Higgs'' between December 2400 until her death in March 2401.

Challenger Squadron
Unit	Fourth Fleet Operations
Flagship	USS Challenger
Leadership
Commander	CDRE Elizabeth Wyatt
Deputy Commander	CAPT Sofia Vestri
Assignment
Quadrant	Gamma Quadrant
Headquarters	Fogg Station
Mission	Deep Space Exploration
Template:Squadron