Difference between pages "USS Constellation" and "Melkot"

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{{Starship
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{{icons|bfc}}{{Government
| name = Constellation
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| name = Melkot
| prefix = USS
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| image =  
| image =[[File:Constellationplanet.jpg]]
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| species = Melkot
| registry =NCC-91017
+
| homeworld = Unknown
| class = Constitution III
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| founded = Unknown
| type = explorer
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| warp = Unknown
| affiliation =[[Starfleet]]
+
| language =  
| status = Active
+
| currency =  
| commission =2401
+
| government = Unknown
| decommission =  
+
| leader =  
| destroyed =
+
| advancement =  
| unit =  
+
| military = Unknown
| taskforce = Fourth Fleet Operations
 
| taskgroup =  
 
| squadron =  
 
| mothership =  
 
| homeport =  
 
| role =Explorer
 
| co =[[bfms_char:48362|Captain Taes]]
 
| xo =[[bfms_char:48427|Commander Kellin Rayco]]
 
| dedication =[[File:Constellation Plaque.jpg]]
 
 
}}
 
}}
{{quote|We only see starlight because all the stars are bleeding.|'''Steven Hall - ''Ship's Dedication Quote'''''}}
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The '''Melkot''' are a xenophobic species and minor power with territory in the [[Alpha Quadrant]]. Historically xenophobic and deeply territorial, they have long jealously guarded their borders and resisted encroachment or even peaceful visitation by any outsiders. The [[Federation]] made a [[ma:Spectre of the Gun (episode)|fraught first contact in 2268]], with the USS ''Enterprise'' earning permission to enter Melkot space. Since then, relations between the Federation have been cordial at best, non-existent at worst. There are rarely interactions between the two powers; [[Starfleet]] ships may not approach or enter Melkot space without permission, and the Melkot have only communicated with the Federation in times of dire need for either side. In those times of necessity, however, contact has been possible, and the Melkot wary of engagement but open to discussion.
'''USS ''Constellation''''' is a [[Constitution III Class|''Constitution III''-class]] explorer assigned to [[Fourth Fleet Operations]]. It is currently under the command of [[bfms_char:48362/|Captain Taes]]. A team of civilian scientists from the [[Romulan Free State]] is indefinitely assigned to support the ''Constellation’s'' investigation of scientific mysteries beyond the charted edges of Federation space. Although the crew’s search for knowledge is vital, their paramount mission is to improve diplomatic relations between the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Free State.
 
  
==History ==
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== Melkot Species and Culture ==
Like most among the first wave of the ''Constitution III''-class starships, the USS ''Constellation'' was constructed through the upcycling of an older starship's superstructure and essential system components.  As long as there's been a Starfleet, there have been Starship ''Constellations''. Almost from the inception of this neo-explorer class of starships, it was decided to build this ship in honour of the ''Constitution''-class [[ma:USS_Constellation_(NCC-1017)|USS ''Constellation'']] (NCC-1017).  
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The Melkot themselves are non-humanoid and powerful telepaths. They have bulbous bodies without limbs, which appear to float through unknown means, and have bright, round eyes. They are capable of projecting telepathic illusions that are indistinguishable from reality to the recipients, especially in non-telepaths. These illusions are so potent that experiencing injury and death can cause sufficient psychic trauma to hurt or even kill. Other telepathic species, such as Vulcans, have proven capable of resisting the illusions with varying degrees of success.
  
After construction on the new ''Constellation'' was completed in late 2400, she was commissioned to full service in early 2401. Assigned to Task Force 17, the ''Constellation'' was charged with a mission of exploration beyond the Federation's coreward borders into the [[Typhon Frontier]].
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The only confirmed survivors of a telepathic illusion intended to be lethal for the victim was the crew of the ''Enterprise'' in 2268. They were immersed in an illusion of the Old West and were expected to be killed in a gunfight. It is believed that the Melkot identified an experience, setting, or period that the crew associated with violence, where death would be an inevitable outcome. It was through resisting this expectation of violence, when Captain Kirk refused to kill an illusory opponent, that the Melkot became curious enough about humanity to make contact.
  
Under the command of Captain Taes aboard the [[USS Sarek|USS ''Sarek'']] in 2400, a team of Romulan Free State civilian scientists were assigned to the science department and their liaison officer, [[bfms_char:60485/|Flavia ir-Llantrisant]], was assigned to serve as Taes' chief science officer.  Flavia and her Romulan Free State science department were transferred aboard USS ''Constellation'' with Captain Taes. Although Flavia was afforded leadership over the Starfleet officers in the science department, she held no position in the operational command of the starship.  This was arranged as part of the Fourth Fleet's ongoing efforts to improve diplomatic relations with the Romulan Free State, despite the hold the [[ma:Tal_Shiar|Tal Shiar]] has on the very foundation of its government.  This was envisioned as one of Starfleet's great experiments to develop friendship through adversity and to encourage the crew to expand their inner depths while exploring the galaxy at large.
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Little else is known about the Melkot people. The Federation highlight their xenophobia and territorialism, but also point to the fact that they were stirred by unexpected mercy from those they viewed as invaders. Starfleet presumes the Melkot border policies to be dictated by fear, and thus strives very hard to follow the example of mercy and compassion set by Kirk in all their dealings with them.
  
=== Lost Fleet ===
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== Border Defences ==
In early 2401, the launch of USS ''Constellation'' was expedited in response to invasion in the [[Deneb Sector]].  A massive fleet of [[Dominion]] warships swept in from unexplored space, beyond the coreward Alpha Quadrant border of the Deneb Sector.  Joined by the [[Breen Confederacy]] invading from Deneb’s trailing border, the [https://wiki.bravofleet.com/index.php/Deneb_Sector#The_Dominion_Incursion Dominion incursion] took large swaths of Federation territory, including whole planets.  Under the protection of [[Saratoga Squadron]], ''Constellation'' travelled through the sensor-dampening [[Ciater Nebula]] to pass through Dominion-occupied space undetected.
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The Melkot leave warning buoys at the edge of their territory, which all communicate a message directing anyone approaching to leave. Those ignoring such warnings are treated harshly, with the Melkot demonstrating their xenophobic tendency to view such outsiders as 'aliens' or even 'disease'. Most ships which ignore the warnings meet a grim fate, the Melkot sentencing them to death. Either technological defences repel encroaching ships or, if possible, the Melkot kill the crews through their telepathic illusions.
[[File:USS Constellation and Jem'Hadar fighter.jpg|left|thumb|USS ''Constellation'' facing off against a Jem'Hadar fighter from the Dominion's Lost Fleet in the Kholara System]]
 
The ''Constellation'' crew gathered sensor data from uncrewed observatories and subspace relays beyond Federation space.  Upon reaching the Iauna Pulsar, ''Constellation'' rescued Doctor Marl Trojet from the escape pod of his destroyed Federation science ship, ''Sef''.  Although Doctor Trojet was the unwitting architect of the Dominion’s return in the Alpha Quadrant, he was also that fleet’s first victim.  While performing a psychic rescue of the comatose Trojet, Captain Taes learned that Trojet’s experiments to create an artificial wormhole at the Ianua pulsar released a portion of the Dominion’s lost fleet from out of time.  The artificial wormhole released the Dominion fleet from the Bajoran wormhole, where they had been held in timeless stasis since they were lost in 2374.  Returning to the Deneb Sector with this intel, ''Constellation'' was flanked by the Dominion’s final attack on [[Farpoint Station]] and took serious damage in defending Starfleet in the [https://wiki.bravofleet.com/index.php/The_Lost_Fleet#Battle_of_Farpoint Battle of Farpoint].<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/77082</ref>
 
  
=== Frontier Day ===
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Ships which need to approach Melkot space are advised to establish a communication link with a warning buoy, state their business and identify themselves as part of Starfleet, and await further contact. If no response is heard, no ship has permission to violate Melkot territory.
After surviving the final Battle of Farpoint, ''Constellation's'' crew managed only enough repairs for cautious travel to the [https://wiki.bravofleet.com/index.php/Federation_Species#Trill Trill] homeworld.  Doctor Marl Trojet's artificial wormhole research was collected to ensure no one else could access the remainder of the lost Jem'Hadar fleet, after the Jem'Hadar battleships in the Deneb Sector surrendered to the Dominion's care in the Gamma Quadrant.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/83099</ref>
 
  
Because of extensive damage to the ''Constellation's'' shields, hull and communication systems, Captain Taes put in for repairs at [[Avalon Fleet Yards]].  The ''Constellation'' was designed with [[ma:Fleet_formation_mode|fleet formation mode]] at the core of its operating systems, with every intention of participating in the parade through space to celebrate the 250th anniversary of [[ma:Frontier_Day|Frontier Day]].  Without the crew's knowledge, the Changeling who had been disguised as Lieutenant Commander [[bfms_char:48427/|Kellin Rayco]] had modified the ship's transporter system to edit Borg DNA into the brains of every young member of the crew, younger than the Human equivalent of 25 years old.  Come [https://wiki.bravofleet.com/index.php/Borg_Collective#Frontier_Day Frontier Day], the Borg Queen sent a signal from Jupiter that tele-assimilated all of those Starfleet officerd with Borg DNA in their brains.  In Sector 001, those assimilated officers had orders to kill every Starfleet officer; in Avalon Fleet Yards, the assimilated officers were ordered to commander the fleet yards for the Borg's purposes.
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== In Play ==
  
Between the fleet formation system and the assimilated officers among her own crew crew, the Borg took control of the starship ''Constellation''.  Lieutenant (Junior Grade) [[bfms_char:62427/|Cellar Door]] only managed to wrest control away from the Borg by ejecting the ship's warp core, collapsing the electroplasma system.  Lieutenant Commander Kellin Nertlinge was located in stasis aboard Deep Space 17, having been held hostage by the rogue [[ma:Changeling#Modified_Changelings|modified Changelings]] since before ''Constellation's'' launch.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/85284</ref>
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* The Melkot are a deeply inhuman and unknowable species encountered in one episode of TOS, who are also deeply isolationist. This combination gives writers only limited storytelling opportunities with them, as it is inconceivable Starfleet would not leave them alone unless they had no other choice.
 +
* With the right level of emergency or accident, Starfleet ships may still have encounters in or near Melkot space. It is up to the writer if the Melkot would accept any request for access, or how indulgent they would be of transgression, especially intentional. This might be an opportunity for intense and difficult diplomacy, or a story of a crew trying to survive an encounter with Melkot telepathic illusions such as those seen in TOS: Spectre of the Gun.
 +
* Melkot telepathic illusions feel real to all but the most disciplined of minds or powerful of telepaths. If your crew is hit by one, it's entirely up to you how much Vulcans, Betazoid, or others are affected, or how much they can affect the illusion in turn. The Melkot are clearly very powerful, but it's up to you decide what's best for your story.
  
=== Directive Four ===
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== External Information ==
[[File:Borg Cracked Star by pundus.jpg|left|thumb|The USS ''Constellation'' being followed by a Borg Cube in System D-515 of the Delta Quadrant.  Image created by [[bfms_user:2722|Pundus]].|alt=|240x240px]]
 
In partnership with her own crew, Avalon Fleet Yards repaired ''Constellation'' to her original manufactured specifications.  Captain Taes took the ship through the [[Barzan Wormhole]] to commence a prolonged mission of exploration in the [[Delta Quadrant]].  Shortly after their arrival, more Borg vessels were identified traversing into the [[Gradin Belt]] with far greater frequency than had been witnessed since before their decimation by the neurolytic pathogen in 2378.  Despite this seeming [https://wiki.bravofleet.com/index.php/Borg_Collective#An_Awakening Borg awakening], there were other reports of Borg relay stations and installations having been disassembled and abandoned in recent days.
 
  
Cautiously entering the edges of known Borg territory, Captain Taes and her crew undertook a scouting mission to investigate the state of the [[Borg Collective]] after the Borg Queen’s apparent demise on Frontier Day.  ''Constellation'' followed a faint Borg power signal to a tropical planet known only as Planet 4 in System D-515.  The initial away team called the planet Solus, because they found no trace of Borg technology anywhere on the planet; rather, the crew found non-humanoid, sentient plant-life on the planet, all of whom showed no signs of assimilation, nor any form of community.  After a brief encounter with a Borg Cube that showed no interest in ''Constellation'' or her crew, the cube reclaimed the Borg power source from the planet's surface.  ''Constellation's'' away team discovered an ancient fungal being that had survived an attempted assimilation centuries earlier.  Borg nanoprobes had proven entirely incompatible with the neuro-electric transmissions of the planet's sentient beings.  Concerned for how those ancient, abandoned nano-probes could be misused, ''Constellation'' destroyed them using electromagnetic pulses.<ref>https://bravofleet.com/mission/87943</ref>
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* [[ma:Melkot|Melkot]] at Memory Alpha
 
 
=== Notable Crew===
 
 
 
====Commanding Officers====
 
[https://bravofleet.com/command/76363 2401-Present]: Captain [[bfms_char:48362/|Taes]]
 
 
 
==Configuration==
 
''Main article: [[Constitution III Class|Constitution III-class Explorer]]''
 
 
 
Consistent with her class, the ''Constellation's'' design aesthetic hews to a return of spartan and utilitarian architecture.  Vaulted ceilings, archways and lighting panels from every direction are a common theme throughout every deck of the ship.  The floor, bulkhead and overhead panels are predominantly metallic with no upholstery. While the common ships of the class tend toward gun-metal grey, the duranium plating upcycled into the ''Constellation'' resulted in a colour scheme that favours brushed copper, reflective bronze and transparent panels throughout the ship's interiors.  With the advent of holo-technology and automation, most compartments are sparsely furnished and decorated.  Single-use equipment is too inefficient a use of space aboard a starship intended to explore unaided for five years at a stretch.  Allowing for the illusion of larger rooms, most compartments are multi-functional, be they operational centres, personal quarters or laboratories, with fewer partitions and sub-divisions than on the comfort-driven explorers of old. 
 
 
 
===Planetarium===
 
Bringing with it all of the mid-century dining room sets and interior design of the 2260s, the Planetarium lounge is an exact replica of the crew lounge aboard the ''Constitution''-class USS ''Constellation'' NCC-1017.  From the lacquered black deck plating to the vibrant red banquets, stepping into the Planetarium feels like stepping into Starfleet's past.  By utilising all of the interior safe sacrificed by smaller quarters, the Planetarium offers a large recreational area for the crew with an awe-inspiring wall of exterior viewports looking out the forward saucer-section.  There is one raised dining platform, enclosed with duranium slats, offering a private dining area for the captain and senior staff.  The one 25th-Century enhancement are the holographic projectors in the lounge often used to project familiar planetarium-style views of star systems and stellar phenomenon across the entire overhead of the lounge.
 
 
 
===Romulan Laboratory===
 
Based on the terms of the Federation's treaties with the Romulan Free State, the Romulan scientists aboard ''Constellation'' have an enclave laboratory devoted to their own independent research.  The lab possesses a small dedicated computer core and subprocessors, entirely air-gapped from the starship's main computer cores.  Under normal operating procedures, the Starfleet crew cannot access the Romulan lab with internal sensors unless authorized by the captain directly or if the computer detects risks such as damage to life support, weapons fire, open flames, or unregistered communications transmissions.
 
 
 
===Auxiliary Craft===
 
''Constellation's'' shuttle bays are equipped with a full complement of auxiliary craft, including:
 
 
 
*Captain's Yacht: ''Decker''
 
*[[Runabouts#Danube-class_runabout|Danube-class runabouts]]: ''Estéron (assimilated by the Borg in 2401)''
 
*[[Runabouts#Orion-class_runabout|Orion-class runabouts]]: ''Rubenstein'' and ''Anser''
 
*[[Personnel_Shuttles#Type_14_Shuttle|Type-14 shuttles]], including: ''Masada'', ''Harpa Georgii,'' ''Canis Minor,'' and ''Zoma''
 

Revision as of 14:08, 21 March 2024

This article is official Bravo Fleet canon.








Melkot
Basic Information
Major Species

Melkot

Homeworld(s)

Unknown

Founded

Unknown

Warp Capable

Unknown

Political Information
Governance Type

Unknown

Military Branches

Unknown

Template:Government

The Melkot are a xenophobic species and minor power with territory in the Alpha Quadrant. Historically xenophobic and deeply territorial, they have long jealously guarded their borders and resisted encroachment or even peaceful visitation by any outsiders. The Federation made a fraught first contact in 2268, with the USS Enterprise earning permission to enter Melkot space. Since then, relations between the Federation have been cordial at best, non-existent at worst. There are rarely interactions between the two powers; Starfleet ships may not approach or enter Melkot space without permission, and the Melkot have only communicated with the Federation in times of dire need for either side. In those times of necessity, however, contact has been possible, and the Melkot wary of engagement but open to discussion.

Melkot Species and Culture

The Melkot themselves are non-humanoid and powerful telepaths. They have bulbous bodies without limbs, which appear to float through unknown means, and have bright, round eyes. They are capable of projecting telepathic illusions that are indistinguishable from reality to the recipients, especially in non-telepaths. These illusions are so potent that experiencing injury and death can cause sufficient psychic trauma to hurt or even kill. Other telepathic species, such as Vulcans, have proven capable of resisting the illusions with varying degrees of success.

The only confirmed survivors of a telepathic illusion intended to be lethal for the victim was the crew of the Enterprise in 2268. They were immersed in an illusion of the Old West and were expected to be killed in a gunfight. It is believed that the Melkot identified an experience, setting, or period that the crew associated with violence, where death would be an inevitable outcome. It was through resisting this expectation of violence, when Captain Kirk refused to kill an illusory opponent, that the Melkot became curious enough about humanity to make contact.

Little else is known about the Melkot people. The Federation highlight their xenophobia and territorialism, but also point to the fact that they were stirred by unexpected mercy from those they viewed as invaders. Starfleet presumes the Melkot border policies to be dictated by fear, and thus strives very hard to follow the example of mercy and compassion set by Kirk in all their dealings with them.

Border Defences

The Melkot leave warning buoys at the edge of their territory, which all communicate a message directing anyone approaching to leave. Those ignoring such warnings are treated harshly, with the Melkot demonstrating their xenophobic tendency to view such outsiders as 'aliens' or even 'disease'. Most ships which ignore the warnings meet a grim fate, the Melkot sentencing them to death. Either technological defences repel encroaching ships or, if possible, the Melkot kill the crews through their telepathic illusions.

Ships which need to approach Melkot space are advised to establish a communication link with a warning buoy, state their business and identify themselves as part of Starfleet, and await further contact. If no response is heard, no ship has permission to violate Melkot territory.

In Play

  • The Melkot are a deeply inhuman and unknowable species encountered in one episode of TOS, who are also deeply isolationist. This combination gives writers only limited storytelling opportunities with them, as it is inconceivable Starfleet would not leave them alone unless they had no other choice.
  • With the right level of emergency or accident, Starfleet ships may still have encounters in or near Melkot space. It is up to the writer if the Melkot would accept any request for access, or how indulgent they would be of transgression, especially intentional. This might be an opportunity for intense and difficult diplomacy, or a story of a crew trying to survive an encounter with Melkot telepathic illusions such as those seen in TOS: Spectre of the Gun.
  • Melkot telepathic illusions feel real to all but the most disciplined of minds or powerful of telepaths. If your crew is hit by one, it's entirely up to you how much Vulcans, Betazoid, or others are affected, or how much they can affect the illusion in turn. The Melkot are clearly very powerful, but it's up to you decide what's best for your story.

External Information