Farpoint Station

Farpoint Station also known as Starbase 9 (SB-9), is a Federation planetary-based facility located on Deneb IV near the Federation-Breen border. Established in the wake of the Breen attack on Guardian Station, it is a key strategic installation not only near Breen space but also near the Kzinti. It is a staging point for exploratory missions into the coreward Alpha Quadrant, and the main hub of Starfleet operations in the Deneb Sector. It is operated by the Fourth Fleet.

History

Farpoint Station 1.0

In 2364, the Federation Council was approached by the inhabitants of Deneb IV, the Bandi, with the offer of a planetary starbase built in record time. The advanced architecture of the station stood in stark contrast to the Bandi’s other buildings.  This intrigued Starfleet Command so they assigned the newly commissioned USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard to review and investigate the station.

During their investigation, the crew of the Enterprise discovered that Farpoint Station was actually an injured alien life form capable of changing its form, which had been enslaved by the Bandi and forced to take the form of a planetary starbase. Picard ordered the Bandi to release the life form and renegotiated the construction of a new starbase on Deneb IV, identical in configuration to the station the entity had mimicked.

Farpoint Station 2.0

Construction on the new Farpoint Station began in early 2365 and took a little over two years to complete, with the station declared fully operational in mid-2367. As would be the case with Deep Space 9 a few years later, Starfleet would have authority for running the station, but it remained sovereign Bandi territory.

Over the next two decades, Farpoint Station became a staging post for deep-space exploration missions beyond the edges of Federation space and a hub of Starfleet activity in the region. 

In 2375, the entry of the Breen into the Dominion War in the closing stages of that conflict turned Farpoint Station into a key strategic outpost given its proximity to the Federation-Breen border. In the years that followed, it would serve as a key centre for intelligence on the Breen following their withdrawal at the close of the war.

The lack of activity along the Federation-Breen border since the end of the war, the synth attack on Mars, combined with a reduction in Starfleet’s deep space exploration programme, contributed to Starfleet’s decision to reduce its presence on Farpoint Station. The Starfleet presence on Deneb IV was gradually reduced until only a small garrison remained by 2390.

The Breen Resurgence

The Breen made a major reappearance on the galactic stage in 2399, launching an attack on Guardian Station in orbit of Barzan II. Breen activity along the Federation-Breen border increased once more, making the Deneb Sector an important strategic location once more. Within weeks, the Federation Council reached out to the Bandi, seeking to take command of Farpoint Station once more and expand their presence with the addition of a new orbital facility.

As negotiations with the Bandi drew to a close, Starfleet Command dispatched Rear Admiral Hayden to sign the new agreement, handing command of Farpoint Station back to Starfleet.  

Current Operations

With a new agreement signed, Starfleet moved quickly to increase its presence on Farpoint. A detachment from the Corps of Engineers was dispatched to begin upgrading the station’s now-outdated systems and reinforcing the planetary defences. A second detachment was sent a few months later to construct a new Presidium-class station over Deneb IV to support local starships.

The Dominion Lost Fleet

In early 2401, the Deneb sector was ransacked by the sudden arrival of the Dominion fleet that had been believed destroyed during the early stages of the Dominion War. The intervention of the Bajoran Prophets while the fleet was travelling through the Bajoran wormhole had been at the request of Captain Benjamin Sisko. Their unexpected appearance in the Deneb Sector had been caused by experiments conducted by the Trill scientist Doctor Marl Trojet, who attempted to reproduce the work of Doctor Lenara Kahn - the creation of an [[[MA:Wormhole#Artificial_wormholes|artificial wormhole]]. During Trojet’s experiments, he had pierced into whatever pocket of reality that the Prophets had used to store the Dominion fleet in. As they had not experienced the passage of time, they were still under the illusion that they were still on a war footing and instantly began attacking Federation territory. The entire Deneb Sector was ransacked.

As a result of this, Farpoint Station became the regional command hub in dealing with this threat, especially when the Fourth Fleet responded, with help from the Third Order of the Cardassian Union. For several weeks, Farpoint was heavily defended by these joint forces as operations were launched across the sector to retake conquered systems. Further complications arose when the Breen began helping their former allies. The entire conflict was eventually resolved during the Battle of Farpoint.

Afterwards, Farpoint would lead the relief efforts to many worlds that had been affected by the Dominion’s Lost Fleet. A higher concentration of Starfleet ships was sent to aid in the rebuilding efforts and ensure security along the Breen border was tight.

To this day, a number of Fourth Fleet ships are found near Farpoint Station, either preparing to depart to provide aid to nearby worlds or begin their deep space exploration efforts beyond the region.