USS Achilles
USS Achilles (NCC-78250) is the lead vessel of the Achilles-class destroyer, assigned to the Fourth Fleet's Arcturus Wayfinding Squadron. First built in the closing days of the Dominion War, Achilles was launched in 2375 and served for five years with a predominantly Andorian crew under the command of Captain Vylenn. The ship and the entire class were placed into mothballs in mid-2380 to be preserved in the event of another galaxy-spanning conflict. After undergoing a six-month refit and modernization in 2401, Achilles was reactivated in 2402 and once again placed under the command of Captain Vyllen, but now with a multi-species crew.
Namesake
In Greek mythology, Achilles was the best of the Greek warriors at Troy ("aristos achaion") and his refusal to enter battle, his feud with his compatriots, and his rage at the death of his companion Patroklos are at the core of the Iliad. Achilles was characterized as much by his speed, skill, and bravery as he was by his hubris and egotism.[1] A rendering of Achilles and Patroklos forms the crest of the Achilles's seal.
On Earth, ten warships of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy and one of the Royal New Zealand Navy were named after Achilles.[2][3] Four other Federation starships have borne the name Achilles, including an Echelon-class light cruiser that succeeded this Achilles in name but which was renamed when this vessel was returned to service:
- USS Achilles — Saladin-class frigate — NCC-551[4]
- 2261—2280 (Upcycled into NCC-5510)
- USS Achilles — Akula-class frigate — NCC-5510
- 2280—2340 (Retired)
- USS Achilles — Ambassador-class heavy cruiser — NCC-28410
- 2343—2370 (Retired)
- USS Achilles — Achilles-class destroyer —NCC-78250
- 2375—2380 (Mothballed)
- 2380—Present (Recommissioned)
- USS Achilles - Echelon-class light cruiser — NCC-97409
- 2401—2402 (Renamed Talos)
Layout and Configuration
While she has been modernized, the upgrades to Achilles have been limited to her engines and tactical systems—her interior is very much reflective of construction techniques used during the Dominion War. With narrow corridors and single doors in most areas, Achilles is a functional but cramped vessel.
Main Bridge
Resembling the bridge of contemporary Defiant-class escorts, the main bridge aboard Achilles is the same module as the ship was originally equipped with in 2375. The command platform in the center features a raised chair for the captain in the center, with the helm and tactical stations forward in an integrated console. Behind this area is an aft-facing station for the executive officer and a dedicated communications station. The stations on the port side of the bridge, starting from the captain's chair, are engineering, internal security, and environment. On the starboard side, they are operations, science, and mission operations. This layout optimizes the ship for tactical operations, but individual stations can be reconfigured on the fly to handle specific mission objectives..jpg)
Though 25 years old at this point, the finishes and upholstery on the bridge are in mint condition, thanks to being preserved perfectly by the mothballing process at Avalon Fleet Yards. Starship enthusiasts might even describe the current state of the ship as "museum quality." The control surfaces all retain standard LCARS interfaces, though the internal components within the bridge consoles have been updated with the latest bioneural-isolinear hybrid chips. The bridge has also been fitted with holographic capabilities that allow for head's up displays to be projected at any station or the captain's chair when additional screen real estate is necessary. As Achilles now features several generations of computer equipment, the meshing of these systems is not always seamless or smooth, however.
History
Designed to take the principles of the Defiant class and apply them to a cruiser-sized starship, the Achilles was the product of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers' efforts to innovate during the Dominion War in a desperate race to give the Federation an edge. Construction of Achilles proceeded in secret at a secure facility hidden within the moon Phobos over Mars. Even with teams working around the clock, the ship wasn't completed until days before the Second Battle of Chin'toka. It would remain in dock for several more weeks as engineers feverishly worked to install countermeasures to the Breen energy-dampening weapon. These efforts were spearheaded by the ship's newly assigned captain, Captain Vyllen. She and her nearly entirely Andorian crew brought Achilles up to fighting standards without the luxury of a shakedown cruise.
Achilles participated in several minor skirmishes before joining the assembled fleet for the invasion of Cardassia Prime. Like the Defiant, Achilles tended to run hot and was a maintenance nightmare for the first several months of her service, but these issues were quickly brought under control. Following the end of the war, Achilles was tasked with various deep space patrols near Tholian, Tzenkethi, and Kzinti space to ensure that these potential threats did not flare up in the aftermath of the larger war.
While prototypes were often pulled from service relatively early in their careers because of design changes and upgrades later sister ships would receive during the construction process, the Achilles was actually the longest-serving member of her class. In 2380, Starfleet decided to put the entire class into mothballs to be kept in reserve in case of another war. It was reasoned that Starfleet's resources were now better spent on traditional cruisers and vessels with greater exploratory capabilities now that the galaxy had settled into a seeming peace. Achilles, eleven other members of the class, and a further 12 unassembled vessels were laid up in reserve at Avalon Fleet Yards with stasis fields and security measures in place to protect their systems. Captain Vyllen resigned in protest over this decision and joined the Andorian Imperial Guard.
It wasn't until 2401 that Frontier Day prompted Starfleet to revisit the Achilles class. If there was ever a "break glass in case of emergency" moment for the class, it was the loss of a substantial number of ships in the battle with the Borg over Earth. Over the remainder of that year, Achilles and her sisters were refit and modernized, bringing their weapons and engines up to the most modern standards. During the refit process, Captain Akintoye Okusanya of the latest ship to bear the name Achilles, an Echelon-class light cruiser launched earlier that year, oversaw a number of teams from her ship. The use of the new Achilles in this way was meant to provide a cover for the reactivation of the class. When the 2375 Achilles was brought back into service in 2402, the 2401 Achilles was renamed Talos.
Vyllen was persuaded to return to Starfleet, using her unique knowledge of Achilles to ensure that her return to service would be smooth. After a brief shakedown, Achilles joined Arcturus Wayfinding Squadron on the extreme edge of Federation space.
Notable Crew
Commanding Officers
- 2375 - 2380: Captain Vyllen
- 2380 - 2402: Out of Commission
- 2402 - Present: Captain Vyllen