User:Kai1701E/squadron/shipdraft
- "No mater where you go, there you are."
- —Buckaroo Banzai - Ship's Dedication Quote
USS Excelsior NCC-42037, a prominent name in Starfleet history, continues a legacy spanning over 115 years. As the fourth ship in its lineage, the Excelsior II-class has endured as a vital component of the fleet for more than a century. Originally christened as the USS Guardian almost 70 years ago, the vessel underwent a renaming ceremony following the loss of its predecessor during the tragic Frontier Day incident. This renaming was not only a mark of honor but also a testament to Starfleet's commitment to preserving this prestigious lineage.
The USS Excelsior NCC-42037, an Excelsior II-class heavy cruiser, represents a contemporary and versatile upgrade to the iconic Excelsior-class starships of yesteryears. Launched from Avalon Fleet Yards, this vessel now holds the distinction of serving as the flagship of Excelsior Squadron within Task Force 47. Under the capable command of Fleet Captain Keziah Nazir, Excelsior stands ready to carry on the proud tradition of its namesake, embodying the spirit of exploration and service that has become synonymous with the Excelsior lineage.
Mission Objectives
A multi-purpose starship well into her tour of duty, Excelsior has completed a wide variety of tasks and missions assigned to her over the years. Some of her core duties, commensurate with her class as a whole, include:
- Operating autonomously under the command of the commanding officer, providing full capability to execute Federation defensive, cultural, scientific, and explorative policy in deep space or along border territories.
- Replacing aging starships in certain frontline diplomatic and exploration duties.
- Providing a platform for extended scientific survey and scouting missions.
- Providing frontline support during times of war or crisis, such as the Century Storm and Blood Dilithium situations, and situations diplomatic in nature.
- Serving non-critical functions such as transport of personnel and cargo when necessary, extended aid, and short-range patrol.
Technical Configuration
Main Article: Excelsior II-class Heavy Cruiser
Key Location Data
- Main Article: Excelsior deck listing
- Main Article: Tour of the Excelsior
With 24 decks, the ship has hundreds of rooms and locations that serve a variety of purposes for the crew. Some of the more notable locations include:
Bridge
A reflection of the time period she was created, the Excelsior II-class' polished steel, cool metal fixtures and her bridge aesthetics bring back memories of years gone by, her design blending modern technological advancements with the nostalgia of eras long gone. It is a functional, yet aesthetically pleasing facility designed in a similar vein to the rest of the ship. Her greatest feature is a wide-angled window which fills the forward bulkhead. This window has holographic projectors built into the rim, giving it the ability to function as a more traditional viewscreen. It can also be used as an emergency evacuation hatch, with forcefields being lowered until replaced by a large, external bulkhead.
Dominating the heart of the command center, three command chairs made of red leather sit atop the central platform, colloquially known as the 'Command Deck', surrounded by rails and steps to the lower levels of the bridge. As is tradition, the center seat and its controls are reserved for the commanding officer, or any directly appointed officer in command during her absence. To her right, the executive officer and, to her left, a third seat is generally reserved for the use of the ship's Counsellor, Chief Medical Officer or any official or dignitary the Captain sees fit. All three of the chairs have built-in controls on the armrests, enabling the occupying officers to conduct their duties with unprecedented access to a wide variety of ship systems.
At the foot of the stairs directly ahead (or to the side) of the command deck, the 'Flight Deck' consists of two angled consoles serving as duty stations for operations (port) and flight operations (starboard). A few feet from each, two stand-alone consoles provide auxiliary station access for any purpose required (such as communications, environmental control, mission operations etc). Ascending the stairs on either side of the command deck, the port side bulkhead is home to three large stations dedicated to tactical operations, providing access to the ship's defensive and offensive systems, whilst the starboard bulkhead is dedicated to the various science departments on the ship.
Aft of the bridge, there are two additional consoles behind the command area designated for medical use (port) and engineering (starboard), allowing the engineer on duty access to the same engineering systems as in main engineering itself, including access to environmental controls, propulsion systems and the warp core. Central to the aft bulkhead, open access is granted to the observation lounge, which is sealable by emergency bulkheads and forcefields.
Observation Lounge
A beautifully designed room, the observation lounge matches the aesthetic of the rest of the ship, with polished alloys and cool metals as the material of choice during construction. The room is dominated by a large table with holographic controls which is particularly useful for briefings and has seating for up to 10 officers. The Captain traditionally sits closest to the wall-mounted display on the starboard bulkhead. There are several shelves with ornaments and models of previous ships called Excelsior, as well as the original USS Excelsior ship plaque. An additional door provides access from the port bulkhead.
The observation lounge operates an open-door policy and, in the absence of a more traditional ready room attached to the bridge, the Captain often uses the observation lounge as a workspace so that they do not have to return to their quarters, where their actual office is located.
Auxiliary Craft
Shuttlebay 1 - Main Shuttlebay
Shuttlebay 1, or the Upper Shuttlebay, has been modified to house all of the auxiliary craft that make up Azure Flight. These auxiliary craft are made up of some of the most advanced small vessel designs ever to serve Starfleet.
Type 14 Shuttles
Centaurus, Gliese, Normae, Ithaca
Type 12 Shuttles
Cassiopeia, Procyon
Danube-class Runabouts
Achernar, Basri
Shuttlebay 2 - Runabout Landing Bay
Shuttlebay 2 is the smallest of the auxiliary craft facilities on Excelsior and is the permanent home of two Arrow-class runabouts. Due to their size, these vessels cannot be shifted between bays using elevators, so they stay permanently docked in the lower shuttlebay.
Arrow-class Runabouts
Kaeden, Kirsen
Historical Data Records
Recomissioning
Arriving at Avalon Fleet Yards in 2398 as the USS Guardian, the next time the ship would leave dock she would be rechristened with a new name and a new command crew. When she entered dock for her significant overhaul, the Excelsior Refit-class starship had served the fleet for nearly 70 years, seeing action in countless engagements and completing hundreds of varied missions.
Following the unexpected destruction of the USS Excelsior during the Frontier Day debacle, Starfleet realised this would be the first time in over a century that there wasn't an Excelsior in service or under construction as a replacement. Deeming it worth the work, Command authorised the Guardian to be rechristened as the USS Excelsior during her refit, thus becoming the fourth ship to bear the iconic name. Command of Excelsior fell to Fleet Captain Keziah Nazir, formally of the USS Hathaway, which had suffered extensive damage during the Lost Fleet Campaign and the Frontier Day calamity. With Hathaway slated to be in dock for an unspecified amount of time, Starfleet Command reassigned Nazir and her command crew to new postings, and a new squadron. As per their orders from Admiral Grayson, Excelsior would soon launch and make her way to the Thomar Expanse to begin operations with the Pathfinders task force.
The Excelsior Lineage
Like many starships in the Federation fleet, the Excelsior name has endured long after the first ship to bear the name left dock for the first time. Information about past incarnations includes:
- USS Excelsior — Excelsior-class heavy cruiser — NCC-2000
- 2285—2320 (Preserved at the Fleet Museum until 2401)
- USS Excelsior — Excelsior Refit-class heavy cruiser — NCC-27445
- 2320-2389 (Decommissioned)
- USS Excelsior — Excelsior II-class heavy cruiser — NCC-42037
- 2389-2401 (Destroyed)
- USS Excelsior — Excelsior II-class heavy explorer — NCC-42037
- 2401—Present (USS Guardian recommissioned, currently in service)
Commanding Officer Lineage
Notable crewmembers include:
- 2389 - 2394: Captain Benbassat, (Human Male)
- 2394 - 2401: Captain Jason Hawk, (Human Male)
- 2401-2401: Captain Benbassat, (Human Male)
- 2401 - Present: Captain Keziah Nazir, (Trill Female)
- "The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible. "
- —Arthur C. Clarke - Ship's Dedication Quote
The USS Buran has a storied history that spans multiple decades in each of the last three centuries, establishing its enduring legacy in Starfleet. Originating in the 2250s as a Cardenas-class starship, it was the first in a line of vessels to bear the name. The current iteration, the third USS Buran, belongs to the sleek and agile Rhode Island-class, reflecting its versatility and adaptability in the ever-changing cosmos.
Commissioned in the year 2380, the USS Buran has been designed to excel in various roles. Its remarkable speed and agility make it a prime candidate for fast exploration missions, enabling rapid mapping of uncharted territories. Simultaneously, the vessel boasts powerful sensor platforms, making it a formidable tactical scout capable of identifying potential threats with precision.
Recently relaunched from Avalon Fleet Yards following a minor refit, which coincided with the conclusion of Frontier Day, the USS Buran is now at the forefront of Task Force 47's Excelsior Squadron. Under the capable command of Captain Romaes Anjin, the Buran stands ready to uphold its storied legacy, embodying the spirit of exploration, tactical prowess, and service that has defined the Buran lineage for centuries.
Mission Objectives
With it's increased armament and warp capabilities, the Rhode Island Class|Rhode Island-class USS Buran]] is considered as a Scout/Escort Type Vessel in which their mission objects include all of the standard Nova-class, along with a few extra:
- Provide a platform for extended scientific survey and scouting missions.
- Provide autonomous capability for full execution of Federation defensive, cultural, scientific, and explorative policy in deep space or border territory.
- Serve as a frontline support vehicle during emergencies and a platform for the extension of Federation diplomacy and policy.
- Provide non-critical functions such as transport of personnel and cargo when necessary, extended aid, and short-range patrol.
- Provide a multi-mission mobile platform for a wide range of scientific and explorative research, and diplomatic projects.
- Provide autonomous capability for full execution of Federation defensive, cultural, scientific, and explorative policy in deep space or border territory.
Technical Configuration
Main Article: Rhode Island-class Scout
Key Location Data
- Main Article: Buran deck listing
- Main Article: Tour of the Buran
With only 8 decks and short term missions to complete, the 90 crew of the Buran have a relatively comfortable standard of living, despite the close quarters they share.