Difference between revisions of "Challenger Squadron"

Revision as of 11:51, 7 July 2023

Challenger Squadron is a formation commanded by Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester 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

Fourth Fleet Operations (2401 - Present)

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.

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.

Leadership

2401 - 2401

Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester - Commander
Captain Everett Ashford - Deputy Commander

2401 - 2401

Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester - Commander
Captain Anastasia Matheson - Deputy Commander

2401 - Present

Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester - Commander
TBD - Deputy Commander

Current Composition

Challenger Squadron is currently composed of four starships.

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. In addition to commanding Challenger Squadron, Fleet Captain Forrester has also commanded the Challenger herself since January 2401.
- 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.

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=TBD|quadrant=Alpha Quadrant|mission=Deep Space Exploration}}
+{{Squadron|name=Challenger Squadron|unit=Fourth Fleet Operations|flagship=[[USS Challenger | USS ''Challenger'']]|co=[[bfms_char:30476| FCAPT Thomas Forrester]]|xo=[[bfms_char:82982| Captain Sofia Vestri]]|quadrant=Gamma Quadrant|mission=Deep Space Exploration}}
-'''Challenger Squadron''' is a formation centered around the starship ''[[USS Challenger|Challenger]]'', an Odyssey''-''class heavy 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:30476/|Fleet Captain Thomas Forrester]] 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) ===
+=== Fourth Fleet Operations (2401 - Present) ===
-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.
+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.
 == Leadership ==
@@ Line 30: / Line 32: @@
 == Current Composition ==
-Challenger Squadron is currently composed of two starships.
+Challenger Squadron is currently composed of four starships.
 * [[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. In addition to commanding Challenger Squadron, [[bfms_char:30476/|Fleet Captain Forrester]] has also commanded the ''Challenger'' herself since January 2401.
 **[[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 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]] commanded the ''Higgs'' between December 2400 until her death in March 2401. [[bfms_char:15505/|Lieutenant Commander Alexander Mitchell]] took over as acting Captain upon her death.
+* [[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.
+== 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|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.