USS Taniwha

USS Taniwha
General Information
Registry	NCC-68416
Class & Type	Akira-class heavy cruiser
Affiliation	Starfleet
Status	Active
Assignment
Task Force	Task Force 47
Role	Defense Exploration Light Carrier
Template:Starship

"Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa. - Let us keep together, not far apart. "

    —Traditional Maori Whakataukī- Ship's Dedication Quote

USS Taniwha NCC-68416 is a Akira-class Federation starship currently assigned to Fourth Fleet's Task Force 47, acting as a mobile operations centre for large-scale construction and repair projects in the Fourth Fleet’s field of operations.

Namesake

Named for a mythical dragon of the Maori tradition. Said to inhabit lakes and rivers, they are considered protective guardians of important locations and people. Traditionally each tribe had a separate Taniwha who acted as the protector and guardian. 

Mission Summary

With an increasing number of independent colonies emerging throughout the border regions, Starfleet finds itself inundated with requests for aid. In the wake of recent galactic events a number of these requests involve a significant amount of engineering support; ranging from deep space satellite repairs to full-scale orbital platform construction. Whilst many of Starfleet’s mainline assets can provide a reasonable level of support, Taniwha has been outfitted with several modifications to support these projects including industrial replicators, zero-G assembly bays and a dedicated team from the Starfleet Corps of Engineers (SCE).

Taniwha now journeys across Federation space and beyond providing aid and support to all who need it, showcasing the compassion and goodwill of the Federation to allies both current and prospective. Whether it involves tightening a few bolts or rebuilding an entire space station, Taniwha is out in the galaxy building bridges.

Service History

One of several Akira class vessels rushed to completion following the formal declaration of the Dominion War in 2371, Taniwha set sail from Utopia Planitia alongside her sisters outfitted for conflict. Initially assigned to the Seventh Fleet as emergency reinforcements following their devastating engagement in the Tyra system, she was later transferred to the Fourth Fleet operations when the fleet was converted to special duties alongside the Klingon Empire. Working alongside a variety of Klingon assets from House Koloth, Taniwha spent much of the conflict providing escort and support to emergency humanitarian missions in locations devastated by the ongoing war. This work continued throughout the post-war period, providing much-needed support to the reconstruction efforts.

In the late 2390s, during the construction of Deep Space 47, Taniwha found itself playing host to a cadre of engineers from the Starfleet Corp of Engineers. Its large through-hanger deck provided an excellent platform for construction operations in the dangerous region. Throughout the base’s construction, the crew found themselves making a number of in-flight modifications to better support the large-scale engineering project.

In 2400, with the construction of DS-47 completed, Taniwha was formally redeployed alongside Task Force 47's other assets into the Thomar expanse and later at the Klingon/Gorn border. Her ongoing mission directive is to provide a mobile platform for large-scale engineering projects, with the long-term aims of improving relationships and garnering goodwill with the unaligned planets at the edge of Federation space.

Configuration and Design

The Forge

Following the Dominion War, Taniwha was retrofitted with several systems geared towards large-scale construction including several advanced, industrial replicators and an extensive production hub. Nicknamed ‘The Forge’ by the ship's company, these replicators form the heart of a new fabrication workshop directly in the centre of the ship’s shuttle deck, drawing power from the adjacent warp core. These large-scale replicators are capable of producing a wider variety of materials; ranging from day-to-day supplies a colony may require in bulk, to elements of complicated hull and system components for orbital platforms. The Forge also features extensive mining and refinery systems, allowing for Taniwha to source materials in the field through a combination of its auxiliary craft and the support of other fleet vessels.

When coupled with the ship’s expansive shuttle bay and the extensive wing of auxiliary craft, the Forge allows Taniwha to operate as a mobile construction hub and if necessary a minor repair yard. With the right resources, the visiting cadre from the Starfleet Corps of Engineers can create almost anything they set their mind to; as long as it fits through the space doors.

Crew & Characters

Captain Harrison Price (58 Human Male)

• A seasoned commanding officer with many years of engineering expertise, Captain Price was assigned to Taniwha because of his demonstrated success in managing large-scale construction projects. Price is a hands-on captain who makes an effort to get to know his crew; relaxed and approachable, he is seen as a father figure by many crew members.
• An excellent project manager and engineer who thinks outside the box, Price is inventive by nature. Unfortunately, in the pursuit of the goal, he can misread situations, which has led to the need for some smoothing over of a diplomatic nature.
• An amiable personality most of the time, Price is rock-solid and reliable in a crisis. He believes in keeping his skills sharp and often picks up maintenance jobs when he is off shift. The only time he is known to lose his temper is when safety protocols are ignored, or his crew are threatened.

Lt Cmdr Joshua McLachlan - (35, Human male)

• An experienced engineer, McLachlan was assigned to the Taniwha by the SCE due to his reputation for being precision-orientated, diligent, and reliable. He is not an officer who encourages out-of-the-box thinking, but an officer who makes sure projects are completed on time, utilising the resources planned, often working tirelessly to ensure deadlines are met.
• A reserved person, with a dry sense of humour, he values teamwork and is often viewed as a mentor by younger officers. However, because of his more rigid and formal nature, he can struggle to relate to others on a personal level.
• McLachlan suffers from perfectionism, which can cause him to become rigid and unyielding at times. He is aware of this issue and actively works to conceal it. He is also a stickler for the rules, believing that following the rules is essential for the safety and efficiency of starship operations. This can show itself as an unwillingness to take experimental adaptations when unexpected deviations occur in his exhaustive planning.

In Play

• Taniwha’s mission with Task Force 47 is to provide a mobile platform for building projects throughout the Fourth Fleet’s area of operations, often in locations where conflict is a possibility. As a result of her upgrades, Taniwha has lost a portion of her offensive capability and makes an excellent asset for captains looking to undertake adventures where they need to provide tactical or security support. Taniwha offers an excellent hook or setting for ships of any size that are looking to provide additional or more focused tactical actions allowing Taniwha to continue its work.
• Taniwha’s resources are not infinite and whilst she features large cargo modules, she is likely to require resupply of materials during larger projects or emergency deliveries when unexpected hiccups occur. Captains may find themselves called upon to visit Taniwha in the field to provide deliveries or called upon to deliver critical components and staffing to ongoing projects.
• The ship can also convert and refine materials through its specialist services in the ‘Forge’ and Captains may find their commands called upon to assist or protect mining operations ahead of their next project.
• Taniwha’s mission directive is to undertake long-term engineering activities and Captains may find it a useful asset to introduce at the end of adventures to assist with follow-up operations as you set out on your next adventure. They’re also an excellent asset to provide a friendly face in deep space should your command take a beating and require some in-field repairs rather than returning to the nearest starbase.

Notable Crew

Commanding Officers

• 2401 - Present :Captain Harrison Price