U.S.S. Aquarius

The U.S.S. *Aquarius* (NCC-26892) is an Ambassador-class starship under the command of Captain Julia Quintus.

## Fleet Assignment

The *Aquarius* is currently assigned to...

## History

The *Aquarius* launched in 2358, with Julia Quintus in command and an (unnamed) executive officer. After a shakedown, the ship began a series of exploration missions in the Alpha Quadrant, with an emphasis on astrometrics research and first contact missions.

## Early Missions

*Missing first mission*

*Missing second mission*

### Mission Three

The *Aquarius* had its first of several encounters with the Gorn in 2358, while performing research on a nebula polluted by industrial activities known as the "Garbage Can." Thanks primarily to the engineering and science departments, the nebula was studied with the hope of restoring it to its natural state. While the Gorn at first seemed responsible for the issues, and sent a frigate to protect the region, they were not the original creators of the dump.

### Mission Four

The Aquarius proceeded to the planet most affected by the "Garbage Can," Beta Origii, which was revealed to be the home of the Re'ashh, a sentient mammalian species closely resembling otters. The pollution was particularly affecting the planet's water. At the behest of Admiral David Johns (and at the recommendation of Edward Jellico), the *Aquarius* was encouraged -- in collaboration with the natives -- to lay the groundwork for a well-equipped colony on Beta Origii. Initial outlines for the colony included strong fortifications, a shipyard, and repair facilities. They were aided and supplied by the U.S.S. *Octavian*in establishing this outpost.

After laying out the foundations for the colony and continuing their task of neutralizing the toxins in the Garbage Can and the polluted Beta Origii, another player arrives on the scene laying claim to the planet: the Tholian Assembly. the *Aquarius* was dispatched to Lyagos, a planet on the edge of Tholian space.

### Mission Five

*Aquarius'* rendezvous with the Tholians required extreme advanced preparations to construct a habitat aboard the ship capable of supporting their extreme environmental needs. The engineering and science teams collaborated to construct a "tank" for the Tholians. The initial meeting proceeded amicably as the crew welcomed the Tholian vizier aboard. During the mission, several crewmen collaborated to construct anti-Tholian resonance weapons without prior authorization.

The Tholians claimed their concern over Federation activity on Beta Origii was due to their own protective oversight of the planet, but later negotiations revealed that their interest in the Re'ashh was quite limited; like the Gorn, the Tholians were interested in the leftover technology of a technologically-advanced species that had once held the region in which Beta Origii was situated. A final agreement was reached allowing Tholian involvement in the new colony's oversight.

### Mission Six

With the standing agreement between the Tholians and the Federation, the *Aquarius* set to work with the cleaning of the Garbage Can and the establishment of the colony on Beta Origii. After several weeks of effort and the assignment of a new executive officer selected to oversee the diplomatic side of the situation, the Re'assh begrudgingly offer assistance to the nascent Federation colony.

## I. Much Ado About Buoys

After the completion of the Beta Origii colony, the crew spent six months involved in a number of engineering supply and organizational missions as well as several further first contact missions, including with the Maok-Moak, and a particularly nasty diplomatic encounter at Caltirus XVIII. In June of 2359 the ship docked at Starbase 245 for resupply, upgrades, and to take aboard a number of new crew -- as well as R&R for the crew.

The crew was first dispatched to investigate a situation in the Altritium Expanse, where navigational buoys had been blinking offline, ostensibly due to anomalies in the area. After bringing aboard several example buoys, it became clear that the buoys were intentionally sabotaged. This assumption was confirmed when several Gorn vessels attacked a freighter convoy passing through the Expanse. A battle broke out, resulting in heavy damage and significant casualties for both ships.

After repairs to the ship and medical treatments for the crew, *Aquarius* is left with an adrift Gorn ship to investigate, sending over an away team. They discover a new, platinum-cased torpedo under testing aboard the ship, to be studied by the Starfleet Corps of Engineering.

## II. Caught in the Center

*Aquarius* embarked on a classified mission, ordered to lead a group of thirty other Starfleet vessels assembled under the moniker of "Zodiac Fleet." The fleet was assembled in response to a diplomatic crisis between two warring species, the Gatians and the Kommani. As neither was a Federation member, Zodiac Fleet was able to intercede in the conflict without violating the Prime Directive. Given the Tholians' stake in the matter, as the Gatians were their trading partners, the fleet's objective was to serve as a deterrent so the Tholians would not be tempted to become involved in the conflict, and offer their services as negotiators. En route to the site of the conflict, the *Aquarius* acquired a harmless parasitic insectoid lifeform, Goldman's Quasi-dimensional Fireflies, whose presence resulted in their lead diplomat being taken out of commission. Regardless of the issues, *Aquarius* endeavoured to reconstruct their Tholian pod, suitable for their physiology, in the event that representatives needed to be brought aboard.

Setting off to meet with the Tholians in the Otharlan Nebula before planning to journey onward to Ataris VI in order to pick up the Gatian and Kommani ambassadors, the ship discovered that the Tholian vessel had been destroyed, with only one survivor. Shuttle Bay Two was emergency-converted into a larger housing facility for the wounded Tholian. Fatally injured, it emitted an extremely high-frequency pulse, knocking out a number of ship's systems and shattering much of the glass (including the captain's alcohol collection) aboard before dying. The command staff plans to offer the Tholian proof that they were not responsible for the attack.

Before the *Aquarius* could approach the Tholians with their offer, they were attacked by a Tholian flotilla. The Tholian vessels begin to form a Tholian Web around the ship. After negotiating a ceasefire, the *Aquarius* is given forty-eight hours to prove their innocence before outright hostilities are announced. Initial reports suggested that a Starfleet Type IX phaser was used to destroy the Tholian ship. After tracking an ion trail to a Federation-signature debris field, *Aquarius* discovered that the ship was a Gorn "turtle" construction: one that can switch its hull configuration
based upon what its desired falsified appearance. After a firefight, the ship was brought back to the Tholians, who skeptically accepted the proof that the Federation was not to blame. At the completion of the mission, Captain Quintus took a leave of absence, and Le-Gran was promoted to captain and assigned command of the *Aquarius*.

## III. Plague at the Outpost

After being assigned a new executive officer, Lilah Moretti, the Aquarius visited Starbase 22 for resupply.  The new X.O. also organized a mock diplomatic dinner for the crew, which failed in many aspects.

The ship proceeded to the Komai Outpost to attend to an outbreak of Tarkalean influenza at plague-level proportions. The timing was particularly poor, due to a recent flareup of hostilities between the Federation and the Cardassian Union. While Nidari and Moretti handle the plague, the *Aquarius* attended to mysterious ship explosions on trade routes in the sector, and attempted to escort the S.S. *Nikola* to the Nandir Outpost. The *Nikola* was destroyed. The *Aquarius*, alongside the U.S.S. *Truman* and the U.S.S. *Polaris*, jumps to warp to track down the destruction of the freighter.

It was determined that the freighters' destructions were the result of Tzenkethi interference in Federation supply lines. With the help of several other Starfleet ships -- the U.S.S *Lexington*, U.S.S. *Akula**,* U.S.S. *Carthage*, U.S.S. *Yellowstone*, U.S.S. *Barcelona*, and U.S.S. *Meiji* , the *Aquarius* narrowly won the battle, and returned to base for extended repairs.

## IV. The Penguin Odyssey

After extended repairs, the *Aquarius* set out for the Ithaca system to scout potential new colony sites. Wake rays visited the newly-renovated ship on its outbound journey. As Engineering takes leave on the potential colony-world, the landing party encounters the natives: large, flightless birds resembling penguins, with unusual telekinetic abilities. This species, which called themselves the Pingu, created a veritable cabana, complete with comfortable, pebble-made furniture and liquors. Just as the *Aquarius* was starting to learn more about the Pingu, a force of several Tzenkethi vessels arrived in the system and forced the ship to leave.

With consultation from Admiral Misheven, the ship remained to protect the Pingu from the Tzenkethi in the region. The Tzenkethi began to land shuttles and transports on the surface of the Pingu homeworld, and the ship scouted comets to "ride", thereby masking their approach.

## -- Days of the Jungle

- aboard the *Aquarius* after the *Anatolia* -

## Specifications

Official specifications here.

Deck 15: "Neptune's Palace".

Arboretum/Botany Laboratory: Adjacent to Main Science Lab.

The *Aquarius* had an ion cannon installed in July, 2359, which was immediately destroyed upon its first operation.

## Current Roster

Command Staff
Commanding Officer: Captain Julia Quintus (Magna-Roman, F)
Executive Officer/Operations Officer: Commander Madison Cunningham (Human, F)

Operations Department
Operations Officer: *Fulfilled by Executive Officer*
Helm/Navigational Officer: Lieutenant Janelle sh'Brissilek (Andorian, F)
Tactical Officer: *Fulfilled by Chief Security Officer*
Strategic Operations Officer: Lieutenant Commander Atton Jetrel (Betazoid, M)

Medical Department
Chief Medical Officer: Lieutenant Commander Laura Ferron (Human, F)
Assistant Medical Officer: Lieutenant j.g. Saavin (Vulcan, M)
Assistant Medical Officer: OPEN

Science Department
Chief Science Officer: Lieutenant Keiko Shinjo (Human, F)
Assistant Science Officer: OPEN
Assistant Science Officer: OPEN

Security Department
Chief Security/Tactical Officer: Lieutenant s.g. Turluk (Tellarite, M)
Assistant Security Officer: Ensign Adam Plutarco Pike (Human, M)
Assistant Security Officer: OPEN

Engineering Department
Chief Engineering Officer: Lieutenant s.g. Hugo McCabe (Human, M)
Assistant Engineering Officer: OPEN
Engineering Attaché: Arv'assh (Re'ashh, M)
Engineering Attaché: Thosh (Re'ashh, M)

Former crew

Minor Characters (NPCs)

*\* Denotes NPC.*

## External Links

1. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/2/uss-aquarius-mission
2. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/3/uss-aquarius-mission
3. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/3/uss-aquarius-mission
4. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/4/uss-aquarius-mission
5. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/5/uss-aquarius-mission
6. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/6/mission-briefing-june-25-2008
7. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/51/kitchen-mission-10-23-2008
8. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/63/shattered-12-18-2008
9. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/465/2009-03-18
10. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/475/2009-05-27
11. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/112/komai-peril-aftermath-06-2009
12. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/126/new-orders-07-28-2009
13. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/485/2009-08-19
14. ↑ http://diversityfleet.freeforums.net/thread/3/uss-aquarius-mission