U.S.S. Dedication

**USS *Dedication* (NX-97691)** is a prototype *Dedication*-class starship of the United Federation of Planets Starfleet built by the 40 Eridani A Fleet Yards at Vulcan in 2417. She is currently the only vessel of her type and class in service, intended to undergo long-term testing and ongoing development under real-universe conditions. She currently serves in the Outback as the flagship of Rear Admiral Carrie Smith, and the de facto third-in-command flagship of the 26th Fleet.

# Design & Construction

CLASSIFIED

*The following report is classified, and should not be copied, disseminated or disclosed without the written authority of Special Activities Division, Starfleet Intelligence. This report is released to the flag staff of Task Force Avalon and the Commander of 26th Fleet, on a need-to-know basis pursuant to operations conducted on Stardate 95487.21.*

The *Sovereign* class starship, first designed in the 2360s and launched in the early 2370s through 2390s, has been one of the most enduring lines of starship development since its inception. Remaining one of the fastest, best protected and most heavily-armed capital ships in service, the class has seen numerous re-developments and spin-offs, including the *Noble*, *Majestic*, *Regent*, *Imperial*, *Archon* and *Vizier* classes.

By 2405, the ASDB had begun research and development into the possibility of a sixth-generation to properly succeed the *Sovereign* class design. Earlier work in this endeavour, specifically the *Majestic* and *Noble* classes, had sought to improve the capabilities of the existing frame, but the resulting programs failed to deliver a starship that was markedly better than the original design. The success of the *Sovereign*-class was also the biggest problem for Starfleet's engineers - it proved adaptable enough that the hull was more than capable of being modernised in successive refit programs, putting many of their attempts to develop a true successor in jeopardy of being cancelled.

    The fifth-generation *Regent* class, launched in 2409, was the first phase in the SCE's program to evolve the design. Using a new space frame with systems developed in parallel to the new *Odyssey* class star cruisers, the *Regent* class provided a starship platform that could fill the same mission profiles as earlier Assault Cruiser designs, but with updated engineering architecture that could be better suited to ongoing, and incremental class improvements that may prove critical Research and Development.

Political and inter-departmental requirements led to a series of debates in the 2410s about the proposed mission requirements for the new Assault Cruisers. Starfleet Operations' primary interest remained in a class of vessel that could serve capably as a frontline Command ship while still conducting the bulk of Starfleet's general exploratory, defence, and diplomatic missions. The Military Assault Command with the backing of Starfleet Intelligence, meanwhile, lobbied for a vessel that was more suited to long-range surveillance, reconnaissance, and direct support of special operations groups.

It was a tall ask for one vessel, and the SCE considered privately that fulfilling all of these roles within a single hull, subject to the material and budgetary constraints of the Assault Cruiser program, may not be possible.

The Iconian War of 2415 forced a practical divestment of the two competing design philosophies. The devastating toll wrought against Starfleet and the Jenolan Alliance by the Iconians at the Battle of the Herald Sphere more than decimated Starfleet's standing strength. 30 percent of Starfleet's strength was destroyed in the engagement, and ultimately, not a single *Odyssey*-class starship survived the war undamaged. Conversely, the *Sovereign* class itself enjoyed relatively high success throughout the conflict. As the final expression of the Borg Task Force's efforts to counter the collective, the heavily armed and armoured *Sovereigns* often survived engagements that reduced newer classes of starship to ruin against the Herald fleets.

At the same time, however, Starfleet realised that regardless of the *Sovereign's* success, it still had no ability to penetrate the Iconians' most heavily-guarded installations - the Dyson Spheres - and a new, and dramatically different approach would be required.

A two-pronged approach was therefore selected.

For practical expediency as much as capitalising on the continued success of the *Sovereign*, the Starfleet Operations plan for a new tactical Command cruiser was quickly adopted, and a rigorous refit and modernisation program was undertaken for the *Sovereign* class itself, using the hull of the USS *Vizier* for the first of the prototypes. The plan called for a frame-up refit of every key system of the *Sovereign* class to bring the line to sixth-generation technological standards with a rapid build time.

New technologies were also combined with controversial systems provided by Starfleet Intelligence to additionally produce a new line of Intelligence cruisers beginning with the USS *Archon*. The question of the ability to penetrate the Iconian Dyson Sphere was answered with the inclusion of an incremental phase cloaking device external link - a technology once obscurely developed by Admiral Erik Pressman in the 2350s, and buried within the classified archives of Starfleet Intelligence.

Despite the differences in approach, the two programs enjoyed a symbiotic relationship. Technologies and lessons developed from the *Archon* were applied smoothly to the *Vizier*, while the *Vizier* teams provided the weapons, sensors and propulsion systems that would eventually be incorporated into the *Archon*.

As the war continued, the Federation - for the first time in its history - faced the serious prospect of total defeat. Core worlds, from Andoria to Vulcan, and even Earth itself, were now at risk of being destroyed by Iconian fleets, and it became clear that neither *Vizier* nor *Archon* would be completed in time. The war ended at the 'Battle of Midnight' in orbit of Earth - the cruisers still sitting unfinished in their shipyard gantries.

Construction continued, and the first of the new starships, *Vizier* and *Archon* were commissioned into service in 2416 - less than six months after the war's end. Both vessels were state-of-the-art, and the ASDB returned to work, seeking to further develop and combine the technologies of the two programs onto a single, third class of hull.

The SCE's Captain Harley Carrington pitched a practical design plan based on an enlargement of the existing *Regent*-class. With longer, more efficient nacelles than the latter *Archon*-class, low-profile impulse drive units, and a stable warp profile, the frame already had the foundations that she believed were necessary for a successful combined design. With the vast bulk of the Command and Intelligence systems to be contained within the engineering hull, Carrington considered it a relatively simple matter to combine the *Archon's* larger secondary hull around the *Regent*-derived saucer. In part, this was due to the assault cruiser's lack of a traditional 'neck' and the complex structural spars and SIF systems that would normally support it. Integration, therefore, was a straight-forward prospect.

Carrington's design was approved, and with San Francisco Fleet Yards still occupied with the delivery of the first blocks of *Archons* and *Viziers*, and Utopia Planitia committed to the massive task of salvage and repair following the catastrophic Iconian War, the team based their operations out of Vulcan's Eridani Shipyards.

Construction on the new hull, NX-97691, began in November 2415, on stardate 93402.28, as a massive and classified R&D program commenced to combine the *Archon* and *Vizier* systems into the new sixth-generation platform. For the first time, the full capabilities of both programs, including command, control, communications, intelligence, reconnaissance, and special operations missions profiles, were united with the typical arrangement of a heavily-protected and armed assault cruiser hull.

The new vessel included every aspect of *Archon's* more controversial systems - including its full range of cloaking and interphasic cloaking technologies.

The program was not without considerable expense, and significant R&D costs and materials were needed to produce the prototype vessel, U.S.S. *Dedication* NX-97691. Substantial rebuilds were carried out throughout 2416 to enlarge the secondary hull to accommodate the class's many systems, and she was finally launched on July 29, 2417, on stardate 95181.39 under the command of Rear Admiral Harriet Raincastle.

## Naming

The USS *Dedication* was named to commemorate Starfleet's long history of engineering innovation in overcoming the challenges of space exploration. The name took on a greater meaning and importance in the course of the Iconian War, in which the Federation Starfleet was devastated in a series of battles against the Heralds which destroyed or damaged over a third of the fleet. Whether in honour of those lost, or the tireless efforts of the Federation to push on from moments of tremendous adversity, the name *Dedication* pays tribute to both.

This is reflected in the ship's mission patch, which depicts three converging lines and orbital ring - a famous heritage motif once used by NASA's astronaut office - carrying a Starfleet star into space against the dawn, and a phoenix rising into the black.

This mission patch was used throughout the entirety of the *Dedication* development program, and was retained by the ship itself upon its commissioning into service.

# Service History

    *Dedication* entered service in mid-to-late 2417 for a series of engineering trials designed to test the ship's experimental systems and operations suites. In November of the same year, not long into this shakedown cruise, she was boarded and captured by Tal Shiar and Imperial Navy forces who then attempted to return the vessel to Romulan space.

An urgent rescue and recovery mission was mounted by the 26th Fleet, including elements of Task Force Avalon, Task Force Theirr, and Special Operations Group Five. *Dedication* was struck by transphasic torpedoes fired by the *Roosevelt*, forcing her from warp and leaving the ship badly damaged. Forces from Special Operations Group Five boarded the starship, liberated the crew, and returned it to the Starbase 39-Sierra.

*Dedication* spent the next ten months undergoing extensive refits at Vulcan to repair the damage done during the battle to retake the ship. She was returned to service in September 2418, and was assigned to the 26th Fleet as the flagship of Rear Admiral *Caroline Smith.*

In early 2421, *Dedication* underwent an extensive crew transfer including several senior staff positions. Captain Thomas Monroe was assigned as Flag Captain, taking command from Captain Mila Lahn, as *Dedication* prepared to embark on an expedition into the Jhar'tha Expanse, within the Outback.

# Technology

*Dedication* is a Block I/B *Archon*-class starship (*Dedication*-subclass), and of Starfleet's sixth-generation assault cruisers built in the wake of the Iconian War. At her core, she is a union of the Command and Intelligence mission profiles carried by the more conventional *Archon* and *Vizier* class starships, and is capable of completing a large number of missions ranging from strategic reconnaissance and special operations, to fleet command and battle line missions where she is just as comfortable in the role of heavily-armed and armoured capital ship.

*Dedication's* systems are cutting edge, including the latest iterations of Mk 15 resilient shield arrays, neutronium and ablative armour systems, multi-purpose torpedo systems (capable of firing any number of warhead variants) and flagship-grade neural networked computer systems derived from those found aboard the *Endeavour*-class tactical star cruisers.

## Shipboard A.I.

The ship's computer core includes a fully-integrated sentient artificial intelligence system that is an evolution of the Emergency Command Hologram developed in the late 24th century. A similar system is found aboard the refit *Odyssey*-class flagship cruisers. (Though the SCE is aware of an indigenously-designed and created AI aboard the starship *Tavistock*, the synthetic intelligence systems developed for the *Odyssey* and *Dedication* are the products of separate programs.))

Named "Desiree", *Dedication's* AI is in many ways an 'organic' part of the ship, with the ODN network, neural network, and sub-processor systems and secondary cores all contributing to create a self-aware intelligence that assists the captain and crew in the management and prioritisation of command tasking. Dubbed an "AHAI" (Almost-Human AI) by the Eridani-A engineers, Desiree is a powerful element of the ship's Intelligence suites and serves as an efficiency multiplier for crew functions.

The AI is perhaps best thought of as a heuristic extension of Starfleet's traditional interactive voice-controlled computer algorithms that dominated Starship Operations since as early as the 2250s. Personified on the bridge by a hologram, the crew interacts with the ship's computer as they would any other member of the crew, allowing them to issue quick commands and instructions without delay or processing pauses. One of the most classified components of the ship's systems, the AI core is located near the ship's strategic operations centre on deck 12 and includes multiple self-defence systems that protect it from forceful intrusion.

## Metreon Gas Canisters

*Dedication* uses the same model of armored stasis canisters used aboard *Regent*-class vessels, adapted to test systems designed for the *Archon*-class's compatibility with other Starfleet Assault Cruiser Technology. Located within her warp nacelles, these canisters can be filled rapidly with the aid of her massive bussard ramscoops. They possess a broad range of uses, such as environmental cleanup, cataloguing gaseous anomalies, and advertised for tactical use via the so-called "Riker Maneuver", although the latter is considered by all but the most bold as impractical.

## Metreon Gas Warhead Launcher

    Metreon charges have traditionally been used to carry out the charting of dark matter nebulae, however these have been weaponized into an experimental thermobaric weapon. It uses a new, experimental wide angle burst launcher located within the armored mission pod to fire massive charges filled with pressurized Metreon Gas with a blast radius capable of enveloping an entire formation. The launcher is multipurpose, and is additionally capable of loading and firing a salvo of torpedoes.

While more unstable than tricobalt munitions, metreon gas warheads do not damage spacetime when they detonate, and therefore not governed or limited by the same strategic arms and subspace weapons treaties.

## Cloak Capability

Starfleet has acknowledged that *Dedication* is fully capable of using a cloaking device, but per Starfleet policy, it is publicly neither confirmed nor denied by Starfleet Command that *Dedication* is actually equipped with one. *Dedication* possesses full Battle Cloak capability. Additionally, and classified even within high levels of Starfleet, the ship also possesses a an incremental phase-shift cloaking device which partially (and temporarily) alters the ship's matter state, allowing it to pass through solid mass and renders it immune to energy fields. This system was originally developed in the 2350s aboard the USS *Pegasus*, and was resurrected during the Iconian War as a means of penetrating Herald-controlled Dyson Spheres.

Theoretically, while under the effects of its phase cloak, the ship is capable of surviving environments that would destroy other vessels. This may include stellar coronas, active supernovas, and certain classes of nebulae. How the device would function under the influence of a large gravitational singularity isn't known, and has not been tested due to the inherent risks it involves.

# Senior Staff

**Commanding Officer:** Captain Thomas Monroe

Captain Thomas A. Monroe is the Commanding Officer of the USS *Dedication*, having been reassigned as Flag Captain to Rear Admiral Caroline Smith following the departure of Captain Mila Lahn.

Confident and cool-headed, Monroe was initially a security officer and later helmsman aboard the USS *Nimbus* before being accepted into the Starfleet Special Warfare School, Titan. A highly capable pilot, Monroe served as a MACO officer across his career and is a veteran of both the Klingon and Iconian Wars, seeing prolific action in both conflicts. Given his experience in MACO, it was only after his assignment to the USS *Apollo* in 2411 that Monroe seriously considered a future in the command chair, encouraged by the *Apollo'*s Captain Tehl Th'chevos.

Before the *Dedication*, Monroe captained a Vesta-class starship, the USS *Sarajevo* for almost seven years.

A Texan at heart, Monroe is said to enjoy setting up poker nights with his senior staff. He is also a keen guitarist, known to keep his favourite acoustic within his ready room.

**First Officer:** Commander Ankis Belkim

Commander Ankis Belkim is the Executive Officer of the USS *Dedication*, having recently transferred to the 26th Fleet from his position of XO on the USS *Quantco*.

Belkim majored in Engineering at Starfleet Academy, eventually taking a vacant position as a junior engineer aboard the USS *Renewal*. Aboard the *Renewal*, Belkim rose through the ranks, spending eleven years with the vessel. His expertise and experience in engineering led him to take the position of Chief Engineer on the USS *Renewal* and later the USS *Quantco* before, now a well-seasoned officer within Starfleet, Belkim was ushered into Command. Since 2418, the Commander has served as the Executive Officer of the *Quantco*, only leaving the position after he sought reassignment to the Outback and the 26th Fleet.

**Chief Engineer:** Lieutenant Commander Madde Werner

A young but brilliant engineer, Lieutenant Commander Madde Werner was assigned to the *Dedication* alongside Captain Lahn and has served as the vessel’s Chief Engineer since its launch.

After achieving an impressive set of grades from Starfleet Academy, Werner was a highly sought out candidate aboard starship engineering teams. However, it was the USS *Sacramento* where she first found her footing. With a number of experienced officers serving alongside her, and a confident Chief in support, Werner adapted to the new environment very quickly. Spending a number of years about the *Sacramento*, Werner was later made Deputy Chief Engineer and proved herself to be an invaluable member of the team. It was only following the construction of the *Dedication* that Werner requested a reassignment. Werner was ultimately handpicked by Captain Lahn as she set out on creating a capable division of senior staff.

**Chief Security Officer:** Lieutenant Commander Emi Tezaal

Lieutenant Commander Emi Tezaal is the Dedicaton's Chief of Security having been assigned at the time the new Flag Captain took command of the ship. Her previous position held was within MACO where she served a long and successful block of time with the unit as part of a detachment based on the USS Gallant.

Emi brings a level-headed approach to her duties while being capable of good conversation, witty humor and generally good charisma while maintaining a keen eye for detail and protocol. Her duties are always carried out with the best efficiency as she manages both Dedication's security and tactical concerns within her role both shipboard and on away missions where her past experiences in MACO guide her well.

**Chief Medical Officer:** Dr Lars Mattix

From a long lineage of doctors, Lieutenant Commander Lars Mattix MD was born in modern day Scandinavia. Mattix’s parents had met during university, going on to complete medical doctorates and to work in a spree of European hospitals.

Though Mattix was encouraged to follow through with the family tradition, and was keen to serve in the medical profession, the Lieutenant Commander ultimately chose to take his own path, through Starfleet. Having refused a promotion to Commander, out of fear that he’ll one day be pushed into the command chair, Mattix has served Starfleet for almost three decades.

Mattix served aboard the USS *Everest* for just shy of ten years, before being brought aboard the *Dedication* by Captain Lahn back in 2418. Recently, the Doctor was away on an extended LOA, where he returned to Earth to marry and begin a family. However, Mattix has since returned to the Outback, and is keen on continuing his good work, when needed.

**Chief Science Officer:** Commander T'PauFile:T'Pau2.pngCommander T’Pau PhD is the *Dedication*’s Chief Science Officer and the member of the crew with the most experience within the Outback, save for Rear Admiral Caroline Smith.
Having served aboard Starbase 381 since shortly after its arrival in PTX-1138, T’Pau has seen a great deal of action over the years within the 26th Fleet. Though she is more familiar with serving aboard a station, T’Pau made the transition to the *Dedication’* once Captain Lahn had requested her transfer. With her opportunities being somewhat limited over the last few years, given the *Dedication*’s role as flagship, T’Pau is a strong supporter of the Jhar’tha Expanse Expedition.

Before the 26th Fleet, T’Pau had previously served aboard Deep Space Ten along the Tholian-Federation border as a senior science officer. Aboard the *Dedication*, some of her science division have suggested that T’Pau has a very direct and deadpan sense of humour, and it is rumoured that she refuses to smile while on duty.

**MACO Officer:** Lieutenant Commander Luke CallahanLieutenant Commander Callahan is the Dedication's MACO Detachment Team Leader. He is the most senior MACO member aboard the Dedication, carrying experience throughout the years in countless operations aboard numerous vessels.
Callahan brings his experience, charm and wit to the role of MACO Team Leader. His duties include the protection of Flag Officer Admiral Carrie Smith, Security Advisor aboard the Dedication and assisting the crew with the general upkeep aboard the ship. Callahan is a smart individual but he isn't shy to speak his opinion and use force when necessary. Callahan has always stuck to the rule of work hard and play hard but he knows the limit even when it comes to drinking.

**Counsellor:** Lieutenant Commander Rokyn O'BrienLieutenant Commander Rokyn S. O'Brien is the Counsellor aboard the USS *Dedication*, having been reassigned from Starbase 381.
A competent science officer, O'Brien was initially assigned to the USS *Canterbury* as an Assistant Counsellor, after graduating Starfleet Academy. Over his two years aboard the *Canterbury* O'Brien established himself as the primary Counsellor, more than capably of dealing with the pyschological impact of the ongoing Klingon War.

Following a two year stint at Earth Space Dock, O'Brien was reassigned to the USS *Britannia* where his scientific specialisation in Xenology enabled him to conduct full psychological screenings of newly assigned personnel while also pursuing additional research into the integration of inteplanetary species aboard starships. In 2413, O'Brien took an academic leave to pursue a research degree in Xenobiology and Xenoneuropsychology at the University of Makropyrios.

In 2416, O'Brien was transferred to the 26th Fleet as a Counsellor and science officer.

**Security Officer:** Lieutenant Ian O'HalloranLieutenant O'Halloran is a hard worker, a team player and dedicated to getting things done on time. If he can’t get it done, well, then he will surely let his superiors know about it. Ian is a key believer in honesty, integrity and sticking to his guns. When something needs to be said, he says it with confidence. Resolving conflicts is a must for Ian as he has seen the damage it can cause within a team and on a ship.
Ian brings his tactical experience, especially when it comes to close quarter combat in confined spaces like ships and urban environments. The Lieutenant is a friendly person, or at least he tries to be, and an open one. He’ll try to bring up the mood of people if the morale is down. Sometimes referred to as the life of a party, O'Halloran often puts others’ needs in front of his own, which can be a negative and a positive in its own right. He cares about those in his team and if someone is stumbling, you can always count on him to be there to pick them back up. O'Halloran's dedication to Starfleet is paramount and he takes pride in the uniform he wears, driven to do good.