USS Boudicca

## Frame History

Built on the success of the Defiant-class starship pressed into service during the Dominion War, the Icarus-class is a vessel designed primarily for combat with a secondary focus on science. Highly maneuverable and versatile for its class, it has recently started gaining popularity in reconnaissance and research expeditions in dangerous areas.

After the Dominion War, the Utopia Planitia yards took the lessons learned from the Defiant to develop them further. For all the Defiant’s power, it lacked many scientific options and was out of its element during missions that had a greater focus on research or a less confrontational aspect. Additional space was made on the Icarus for a larger array of sensors and shields, in addition to expanding and refining the weapon systems. The addition of a Combat Rapid Thruster System was added as well to help capitalize on the maneuverability that was a major asset to its predecessor. While still primarily a combat vessel, the Icarus can also support limited scientific exploration.

Icarus-class vessels are constructed of standard tritanium and duranium alloys and composites, with additional ablative armor (compared to standard exploration ships) for greater survivability. A new bridge module for the class has been utilized, which combines the bridge and officers quarters on the same module, though on separate decks. The notched forward hull of the Defiant has been integrated into the ship, though the movable deflector design was preserved. Docking can be accomplished via the forward port hidden behind the raised deflector, or through one of the two side ports. The warp nacelles have been brought further inboard utilizing new shielding and EM technology, leaving both nacelles fully integrated into the ship. EPS systems throughout the ship utilize bio-neural circuitry augments, and weapon-power conduits have been truncated to provide a nearly zero lag time between activation signal and beam/bolt launch.

All protected internal systems that require access to the vessel exterior are equipped with articulated or jettisonable hull and armor plates, so that most of the familiar structures are hidden from view, including shuttle bay doors, docking ports, lifeboats, impulse vents, and consumables resupply connectors. The integrated set of ventral docking clamps and landing pads designed into the Defiant were preserved, and thanks to proper testing, the Icarus has been proven capable of planetary landings and take-off, though atmospheric drag can cause minor damage to the ship if the Combat RTS system is engaged while in orbit.

## Mirror Counterpart

In late 2420, an investigation into the sudden reappearance of the USS Black led to the capture of an away team deployed by the investigating ship, the USS Brazzaville. After being captured by the notorious Federation Marines leader known as John Jackson Miller, the officers managed to escape with one of the experimental Mirror Universe ships the Marines were working on. This ship, the ISS Boudicca, was fitted with a Spore Drive that would later be turned over to the station's R&D Department. (Story arc: *Into the Black*)

In early 2421, a live-test of the ISS Boudicca's Spore Drive was authorized, which accidentally sent the vessel hurtling through time. With the help of an alternate-timeline ship, the Boudicca was able to undo the damage done to their own time and return the crew safely home, though at the cost of some small complications. (Story arc: *A Stitch in Time*) The Boudicca itself, however, was unsalvageable and was broken into station repair materials.

## Commandeering & Reassignment

In 2420, as the ISS Boudicca was being retrofit, the hull of the Prime Universe USS Boudicca was being laid in the shipyard of Utopia Planitia. At the behest of the head of Project Mercury, the USS Boudicca was fitted with a Spore Drive and relegated to the authority of the Project. In 2421 (RP log: *Ashes of Maxia*), an assault on John Jackson Miller's base left 16 MACO officers dead as the forces of Chimaera seized the moment to make their grand entrance.

Though one officer did not stay dead.

Having used her existing spore connection to pilot the USS Viribus Unitis into the nebula, Commander Valerie Callahan found herself in the reaction chamber of the Viribus Unitis once more after the base had blown...and after the ship had returned home. Since she was already listed as dead, Valerie was quietly shuffled off to the confines of Project Mercury under the orders of Vice Admiral Klaus von Papen and found herself forcibly paired with the USS Boudicca's systems--as its jump pilot.

A small infiltration team from JTFB managed to infiltrate the base on a recon mission, stumbling across the declared-dead Valerie and several other Spore ships. Seeing an advantage they couldn't pass up, the team and Valerie seized the Boudicca and destroyed the other docked ships before making their escape. By managing to jump into the station's interior docking facilities, the team managed to keep the Boudicca--and Val--a secret until an Alliance trial could be held.

After a long debate and many reports and testimonies, the Alliance Court ruled that no more Spore ships were to be made, nor their pilots. Commodore Valerie Callahan, despite being genetically modified, was allowed to keep her Starfleet commission (though she was busted back down to Commander), and the Boudicca was assigned to JTFB under Task Force Delta as a Rapid Response & Assault Vessel. Later, Val was promoted by JTFB admiralty to the rank of Captain over Delta Team 1 (MACOs), and assigned the Boudicca as her command ship.

## Experimental / Advanced Technology

While the resources of other ships may be superior, the Icarus-class is still well-suited to test many battlefield advances as a field platform--and its authority under the Alliance affords the *Boudicca* a greater latitude of secrecy and authority than most Starfleet vessels. Currently, it boasts several experimental technologies which include:

* Spore Drive (Mk. II interface)
* Phaser Gatling
* Subspace Sinkhole Generator

 Crew & Officers

* **Captain:**  Valerie Callahan
* **Executive Officer:** TBD
* **Chief Engineer (CHENG):**  TBD
* **Chief Tactical / Security Officer:** TBD
* **Chief Science Officer:** TBD
* **Chief Medical Officer (CMO):** TBD
* **Helmsman:** TBD
* **Jump Pilot:**  Valerie Callahan
* **Chief Operations Officer:** TBD

 Notes & Trivia

* The Boudicca's motto is *"lucerna in tenebris"*, or "a lamp/candle in the darkness".
* The fifteen points of light on the crest (aside from being a quiet homage to the spores that power its special drive) represent the 15 soldiers at Maxia who died in the line of duty.