U.S.S. Ark Royal

**USS *Ark Royal* (NCC-97559)** is a *Dedication*-class starship of the United Federation of Planets Starfleet built by the 40 Eridani A Fleet Yards at Vulcan in 2421. She is the second vessel to bear the name, after the previous "Ark Royal" was lost during the latter stages of the Iconian War, and the fifth of her class. She currently serves in the Outback as a deep space explorer, under the command of Captain Stacy Adams.

# Design & Construction

Construction of a new Ark Royal was authorised approximately 6 months after the Iconian War, and after petitioning from the survivors of the first Ark Royal. However, Starfleet Command reserved the name and registry number, holding them back in order to analyze information from the three designs of a sixth generation assault cruiser. With the launch of the *Dedication*, and after various bugs with the ship had been cleared up, approval was given in 2419 to commission NCC-97559 as a Dedication Class starship, bearing the name Ark Royal.

As with the Dedication herself, Ark Royal was built at the 40 Eta Eridani Yards above Vulcan. Construction was smooth, and the ship was ready for launch at the end of 2420. Final fitting out was completed January, 2421, and Ark Royal made for New Australia, after picking up crew from Earth.

Her current captain is Stacy Adams.

# Service History

Stardate 96783.18: NCC-97559 is authorised for construction as a *Dedication* Class vessel. The name Ark Royal was already reserved, and is applied to the hull.

Stardate 98687.29: U.S.S. Ark Royal launches from the 40 Eridani Yards above Vulcan, and immediately sets a course for Starbase 39-Sierra, preparing for transition to the Outback.

Stardate 98765: Captain Stacy Adams reports aboard the Ark Royal, to assume duty as the Commanding Officer.

Stardate 98779.12: U.S.S. Ark Royal slips her moorings at Starbase Praetorian to muster at the Outback aperture of the Caspian Wormhole, following the sudden loss of the civilian ship S.S. Montpellier. Captain Adams assumes command of the investigation, requesting all traffic through the Caspian to be halted until the investigation is complete. [Report]

Stardate 98787.02: U.S.S. Ark Royal rendezvous with U.S.S. Reprisal to transfer crew. In the process, personnel from the U.S.S. Ark Royal help U.S.S. Reprisal fend off a boarding action by an unknown alien species. U.S.S. Reprisal personnel lost are committed to the black from the U.S.S. Ark Royal. U.S.S. Ark Royal escorts the U.S.S. Reprisal back to Praetorian for repair before departing on their first Deep Space Assignment. [U.S.S. Ark Royal Captain's Log]

Stardate 98825.17: U.S.S. Ark Royal departs Praetorian for it's shakedown. During a weapons test in a large asteroid field, a distress signal is recieved. Analysis reveals that it's a Klingon frequency. Under Yellow Alert, U.S.S. Ark Royal musters to the source of the distress call, a heavily damaged SomRaw Class Raptor. The seven survivors are recovered and the Raptor is scuttled. 4 survivors request to be reptriated to the Klingon Empire, three request asylum. [Captain's Log]

Stardate 98867.3: U.S.S. Ark Royal continues it's investigation into the dark matter destroying stars. An investigation reveals that the dark matter cloud is actually a super-massive dark matter ameboid, feeding on the gravitational distortions caused by the stars destruction. U.S.S. Ark Royal is ambushed by a Klingon K'T'inga Class starship, that is caught by the shockwave. Transporting the crew aboard, they are kept in cargo bay under armed guard. U.S.S. Ark Royal continues to track the dark matter ameboid. [Captains Log]

Stardate 99093.6: U.S.S. Ark Royal is shadowing a new Bodarit warship under cloak when the ship is pulled into a temporal/graviational anomaly. Inside the anomaly, the Ark Royal finds a planet with a quantumlly different Ark Royal, crashed on the surface. An investigation is launched, which ends with a memoriarl buoy being launched in orbit of the planet, before the prime Ark Royal is able to depart the anomaly.

# Technology

*Ark Royal* 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.

*Ark Royal'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.

# 2421 Refit

After her first tour of duty in deep space, [i]Ark Royal[/i] returned to Vulcan to undergo a small refit and repair cycle. This included replenishing her torpedo complement, altering the bridge module and adding facilities to launch, repair and care for a flight of four Peregrine Class fighters. This refit has removed several shuttles from the [i]Ark Royal[/i]'s inventory, and only time will tell how this affects her multi-mission capability.

## 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 "Anna", *Ark Royal'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, Anna 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

*Ark Royal* 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 *Ark Royal* is fully capable of using a cloaking device, but per Starfleet policy, it is publicly neither confirmed nor denied by Starfleet Command that *Ark Royal* is actually equipped with one. *Ark Royal* possesses full Battle Cloak capability.

# Small Craft Roster

In light of the history of the vessel's name, the small craft, including the Captain's yacht, have been named according to antique aircraft that served on various Ark Royal's throughout history.

* Captain's Yacht: The Ark Royal's yacht, serving as the personal small craft of the Captain, has been named after the last supersonic interceptor to serve on an Ark Royal, the Phantom.
* The Argo Class assault shuttles are named as their name suggests.
* The 6 Type Nine shuttles are named after various aircraft designs that previously served on Ark Royal. These are the Martlett, Corsair, Seafire, Gannett, Buccaneer and Sea King
* The four Peregrine Class fighters have taken the placed of the 10 Type 8 shuttlecraft, and form Buccaneer flight aboard the ship..

# Senior Staff

**Commanding Officer:** Captain Stacy Adams

Captain Stacy Adams is the commanding officer of the USS *Ark Royal*.

A seasoned Captain, the *Ark Royal* is Adams's fourth captaincy following tours commanding both the USS *Roosevelt*-A, -B and the *Reprisal*. She is a veteran of the Klingon War of 2405-2413 and the Iconian War. She has served under Admiral Neraea in a variety of capacities since her initial transfer to the 26th Fleet in 2415, as the commanding officer of the USS *John Paul Jones*.

Adams' command style has varied during her previous commands. While some have noted her attitude as 'aggressive', Adams has shown herself capable of great empathy and restraint, which has served her well in her previous commands. During her previous command, previous trauma resulted in Adams being placed on leave. On her return, she was transferred from the *Reprisal* to the *Ark Royal*.

Captain Adams took command of the *Ark Royal* in late February 2421, following ther return to duty.

**Executive Officer** Commander Ness

**Chief Science Officer:** Lieutenant Commander Annick Guillou
Lieutenant Commander Annick Guillou is somewhat new to Starfleet, having only served for just over four years upon being assigned to the USS Reprisal. However, prior to attending Starfleet Academy, she earned civilian undergraduate and doctoral degrees, specializing in Seismology and Geophysics, leading to her being commissioned at Lieutenant. Following two years of service on the Luna Class USS Elara, she was transferred to the 26th Fleet, where she spent much of her first years as a science officer onboard the USS Roosevelt. Towards the end of her tenure on the Roosevelt, she was established as the acting CSO pending her promotion to Lieutenant Commander. This promotion came following the Roosevelt's destruction, following which she was transferred to the USS Reprisal. Upon her transfer to the USS Reprisal following the destruction of the USS Roosevelt, her position as the CSO overseeing the science staff under Captain Adams's command was finalized. In late February of 2421, Lieutenant Commander Guillou transferred to the U.S.S. Ark Royal, under Captain Adams, to serve as Chief Science Officer and Second Officer.

**Chief Tactical Officer** Lieutenant Commander Teses zh'Zashan

Teses lived a relatively normal life, one free of want or hardship. Her Father and Mother both were serving Starfleet Officers and recommended her joining the service, despite the reluctance from her other two parents. Upon being accepted to the Academy, Teses carried herself with distinction, excelling in tactics and strategy. Her one flaw was her somewhat hot-headed attitude when it came to competitions: as Captain of the Boxing team, she was often glimpsed as venting her frustrations late at night on the training bags.

Upon graduating from the Academy, she was given a choice of assignments for her career: Security or Tactical.

She opted for Security and was assigned to Outpost Lima in the Andorian System; a training outpost where she was allowed to further hone her skills. Though to her great surprise, she was immediately re-designated to Tactical due to a manpower shortage within the 26th Fleet after the End War and was assigned to the U.S.S. Veritas as Chief Tactical Officer. In late February of 2021, she applied for and was transferred to the position of Chief Tactical and Chief Security Officer aboard the U.S.S. Ark Royal.

**Artificial Intelligence:** Lieutenant Lyyr Anshok

Lieutenant Anshok is a recent transfer to the *Ark Royal*. An Andorian, she was invited aboard by Captain Adams, to assume command of *Ark Royal'*s Peregrine Flight, designed Buccaneer Flight.

**Artificial Intelligence:** Anna

The Advanced Neural Net Artificial, colloquially known as A.N.N.A., is part of a new line of A.I. program designed to assist ship crews in research and exploration endeavours, as well as to provide tactical data, of greater accuracy and rapidity, during combat situations.

The foundation of A.N.N.A's software is derived from the 'Dawn' A.I. that served on board the USS Dawn Treader. However, the SCE has since made revisions to the software after Dawn's program was co-opted by the Scourge in 2419 and became rogue. These revisions primarily focused on the A.I.'s cyber warfare capabilities to better enable it to counter potential viral invasions to prevent a similar incident from occurring again.

A.N.N.A. operates as the USS Ark Royal's A.I., serving as the ship's main computer.

# History of the name

File:U.S.S.+Ark+Royal+NCC-2202.jpg**U.S.S. Ark Royal, NCC-2202**
The first U.S.S. Ark Royal was an Ark Royal Class carrier, produced in the twilight of the 23rd century, in answer to the larger Klingon and Romulan vessels being produced. Production ended less than 15 years after it had begun, and only 4 ships of the class had been produced. U.S.S. Ark Royal only saw action in one hostile encounter, in 2328, when Cardassian forces fired upon the ship as Captain Mackleson took the ship into Bajoran Space, to escort convoys out of the conflict zone as the Cardassian Empire annexed Bajor. The following year, they were involved in search and rescue operations of the Enterprise, but no signs of the Federation Flagship were found. In 2330, the U.S.S. Ark Royal was decommissioned and sent to Qualor II for mothballing

**U.S.S. Ark Royal, NCC-73828**

The second U.S.S. Ark Royal was launched some 55 years after the original was scrapped, under the command of Dorothy Tyler, a veteran of the Dominion War with more than 45 years service under her belt. Spending a year undergoing shakedown, the Ark Royal made stops at the founders of the Federation, Andoria, Vulcan and Tellar Prime, before being assigned to the 16th Fleet, alongside her sister, the U.S.S. Enterprise.

A year after shakedown, the Hobus star went supernova, and Ark Royal was among one of dozens of starships contacted by Starfleet to ascertain their status and capability to assist the Romulan people. Ark Royal was easily with range at maximum warp, and arrived on station in time to find a debris field comprising three Starfleet Olympic-Class starships. Beaming aboard survivors, Ark royal began investigations into the source of the attacks, but was stopped when the supernova was contained by a singularity. Racing to the scene, Ark Royal was unable to locate any survivors, and made report to Starfleet. After, Captain Tyler was ordered to take Ark Royal to the Bajoran Wormhole, where several ships had been assigned, including a sister ship, the Ramillies. Both vessels departed through the wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant, and began exploration in different directions. Ramillies was far more prestigious in their investigations, but Ark Royal charted 64 systems before returning to Deep Space Nine, 3 years after she departed.

Captain Tyler was relieved by Vulcan Captain T'Gon, who remained aboard the ship until it's end during the Iconian War.