U.S.S. Conqueror

"United We Defend, Divided We Conquer"

The U.S.S. Conqueror is the lead ship and only member of the *Conqueror-*class, a subclass to the famous *Odyssey-*class Dreadnoughts that head the Federation Fleet. Heavily geared towards combat, the science facilities onboard the *Conqueror* are subpar when compared to her contemporaries, but makes up for this deficit in terms of armor and firepower. The vessel acts as the flagship of Vice Admiral Rodasi Stats and symbolizes the might of the 5th SOD Fleet.

## **Early Service**

The *Conqueror* was originally constructed as the
U.S.S. *Mastodon* in the Utopia Planitia Shipyards orbiting
Mars. After the success of the newly commissioned *Enterprise-F,*
Mastodon *was built to the same specifications as the Federation*
Flagship. Her saucer was detachable, her aft shuttle bay was refitted
to house an *Aquarius-*class Escort, and she carried a full
compliment of autonomous worker drones. Launched in 2411, two years
after the *Enterprise*, the vessel served as a frontline command
ship during the waning hours of the Dominion invasion of Deep Space
9. After the cessation of hostilities between the Gamma Quadrant
forces and the Federation, *Mastodon* was recalled back to the
core of Federation space, where she would undergo repairs and be used
as a patrol ship for the Federation Border until the discovery of the
Solanae Dyson Sphere.

## Refit and Relaunch

The discovery of the Solanae Dyson Sphere would spark
the beginning of a long and noteworthy service career for the vessel.
After receiving extensive refits to her systems to bring her up to
snuff with her current contemporaries, a new hull plating scheme, and
a name change, the *Mastodon*, now operating under the
designation U.S.S. *Gneisenau*, would lead the charge in
exploring the newly discovered Sphere. It was on her deployment that
Rodasi Stats, acting as only a Commander, would join the crew as the
vessel's chief tactical officer. *Gneisenau* would spend the
next 6 months patrolling the Contested Zone, engaging the Voth fleets
whenever they would arrive. When the Solanae Sphere gave way to the
Jenolan Sphere, and subsequently the Delta Quadrant, the vessel acted
as an usher into the new frontier, positioned in a sentry position on
the Solanae side of the Gateway. She would spend another 5 months on
this posting before a Voth raiding party attacked and boarded the
vessel, causing extensive damage and killing the current Captain.
This would put Rodasi in charge of the vessel.

After repelling the boarders, *Gneisenau* limped to
Federation controlled shipyards to lick her wounds. And after
extensive repairs, it was back to work. Another 7 months in the Dyson
Sphere would see the end of her tour within it, and her new posting
as the head of a special operations task force under the designation
“Task Force 937”. She would then be deployed into the Delta
Quadrant to assist with the Vaadwaur Conflict.

## The Delta Quadrant

The Delta Quadrant would bring new frontiers for the Gneisenau in more than one way. The vessel, in conjunction with her accompanying vessels would act as infiltrators to the Vaadwaur's most heavily fortified systems, acting more as hit-and-run specialists rather than face-to-face brawlers. This would only last for so long, before Vaadwaur intelligence was purposefully leaked in an attempt to catch the raiding “Shadow Squadron”. The attempt worked, leaving many of the vessels crippled and nearly destroyed. With no way of making it back to the Dyson Sphere for the extensive repairs the ships would need, Gneisenau encountered a lone Starbase acting as a hub to and from the Delta Quadrant. Limping quite literally near death, the battered and beaten vessels of Task Force 937 utilized the shipyards belonging to the 5th Special Operations Division.

It would be during this time Rodasi would meet up with his soon-to-be family. Having received a promotion to Rear Admiral allowed him to post his vessels at Starbase Phoenix as a defense force. This is where the Gneisenau would remain for the remainder of her time, as the Fall of Phoenix would see the ending of her time as an Odyssey-class, and her rebirth as something new.

## Becoming the *Conqueror*

> "*Conqueror* on station; we're ready." - Admiral Stats
>
>

The Battle of Starbase Phoenix would see more than just the destruction of the 5th's home; it would see the death of Task Force 937 and the end of Gneisenau's existence in her current form. After limping to a secondary facility, the Gneisenau entered drydock, where she would stay for close to a year. During this extended lay-up, she would have her science facilities gutted from the inside out, and her combat capabilities completely retrofitted and reconstructed from the ground up. She became a new ship in every possible way. Whereas other Starfleet vessels utilized strips of Phaser Banks, she was given a blistering array of Phaser Batteries and Turrets. Her gun-fire control systems were reprogrammed by the ships Chief Engineer, and provided pin-point accuracy within a 0.22% margin of error. Her sensor platforms were modified to scan on every known frequency and type.

The Aquarius escort that came standard issue was integrated into the ship, removing it's ability to detach, but acting as a second Warp Core for the vessel. The Saucer would undergo a similar fate, having the launch mechanisms removed and the hull welded together to strengthen the overall structural integrity of the vessel. The worker bees, though useful, were removed from her arsenal and assigned to the new Starbase Phoenix, which was under construction in the Solas Nua system.

The Gneisenau now no longer represented the ship she was built to be; an explorer. She now embodied what she was meant to be; a steadfast guardian for the Federation, one who could overcome and conquer her adversaries with ruthless efficiency. As such, the Starfleet Corps of Engineering no longer associated the vessel with the current Odyssey-class, but rather, how own variant. She was redesignated as a Conqueror-class Dreadnought, and rechristened as the lead ship. This is the mantle she will bear for the rest of her time.

## Current Assignment

The Conqueror acts as the flagship for Vice Admiral Rodasi H. Stats, and serves as the head of the defense fleet assigned to Starbase Phoenix. This is an indefinite posting, and Solas Nua will likely be her base of operations until her decommissioning.