USS Dirae
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USS Dirae 2001-2008
Contents |
History
The First Ship
In Starfleet history, it's become commonplace to re-use the names of destroyed or decomissioned starships in the next generation of vessels. Some ships can trace their namesakes all the way back to the founding of Starfleet, and in some cases their lineage goes back as far as the ancient sailing vessels of Earth's oceans.
Unlike many of her sister ships in Starfleet, the line of vessels graced by the name Dirae is relatively young. The first starship to bear the name was a Prometheus class cruiser, built in 2378. She was the second vessel of her class, and her name was carefully chosen to reflect the purpose of the Prometheus class. The three sections of the ship were individually named, after the three Furies that made up the Dirae of Greek Mythology. Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto.
Over the course of the 2380's and '90's, the original USS Dirae NCC 1930 proved the success of the Prometheus class on several occasions. Firstly in combat against a stray Borg cube, then assisting Starfleet bases in the Gamma Quadrant hunt down rogue Dominion warships violating the Treaty of Deep Space 9, and finally in combat against the Breen after an unprovoked attack on Starbase 514. It was during the battle with the Breen in 2398 that the Megaera section of the vessel sustained heavy structural damage, and was deemed incapable of future combat assignments by the Corps of Engineers. At this time most of the Dirae's senior staff left the vessel for other duty postings after recieving promotions. Most of them had been with the vessel for over a decade, indeed the Dirae's Captain Miranda Hale, had been with the ship since it's launch.
Retired from active duty with honours, the USS Dirae NCC 1930 was returned to Earth orbit where she was given a complete refit back to her original designs. After the refit brought the ship back (visibly, if not operationally) to standards she was placed in the Starfleet Museum as the sole example of the Prometheus class starship.
Continuing The Line
With the original USS Dirae now removed from active duty, and new starships coming off the production lines like there was no tomorrow Starfleet decided to name a second Prometheus class starship Dirae. For the original ship's combat record, she was allowed to keep the NCC 1930 registry with the -A suffix.
From the outside the new Dirae was identical to her predecessor, but inside she contained a wealth of fresh innovations and technology from Starfleet's research and design departments. Initially launched under the command of Captain Marlin Barrets, the Dirae's primary mission was that of exploration. But unlike traditional Starfleet exploration programs, the Dirae was dispatched to regions that were deemed too dangerous for a normal science or exploration ship to tread in.
From the beginning, it was apparent this new Dirae was not going to enjoy the same fortune as her predecessor. Within her first year of operation she went through four changes in command, and several large changes to her senior staff. While none of these changes happened due to negative factors, the changes did interrupt the vessel's pursuit of active duty.
After the fashion laid down by the previous Dirae, the NCC 1930-A was no stranger to combat. She was present at several major engagements including the victorious defense of the Yadalla system from an unprovoked Romulan attack. After that particular incident the Dirae was reassigned to deep space exploration in the Delta Quadrant, unfortunately a change for the worst as far as the ship was concerned.
Now under the stable command of Commodore Morgana Kanryth, the vessel began her tour of duty in the Delta Quadrant as planned. But rather than her planned mission of exploration, the Dirae encountered nothing but trouble. She encountered everything from unscrupulous Hydran ore thieves to ancient alien defense systems and malevolent alien entities. But while the ship and crew pulled through these mishaps, one thing was made abundantly clear. The Prometheus was not a deep space explorer. She was simply not equipped to carry out the task properly, so neither Starfleet nor her crew were too upset when the vessel was deemed unspaceworthy after yet another mishap.
After the NCC 1930-A was removed from active service, Commodore Morgana Kanryth kept her crew together and pushed for a new starship to be assigned to the Dirae's original mission under their command. Despite several weeks of debate, Kanryth finally won the argument and Starfleet agreed to rename their newest Magellan class explorer ship to USS Dirae NCC 1930-B and assign it to her command.
The new Magellan class vessel was the largest active ship serving in Starfleet and the Federation. While the NCC 1930-A carried a crew of 271 people the new vessel was designed for a minimum of 1900 officers and enlisted, so the original crew found themselves joined by a lot of new crewmates when their ship arrived in the Delta Quadrant to meet them.
Unfortunately to date, the NCC 1930-B has shared no more luck than her immediate predecessor. Most of her missions to date have been to answer emergency distress calls. It's even been suggested in the halls of Starfleet Command that the Dirae's official mission be changed from exploration to search and rescue, with no traces of humour in the suggestion.
On Stardate 240701, the NCC 1930-B was destroyed while under the command of Acting-CO, Colonel Nikkos Tyris, in a battle against the Zybor along with Zetari station. The survivors were transported to Starbase Versailles, and a few weeks later they were transferred to the USS Dirae NCC 1930-C.
The Fourth USS Dirae
The destruction of the NCC 1930-B was considered a terrible loss, but it was not long before the surviving crew was assigned to the a recently refitted Akira-class starship, formerly the USS Vindicator NCC 78213-B, at Starbase Versailles, renamed the USS Dirae NCC 1930-C, commanded by Captain Tyris and his XO, Commander Paul Jennings, now assigned to Beta Fleet out of Versailles. The ship launched on SD 240703.10, still in the final stages of the major refit process, to begin it's patrols along the Federation borders in Beta Quadrant.
After several months and a brutal battle along the Tholian border with an unknown automated mining operation, the USS Dirae was transferred to the Exploration Fleet in the Gamma Quadrant, based out of the new Athena-class Zetari Station, with it's new CO of Commander Zachary Chandler, the Dirae is set to support Starfleet exploration operations. After several serious problems with the bio-neural gel-packs getting infected, it was decided to return the USS Dirae to the older but more reliable isolinear systems. The Dirae is rare in this aspect as she no longer carries any bio-neural circuitry.
End of an Era
After six months in operation in the Gamma Quadrant, the USS Dirae NCC 1930-C was recalled to Starbase Zetari to be decommissioned, mothballed, and her crew reassigned to other priority posts as part of a war-time shift in manpower. The name of Dirae has existed for seven years, and she will be remembered by those who served on her. USS Dirae 2001-2008.
Background
- The name 'Dirae' is a term from Greek mythology. It was the name given to The Furies, counted by some as the most terrifying spectres of the ancient Greek culture. They were a trio of female spirits, who could be invoked to seek vengeance for crimes committed. And once invoked by one seeking vengeance, they could not be banished until they found justice....
Notable Events
On SD240510.xx a top secret defense laboratory involved in researching anti-serums for biological weapons is destroyed by ex Starfleet Admiral Mistry. USS Dirae arrives to investigate and confirms samples of biological weapons used for the research were stolen.
On SD240601.xx the USS Dirae, in persuit of Ensign Elizabeth Jones, kidnapped by a Romulan slave dealer, enters the Orion System unannounced and prepares to stage an assult on a known slaver stronghold.
On SD240601.xx fighters are launched from the USS Dirae to intercept suspected smugglers headed towards Orion, believed to be carrying Frank Jones, father of the kidnapped Elizabeth Jones. He is wanted for duplicity in the kidnapping, and the deaths of his wife and grandson.
On SD240606.xx Vice Admiral Morgana Kanryth stepped down from command in order to take up a new position within Starfleet. Commander John Brown, promoted to Acting Captain in lieu of a formal promotion, took her place as Commanding Officer of the Dirae. Unfortunately, shortly after this Commander Steve Charles, late Executive Officer of the Dirae, gave his life in order to save the rest of the ship. It was with great sorrow that Major Akume Valtriss stepped up to take his place. He shall be missed, but never forgotten - having died in the line of duty.
On SD 240701.XX the USS Dirae NCC 1930-B is destroyed in a battle with the Zybor along with the Zetari outpost station.
On SD 240703.xx the new USS Dirae NCC 1930-C, a recently refitted Akira-class starship, launches from Starbase Versailles under the command of Captain Nikkos Tyris, where they begin six months of patrols along the Federation border in Beta Quadrant.
On SD 240706.XX Captain Tyris orders all bio-neural circuitry replaced with isolinear circuitry after several life-threatening infections in the gel-packs endangered the ship and crew.
On SD 240709.10 the Dirae is transferred to the Exploration Fleet in the Gamma Quadrant, under the command of Commander Zachary Chandler, to assist in scientific exploration and to add some much-needed firepower to the fleet.
On SD 240703.XX, the USS Dirae was decommissioned by Exploration Fleet HQ, ending seven years of simming under the Dirae name. USS Dirae 2001-2008.
Further Information
For more information go [here]
