USS Paladin (NCC-88764)

"Uncommon valor was a common virtue."

- Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, USN

The USS Paladin (NCC-88764) is the third starship built of the Federation Command Battleship in the late 24th century.

The Paladin was launched from the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards in 2384, along with her sister ships and most of the starships attached to the Vanguard Fleet, and was commissioned in 2385 under the command of Rear Admiral William T. Riker.

Vanguard Command
The Paladin is one of three of its class constructed by Starfleet Corps of Engineers for Vanguard Command and the Vanguard Fleet.

It was subsequently assigned to serve as the flagship of Task Force Paladin, which is the mobile arm of Iota Leonis Command, the field division of Vanguard Command located at the edge of Federation space in the Beta Quadrant that is closest to the meridian of the Delta Quadrant.

Deployment
The Paladin and its task force patrol the area of space controlled by the Federation in the Beta Quadrant that is closest to the meridian of the Delta Quadrant.

As flagship of Task Force Paladin, it leads 53 other combat-oriented starships during task force formations.

During Condition Green, the Paladin is always accompanied by a permanently attached escort complement of one Fast frigate, one  Tactical frigate, and two  Tactical corvettes.

During Condition Yellow, the Paladin serves as lead ship of Mission Group Alpha. And during Condition Red-1 it serves as lead ship of Strike Group One.

Like the rest of its task force, the ship's headquarters and home base is Starbase 185.