USS Canopus (NCC-69237)

The U.S.S. Canopus NCC-69237 was a Nebula Class Heavy Exploration Cruiser / Type 2 Explorer that was commissioned into Starfleet service in 2359. Completed as Mk XVI variant under contract to Brasilia Heavy Industries the Canopus served for 19 years until its destruction by a Mjjrni vessel in 2378. It was the third vessel in Starfleet service named for Alpha Carinae, eventually being succeeded by the Sovereign Class U.S.S. Canopus NCC-77214.

Funding and construction
The Canopus was funded in FY2356 as part of Nebula Mk XVI, the last authorized original production run of the class. It was among the 12 ships of Mk XVI that were contracted to BHI as Lot 24. First steel for the as of yet unnamed spaceframe NZ-69237 was cut on February 9th, 2357 at the main construction facility of the Copernicus Fleetyards, Sol IIIA. The spaceframe was first listed under the name Canopus, to honor the recently lost Rigel Class Hospital Ship U.S.S. Canopus NCC-57122, and status “Under Construction” on March 31st, 2357. The keel was laid at Copernicus Fleetyards’s Number 7 Dock on April 15th, 2357. The Canopus was launched and reclassified as NCX-69237 with the status “Undergoing Trials” on July 1st, 2359 and included in CONSCOM’s TESTRON 16’s roster. The ship was declared deep-space qualified on July 23rd and relisted as “Commission Pending” on September 28th.

Early service
The Canopus completed trials under the command of Captain Wolfgang Gerlitz and was finally commissioned on December 1st, 2359 with the registry NCC-69237, serving with First Starfleet’s CRUEXRON 132. The Canopus was immediately deployed with CORECOM where it served for five years, save for a brief spell with CENTCOM in 2363.

The Canopus then entered drydock at the Berengaria Fleetyards, Berengaria VII for maintenance and refit before being reassigned to Second Starfleet in 2364, this time under command of Captain Vortan Pa Atehl. Subordinate to CRUEXRON 289 and BETCOM, the Canopus took part in blockade and patrol operations during the Klingon civil war, being awarded a Starfleet Unit Commendation during the operation.

In 2370 the Canopus was reassigned to C3RON 202, serving at various command and control assignments with BETCOM for the next two years, before entering drydock once again in 2372, this time at 40 Eridani Fleetyards, Vulcan. Commanded by Captain Robert Rigalski, it was reassigned then to Sixth Starfleet’s DESPEXRON 636, being part of 12th Division’s GAMMA GROUP of ALFCOM stationed at Deep Space 9. The Canopus participated in the Federation’s diplomatic efforts in the Gamma Quadrant until the general recall of all forces in autumn of 2373. It saw some light perimeter action during the Dominion War before being reassigned to CRUEXRON 650 for patrol duty for the remainder of the war.

It once again entered drydock then: this time for upgrade to Nebula II standard at the New Aberdeen Fleetyards, Aldebaran III.

The Canopus received one Starfleet Unit Commendation, three Meritorious Unit Commendations and a total of nine E awards during its first 17 years of service.

Service with Fourth Starfleet
The Canopus was recommissioned with Fourth Starfleet’s CRUEXRON 419 in January 2377 (Stardate 54167.3) under command of Captain Benjamin Maxwell (STC: "False Start"). It was part of TF 48.1 (Olympus BG) during Operation Deep Paw, making first contact with the ISC and the Mjjrni (STC: "Expeditions, Part I" and "Expeditions, Part II"). The crew of the Canopus successfully thwarted the Orionians plot of seizing the passenger liner S.S. Lauro (STC: "The Achilles Heel"). It later was part of TF 42.1 (Wraith CVBG), joining the ranks of the insubordinators during the attack on the Gorn colony at Herak VI (STC: "Counterstrike"). On stardate 54692.1 it participated in battle simulations against the U.S.S. Federation. With the Federation taken over by Concordium agents, the OPFOR ships managed to disable and seize the Federation (STC: "Proving Grounds"). The Canopus was part of TG 41.2 during the Cestus Talks (STC: "Armisticide").

Demise (STC: "Remnants, Part I" and "Remnants, Part II")
While operating at the outskirts of the pulsar wind nebula of SNR G202.4-09.3 the Canopus discovered the retreat point of a Mjjrni vessel. While it was investigating it was attacked by the Gorn battleship C.G.V. Ryston. Being damaged by the attack the Canopus’ crew eventually managed to persuade the Gorn captain to break off the attack, instead joining forces against the Mjjrni. Eventually joined by the nearby operating TF 41.4 (Gettysburg BG) and the U.S.S. Enterprise, the Canopus and the Ryston battled the Mjjrni vessel when a group of Tholian vessels entered the fray, attacking the Starfleet group. With several Starfleet vessels already lost, including the U.S.S. Lionheart, the Canopus attacked the Mjjrni vessel in a suicide run, hurling its sensor pod at the enemy, successfully disabling it. Unable to withstand further damage from the Tholian attack runs due to the considerably changed shield and SIF geometry and after sustaining critical hits to its portside nacelle the Canopus was abandoned by its crew on Stardate 55020.589. The ASRV’s were taken aboard by the cruisers Carthage, Sutherland and Ticonderoga before the hulk of the Canopus was destroyed by weapons fire from the U.S.S. Enterprise.

The Canopus was officially stricken from service on January 31st, 2378. It was succeeded by the U.S.S. Pearl Harbour NCC-77214 that was officially renamed U.S.S. Canopus on February 1st.