USS Discovery (NCC-71021)

The USS Discovery (NCC-71021) was a 24th century Federation starship operated by Starfleet. The vessel became famous after completing a seven year (2370-2377) mission in the Gamma Quadrant, the first successful exploration of that quadrant by the Federation. Discovery was destroyed during the Battle of Altamid lV.

Construction and launch
Discovery was built at Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards orbiting Mars in the Sol System. The construction was a masive undertaking, involving thounsands of people across disciplines. Construction was supervised by Vice Admiral Mark Callaghan. Dr. Leah Brahams was responsible for Discovery's warp propulsion system design.

On stardate 40768.5, in the year 2367, Discovery was launched from Mars. On stardate 410257.5, Discovery was commissioned.

Final systems completion and shakedown was conducted at Earth Station McKinley. Captain McNair took command of the ship on stardate 41148 at the order of Rear Admiral Norah Satie.

The Gamma Mission
​In 2370, after undergoing a refit, Discovery arrived at Deep Space 9 for new crewmembers. While at DS9, Captain McNair recieved orders to locate and capture the Maquis vessel Redoubt. Captain McNair relayed the orders to her ship and Discovery departed DS9.

Discovery encounters the Redoubt and begins to pursue the vessel. To avoid capture, the Redoubt passes through the Barzan wormhole into the Gamma Quaduant but Discovery follows through the wormhole. Shortly after enter the  quaduant, both ships come underattack by two Jem'Hadar ships. Discovery's shields are discovered to be ineffective against the Jem'Hadar's phased polaron beams. McNair ordered power from the shields to be diverted to the phasers to inflict more damage on the enemy. The Redoubt, having been to damaged in the pursute, was unable to with stand the Jem'Hadar attack. The Maquis crew was able to transfer to Discovery before the Redoubt was destroyed.

Discovery suffers major damage from the attack. Several crewmembers are also killed including the first officer, helmsman, and chief engineer. As the crew begins to make repairs, McNair and the Hudson decide to put aside their differences in order to to get home.

Discovery heads to a Class-M Planet called Arkayna. While enroute, Discovery encountered a disabled freighter manned by Cosmo and his partner Piper who agrees to help. On Arkayna, the Discovery crew learned more from the inhabitants about the Jem'Hadar and the Dominion, the galactic power in the Gamma Quaduant.

After departing Arkayna, Discovery comes under attack by three more Jem'Hadar ships. McNair ordered a saucer separation, taking command of the stardrive section, McNair battled the Jem'Hadar ships. Despite being outnumbered and the strength of the Jem'Hadar, McNair was able to destroy all three ships.

After reconnecting with saucer section, McNair was able contact Starfleet through the Barzan wormhole and informed them of the Dominion and Jem'Hadar. Realizing how much is unknown about the Gamma Quaduant, McNair convinced Starfleet Command to let her conduct an exploration of the quaduant. After the destruction of the Redoubt, the Maquis crew were given the choice to stay aboard Discovery or be imprisoned.

​Beginnings in the Gamma Quaduant
​After the Redoubt was destroyed in the battle against the Jem'Hadar, its entire crew chose to stay aboard Discovery rather than be imprisoned. Key positions on the vessel, left vacant by heavy casualties, were filled by the new Maquis crew. Hudson became the Discovery's first officer, K'Denna became the new chief engineer after lieutenant John Gregory's death. Cosmo remained on board and served the ship as guide. He also became the ship's morale officer and eventually, ambassador. His friend, Piper, joined him and began medical training in sickbay to become a nurse and field medic.

​Conflict with the Jem'Hadar
Being in the Gamma Quaduant put the Discovery in direct conflct with the Jem'Hadar, the military arm of the Dominion. To make matters worse, several former Maquis such as Sahara didn't agree with following Starfleet principles and directives, believing them to be not worth an enemy out of the Jem'Hadar and thus endangering their mission.

In 2370, Sahara defected to the Jem'Hadar. Much to the surprise of her former Maquis crew-mates, the chief medical officer discovered that she was in fact a Cardassian spy, surgically altered.

After fleeing the ship and joining the Jem'Hadar, Sahara immediately began to reassert her Cardassian physiology and began supplying the Jem'Hadar with information about Discovery.

In 2370, Captain McNair recieved news from Starfleet the Jem'Hadar had taken Commander Benjamin Sisko prisoner in the Gamma Quaduant and has suspended all wormhole traffic. Discovery was ordered to rendezvous with the USS Odyssey, USS Mekong, and USS Orinoco to investigate. However, Discovery arrived to find the three Federation ships engaged in battle with three Jem'Hadar ships. During the battle, the Odyssey is destroyed with all hands.

The year 2371 was marked by several devastating attacks by the Jem'Hadar. McNair realized they needed to know more about the Jem'Hadar's weaponry. The crew plotted to capture a Jem'Hadar ship in order to study it. After intense battle, the crew was able to capture a damaged Jem'Hadar ship. After examining technology from the captured ship, the crew was able to enhance their shields to defend against the Jem'Hadar's attacks.

In 2373, when the Dominion War began, Discovery was offically at war with the Jem'Hadar. Discovery became cut off from the Alpha Quaduant when the Federation set up a minefield around the Bajoran wormhole. During the year, Discovery faced numerous attacks by the Jem'Hadar. At one point Discovery was attacked four times in two weeks alone, losing five crewmembers and lowering morale.

By 2374, Discovery began having greater success in combating Jem'Hadar ships. The Dominion breed a legion of Jem'Hadar to combat against the Discovery and its crew, and built new ships. Discovery was able to develop new weapons to combat these new Jem'Hadar and once again had successful engagements.

Following the end of the war, Discovery continued its mission of exploration. However, attacks by the Jem'Hadar stop on Odo's orders. Discovery could now explore the Gamma Quaduant with interference from the Jem'Hadar.

​The journey of Discovery
Discovery made first official contact with a number of species.

In 2371, Discovery visited the planet Argratha to conduct a bio-survey. While on the planet crewmember K'Denna was convicted of a crime by the Argrathan Authorities and sentenced to have her mind imprinted with fabricated memories. Fortunently, the crew managed to proved her inocence and she was released.

In 2372, Discovery learned that Doran sisters L'torra and Kolana were plotting to seize the mines on Quantum III in the Gamma Quaduant and sell its billitruim to terrorists. Discovery heads to the Quantum system only to discover the sisters are gone with all the billitruim. Discovery then tracks down the sisters's bird of prey nearby and the sisters are brought onboard. Discovery's crew recovers the billitruim and the sisters returned to the Alpha Quaduant.

Later in 2372, Discovery arrives at the planet Nyron which is under threat by the Dominion. While visiting the planet, crewmembers suddenly begin disappearing one by one being, being replaced by the planet's inhabitants. Before the crew can act, the Nyronians have taken over the ship, transporting the crew to a compound on the planet. The crew learns the Nyronians plan to use Discovery to defend their planet from the Dominion. They discover a portal that leads to the control area of the compound. In the control area, McNair and the crew use a control station terminal to learn more about the prison. Just than, the Nyronians are alerted to their presence and firefight ensues. McNair and TPella manage to find the translocater the Nyronians used to switch places with the Discovery crew. McNair threatens to expose the Nyronians to the Dominion's unless her crew are freed. The Nyronians surrender and relinquish Discovery to McNair. In 2373, Discovery was investigating a distress signal coming from an asteroid field. They discover a battle cruiser but there are no life signs aboard. They soon determine the ship is ancient and the distress signal was sent a thousand years ago. McNair sends an away team to the old ship to investigate. The team discovers the crew of the cruiser dead at their post. After beaming back to the ship, the Discovery tries to leave only to be caught in the same energy trap which doomed the ship. To find a solution, K'Denna recreates the drafting room at Utoptia Planitia on the holodeck. K'Denna concludes a minimal boost from the impulse engines and minimal thrusters can be used to drift the ship clear from the booby-trapped field, while shutting down all non-essential systems. Wong and Helmsmen manuever the ship clear of the field. McNair then orders Stara to destroy the cruiser and the aceton assimilators to prevent it from luring any more victims.

​Time travel
In 2372, Decker is transported back in time to 1943 New York while investigating the planet Paradox. McNair and others soon followed to retrieve Decker and assess the situation. The Discovery crewmembers were intend on returning home, however a German spy had found that they are from the future and tried to steal the crews technology. Luckily, the spy was caught and handed over to authorities and the crew was able to return to the 24th century.

In 2374, Discovery was attacked by 29th century vessel commanded by Commander Marcus. During the battle both Discovery and the time ship are pulled into the 20th century, with Discovery orbiting Earth in 1997, and Marcus crash landing on the planet. During this time, young astronomer Sara Anderson is accidently brought on board and helps the crew locate the time ship. McNair use the time ship to return to the correct timeline before destroying it.

​The Dominion
The Dominion was the major interstellar state in the Gamma Quaduant. Discovery learned of the Dominion after entering the Gamma Quaduant. The Dominion did not tollerate the Discovery violating it's so called territory and sent the Jem'Hadar and Vorta to destroy the ship and its crew. Despite the Dominion's threats, McNair continued her exploration of the Gamma Quaduant.

In 2370, the Dominion placed a changeling onboard Discovery to infiltrate the crew, in an attempt to destabilize the ship and personnel. The changeling was eventually discovered by the crew and explelled from the ship. This incident did cause a lower in trust aboard the ship.

In 2373, Discovery officially became at war with the Dominion when the Dominion War began. Cut off from Starfleet, Discovery was forced to fight the Dominion in the Gamma Quaduant alone. During the war, Discovery faced numerous attacks by the Dominion and its allies. At one point, Discovery was attacked by the Dominion four times in two weeks. To combat the Dominion, the Discovery crew managed to attain Jem'Hadar weapons, even capturing a Jem'Hadar ship. After studying the Jem'Hadar technology, the Discovery crew were eventually able to adapt their weapons and shields to combat the Dominion.

​The Borg
In 2375, following the end of the Dominion War, the Discovery learned the Borg had moved into the Gamma Quaduant. Discovery's first encounter with the Borg was when the ship encountered a Borg cube in System R-24. During the encounter the ship suffered major damage and eight crewmembers were killed.

In 2376, the Discovery crew learned the Borg were after the Dominion. The Discovery headed for the Founder's homeworld. With the help of Odo, McNair was able to convince the Founders to work with the them to fight the Borg.

Later that year, Discovery discovered a damaged Borg cube where all of the adult drones are dead. The crew did manage to find four injured adolescent drones and brought them aboard the ship. The crew at first plan to use these drones to destroy their people. However, the plans were halted when the drones become individuals after bonding with the crew. The drones decide to remain with Discovery instead of returning to the collective.

​Missions
Discovery's first contact with Starfleet following its entry into the Gamma Quaduant came when the crew responded to distress signal from the runabout following the capture of Commander Sisko. Discovery arrived to find the USS Odyssey and two runabouts, McNair briefed Odyssey's captain on the Jem'Hadar. Just than, three Jem'Hadar attack ships intercepted the Federation vessels. After retrieving Sisko, Starfleet attempted to with withdraw. During the battle, the Odyssey was destroyed when a Jem'Hadar ship rammed it's main deflector. While the rest of the Starfleet ships withdrew back through the wormhole, Discovery remained in the Gamma Quaduant.

Discovery was later contacted the USS Defiant when it entered the Gamma Quaduant. Discovery was assigned to escort the Defiant to the Founder's homeworld in the Omarion Nebula. After establishing contact with the Karemma, both ships were ambushed by a Jem'Hadar squadron. Discovery was badly damaged and the Defiant was captured and its crew held prisoner on the Founder's homeworld. The Discovery crew's attempts to rescue the Defiant crew failed. The Defiant crew were eventually released with the help of Odo.

​Project Relay
​With the threat of the Dominion, Starfleet felt it was best to have direct contact with Discovery. In 2372, Starfleet began Project Relay, a division of Starfleet with the goal of establishing contact with Discovery through the wormhole. The team was lead by Commander Tom Larson and overseen by Admiral Mark Ross. The project to place at Deep Space 9, first contact with Discovery was established in 2374 and regular contact was maintained throughout the remainder of the year.

When the Dominion War began, all contact between Starfleet and Discovery was lost. Starfleet even believed Discovery had been destroyed. It wasn't until 2376, that contact was re-established maintained for the duration of the vessel's journey. Starfleet was able establish monthly transmissions and eventually two-way live visual communication with Discovery, if only for a short time.

The Challenger
In 2373, Discovery​ responded to a Federation distress call from the starship USS Challenger, commanded by Captain Ralph Emmson. The vessel had been sent into the Gamma Quaduant on a survey mission and was attacked by the Jem'Hadar. The Challenger was badly damaged and most of its crew were either dead or injured. Discovery provided medical aid to the crew and assisted in repairs. As repairs were underway, a Jem'Hadar sqaudron attacked. The Discovery tried to provide cover for the damaged Challenger, but to no avail. Captain Emmson managed to beam a few surviving crewmembers to Discovery​, but the first officer and a few others were killed. After the crew were evacuated, the Challenger was destroyed killing Emmson.

With Challenger destroyed, the surviving crewmembers now served as crewmen aboard Discovery.

​The return home
In 2377, Discovery encountered a Borg sphere near the Arella nebula. During the battle with the sphere, Discovery had suffered heavy damage. Deck 36 had been decompressed after a cutting beam damaged the engineering hull. The saucer sustained damage to its impulse drive, and decks 18 through 20 were sliced open. Due to the extent of the damage, McNair decided to return to the Alpha Quaduant for repairs.

Discovery made it through the wormhole, coming out, McNair is contacted by Admiral Ross and Commander Larson who welcomes them back. Discovery docked at Deep Space 9 where the crew received a joyful welcome. McNair gave her report to Starfleet Command via subspace and briefed Captain Sisko on her voyage. Discovery had spent a total of seven years in the Gamma Quaduant before returning to Federation space.

A fleet of Starfleet vessels escorted the damaged Discovery to Earth. On Earth, the Discovery crew recieved a celebratory welcome from Starfleet Command. Commander Hudson and the other Maquis crewmembers were allowed to remain in Starfleet. The Discovery recieved a full refit at Earth Station McKinley, which lasted from five to six weeks. Color and lighting schemes were slightly altered and the ship's systems were upgraded.

​Destruction
​In 2378, the crew had learned that Sahara was working with the Doran sisters to rebuild the Cardassian empire inexchange for trilithium weapons. The Discovery crew had tracked the Sahara and the sisters to Altamid IV in the Altamid system and intercepted the Bird-of-Prey. Sahara, disguished as a crewmember snuck aboard the Discovery and managed to find the ship's shield modulation. Sending the shield modulations back to Klingon ship, Sahara ordered the sisters to destroy the Discovery.

Just as Sahara was discovered by the crew, the sisters began their attack. Sahara beamed down to the planet below as the Bird-of-Prey fired a couple of consecutively deployed torpedoes at the Discovery. The projectiles easily penetrated the Starfleet vessel's shields, impacting the secondary hull. As the Discovery began to rotate, the ship returned fire, but the impact had no effect as the Klingon ship's shields held.

​Command crew

 * Commanding officer
 * Captain Katherine McNair (2367-2378)
 * First officer
 * Commander Collins (2367-2370)
 * Commander Andrew Hudson (2370-2378)
 * Second officer/operations manager
 * Lieutenant Commander Christy Wong (2367-2378)
 * Science officer
 * Lieutenant Commander T'Pella (2367-2378)
 * Chief engineer
 * Lieutenant Commander McGregor (2367-2370)
 * Lieutenant John Gregory (2370)
 * Lieutenant K'Denna (2370-2378)
 * Tactical officer and security chief
 * Lieutenant Stara (2367-2378)
 * Chief medical officer
 * Commander Thacker (2367-2378)
 * Counselor
 * Commander Shanna Price (2367-2378)
 * Flight controller
 * Lieutenant Reese (2367-2370)
 * Ensign Alex (2370-2378)
 * Transporter chief
 * Chief Mark Decker (2367-2378)

Main ​bridge
Discovery's bridge was located on deck 1 of the saucer section. The bridge was design included a raised platform for the Captain, first officer, and Counselor's chairs in the center. Chair at tactical, additional science stations along the port and starboard walls and increased engineering section along the aft wall provided the engineering crew greater access for emergencies. Each of these stations included consoles for shipboard systems access.

​Observation lounge
​The observation lounge was located directly aft of the main bridge. The room was usually used for conferences by the senior staff. It featured a large, aft-facing windows that offered a spectacular view of the back of the starship and beyond. A conference table with seating for ten people was the main feature of the room, with LCARS screens on the port and starboard walls for information displays and retrieval. Holographic emitters embedded within the table could also be used for presenting data.

​Main engineering
​Engineering is located on Deck 36, and was and open facility, directly accessible from the corridor. Engineering systems spanned twelve decks of the engineering section. Consisting of two levels, it provided direct access to the warp core and primary engineering support systems. The corridor bulkhead housed the Master Situation Monitor. Inside the main section, the master system display was the operational focus of the room.

Beyond this, heading towards the warp core, the chief engineer's office was located on the left, and the assistant chief engineer's console was located on the right. These formed part of the bulkhead protecting the main part of engineering from the warp core.

Access to the upper level, a circular area surrounding the warp core, was provided by a ladder to the left of the warp core or an elevator on the right. The upper level had access to other warp core maintaince systems.

​Medical facilities
Discovery has at least three sickbay wards aboard with at least one in the saucer section and another in the stardrive section. The main sickbay was on Deck 12. There were four recovery biobeds on the periphery of the room with a main surgical biobed opposite them, covered by a large overhead sensor cluster and capable of hookup to a surgical surpport frame. Equipment storage and various control panels were located throughout the sickbay. The chief medical officer's office was small space just off the main sickbay, with a desk and workspace for the CMO. A small terminal connected the office to the sickbay.

Discovery also had at least four medical laboratories of varying sizes. Surgical suites for sugeries to complicated to be conducted in the sickbay. There was a room near the main sickbay where patients with severe burns could be treated in the Emergency bio-support unit.

​Ten Forward
Located at the foward-most section of the saucer module on deck 10, Ten Forward served as the social center of the ship. It had battery of recreational games including three-dimensional chess as well as a fully stocked bar which carried syntheholic beverages. The replicators were also able to produce other food and drinks for the crew to enjoy in a social setting. Its large, panoramic windows permitted a staggering view of the ship's passage through space.

​Holodeck
Discovery carried sixteen holodecks, which are located on Decks 9, 10, and 11.  

​Cargo bays
There are numerous multi-level cargo bays located throughout the ship. Most of these bays contained suffcient room for storage, cargo transporters, and and anti-grav units for the transportation of cargo. Cargo bay four was the only cargo bay with direct access to the exterior hull. One of the cargo bays was converted into an airponics bay to grow and contain plants for the science lab.