THE CHALLENGER
NX-03

Commissioned for launch in 2156, the Challenger was the third Earth starship launched during Starfleet's Warp-5 project. Similar in construction and design to its predecessors' - the Enterprise and the Columbia - the ship is capable of sustaining a maximum of warp 4.75. It measures 225 meters in length with 7 decks and capable of carrying a crew of 85. It is primarily defended by polarized hull plating, with offense capabilities including a grappler, photonic torpedoes and phase cannons. The ship has a chef assigned to meet the crew's nutritional needs and a workout room. The craft is also equipped with two shuttlepods and a matter transporter unit. The ship served for five years before being recalled with the rest of the NX series to be retrofitted, re-commissioned with an NCC call number and assigned a new crew rotation to coincide with the introduction of the Warp-7 Federation starships.

(For more information about the NX-class of ships, go to Memory Alpha's entry at memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/NX_class.)

U.S.S. POTEMKIN
NCC-1657

The Potemkin was re-launched after recieving the refit configurations from the Federation shipyards over Earth in 2258. The Constitution-class Heavy Cruiser measures 305 meters in length with 30 decks and capable of carrying a crew of 500. Capable of maintaining a sustained speed of Warp 8, it is primarily defended by deflector shields and screens with offensive weapons including tractor beams, phaser emitters, and two forward photon torpedo launchers. The ship holds several extra-curricular opportunities, including a fully functional mess hall with replimat capabilities, recreation room, a gymnasium, concert hall and chapel. In addition to four transporter rooms with eight pads per room, the Potemkin also has six Class-F shuttlecrafts assigned to it: the Gideon, the Geiger, the Montoya, the Francisco, the Kaplan and the Croft.

(For more information about the Constitution-class of ships, go to Memory Alpha's entry at memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Constitution_class. For the official entry on the USS Potemkin, go to Memory Alpha's entry at memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/USS_Potemkin.)

U.S.S. ILIAD
NCC-71831

Launched in 2364, the Iliad and her sister-ship - the Odyssey - are part of a large fleet of Galaxy-class Explorer vessels created at the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards over Mars. The ship is roughly 640 meters in length, has 42 decks and is capable of housing 1000 crew and civilians. With a top speed of Warp 9.6, it has deflector shields, tractor beams, 12 Type-10 phaser arrays and three photon torpedo bays. The saucer and stardrive sections of the ship are capable of separation and reattachment on command. In addition to spacious living quarters, the ship is equipped with state-of-the-art scientific equipment maintained from six labs, a 10-Forward lounge, mess hall with full replicator functions, four holodecks, a gymnasium, theatre / concert hall and a salon. There are also twenty transporter rooms aboard, complemented by four shuttlecrafts and a Captain's yacht.

(For more information about the Galaxy-class of ships, go to Memory Alpha's entry at memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Galaxy_class.)

DEEP SPACE 5

Originally created in the latter part of the 24th century as a construction and design lab for the creation of starships, Deep Space 5 is located on the boarder of Federation space near Ivor Prime. The Klingons, Romulans and Cardassians share the boarder on three points. The starbase received special note in 2373 when they reported the destruction of a Federation colony on Ivor Prime by the Borg, but managed to avoid notice. It was soon afterward that the Federation began discussions of transforming the base into a military outpost as well, considering its closeness to their three neighboring empires. Admiral Evori was appointed Flag Officer of Deep Space 5 in 2378 and given a fleet of ships to command.

The space station is of Federation design with 76 decks, 8 docking ports and twelve landing pads. The base contains a crew of 800 designers, engineers and military personnel, with room for an additional 700 visitors. The station is also armed with deflector shields, 36 phaser arrays and 24 torpedo bays equipped with photon and quantum armaments. Living quarters are spacious within the habitat ring, which also houses a two-level promenade which houses shops, restaurants, holodecks and other entertainment facilities. The central core is home to the Operations Center, with 25 decks beneath dedicated to starship design and construction. The station also has eight runabouts assigned for its use, plus the Admiral's Yacht, a renovated runabout cruiser named the USS Glinfinnan.

(For the official entry on Deep Space 5, go to Memory Alpha's entry at memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Deep_Space_5.)

U.S.S. AURORA
NCC-75793

The Aurora was the fifth Prometheus-class Long-range Tactical Cruiser starship built and was designed at Deep Space 5 and launched from the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards in 2377. The Aurora measures 415 meters in length with 34 decks and carries a crew of 175. Capable of maintaining a sustained speed of Warp 9.9, it is primarily defended by a regenerative shield system and ablative armor with offensive weapons including tractor beams, 18 phaser arrays, and six torpedo launchers equipped with photon and quantum armaments. It also has the capability of assuming multi-vector assault mode, which separates the saucer, upper and lower secondary hulls of the ship into three separate parts capable of warp travel and independent combat maneuvers. These sections can be piloted manually or controlled by the ship's computer for pre-programmed attack patterns. The ship has spacious living quarters, a lounge area, mess hall with full replicator functions, three holodecks, a gymnasium, theatre / concert hall and a chapel. In addition to four transporter rooms with eight pads per room, the Aurora also has five Type-9 shuttlecrafts and a DF-2 that has been modified by Lieutenant Jax Card and named Mace's Dream.

(For more information about the Prometheus-class of ships, go to Memory Alpha's entry at memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Prometheus_class.)