Star Trek:
From the Ashes
Setting: 37th century. The old UFP splintered and collapsed nearly 1,200 years ago. The Galactic War lasting from the 26th through the 27th centuries was a huge conflict that further fragmented the galaxy. A new power structure was in place following the war but within 200 years it too had collapsed as the sentient races of the galaxy tore at one another with a ferocity that made even the Galactic War seem tame by comparison. Stars exploded into novas, consuming whole planets during this Final War. Empires were shattered and entire species were rendered extinct, even the victors were so battered that they lacked the resources to hold their empires together and once more collapsed back to a solely planet-bound existence with only antique sub-space radio allowing contact between systems. After nearly 600 years star flight was once more possible, and the wanderlust that had first inspired man to reach for the stars had once more come to the fore; starships began to be sent out once more to build a new union among races. It is now 150 years later and the dawn of the second United Federation of Planets is at hand.
The Familiar Locale: The Earth Confederacy Starship CSS Enterprise. Even after all this time the name of Enterprise has a special meaning for humans and the legend of the starships that have borne that name lives on. The current Enterprise is a multi-mission Command Cruiser that first went into service 18 years ago and is designated CC-171-M. Enterprise is approximately 430 meters in length and displaces 1.4 million tons. She has a crew of 615, primarily Earth humans but also a substantial number of humans from other planets and a smattering of allied aliens on detached duty aboard her. She is intended to be out in space for a period of five years followed by a one year long repair and refit period on Earth. The crew is usually rotated at this time. At this point in time a new crew has just reported for duty aboard her.
Changes: The Romulans, Cardassians, Founders, Borg, Tellarites and Ferengi no longer exist. These races were obliterated or blasted back to the Stone Age during the Final War. The Klingon Empire was destroyed, it’s worlds reduced to less than a dozen none of which has had star flight capability in centuries, although within the last 50 years an ancient Negh’Var class warship was discovered deep within the Klinzhai system. The Klingons have been struggling to re-learn the vessel’s secrets and are now ready to try and operate her. The major Earth allies remain Andor, Bajor and Vulcan although like everyone in the 37th century they are nowhere near as powerful as they once were. The major adversaries are the Tholian Hegemony, the Orion Corporate Authority and the Jem Hadar Imperium. Of the three the Jem Hadar are the most dangerous. Little more than ammunition used by the Founders in the 24th century they have built themselves into a formidable power following the fall of their former masters.
The Crew:
Fleet Captain Thomas V. Stuart – Commanding Officer, a Canadian in his mid forties. Tough when has to be but very fair-minded and passionate about the causes he believes in. Highly regarded within the Confederacy Star Navy, previously commanded the Patrol Corvette Lightning, the Exploration Frigate Calypso, the Light Cruiser Amethyst, and the Heavy Cruiser Ville de Paris. He is a veteran of hundreds of missions with a broad and mature view of alien life and culture. Divorced father of two.
Commander Marie Falcone – Executive Officer, an Italian in her late thirties. Ten years ago she was on the fast track to her first command, then she hit a wall when she was made the scapegoat for an Admiral’s screw-up and she was sidelined to “non-essential” duties. Since then she has been diligently working to resurrect her career from the Navy’s trash heap. Enterprise is her second chance and she’s determined to make the most of it.
Sub-Commander T’Vir, Vulcan Star Patrol detached duty with the ECSN – Second Officer, a Vulcan in her seventies. Granddaughter of the legendary Fleet Commander Sovor – widely considered the VSP’s finest captain – she seems to have inherited his genius in full measure. A high honor graduate of both the Vulcan Science and Star Academies, she has served in a wide variety of posts over the years, her last assignment having been command of a survey vessel. The assignment to Enterprise is considered a final polish before she moves on to a major command of her own.
Lieutenant Commander Lex Nakashima – Chief Engineering Officer, a Japanese/Korean in his late thirties. A true professional engineer, not a starship officer who just happens to be assigned to engineering. Directly commissioned from civilian life six years ago, previously he had been engineering professor and research engineer at the Montgomery Scott Institute of Technology from which he had graduated with two doctorates nine years earlier. Prior to his assignment as Enterprise chief engineer he had served as an engineering officer aboard the Patrol Corvette Speedy and as an engineering instructor at the Academy.
Lieutenant Commander Rene Lemercier – Chief Medical Officer. A Frenchman in his early forties. A dapper, friendly man with degrees in medicine, xeno-medicine and psychology. He has many connections to his fellow officers, was Stuart’s CMO on Amethyst, is friends with T’Vir’s mother, who was one of his instructors in medical school and served alongside Ernest Haynes – father of Catalina and Anton – when they were both at the start of their respective professions. He is currently studying for his degree in xeno-psychology.
Lieutenant Commander Ahmad Pasha – Science Officer, an Egyptian in his late twenties. Tall, stoic and mysterious best describe him. A student of both history as well as the sciences he is determined that studies of ancient civilizations are conducted with respect and do not degenerate into grave robbing as so often happened in his native land. A good practical as well as theoretical scientist he is working on a degree in engineering to supplement his Doctorate in Physics and Masters in Astronomy. Lt. Comdr. Nakashima is tutoring him and the two are on their way to becoming fast friends.
Lieutenant Catalina Haynes – Helm/Nav Officer, a Brazilian/American in her late twenties, half sister to Anton. If she had been born 17 centuries earlier she would have been one of those daredevil pilots that flew planes under bridges and through tunnels and such with mere millimeters to spare. She is able to get maneuvers out of Enterprise the book insists are flatly impossible. She is pretty much the same in her private life, if someone comes up with a new thrill, Cat will be first in line to try it. In addition her sexual appetite is the stuff of legend.
Lieutenant Anton Haynes – Communications Officer, a German/American in his mid twenties, half brother to Catalina. If Cat is first to test out new thrills, Anton is right behind her, but that is where the similarities end. Only a few years out of the Academy, Enterprise is his first deep space posting, having previously served at the ECSN’s central comm office for 2 years. He speaks over a dozen languages with varying degrees of fluency preferring to take the time to learn a language rather than relying on the universal translator.
Marine Captain Erin Doyle – CO Marine Detachment, an Irishwoman in her early thirties. Of average height and weight with dark auburn hair, hazel eyes and a trim, toned physique; few would suspect just how tough she really is. A brilliant ground tactician, superb marksman, unparalleled leader and master of five disciplines of unarmed combat; Erin is quite possibly the finest marine officer in the service today. Her troops hold her in near awe and would follow her if she decided to storm the gates of Hell armed only with a bucket of water. If trouble comes to Enterprise there is no one better able to deal with it.
