Hello all, Ric here and this video is on the Enterprise F,
but more than just reading its stats, we’re looking at its origin, history and captain.
This video is also for those of you who don’t play Star Trek Online, and just want
to know a little bit more about how this new legacy vessel is presented in it’s narrative.
So the Odyssey class originates from Star Trek Online, set in the years of 2409 to
11 but recently we have seen an earlier iteration appear in the Star Trek Picard prequal comics and
books, the USS Verity. While the books do not mention the Verity’s registration nor class,
the comic set in 2385, reveals it to be an Odyssey class under the command of Admiral Picard. Its
registry here was NCC-97000. The Odyssey vessels, barring special circumstances, have 5-digit
registries that begin 97, so zer0, zero, zero would effectively be the prototype for the class,
and Star Trek Online agrees with this, somewhat. In that setting, the prototype USS Odyssey was
NX-97000, the NX being the Starfleet signifier of a prototype vessel. So, we might have a case of
the Verity being the Odyssey, and re-registered as an NCC ship, akin to the Excelsior
when it was recommissioned out of its prototype phase. There is still a significant amount of
time between 2381, when the Verity was launched and 2409, which saw the Odyssey in shakedown.
Neither of these hold the place of primary canon, but both have that sort of nebulous orbital
position in the lore, so until one is referred to on screen, the dates don’t matter as much.
Either way, work on the Odyssey class Starship began with the same design
aims as the Constitution, Galaxy or Sovereign before them. Produce a vessel that could undertake
a variety of roles from exploration to defence and carry the best of Starfleet design and tech
with it. The Odyssey class was primarily designed for long term exploration missions,
which made versatility paramount as well as durability at the San Fransisco Shipyards.
The new class of Starship was 1061.1 metres long and would have a crew of 1600. It would have
18 phaser arrays and 4 torpedo launchers. It could achieve warp 9.99, separate the saucer section
and was fitted with a Quantum Slipstream Drive as standard. That Drive was tested extensively
on the Vesta-Class USS Aventine in apocrypha, before making its way to other classes of vessel.
The Verity lacks this addition, only having warp drive. The aim of reducing subspace damage
and drag was a constant even in this design, with the twin neck profile designed to reduce
the wake created in subspace at warp speed. The bridge of this class has several additions
to the standard layout, including a transporter platform at the rear, which would be useful for
diplomatic meetings as well as reporting for your shift on time I guess, but also a lower deck with
an observation room and lots of LCARS displays which makes me think it’s a useful situation room.
After initial shakedown cruises, the rear of most future odyssey classes was refit to house
an Aquarius escort vessel that is a starship in its own right, ideal for system patrols,
planetary landings and more mobile activities. Alongside the USS Odyssey or the Verity,
there were several other ships commissioned, often ones named after former Galaxy or Constitution
classes, most notably the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-F which was commissioned in 2409.
Careful consideration was given to appointing a suitable captain for this new Enterprise, someone
who could be an example for Starfleet captains in the same way prior legends had been. In mid-2409,
captain Va’Kel Shon lost his prior ship, the USS Belfast and was appointed the command
chair of the new ship, the first permanent non-human captain of an Enterprise.
Shon was an Andorian from the Vega colony, a Federation territory and joined Starfleet in 2386,
tactical division. By 2409, he had amassed an impressive career record, with three long-term
deep space exploratory missions under his belt and had been a part of fourteen first contacts but
also served as a diplomatic officer when needed. The Vega colony was attacked by Borg in 2409
and Shon lost his family in that attack, his wife Tress, but his daughter, however was never found.
Unfortunately with the Borg involved, that sort of assumes assimilation. Throughout that year,
he expressed much grief but continued to perform his duty with a desire to prevent something like
the Vega attack from occurring again. From his position on the Belfast, he took part in the
defence of the fledgling Romulan Republic and was present when the Dominion fleet that disappeared
in the Bajoran Wormhole reappeared. The Belfast was lost in a battle to deliver the Female Founder
back to the Dominion in order to preserve the Bajoran peace treaty. His ship’s sacrifice
allowed for the completion of this mission. He was reassigned quickly to the command chair
of the Enterprise F, fresh out of spacedock as part of a reinforcement squadron to deal with
the Dominion until the position was made permanent on the recommendations of several other Captains.
Because of Shon’s experiences, he was concerned that he was too much of a
soldier to take on such a weighty role under such scrutiny, but considering the setting of Star
Trek Online and personal tragedies, the fact he retained his objectiveness, compassion and honesty
was seen as a testament to the strength of his morals. Although his psyche profile does note
how he has become far more withdrawn and stoic since the loss of his family, understandably.
Subsequent missions included missions into the Solanae and Jenolan Dyson spheres
that created a link to the Delta Quadrant as well as numerous patrol missions along the former
Romulan neutral zone. The Enterprise also remains on quick response to defend core UFP worlds when
needed. It was during this time, that Captain Shon displayed just why he had been selected as the
Captain of the Enterprise. During diplomatic talks between the Romulans, Klingons and Federation,
the UFP was accused of ignoring the legitimate concern of species an 8472 infiltration,
that the Klingons had uncovered. While the UFP initially tried to downplay this issue,
Shon cut through all the diplomatic talk to publicly admit the Federation’s fault,
which was enough for the Klingons to return to a more amenable stance in negotiations. It
was this sort of pragmatic honesty that others saw in Captain Shon, coupled with his tactical
ingenuity that gave his words leverage, especially among the Klingon delegation.
After almost 2 years, the Iconian War came to its conclusion in a battle over Earth,
however the USS Enterprise was severely damaged and required extensive repairs,
the sort of repairs that kind of necessitate a refit. It was towed to Utopia Planetia,
one of many damages and alongside its sister ship, the USS Yorktown, it was scheduled for refit. It
was out this overhauling of several Odyssey vessels, that three variations were created,
each named after another ship of the same line. So it was that the Enterprise-F was remade into
Yorktown-Variant Odyssey Class. The Iconian war (and prequal wars that built up to it)
had taught Starfleet much about new technologies and these were implemented on the new Yorktown
Development Project, which eventually overhauled all compatible vessels, keeping them at the front
end of innovation. In addition, the commissioning plate was also remade with an update moto,
“Fate: Protects Fools, Children and Ships named Enterprise.” Guess who gifted them that plaque?
This extensive overhaul and variation to the initial design gave rise to multiple
specialisations and roles for the odyssey, making them look markedly different too.
The other versions included the Sojourner version,
built with cargo and passenger quantity in mind, the Endeavour was made to be more manoeuvrable
and the Yorktown was effectively a tuned-up version of the original odyssey.
After its refit, the Enterprise resumed its missions as before, being both diplomatic
and military with even its shakedown cruise tour interrupted by a Tzenkethi attack on DS9.
The Enterprise then entered the fray, complete with its crew of reporters,
just as its namesake did back in the 23rd century, although with far more favourable results.
After this, it was assigned to diplomatic missions, including the overseeing of
relocating Na’Kuhl survivors and finding places for the refugees after their sun was destroyed.
It eventually returns to battle in order to defend Andoria from some time-displaced Klingons before
becoming involved in the missions centred around the House Mo’Kai preceding the Second Klingon
Civil War. The tales of the Enterprise F are ongoing in Star Trek online, and because of the
nature of the game, when it does appear, it’s mostly in combat, which is a bit of a shame as
it overlooks the majority of the Enterprises other duties. So until there’s more, that is
the current storyline for the Enterprise F, and what it has been up to in beta canon content.
I would love to see it become the official next enterprise, following he Sovereign class
E as the odyssey style does seem to continue and evolve the Starfleet design aesthetic,
with the a unique flair, but honestly, but it would require some sort perfect celestial
alignment for that to occur. Anyway, thanks for watching this video on the Enterprise. I’ve
been Ric and I’ll see you next time for another lore video, until then thanks again and goodbye!