Difference between revisions of "Four Years War (FASA)"

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Federation relations with the Klingons were strained from the start,<ref name="FASA2218A"/> owing in no small measure to their many rough early contacts with the [[United Earth]] [[Starfleet (Earth)|Starfleet]] in the mid-22nd century.<ref name="ENT01"/><ref name="ENT15"/><ref name="ENT45"/><ref name="ENT52"/><ref name="ENT80"/><ref name="ENT82"/><ref name="ENT91"/><ref name="ENT92"/> On Stardate 2208.122 (02 May 2208), the [[U.S.S. Sentry|U.S.S. ''Sentry'']] made contact with a personal, warp-capable shuttle near [[Gamma Demetrius]]. When the pilot of the shuttle was granted temporary political asylum, the Klingon warship [[I.K.S. Devisor|''Devisor'']] exchanged fire with the ''Sentry'' before departing, vowing to return and wreak havoc on the Federation. On Stardate 2217.063 (04 March 2217), a Klingon vessel, which was modified to transmit a Federation scout identification signal, seized the [[U.S.S. Flying Fortress|U.S.S. ''Flying Fortress'']], a slow but heavily-armed prototype transport. The tactic allowed for a sneak attack that destroyed the ''Flying Fortress'' bridge, killing all command personnel and rendering weapons systems inoperative. A Federation anti-piracy task force soon forced the Klingons to release their tractor beam, however, and the ''Flying Fortress''&mdash;and its experimental new deflector systems&mdash;was returned to Federation control. Notably, there was a period of remarkable inactivity along the border between the two powers from 2239 to 2244; this was believed by [[Starfleet]] strategists to be a result of another war being fought by the Klingons on their borders furthest from Federation space.<ref name="FASA2218A"/>
 
Federation relations with the Klingons were strained from the start,<ref name="FASA2218A"/> owing in no small measure to their many rough early contacts with the [[United Earth]] [[Starfleet (Earth)|Starfleet]] in the mid-22nd century.<ref name="ENT01"/><ref name="ENT15"/><ref name="ENT45"/><ref name="ENT52"/><ref name="ENT80"/><ref name="ENT82"/><ref name="ENT91"/><ref name="ENT92"/> On Stardate 2208.122 (02 May 2208), the [[U.S.S. Sentry|U.S.S. ''Sentry'']] made contact with a personal, warp-capable shuttle near [[Gamma Demetrius]]. When the pilot of the shuttle was granted temporary political asylum, the Klingon warship [[I.K.S. Devisor|''Devisor'']] exchanged fire with the ''Sentry'' before departing, vowing to return and wreak havoc on the Federation. On Stardate 2217.063 (04 March 2217), a Klingon vessel, which was modified to transmit a Federation scout identification signal, seized the [[U.S.S. Flying Fortress|U.S.S. ''Flying Fortress'']], a slow but heavily-armed prototype transport. The tactic allowed for a sneak attack that destroyed the ''Flying Fortress'' bridge, killing all command personnel and rendering weapons systems inoperative. A Federation anti-piracy task force soon forced the Klingons to release their tractor beam, however, and the ''Flying Fortress''&mdash;and its experimental new deflector systems&mdash;was returned to Federation control. Notably, there was a period of remarkable inactivity along the border between the two powers from 2239 to 2244; this was believed by [[Starfleet]] strategists to be a result of another war being fought by the Klingons on their borders furthest from Federation space.<ref name="FASA2218A"/>
 +
 +
In ''Massed Fleets,'' Admiral [[Shepherd, Samuel|Samuel Shepherd]], the commanding admiral of Starfleet prior to the Four Years War, wrote that, following the Romulan War, "high officials in the Federation felt certain that another war would not occur quickly. Once installations were complete along the [[Romulan Star Empire|Romulan]] border, the future role of [Starfleet] seemed limited to navigational and simple law enforcement duties. As a result, appropriations ... were cut sharply. Funds for research and development permitted only modest technological improvements. Funds for new construction allowed only for the replacement of vessels no longer safe for use." This policy continued until Stardate 2205.051 (20 February 2205), when the expensive and ill-fated [[Tritium class|''Tritium'' class]] entered service. The first starship designed with three warp nacelles, the design sought to disprove [[Cochrane, Zefram|Zefram Cochrane]]'s original warp theories, which held that no more than two warp nacelles could be used on a single ship, as imbalances in the warp fields generated would nullify the drive's effect. The engineers responsible&mdash;and several flag-rank officers in Starfleet Engineering Command&mdash;disagreed with Cochrane, and believed that the third nacelle would dramatically increase maximum operating performance. A total of six ''Tritium'' class ships were constructed before the project was terminated.<ref name="FASA2218A"/> It would be several decades before a three-nacelled starship design could be made to work successfully.<ref name="SFTM"/>
 +
 +
In Stardate 2214.08 (August 2214), the [[Terra-Return League]] was formed on [[Benecia Colony]]. The group's goal, as described in their Proclamation, was to end the Federation's policy of expansion and have all [[Humans]] return to the [[Sol System]]. Believing that mankind had gone deep into space and still had not solved many of humanity's basic problems, the group felt that resources were being exploited and abused on an interstellar level, and that there was room enough in the Sol System, now that several planets and moons had been terraformed. Further, the group called for the disbanding of the Federation, and a strictly isolationist view for humanity. By the time of the Babel Conference of Stardate 2234.01 (January 2234), the Terra-Return League represented a respectable and vocal minority, and officially raised the question of dissolving the Federation. When the question failed to pass, the League was disbanded.<ref name="FASA2218A"/>
 +
 +
Adding to the dissatisfaction with the Federation Council was the [[Scandal of Archimedes]]. In Stardate 2227.09 (September 2227), [[Th'allt]], an [[Andorians|Andorian]] colony world very close to several [[Tellarites|Tellarite]] trading worlds, claimed harassment by particularly exploitative Tellarite traders. The situation, code-named "Archimedes" by Starfleet, was ignored at first and later badly mismanaged by the Bureau of Interstellar Commerce. The situation became critical in Stardate 2229.01 (January 2229), when a substantial task force of Starfleet vessels under the command of Andorian Admiral [[Hathari]] conducted "fleet maneuvers" near Th'allt, encircling the system with a protective blockade, firing on Tellarite-registered trading ships. The crisis illustrated the shortcomings of the Federation's complex and occasionally ineffective bureaucracy.<ref name="FASA2218A"/>
  
 
  <nowiki>
 
  <nowiki>
 
I. Background
 
I. Background
−
C. Internal Problems - UFP
 
−
  1. Starfleet appropriations reduced due to reduced tensions with Romulans, Klingons
 
−
  2. Terra-Return League
 
−
  3. Scandal of Archimedes
 
 
D. Internal Problems - Klingons
 
D. Internal Problems - Klingons
 
   1. War w/ UFP postponed; more pressing conflicts on borders away from UFP
 
   1. War w/ UFP postponed; more pressing conflicts on borders away from UFP
Line 69: Line 71:
 
<ref name="ENT91">"[[Affliction (Episode)|Affliction]]." ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]],'' Episode 91. Film. 18 February 2005.</ref>
 
<ref name="ENT91">"[[Affliction (Episode)|Affliction]]." ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]],'' Episode 91. Film. 18 February 2005.</ref>
 
<ref name="ENT92">"[[Divergence (Episode)|Divergence]]." ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]],'' Episode 92. Film. 25 February 2005.</ref>
 
<ref name="ENT92">"[[Divergence (Episode)|Divergence]]." ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]],'' Episode 92. Film. 25 February 2005.</ref>
 +
<ref name="SFTM">"[[Star Fleet Technical Manual]]." ''[[Star Trek]].'' Book. 1975. Ballantine.</ref>
 
</references>
 
</references>

Revision as of 11:22, 26 August 2014

The Four Years War, as it later came to be known, was a mid-23rd century conflict between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. The war began with the Battle of Axanar on Stardate 2251.241 (29 August 2251),[Notes 1] and lasted until the Treaty of Axanar was signed on Stardate 2255.164 (13 June 2255), for a span of nearly 46 months.[1]

Background

Following the Romulan War and the founding of the Federation, the new nation's early years were characterized by consistent territorial expansion, as well as technological and cultural growth as warp-driven ships traveling among the Federation's member worlds. Peace again became paramount within the Federation. Resultingly, on Stardate 2193.12 (December 2193), the Federation Council rejected appropriations for a new generation of starships,[1] believing that the existing designs would continue to suit them well into the future. Coupled with the monumental failure of a later ship design, resulted in an obsolete, 46-year-old destroyer class serving as the Federation's first line of defense during an incident with the Klingons in 2208.[1]

Federation relations with the Klingons were strained from the start,[1] owing in no small measure to their many rough early contacts with the United Earth Starfleet in the mid-22nd century.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] On Stardate 2208.122 (02 May 2208), the U.S.S. Sentry made contact with a personal, warp-capable shuttle near Gamma Demetrius. When the pilot of the shuttle was granted temporary political asylum, the Klingon warship Devisor exchanged fire with the Sentry before departing, vowing to return and wreak havoc on the Federation. On Stardate 2217.063 (04 March 2217), a Klingon vessel, which was modified to transmit a Federation scout identification signal, seized the U.S.S. Flying Fortress, a slow but heavily-armed prototype transport. The tactic allowed for a sneak attack that destroyed the Flying Fortress bridge, killing all command personnel and rendering weapons systems inoperative. A Federation anti-piracy task force soon forced the Klingons to release their tractor beam, however, and the Flying Fortress—and its experimental new deflector systems—was returned to Federation control. Notably, there was a period of remarkable inactivity along the border between the two powers from 2239 to 2244; this was believed by Starfleet strategists to be a result of another war being fought by the Klingons on their borders furthest from Federation space.[1]

In Massed Fleets, Admiral Samuel Shepherd, the commanding admiral of Starfleet prior to the Four Years War, wrote that, following the Romulan War, "high officials in the Federation felt certain that another war would not occur quickly. Once installations were complete along the Romulan border, the future role of [Starfleet] seemed limited to navigational and simple law enforcement duties. As a result, appropriations ... were cut sharply. Funds for research and development permitted only modest technological improvements. Funds for new construction allowed only for the replacement of vessels no longer safe for use." This policy continued until Stardate 2205.051 (20 February 2205), when the expensive and ill-fated Tritium class entered service. The first starship designed with three warp nacelles, the design sought to disprove Zefram Cochrane's original warp theories, which held that no more than two warp nacelles could be used on a single ship, as imbalances in the warp fields generated would nullify the drive's effect. The engineers responsible—and several flag-rank officers in Starfleet Engineering Command—disagreed with Cochrane, and believed that the third nacelle would dramatically increase maximum operating performance. A total of six Tritium class ships were constructed before the project was terminated.[1] It would be several decades before a three-nacelled starship design could be made to work successfully.[10]

In Stardate 2214.08 (August 2214), the Terra-Return League was formed on Benecia Colony. The group's goal, as described in their Proclamation, was to end the Federation's policy of expansion and have all Humans return to the Sol System. Believing that mankind had gone deep into space and still had not solved many of humanity's basic problems, the group felt that resources were being exploited and abused on an interstellar level, and that there was room enough in the Sol System, now that several planets and moons had been terraformed. Further, the group called for the disbanding of the Federation, and a strictly isolationist view for humanity. By the time of the Babel Conference of Stardate 2234.01 (January 2234), the Terra-Return League represented a respectable and vocal minority, and officially raised the question of dissolving the Federation. When the question failed to pass, the League was disbanded.[1]

Adding to the dissatisfaction with the Federation Council was the Scandal of Archimedes. In Stardate 2227.09 (September 2227), Th'allt, an Andorian colony world very close to several Tellarite trading worlds, claimed harassment by particularly exploitative Tellarite traders. The situation, code-named "Archimedes" by Starfleet, was ignored at first and later badly mismanaged by the Bureau of Interstellar Commerce. The situation became critical in Stardate 2229.01 (January 2229), when a substantial task force of Starfleet vessels under the command of Andorian Admiral Hathari conducted "fleet maneuvers" near Th'allt, encircling the system with a protective blockade, firing on Tellarite-registered trading ships. The crisis illustrated the shortcomings of the Federation's complex and occasionally ineffective bureaucracy.[1] 

I. Background
D. Internal Problems - Klingons
   1. War w/ UFP postponed; more pressing conflicts on borders away from UFP
   2. Believed UFP would simply surrender territory, rather than fight

II. Preliminary Skirmishes
A. Archanis IV massacre: 2249.355 (21 Dec)
B. Buildup on UFP border: 2250.025-055 (25 Jan - 24 Feb)

III. War Begins
A. Battle of Axanar: 2251.241 (29 Aug)
B. Declaration of War: 2251.272 (29 Sep)
C. Second Battle of Axanar: 2251.273 (30 Sep)
D. Battle of Andromeda: 2251.10 (Oct)
E. Robert April retires: 2252.01 (Jan)
F. Romulan incursion: 2252.041 (10 Feb)
G. Laxala Incident: 2252.04 (Apr)
H. Battle of GR-1 & Assault of Nozseca: 2252.05 (May)
I. Attack of Convoy Y-16Z: 2252.07 (Jul)
J. Constitution class reassigned: 2253.03 (Mar)

IV. Taking the Offensive
A. Defense of Rudgur III: 2253.03 (Mar)
B. Battle of Kesse: 2253.10 (Oct)
C. Attack on Zal Vhros occurs, highlighting Klingon frustration in fighting UFP: 2254.02 (Feb)
D. Battle of Thranstor: 2254.04 (Apr)
E. Engagement for Argelian Approaches: 2254.05 (May)

V. War's End
A. Capture of Admiral Komex: 2254.340 (06 Dec)
B. Operation Argus Redoubt: 2255.079 (20 Mar)

VI. Axanar Peace Mission & Aftermath
A. Convened Stardate 2258.132 (12 May)
B. Treaty signed Stardate 2258.164 (13 Jun)
C. Borders redefined
D. Starfleet drawdown: many classes decommissioned/destroyed
E. Starbases 12 & 27 completed

Sidebar: ship classes in service during war

Notes

  1. ↑ "The Four Years War" referred to events by a FASA-specific dating standard called the "Reference Stardate." All dates in this article have been adapted from that notation into standard Gregorian calendar dates, which are then adjusted for errors in the baseline dates used as reference by the FASA authors. Working with a known, dated event (e.g., the launch of the Constitution class starships), the other dates in the timeline can be adjusted accordingly. "The Four Years War" gives the launch of the Constitution class as Reference Stardate 1/8801.04, or 04 January 2188; this has been established on screen, however, as having occurred in 2245. As the exact month and date remain unstated in other sources, those remain the same, but the year is adjusted to 2245, giving a modified date of 04 January 2245. This can then be converted into the pre-TOS stardate system established in Star Trek (2009), giving us a stardate of 2245.004. Using this as a baseline, all other dates in the FASA timeline can be similarly modified and converted.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "The Four Years War." Star Trek: The Roleplaying Game, Supplement 2218A. Game. 1985. FASA.
  2. ↑ "Broken Bow." Enterprise, Episodes 01-02. Film. 26 September 2001.
  3. ↑ "Sleeping Dogs." Enterprise, Episode 15. Film. 30 January 2002.
  4. ↑ "Judgment." Enterprise, Episode 45. Film. 09 April 2003.
  5. ↑ "The Expanse." Enterprise, Episode 52. Film. 21 May 2003.
  6. ↑ "Borderland." Star Trek: Enterprise, Episode 80. Film. 29 October 2004.
  7. ↑ "The Augments." Star Trek: Enterprise, Episode 82. Film. 12 November 2004.
  8. ↑ "Affliction." Star Trek: Enterprise, Episode 91. Film. 18 February 2005.
  9. ↑ "Divergence." Star Trek: Enterprise, Episode 92. Film. 25 February 2005.
  10. ↑ "Star Fleet Technical Manual." Star Trek. Book. 1975. Ballantine.
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