U.S.S. Eisenhower (UFP150)

Eisenhower

Marshall class starship (FASA 2011) (Original B&W Image)

Class	Marshall
Commissioned	2155
Status	Decommissioned (2215); Recommissioned and refit (2235)

Following the destruction of the S.S. Castro in 2223, the Asteroid Prospectors Association desperately sought increased protection from Starfleet Command. To bolster its forces in the face of this additional task, Starfleet recalled and refitted several older vessels that had been decommissioned, including the Marshall class starships Patton and Eisenhower, which had been part of the fleet that defended the Sol system during the Romulan War. The ships were assigned to patrol the disputed area between Federation and Klingon space, including the Donatu system, which consisted of seven planets. Although none were Class M, Donatu V had proved to be rich in dilithium, and a prospecting station had been established.^[1]

In 2242, three Klingon vessels under the command of Captain Klaar attacked the system, seeking to remove the Federation presence. The Patton, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Matthew Decker, and the Eisenhower, commanded by Commander Jose Mendez, responded, though both commanders knew their ships were severely outmatched. The two ships used an ingenious hit-and-run strategy devised by Decker to buy time until two Baton Rouge class cruisers could reach the system. As the Starfleet reinforcements neared, the Klingons withdrew, resulting in an unexpected Federation victory in what came to be known as the Battle of Donatu V.^[1]