2385 (STO)
From Trekipedia
Enterprise-E (ST 08)
- In 2385, Starfleet Command announces that it has completed a re-evaluation of all post-Dominion War assets and resources. Based on the results, the admirals decide to refocus some ships from defense and diplomacy to exploration and scientific discovery. Among the ships that are assigned to new duties is the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E. "The flagship of Starfleet is not a warship," says Commander Marie Durant, a spokesperson for Starfleet Command. "The Enterprise and her crew are the pinnacle of Federation achievement. We need them out on the edge of explored space, making new contacts and reaching out in friendship to races across the galaxy." The Enterprise's final mission before returning to Earth for reassignment is to assist the population of Khitomer. On Stardate 62230.13, the Klingon Empire announces it is expelling all non-Klingon residents of the planet as a "safety measure." It gives the residents 14 standard days to leave the planet, but Chancellor Martok later agrees to extend the deadline after speaking to Captain Jean-Luc Picard. The Enterprise leads a contingent of ships to Khitomer, assists in the evacuation, and the former residents are safely resettled on Federation worlds. (Star Trek Online)
Jean-Luc Picard (ST 08)
- The Enterprise-E's mission to Khitomer is the last for its legendary captain as well. After a personal request from the president of the Federation and a great deal of personal reflection, Captain Jean-Luc Picard resigns his commission with Starfleet. After a three-month sabbatical in France, Picard takes his place as the Federation ambassador to Vulcan. He is not the only senior staff member of the Enterprise who moves on to other projects. Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher accepts the position of captain of the U.S.S. Pasteur, an Olympic class ship. Her first task is to assist efforts to rebuild hospitals and medical facilities on Cardassia Prime. Worf, son of Mogh, also resigns his Starfleet commission, believing that with the recent strains in relations between the Federation and the Klingons, he would best be of service in a diplomatic role. He returns to Qo'noS to take up the post of lead ambassador, and a few months later begins a tentative relationship with Grilka, the leader of a Klingon noble house whom he met while serving on Deep Space 9. (Star Trek Online)
- With much of the senior staff gone and its role in flux, the Enterprise-E is assigned to the shipyards of Utopia Planitia for an extensive refit. The Starfleet Corps of Engineers reports that the refit will take at least a year to complete, because they plan to use the ship as a testing ground for new technology. Among the new equipment installed on the Enterprise-E is an advanced sensor array first tested on Luna class starships. (Star Trek Online)
Geordi La Forge (ST 09)
- When the Enterprise-E returned to Earth, Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge requested a long-term leave of absence from Starfleet to work on personal projects, including a plan to build and test his own starship designs. His first project, however, is to assist the team at the Soong Foundation studying the Soong-type android B-4. With La Forge's help, on Stardate 62762.91 the team unlocks what it calls the "Data Matrix," successfully accessing the personality, knowledge and memories of Data, who had downloaded this information into B-4 before his destruction in the Battle of Bassen Rift. The Data persona asserts itself over B-4's more primitive programming, and the android is then able to assist the Soong Foundation team to upgrade the positronic brain and recreate the emotion chip invented by Dr. Noonian Soong. In a statement to the Federation News Service, a representative for the team says he is confident that their work will be completed in months. (Star Trek Online)
- After more than two years with no reports of Borg activity in Federation space, Starfleet Command decides to dismantle its Borg task force and use those resources elsewhere. "We can't keep waiting for something that may never happen," says spokesperson Marie Durant. "And most of our analysts now agree that Voyager dealt a bigger blow in the Delta Quadrant than we initially believed." One Federation expert on the Borg who does not agree with Starfleet Command's decision was former task force leader Seven of Nine. She leaves her role with Starfleet in protest and accepts an offer to continue her research at the Daystrom Institute. When pressed by the Federation News Service for comment, the former Borg says, "The Borg will return. If the Federation is not prepared, it will be their end." (Star Trek Online)
- In Romulan space, what began as a tumultuous year after the assassination of Praetor Tal'aura settled down into what is believed to be a long-term solution, and both Starfleet and the Klingon Empire pull back some ships from the borders of Romulan space. (Star Trek Online)
- In the weeks following Tal'aura's death, her proconsul Sela steps in to take the reins of control in the government. Granted temporary executive powers by the Senate as an emergency measure, Sela uses them to replace more than two dozen senators with representatives of noble houses who had opposed Tal'aura's rule. Among Sela's apointees is the influential noble Chulan of the Line of Tellus. The backing of the nobles gives Sela the clout she needs to run the government, but she does not have the support of the military or the Tal Shiar and her regime is generally expected to be short-lived. (Star Trek Online)
- Rehaek, the leader of the Tal Shiar, makes a rare public appearance to announce that he will personally lead the investigation into the assassination of Praetor Tal'aura. "There are certain things which may seem expedient but which honor abhors. We cannot allow this crime to go unanswered." Empress Donatra of the Imperial Romulan State wins hearts among the people of Romulus by offering food shipments to non-military settlements. Federation experts fear a three-way struggle for control of Romulus, but instead Donatra meets with Sela and Rehaek to find a peaceful solution. The three begrudgingly agree to put their personal disputes aside for the good of the Empire, and the worlds of the Imperial Romulan State are folded back into the Romulan Star Empire. Donatra holds onto the reins of power of the military and keeps much of her forces safely off-world in case the peace doesn't hold. (Star Trek Online)
- With the threat of civil war averted, the Senate opens debate on who to elect as the new praetor. Sela, as Tal'aura's proconsul, is one of the leading candidates, and she makes a play for the position. But rumors of her possible involvement in the plot to assassinate Tal'aura dog her campaign, and when Donatra declines to endorse Sela's campaign, her defeat is almost assured. After an extensive debate, Senator Chulan is chosen to be the new praetor. He is a compromise candidate who is acceptable to, but not strongly supported by, any of the major powers. Federation analysts predict that without the backing of a coalition of factions, Chulan will be a weak leader. (Star Trek Online)
- Donatra, who most agree is the broker of the newfound peace on Romulus, travels to Remus to meet General Xiomek of the Remans. She offers the Remans full citizenship in the empire and representation in the Romulan Senate in exchange for their support. While Sela opposes the plan, which she sees as rewarding the Remans for a violent uprising, she and Praetor Chulan do not have the strength to oppose Donatra's power. The physical strength of the Remans, as well as their supplies of dilithium and heavy metals, add to Donatra's formidable military strength, and she has the resources to reopen shipyards and munitions plants closed since Shinzon's revolt. As resources flow back to Romulus from Remus and the worlds Donatra controlled, energy rationing and food lines become a thing of the past. (Star Trek Online)
- The Romulan Senate is reluctant to deal with the Remans but is swayed by popular support for Donatra, and the senators reluctantly vote to allow Xiomek to take a seat in the Sentate and to extend citizenship to the Remans. In common practice, however, most Romulans continue to treat Remans as second-class citizens, and the Remans are reluctant to relocate to Romulan settlements. (Star Trek Online)
