Hello and welcome to another episode of Truth OR Myth Beta Canon, a Star Trek web series that dives in to a the history of any given topic using Beta Canon sources using my own imagination to fill in the gaps, and create a cogent narrative. In today’s episode we’re taking a look at some of the other Galaxy Class Starships and their Beta Canon histories.
Because this IS a Beta Canon video, all information relaid should pretty much be taken with a grain of stardust, and only considered a little bit of Star Trek Fun! And so, with all that out of the way, lets begin.
One of the most influential starships of the 24th Century, the U.S.S. Enterprise D, under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, would blaze its own trail into the history books. But what about the other Galaxy Class starships? Well today, we find out…
U.S.S. Galaxy (NCC- 70637)
The U.S.S. Galaxy NCC-70637 was the prototype of a new starship line named the Galaxy Class. The U.S.S. Galaxy was launched from the Utopia Planitia Ship Yards in 2356 for her shakedown cruise and was then commissioned in 2357.
The U.S.S. Galaxy was part of a highly-experimental new class, with her space frame being constructed and manufactured over a 10 year period.
The Galaxy, as well as his sister starship the U.S.S. Yamato was constructed slowly, to allow testing on its new and experimental systems. As result, due to this ongoing process of system testing and development, even after its commissioning, the U.S.S. Galaxy would remain in the Sol system until its design was finalized. For most of her history, the U.S.S. Galaxy would find herself overshadowed by her more famous sister ship, the U.S.S. Enterprise D. During the Dominion War, however, the Galaxy made a name for herself when she was involved in several important engagements, including Operation Return, the First Battle of Chin’toka, and the Battle of Cardassia.
The ship remained as a test-bed vessel for improving system performance over the early part of her career. In fact, the U.S.S. Galaxy would be the first of the class to receive a complete internal systems refit just before the Dominion War which took advantage of several new technologies that were developed by Starfleet after the Battle of Wolf 359, as a result, the U.S.S. Galaxy and her class would finally be able to match its power with its immense size.
In 2379, the U.S.S. Galaxy was part of a Battle Group ordered to aide the Enterprise E against the Scimitar and its Captain the New Praetor of the Romulan Star Empire named Shinzon, near the Basin Rift, however, forced to go head to head with the Scimitar before the Enterprise’s rendezvous, Captain Picard would be successful in stopping the vessel, although Commander Data, the starship soon to be the first officer, was lost in the attempt.
In the later part of the 24th Century, the U.S.S. Galaxy would be the first of the class to receive another experimental starship upgrade. Testing a new engine system based on technology developed by the USS Voyager while stranded in the Delta Quadrant, a 3rd Nacelle would be attached to the hull. Information on these ongoing propulsion tests is still classified.
U.S.S. Challenger (NCC-71099)
The U.S.S. Challenger NCC-71099 was commissioned in the year 2370, under the command of Captain Simm. After the destruction of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D in 2371, the U.S.S. Challenger returned from an exploratory mission in the Gamma Quadrant to pick up what was to be her new first officer, Commander William T. Riker.
Commander Riker then invoked a special regulation and took command of the Challenger, to assist Captain Jean-Luc Picard in stopping a Romulan Borg plot to take over the Galaxy. After this incident, Riker would request, and be granted a transfer to the newest flagship of the Federation, the Enterprise E.
In 2377, the Challenger was part of a fleet that engaged a lone Borg Sphere in the Sol System, shortly before the sphere was destroyed from within by the U.S.S. Voyager signalling Voyagers return to the Alpha Quadrant.
By 2383 the Challenger had been assigned to the Starfleet Corps of Engineers, and had become a personal project of her Captain, Montgomery Scott. Since his rescue in 2369, Montgomery Scott had become an influencing force in starship design, even contributing to the Sovereign Classes design.
Given carte blanche with the U.S.S. Challenger by Starfleet, it was their hope that Montgomery Scott would continue to develop and upgrade Federation Technology for use in future starship designs.
Late in 2383, the Challenger was assigned to investigate the mystery surrounding the U.S.S. Intrepid, and to restore that vessel back to working order. For this mission, the Challenger took on several mission specialists, including Commander Geordi LaForge and Berlinghoff Rasmussen, Rasmussen though had other plans for the Intrepid. With the help of Ferengi Daimon Bok, the two arranged to take control of the Intrepid.
While the Challenger engaged Bok’s forces, Rasmussens plan was to slingshot the U.S.S. Intrepid back to the year 2162 so he and Bok could change history in their favor, however, during the attempt, the U.S.S. Intrepid would be destroyed and Montgomery Scott would be severely injured. Due to his injury, Scotty would decide to finally retire to a desk job at Starfleet Command and made the recommendation that the U.S.S. Challenger be given to Commander Geordi LaForge and Starfleet approved the request.
Under Captain La Forge, the Challenger was assigned to investigate the recently discovered phenomenon of trans-slipstream, which had played a part in the destruction of the U.S.S. Intrepid.
While studying the phenomenon, the Challenger responded to a distress call from the Romulan Warbird Stormcrow and rescued her crew following its apparent sabotage. Shortly after the rescue, however, the Challenger was attacked and transported to system NGC 4414 with severe damage. After a study of the area, the Challenger found the derelict U.S.S. Hera in a nearby area, and was drawn to it, due to an immense gravitational field generated by the vessel. An away team was sent to the Hera, which located a group of 47 survivors aboard; however, it was soon discovered that the only way to return home would be to repair the damage to the region.
With the assistance of another Romulan Warbird, the U.S.S. Challenger would defeat the enemy vessel, repair the damage to the region and return to Earth Spacedock for repairs.
U.S.S. Odyssey (NCC-71832)
The U.S.S. Odyssey NCC-71832 was launched in 2364 from the Utopia Planitia Ship Yards under the command of Captain Declan Keogh. The U.S.S. Odyssey was the 4th galaxy Class starship to be constructed.
In the year 2363, Captain Jean-Luc Picard was being considered for command of the Odyssey, and Had Captain Thomas Halloway who was scheduled to take command of Enterprise-D, not retired, for personal reasons, Jean-Luc Picard would have been the Captain of the Odyssey.
In 2370, the Odyssey assisted the Enterprise and U.S.S. Constitution in preventing non-corporeal “demons” from spreading their evil influence throughout the galaxy. A few months later, the Odyssey would be assigned to Deep Space 9 to help establish a Bajoran farming colony on Bajor’s second moon. While on the moon, the Bajoran terrorist Orta unearthed an ancient Bajoran Artifact which he began using to disintegrate his enemies.
The Odyssey, which was on a supply run for the New Bajor Colony at the time, was recalled to Deep Space 9 and subsequently instrumental in stopping Orta.
Following this incident, the U.S.S. Odyssey was assigned to patrol duties in the Demilitarized Zone. However, after the Capture of Commander Benjamin Sisko his son Jake, Quark, the station’s bar owner and Quarks nephew Nog, the U.S.S. Odyssey would return to Deep Space 9 to assist the station with both the recovery of Sisko and his party as well as investigating this new Jem’Hadar threat. Entering the Gamma Quadrant, the U.S.S. Odyssey, along with a fleet of Runabouts from Deep Space 9, was forced to take on several Jem Hadar Warships and sadly, while the Odyssey was withdrawing from the battle, following the rescue of Commander Sisko and his team the Odyssey was rammed by a Jem’Hadar fighter, and the Odyssey was destroyed.
This was a devastating lose for the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet Command, prompting Starfleet to up it’s timetable to refit all remaining Galaxy Class starships with the new technologies created in the Battle of Wolf 359’s aftermath.
In the 2360’s the Galaxy Class would be seen by most of the Federation Public as the height of hubris on Starfleet’s part.
Jokingly referred to as a luxury liner, the Class would undergo several upgrades and refits before Starfleet’s Design Engineers would give the entire internal design of the starship a complete overhaul.
And after this massive change to it’s design, the Galaxy Class would become one of the most powerful starships of it’s time, earning the USS Galaxy, the USS Challenger and the USS Odyssey their places, in Starfleet History…
Thank you for watching today’s episode of Truth or Myth, what do you think of the Beta Canon history for these Galaxy Class Starships? Do you want to see the Galaxy Class make a more prominent showing in Star Trek: Picard? Well leave your comments in the section below and don’t forget to like the video and subscribe to the channel.
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