USS Cantabrian (NCC-24705)

The USS Cantabrian (NCC-24705) was an Excelsior-class starship. From 2369 until 2373, her commanding officer was Captain Noel Turner.


 * The USS Cantabrian is a derivation of the Royal New Zealand Navy ship, HMNZS Canterbury (1971-2005) and HMNZS Canterbury (2006-).

Between 2314 and 2368
The USS Cantabrian replaced the Constitution-class refit USS Cantabrian NCC-607. Commissioned in 2314, the Cantabrian was commanded by Captain Thekla Lawless.

In 2315, the Cantabrian crew made first contact with the Kaartali, who were so impressed with Lawless that, on several occasions, they specifically requested the Cantabrian in their dealings with the Federation.

Captain Lawless retired in 2330, leaving the Cantabrian after 16 years. (: "The Fire In Which We Burn")

2369-2372
In 2369, Captain Noel Turner took command of the USS Cantabrian, with Lieutenant Ulitania Jonar acting as Chief of security and Leslie Hernandez as Counselor. Sometime shortly thereafter, in a tense stand-off with the Wthaure, a subspace weapon detonated, severely damaging both the Wthaure battle cruiser and the Cantabrian.

Starfleet Command decided to refit the Cantabrian. Based at Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, the Starfleet Corps of Engineers added several experimental technologies, including launch bays for two scout ships and the HOLIE holographic system, and, in 2372, the Cantabrian was relaunched with Captain Turner at the helm.

2372
Nearly two-fifths of the Cantabrian crew were presumed killed when the Myhr'an destroyed Starbase Expanse 4, where the crew members were awaiting transfer. An additional 45 were killed (3 on the SE3, 42 aboard the ship) in a fight with three Myhr'an battle cruisers near Starbase Expanse 3. (: "Catalyst, Part One")

The Cantabrian worked with several other Starfleet vessels in confronting the Myhr'an planet killer and other Myhr'an vessels, damaging the ship and placing the isolation bays out of service. The HOLIE system was rendered inoperative during this battle as well and later removed. (: "Catalyst, Part One", Catalyst, Part Two", "Dakota", "Isolation")

Critical repairs were undertaken at Starbase Expanse 7, although less critical repairs were left due to the Cantabrian needing to investigate reports of survivors being held at a Myhr'an internment camp in the Rhinessa system. A battle with three Myhr'an battle cruisers there left the Cantabrian with minor damage. (: "Two Hit, One Stone")

Through the Cantabrian, Federation scientists discovered standard shields offered little protection against Treaty Killer and Renai'i transporter beams, as both races seemed to have the ability to transport through them. (: "White Flag", "The Eagle")

In a showdown with the Myhr'an super battle cruiser, the Cantabrian took on moderate damage. Eventually triumphant against the Myhr'an, the ship limped to Deep Space 4 for extensive repairs. (: "Deceptions", "Repercussions")

2373
Months into 2373, the Cantabrian was space-worthy again, with an updated bridge amongst other modifications. Its first mission was to investigate reports of a mysterious dark starship, the latest victim being a runabout Elizabeth Singh was on. (: "Stranger Than Fiction")

While tracking Samantha Delaney and her Dark Starship, the Cantabrian discovered the crashed saucer section of the USS Cartwright, assumed lost in 2360 during the Federation-Tzenkethi War. (: "Bitter Sweet")

Throughout most of 2373, the Cantabrian played a cat-and-mouse game with the Dark Starship. While the Cantabrian was, in most cases, unable to cause significant damage to the Dark Starship due to temporal flux, she was successful in sustaining light to moderate damage and escape the Dark Starship ' s temporal weapon. (: "Best Served Cold", et al)

Later in the year, Starfleet Command assigned the Cantabrian to pick-up the Kaartali delegation from their home planet. With Captain Noel Turner, second officer Antonio Ramirez and flight controller Tawana Jonar missing, the Cantabrian conducted various sweeps to try to find the lost shuttlecraft. Right before the Cantabrian left to return on the course to Earth, the shuttlecraft was discovered. (: "The Fire In Which We Burn")

Near the end of the year, the Cantabrian led a small Starfleet fleet against Delaney's Dark Starship, pushing towards Earth. In a bold move, Turner ordered the Cantabrian to stop Delaney at any cost, and the ship was severely damaged in the process. The crew abandoned ship, and the Cantabrian suffered a warp core breach, destroying the ship. (: "By All Means Necessary")

Crew

 * List of USS Cantabrian (NCC-24705) personnel