The Andromeda galaxy is a significantly larger spiral galaxy nearly 2.3 million light years from the Milky Way and is nearly twice its size. It is believed that the Andromeda galaxy has ‘eaten’ another, smaller galaxy, making it much more volatile and also filled with much more matter than a similarly sized galaxy. Visitors to the Andromeda galaxy would find supernova remnants, singularities, rogue planets, comets and asteroid belts and fields a common occurrence. It was also believed that in the probably 30 billion years since this merger occurred, much of the cataclysm of the event would have subsided. Travelers were expected to find that most - if not nearly all - older stars would have a sizable planetary system due to the added material of the other galaxy eventually being pulled into the gravity well of stars.

Even in the 24^th century, making concrete observations about a galaxy 2.3 million light years away is a dubious task. While individual masses have been singled out, very few of the conjectures above have been proven. If anything, the observations that had been made raised more speculation. Since the mid-23^rd century, when the USS Enterprise was confronted with the impassible ‘Galactic Barrier’, most inhabitants of the Milky Way had dismissed the possibility of exploring other galaxies. Interest in the observation of other galaxies is generally focused toward gathering data to help understand phenomena in our own galaxy.

In the last few weeks of the year 2375, an uncharted wormhole appeared deep in Federation space, along a familiar trade route. Originally reported by the Federation Merchant Marine ship FMS Granger, it was reported to Starfleet almost immediately but orders to keep the wormhole’s presence secret came too late. Even if other craft traveling the often used shipping lane had not observed it, crewmen aboard the FMS Granger were gossiping about it at their next stop long before the gag order was issued from Earth.

Two Akira-class ships were dispatched to help reroute traffic away from the wormhole, citing a subspace disturbance as the reason, while a passing Oberth-class surveyor en route to Utopia Planitia Shipyards to be decommissioned was sent to make initial observations on the phenomena. The vessel, ironically, was the USS Hubble - named for the astronomer who identified Andromeda as a separate galaxy.

Initial probes sent through the wormhole revealed this irony to the crew. The probe signals through the wormhole were weak, but the constellations matched no known position in the Milky Way galaxy. It wasn’t until the USS Hubble uplinked to the data of an astronomer at the Vulcan Science Academy that the destination of the wormhole was revealed. The crew was excited to discover that there may indeed be a way for the inhabitants of the Milky Way to explore Andromeda. The sector on the other side of the Wormhole was already being termed Sector ‘001-A', the first sector to be mapped in the new galaxy.

It wasn’t until more probes were sent through the wormhole that the excitement died. The aperture of the wormhole was shrinking slightly with each probe that was sent through. It was discovered that the more mass that passed through the wormhole, the faster it would collapse. If a significant number of ships were sent through, they would be stranded on the other side, perhaps forever. Discovery that the wormhole appeared to be intermittent did not cause spirits to soar. While the wormhole could reappear periodically, it might take centuries, eons or longer for it to reappear.

While large expeditions into the Andromeda galaxy through the wormhole were deemed unfeasible, a vocal minority of the scientific community, both Starfleet and civilian, advocated limited firsthand exploration. Starfleet Command forbid passage, however, wanting instead to find a way to keep the wormhole open. Despite objections, Starfleet Command held firm and posted cruisers to enforce their edict.

The pro-exploration scientists gained an unexpected ally against the preservationist views of Starfleet Headquaters. Rolin Turell, a Bajoran leader amongst thousands of displaced colonists who had lost their home due to the establishment of the Demilitarized Zone and the following Dominion War, had been petitioning the Federation Council for several years for a suitable location for resettlement with Federation space. Naturally several hundred locations were available, but the stubborn colonists stuck to their narrow definition of ‘suitable’, originally in the hopes that the Federation would allow them to return to their homes but later as a form of political protest.

When initial news of the wormhole was leaked, there was passing interest in the civilian news services, mainly about other civilizations requesting permission to study the wormhole - most notably the Romulans, Ferengi, and Tholians. Starfleet Command released information designed to stall the diplomatic process of granting potentially hostile races access.  They claimed that the wormhole was releasing a subspace flux which was causing a disastrous fluctuation in the electroplasma systems of their starships.

Since news of the true nature of the wormhole became public, Starfleet had its hands full dealing with the diplomatic ramifications of having their cover story blown and trying to come up with legitimate reasons to keep the starships of other empires away. The rallying cry of the scientists to explore became louder  to use the wormhole before someone else uses it and the opportunity is lost. It was joined by colonists such as Rolin Turell and others, who reasoned that if explorers would get stranded on the other side of the wormhole they may as well be settlers who are actually prepared to stay there.

Because the wormhole was in Federation space and initially reported by an official Federation vessel, ownership of the wormhole was firmly established in interstellar law. While refusing to let others observe the wormhole could cause a diplomatic incident, it was still possible to use stalling tactics and force to protect the wormhole. It was hoped that this would be enough to prevent a vessel from sneaking or rushing through it, shrinking -- or in the case of several vessels -- sealing the portal.

This would give enough time for the Federation to hear all requests to explore, colonize, attempt to preserve or otherwise use the wormhole.  The preservationists were fighting a losing battle, however, because  there were too many variables:  Would they inadvertently collapse the wormhole in trying to find a way to maintain it?  Would other civilizations sabotage or interfere?  How long would Starfleet have to commit starships to the task of defending the wormhole?

A unique plan to combine the requests of the colonists, scientists and pro-exploration Starfleet personnel was submitted to the Federation Council from a decorated officer. Commodore Walter Westlake, most recently posted to the Office of Colonial Affairs and formerly of the Starfleet diplomatic service, presented his plan for a joint Starfleet/civilian colonization and exploration expedition.

The Andromeda Project was one of the most involved, audacious colonization proposals ever submitted in known history. Westlake gained support from almost every advocate of crossing the wormhole despite individual goals. By throwing in with Westlake, they believed they had the best chance of gaining the Council’s favor. Westlake himself argued vehemently for the Project.

Westlake’s powerful words influenced the Federation Council to adopt his plans. Preparations for the execution of the Andromeda Project would begin immediately. According to his outline, if all went according to plan, the Federation would be able to send enough ships through the wormhole prior to its collapse to satisfy just about everyone. If the full complement of ships could indeed pass through, the colonists could be supported by Starfleet and in short time the colonists could be in a position to support Starfleet in turn. A new Federation was about to be born, with Westlake at the helm

Fleet depletion due to several long conflicts and an intensive war caused Westlake to carefully consider the ships that would make up the infrastructure of the Andromeda Project. Starfleet would be reluctant to commit any number ships that could be significant in the defense of the Federation. Westlake and his fellow planners also had to consider mass of the Project fleet, because the wormhole would shrink as more matter passed through it and at some point would become impassable.

It was finally decided that six ships would pass through the wormhole. A friend of the Commodore from his days serving on an exploration vessel was lead engineer in the salvage of systems and parts from decommissioned or severely damaged starships. It was from this friend, Commander Darva of Tellar, that he got the idea to put the USS Hubble to use and fulfill its destiny with Andromeda.

Commander Darva was working on plans to convert disused starships into remote outposts for easy, rapid deployment. Commodore Westlake was not only impressed enough with the idea to want to put it to use in his Andromeda Project, he also asked Commander Darva if she would volunteer to be the Project’s lead engineer. Darva agreed, and soon she was busy stripping and refitting the small ship for its journey and imminent conversion into Space Station Hubble. This space station would defend and support the colony and serve as a headquarters for the remaining Starfleet ships in the mission.

Two of the five other ships were within 10 years or less of being decommissioned and were chosen for the purposes of exploration and defense. These ships were Miranda class - the USS Fearless and the USS Valiant.  The final standard starship committed to the Andromeda Project was the Ambassador class USS Horizon.

Problems were anticipated in staffing these ships. The Andromeda Project was a volunteer mission and each post would have to be filled by qualified personnel. Those who volunteered would be traveling into unexplored space in defense of a colony effort that could meet with any number of obstacles or threats with no chance of return. Westlake was surprised when they not only got a sufficient number of volunteers, they had to turn away many Starfleet personnel, particularly from the science division.

The biggest surprise was from the crew of the USS Valiant. Four years prior, during its final refit, the Valiant had replaced most of its crew with fresh young officers and enlisted. It was a border ‘cutter’, a defense ship that had little contact with civilization. Most of the young men and women assigned had little or no ties to the Alpha Quadrant. Almost the entire crew volunteered to remain with the ship on this mission. Westlake was impressed by the gesture and almost all of the volunteers of the Valiant were quickly approved.

Finally, two Deneva class transports would carry 1000 colonists, as well as all the necessary materials to establish a small colony and support five ships until the Project could become self-sustaining. The USS Wainwright and the USS Urdu were the most modern large craft assigned to the mission, 19 and 22 years in service, respectively. They would also carry the Colony Habitat Landers, designed by civilian engineer Jake Harmon for use with the Deneva class. Harmon and his wife themselves successfully applied as colonists for the Project.

While Human and Bajoran colonists were the main petitioners for colonization, having lost colonies in the Demilitarized Zone and the Dominion War, many others applied for colonization once the mission became official. Many people among the major races of the Federation were also chosen for the colonization effort. To be fair to member worlds, the Federation decided to choose the racial diversity of the remaining 43% of the non-refugee applicants based on the number of applicants from each race. The numbers were then rounded off so that each race would have a significant population base.

Some races, like the Benzite, had significantly more applicants than other races. It was found that races like the Benzite, the Bolians and the Betelgeusans who have cultural values emphasizing achievement were the most common non-refugee applicants. Other races, such as the Vulcans and the Tellarites, were made up of people who applied for the sake of knowledge and discovery, or the challenge of building a civilization from the ground up, respectively.

Surprisingly, several standoffish races such as the Zakdorn and the Bynar had significant applicants as well. Social scientists attribute the Zakdorn’s interest to their race’s penchant for individual competition. The Bynar mystified sociologists, however, and the Federation screening committee finally had to ask the diminutive cybernauts why they believed so many Bynars had applied. It seems that like the Tellarites, Bynars enjoy engineering challenges, particularly when it comes to computer engineering. It was the dream of several Bynars to create the ultimate communication and computer network for the new colony. A high number of Grazerites also applied, although this was mainly attributable to the main goals of Grazerite explorers - finding new crops and exotic foods.

Application for colonization was not a guarantee. There were a limited number of places open due to the mass limitations imposed by the wormhole. The Federation also realized that a successful colony would have to be balanced in terms of individual strengths and skills, and that the psychological makeup of each applicant would have to be evaluated.

The refugee colonists who once supported Westlake’s proposal for a joint mission as their best chance to cross the wormhole suddenly realized that not everyone would get to go under his plan. While many of the refugee applicants protested, it was decided that the best colonists for the mission would be able to cope with the hardships and challenges of a colony cut off from the rest of civilization.  The prospective colonists eliminated in the process had no choice but to accept the Federation's criteria.

Other factors the Federation screened applicants for included indications of irrational or violent behavior and racial intolerance. Several applicants were eliminated not because of their individual profiles, but because a family member was declined that they were not willing to leave behind. If any term could be used to describe the majority of the colonists, it is well-adjusted.

The Andromeda Colony will be one of the most diverse, skilled and determined groups of colonists ever assembled. Well aware this would be the most ambitious colonization effort in known history, the Federation and Starfleet endeavored to get the right balance of scientists, explorers, engineers, farmers, healers, laborers, artisans and merchants for a successful colony.

23.5% of the colonists are comprised of family units in one form or another. The remaining 76.5% are single, individual colonists. Average family unit size is three.

91.2% are of the age of majority (physically mature adults with full legal rights as defined by culture and race).

Human and Bajoran colonists are comprised almost entirely of Demilitarized Zone and Dominion War refugees (97.9%), in order to satisfy the original petitioners for Andromeda galaxy settlement.