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-- U.S.S. LIGHTNING --
HISTORY
The U.S.S. Lightning is truly a historic name. Passed down from early missions, the Lightning lineage is debated to be even more famous than that of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Though it has a legendary legacy, the C.O.'s of the Lightning often have untimely deaths. Out of the six Lightning commandants, 3 were killed (50%), 1 is in the Borg , 1 is presumed dead, and 1 is alive.
Command Record
U.S.S. Lightning - Captain Robert O'Neil 2245-2288 -- DESTROYED (Romulan
fleet)
U.S.S. Lightning A - Captain George Tavney 2289-2300 -- C.O. DEATH
(Tholian ambush)
Commander Samuel Becker 2301-2319 (promoted to Captain in 2311) -- PRESUMED
DESTROYED (Q entity)
U.S.S. Lightning B - Captain Peter Mornton 2320-2370 --DESTROYED (Nexus
ribbon)
U.S.S. Lightning C - Captain Lewis Fields 2375-2380 -- C.O. MISSING
(Assimilated by Borg)
Commander Khilara Jayvek 2380-present -- IN SERVICE
U.S.S. Lightning -- Hamilton Class -- 2245-2288
In
2245 the Lightning was commissioned under the promise of a new protection
against Klingon threats to colonists and in wars. Its first mission, under
Captain Robert O'Neil, was an escort of a vessel into Klingon territory, which
it performed wonderfully. After a five year defensive mission, the U.S.S.
Lightning was assigned to explorer duty, similar to that of Constitution class
ships. Its contributions included negotiating seventeen peace treaties, saving
over eighteen thousand people over sixteen disasters, recovering records from
deep in Klingon territory, saving the U.S.S. Tennessee from a hostile entity,
and defending the K8 Space Station from a Klingon attack. In 2280 the Lightning
was assigned into Romulan territory to establish a base of operations. It
succeeded, however, eight years later an undercover Romulan in the form of
a Vulcan science officer notified the Tal Shiar of the existence of the base
and it and the Lightning were completely destroyed by a Romulan fleet. No
survivors were reported.
U.S.S. Lightning-A -- Lightning Class -- 2289-2319
After
the original Lightning was destroyed, the public grieved for its loss. Starfleet
quickly commissioned a new ship and gave it to Captain George Tavney, a friend
of the late Captain O'Neil. The new ship was well received and its fame quickly
grew. It took three five year explorer type missions, during which its contributions
included exposing a Klingon spy, defending two colonies against unknown odds.
It also was the first ship to encounter the Borg, though until recently, Starfleet
did not know of this. Under the protection of the Lightning, several important
ambassadors survived assassination attempts. The Lightning took part in thirteen
fleet battles, surviving each one. It escorted Dr. Marcus III to the new Genesis
device space station and also helped terraform twenty-eight planets. In 2300,
a Tholian ship ambushed the Lightning, killing several crew, including the
captain. Commander Samuel Becker took over, effectively defeating the Tholians
and commanding missions until 2319 when the Lightning disappeared, presumed
destroyed. The last words heard in the flight log were "being called
Q".
U.S.S. Lightning-B -- Northern Class -- 2320-2370
The
loss of the Lightning-A and of the accomplished Samuel Becker was a blow to
the morale of Starfleet. Captain Peter Mornton was stationed on the nearby
starship U.S.S. Imperative when he heard of the disaster, and volunteered
for command of the new Lightning. The Northern Class ship was built in 2320,
and immediately resumed a 50 year tour of duty that is perhaps the most famous
of all ships. In the first five years, Lightning-B was stationed as a research
vessel, observing the Pollus Nebula and other phenomena. It fell under attack
in 2324 by two Romulan ships and successfully fended both off in an attack
immortally recognized as "Peter's Bluff". Captain Mornton and his
crew received commendations and the ship was given duty as a heavy cruiser,
patrolling the Neutral Zone. This lasted for twenty years, during which at
least thirty-nine Romulan ships were held back from Federation territory and
spies were exposed. The Lightning was attacked by three Romulan Warbirds,
damaging it and returning it to starbase for several months. Afterwards, the
Lightning received explorer duty, founding several colonies and making startling
scientific, cartographical, and politcal discoveries. The Lightning-B was
on of the ships at Wolf 359, where it was a key element in the defense. The
life of the Lightning-B ended abruptly in 2370 when it was destroyed by the
Nexus ribbon.
U.S.S. Lightning-C -- Sovereign Class -- 2375-present
In
2375 the most powerful of the Lightning lineage was commissioned, to a record-breaking
crowd of spectators. Over twenty thousand people showed up to watch the first
cruise. The fourth Lightning was assigned a five year mission as an explorer
and continued the tradition of its ancestry under the experienced command
of Captain Lewis Fields. It was a key element in escorting and exploring,
charting several sectors of space. On the way back from the mission, however,
a Borg cube struck the Lightning, rendering it helpless. Ninety-four percent
of the crew, including all the senior officers except the first officer, who
was killed. Only a small portion of the crew was able to make it back to starbase,
where they received commendations. A new crew was assigned in 2380, with the
command of recently decorated Commander Khilara Jayvek, a noted Starfleet
officer. The new crew was hardly on the ship when news was received of a Maquis
attack on Mars...
to be continued...
