USS Pittsburgh

Created by Captain Rachele Rivers on 01/24/2012 @ 12:02pm

The USS Pittsburgh is a New Orleans-class vessel currently under the command of Captain Speaker-of-Names, former commander of Starbase 10. The starship is assigned to lead a small contingent of Starfleet vessels in the defense of the border, and to spearhead diplomatic efforts.

The Kzinti Incursions

Following the final Borg invasion of Federation space, Kzinti starships began crossing the border, raiding trade lanes and smaller Federation colonies. These starships are considered rogue elements by the Kzinti government officially, however there is evidence that the starships are being pulled from the government's stockpile of mothballed police vessels. (However, Starfleet Intelligence has data on an advanced Kzinti dreadnought which appears to be leading the rogue vessels.) Starfleet was first alerted to these incursions after the destruction of the U.S.S. Arcturus, a Miranda-class vessel on sector patrol in Alpha-Centauri. The starship's last transmission includes visuals and preliminary tactical data on the Kzinti dreadnought.

With so many lost to the Borg invasion, Starfleet has divided its forces the best it can, responding to each threat by level of severity. Due to the demilitarization of the Kzinti Hedgmony, these police vessels used by the rogue Kzinti elements have the firepower equivalent of later 23rd century Starfleet vessels. This information, coupled with other threats such as the Klingon, Romulan, and Breen to contend with, prompted Starfleet's decision to send a small task force of older Starfleet vessels to the Kzinti front, led by the USS Pittsburgh.

Starfleet's Kzinti Task Force

• NCC-65495 USS Pittsburgh, New Orleans-class (task force flagship)
• NCC-64923 USS Budapest, Norway-class
• NCC-42103 USS Pholos, Centaur-class
• NCC-61822 USS Montgolfier, Saber-class
• NCC-9754 USS Victory, Constellation-class
• NCC-3890 USS Gettysburg, Constellation-class

The Kzinti Task Force is comprised of ships from several different Starfleet fleets, and mixed crews from several different fleets to staff them. Most notably, the USS Pittsburgh has a bridge crew primarily comprised of Lotus Fleet officers. Until recently, Lieutenant Commander Rachele Rivers served as second officer and tactical/security, while Commander Kyran served briefly as chief engineer. Ensign Yylna meanwhile served as the ship's communication's officer.

Mission Pods

The USS Pittsburgh is fitted with three interchangable mission pods, with several more pods available at the starship's main port, Starbase 25. Currently, the starship is equipped with the following pods:

• Type X Tactical Pod - This pod is equipped with two burst 5 torpedo launchers, mounted fore and aft, as well as two type-X phaser arrays each, starboard and port. The complement of torpedoes is primarily photon, with ten quantums included. This pod is mounted below the starship's secondary hull.
• Type VII Sensor Pod - This pod comes equipped with a suite of powerful long-range sensors aimed fore of the vessel. Operation requires a New Orleans-class vessel to power down all engines and weapons, as the power drain on the vessel can be quite severe. This pod is mounted on the port saucer hardpoint.
• Type IX Emergency Rescue Pod - This pod is equipped with a spare tractor emitter, a shuttle bay holding three Argo-type shuttlecraft, and a large, habitable space. The sides of the pod are fitted with docking ports for recovered escape pods, as well as docking clamps and airlocks to aid in the evacuation of starships and travel pods. This pod is mounted on the starboard saucer hardpoint

Retirement

Prior to the Borg invasion, the USS Pittsburgh was slated to be retired and replaced with the Akira-class USS Pittsburgh still in construction. That ship has been assigned the registry NCC-94941. Captain Speaker has been notified that as soon as Starfleet's ship shortage is addressed, the current Pittsburgh (NCC-65495) will be retired permanently.