Starbase 456
| |
| Starbase 456 | |
| Technical Details | |
| Class: | |
| Designation: |
SB-456 |
| Location: | |
| Commission Date: |
2347 |
| Assignment | |
| Fleet: |
Fifth Fleet |
| Task Force: |
Task Force 15 |
| Crew Information | |
| Commanding Officer: | |
| Status: |
Active |
| [ Source ] | |
Starbase 456 is a Federation Starbase located in the Hermes Star System on the very edge of Federation controlled space. Due to the base's proximity to the Gorn Border SB-456 served as a major staging and defensive point for Star Fleet forces during the Gorn Crisis of 2382-83. Starbase 456 currently serves as the launching point for all Star Fleet ships heading to the Isis Arm.
Base History
Conception & Construction
A report commissioned by the Federation Council in the 2330’s had found that several rapidly growing Federation worlds near the Gorn Border were badly undefended. In order to address this Star Fleet officials began to investigate the possibility of establishing a new modern Starbase in the area to serve as a key strategic defensive outpost for Star Fleet and as a centralised hub for the region’s ongoing scientific work. Several possible star systems were scouted as possible locations for the new base including the Cestus System where the Federation had recently restabilised a presence. Cestus was quickly ruled out by Star Fleet Command as the system was viewed by many as being too hazardous a location due to the aggressive nature of the Gorn Hegemony. Not wanting to provoke any military response from the Hegemony Star Fleet opted to settle on a location further away from the border. After months of debate Star Fleet settled on the Hermes System which was home to a large growing Federation Colony to serve as the location for their new base.
Utilising the new and considerably larger Regula Type II design, construction work commenced on the newly dubbed Starbase 456 in early 2342. With assistance from the Hermes’ Colony construction on the SB-456 was completed several months ahead of schedule in 2347. After extensive testing of the base’s systems and equipment Starbare 456 was commissioned later in the year by the Sector Commander Rear Admiral Mikhailovich who moved his flag to the new Starbase.
Unlocking the Isis Arm
Throughout the 2350’s Starbase 456 was the focal point for all of Star Fleet’s operations in and around the Gorn Border and served as home for the Sixth Fleet’s Task Force 34. During these years Star Fleet started to look beyond its borders and started to explore the large and seemly empty region of space that would become known as The Abbott’s Void, with Starbase 456 serving as a launching point for these long term manned and unmanned missions. Star Fleet’s interest wasn’t in the void itself but in the vast sea of stars that laid beyond it in an area of the galaxy known as the Isis Arm, which was viewed as an area ripe for future expansion.
In 2358 the USS Constellation under the command of Captain Victoria Abbott departed SB-456 on a long term assignment in the void. During its mission the Constellation deployed a number of long range communication relays and launched several deep space probes bound for the Arm before returning to SB-456. This mission was followed up in 2361 by the USS Armstrong with Captain Kieran Harper in command. The Armstrong was the first Federation starship to cross the vast distance of the void and arrived in the Orpheus System on the outskirts of the Isis Arm ten months later. The Armstrong spent a month surveying the system before making the long trip back to Federation space. Following the Armstrong’s successful mission and return Star Fleet began to draw up plans to establish a permanent presence in the Orpheus System with Starbase 456 at the forefront of these plans.
Decline
In the 2360’s while Star Fleet continued to work on their plans in regards to the Isis Arm they were confronted with a major problem. Rapid growth and further expansion in the Federation-Gorn border area was starting to outpace the capacity of SB-456, which also lacked a central location. This along with the renewed presence of the Gorn along the border led Star Fleet to consider the idea of building a new Starbase in the area. In 2368 Star Fleet Command signed off on plans to build a massive Spacedock Facility in the Alexandria System. Construction work commenced on the new base which be known as Starbase 99 in the early months of 2369. SB-456 continued to serve as the Star Fleet’s primary port of call while Starbase 99 was built and brought online. Following SB-99’s commissioning in 2378 most of Star Fleet’s operations in the sector were moved to the new much larger and more centralised location with only a small detachment from Task Force 34 remaining at the station. Despite this SB-456 continued to serve as an important economic and research centre for the Federation and the still growing Hermes Colony.
A New Role
Pending.
The Gorn Crisis
Pending.
