Starbase 456

Starbase 456
Technical Details
Class:	Regula Class Type II
Designation:	SB-456
Location:	Hermes System
Commission Date:	2347
Assignment
Crew Information
Commanding Officer:	Commander Jerome Kyle
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 as 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.