U.S.S. Erebus NCC-16023:

Crew: 535 [Maximum: 600]

Officers: 45

N.C.O.'s: 490

Cruising Warp: 6.

Maximum warp: 8.

Height: 86m.

Width: 175m.

Length: 310m.

Phasers: 12 Turrets.

Torpedo Launchers: 3 [2 Foward, 1 Aft].

Torpedo Compliment: 100.

Warp Engines: MARA

Impulse Engines: Standard

Computer System: DCLD - Duotronic Computer Library Database [Author's Note: Later upgraded to LCARS]

Expected Duration: 100 Years

Time Between Resupply: 3 Years

Time Between Refits: 5 Years

Shuttlecraft: 5 [Various types]

Starship primary mission: Planetary and Deep-Space Exploration.

Designation: Heavy Cruiser

The Mission:

Named for one of the two ships in the ill-fated, but successful, expedition by Sir John Franklin to discover the North West Passage. This Constellation class cruiser, part of the Eighth Fleet, was assigned to monitor the far side of the Klingon Empire. Starfleet routinely monitored this area as it was where the Klingon Empire was able to acquire new sources of minerals to rebuild the Empire. Operating from Starbase 64, Erebus was assigned to remain within international space and monitor the Klingons. Captain Ruhat Ph’lynx from Rigel III was assigned to command the Erebus; his previous assignments included the Kestrel class U.S.S. Sparrowhawk and the Phantom class U.S.S. Ghost.

Captain Ph’lynx was aware of the presence of a Phantom class scout, much in the way the Ghost had been used during his time aboard; Starfleet Intelligence would pass on useful information from the scout but not reveal her name or location. Starfleet used their long-range Constellation class cruisers to circumvent this unexplored space discreetly to see what the Klingons would discover next.

The presence of the Erebus was not broadcast to either the Klingons; Starfleet did not want to have their exploration misinterpreted as imperialistic expansionism. The Erebus had detected warp signatures in vast numbers, the issue was these were from the opposite direction to the Klingon Star Empire. The Erebus kept their distance whilst monitoring them. The surprise on Latvian science officer Lieutenant Kristine Balodis’ face when the Universal Translator identified the race as members of the Klingon.