USS TIBERIUS
NCC - 1222
The TIBERIUS was first commissioned in 2251 as a Mark II Detroyat-Class starship. She was commissioned to replace the USS MIRAMAR • NCC - 1102 which had been reclassified as a Heavy Scout, and is considered to be her sister-ship. The TIBERIUS, originally the USS AERFEN • NCC - 1112 was listed as a Destroyer Escort and served alongside the refitted Mark I ships.She launched in 2257 alongside the other Mark IIs:
- USS BORIDI • NCC - 1115
- USS LAFFER • NCC - 1119
- USS LONGBEACH • NCC - 1120
Approximately two years after the refitted Mark Is began service. The delay resulted from the Mark IIs requiring completely new construction, rather than refitting a Mark I into a Mark II.
Her first command was Captain Hunter, who immediately made a considerable reputation with her defence of the GANJITSU colony. Hunter would remain in command of the AERFEN until her death in the line of duty, 2268. During Hunter's 11 year command, the AERFEN developed a reputation for exemplary, if sometimes insubordinate, service.
It was also during Hunter's command that the ship became known for its unique phoenix-eagle insignia.
The AERFEN's primary duties involved border patrol with the Klingon Empire, and core command of a small squadron. Like others of her class, she was a highly maneuverable ship with a cruising speed of Warp 7 - 8. This cruising speed was considerably higher than other similarly-sized classes, and was one of the defining features of the Mark II Detroyat-Class, as a speedy, versatile attack specialist.
Like the other Mark II Detroyat-Class she was retired in the 2270s.
By then, her duties had been largely abrogated due to the Organian Peace Treaty. Where the Detroyat were more agile than the equivalent Klingon vessels, they struggled to compete with the Romulan Bird-of-Preys.
The USS AERFEN • NCC - 1222 was planned in 2272 and commissioned in 2273, almost 100 years from the decomissioning of the Mark II ship. The Mark III Detroyat-Class reimagined the ships from their heyday as acrobatic and swift battleships, with significant updates to their technology.
- Photon Torpedo Launchers: 6
- Phaser Banks: 2 Type-U Pulse
- Phaser Arrays: 12 Type-XII
- Shuttlecrafts: 2 Type-14 USS LE-MATYA and USS LEO
- Max Speed: Warp 9.975
- Cruising Speed: Warp 9
Of note, the Mark III has been designed to sustain Warp 9. Further, despite being almost half the size of the PROMETHEUS, she boasts similar weaponry potential.
The five planned Mark IIIs were intended for use in the Dominion War, though all saw less than a year of active war service. Of the five planned vessels, only four would be completed:
- USS TIBERIUS • NCC - 1222
- USS AMOSARR • NCC - 1223
- USS ATLIRITH • NCC - 1224
- USS ANTAAK • NCC - 1225
A fifth vessel was planned with the tentative name AILAM to honour Cardassian allies, but was ultimately not completed due to time-constraints and controversy around Cardassia's position in the war.
Since beginning active service, the TIBERIUS has seen the most use providing relief and aid in emergencies. Like her sisters, their high cruise speed and ability to reach bursts of Warp 9.975 allows them to arrive swiftly. However, her considerable weapon capabilities have seen significantly less active duty.
The dimunitive size and rarely utilized armaments of the Mark III Detroyats has led to an interesting reputation in their six years of duty:
"A Grishnar cub! Tiny and harmless - as suits the Federation. We named one after a mere Doctor."
Commander Sorval of the Klingon Empire
Aside from the controversy of the incompleted AILAM, there was also issues surrounding the naming of the NCC - 1222. Originally intended to draw on the battle reputation of the Mark II AERFEN, trouble arose when Hunter's grandaughter released her final personal log, where the Captain made it clear if a ship was ever to be named in her honour then it should be instead called the James T. Kirk, since:
"He'll hate it [static], but damned if [static]. How's that for spit and polish, Jim ... [static] honour serving with you."This added to existing displeasure over the name, as the newly completed Mark III would not be painted in the AERFEN's iconic insignia. Public sentiment was that the ship was drawing on a reputation it had not earned, and without the spirit of the original AERFEN.
However, it has long been recorded as the wishes of James Kirk that he did not want a ship to bear his name. When this was initially proposed following the V'ger incident, he stated:
"I have no desire to saddle a ship with the name James-T-Kirk. Can you imagine? What a mouthful! Why I think it'd fall out of the sky just on the principle of the matter."To compromise with Kirk's known wishes, public opinion and the publicity of a war hero's dying request, the vessel was re-christened the USS TIBERIUS • NCC - 1222 shortly after coming into service.
Although the schematics for the Mark II and Mark III Detroyat-class are still classified, the schematics for the Mark I are provided below.
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