USS Blackbird
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USS Blackbird NCC-89901 is an Osler-class Federation starship which was assigned to Sirius Squadron in Fourth Fleet Operations. A small and hyper-specialised ship, the Blackbird is sent on missions requiring a small team of specialists acting unobtrusively. This includes tactical operations and missions of subterfuge, but also complex away missions requiring scientific or engineering expertise. Although the Blackbird's default configuration prepares her for law enforcement, infiltration, or surveillance operations, she is capable of a range of missions, including reconnaissance ahead of first contact or courier assignments into volatile regions.
Blackbird is the platform for a special operations team, the Reconnaissance Operations and Covert Action Section (ROCAS), universally referred to as the Rooks. Team leader Commander Hal Cassidy has operational command of the Blackbird, serving as the ship's CO. From time to time, key officers from Sirius Squadron may join the Blackbird on its assignments, providing essential expertise or acting in overall command of delicate missions.
Due to her size and limited facilities, the Blackbird often operates directly out of Gateway Station or is deployed within several days' travel of a larger ship of the squadron, such as the USS Sirius herself.
History
2401
- October: The Blackbird is assigned to Sirius Squadron, with the special operations team 'Rooks' posted aboard. Blackbird's operational priority is the transportation and support of the Rooks and their missions.
- November: Intelligence Specialist John Rosewood is assigned to the Rooks.
- Blackbird and the Rooks are sent to Tau Mervana in the old Romulan Neutral Zone to find and escort a defector from the Romulan Free State. The Rooks successfully find and extract her, evading the efforts of the Tal Shiar to intercede.
- December: The Rooks resolve a hostage crisis on the Former Demilitarized Zone world of Nitrion IV, where True Way terrorists attempt to seize control of a city's water filtration plant.
- Blackbird is assigned to respond to the surge in black market trade of dangerous technologies. With aid of the Syndicate crime boss Torrad-Var, the Rooks infiltrate an exclusive black market auction on the moon of Ilior to secure the Kairos Regulator, a stolen and sensitive piece of Starfleet technology.
- In securing the Regulator, the Rooks discover and kill a Changeling infiltrator of the Orion Syndicate. They are subsequently betrayed when one of their own, Lieutenant Tiran, also reveals themselves as a Changeling, and steals the Regulator. The Rooks and the Blackbird successfully hunt the Changeling down, eliminating them and recovering the Regulator.
- During this pursuit, the Rooks locate a 'chop shop' in the Neutral Zone, a facility where xBs are murdered for their implants, which are then sold on. The facility is destroyed.
- Infiltration Specialist Q'ira Zherul, former member of the Orion Syndicate, is given a provisional commission and assigned to the Rooks.
2402
- January-February: The Blackbird conducts surveillance operations across the Federation-Klingon border.
- March: Sirius Squadron, including the Blackbird, are ordered to withdraw to Gateway Station as the effects of the Blackout begin to spread. The unit is subsequently trapped in the vicinity of the Midgard System.
- April: The Nightfall Incursion. Sirius Squadron is ordered to use a graviton catapult constructed at Midgard to travel to and liberate Alpha Centauri from Vaadwaur occupation. Blackbird departs ahead of the unit, deploying to Alpha Centauri under stealth to conduct reconnaissance and plan the initial combat operations upon the rest of Sirius's arrival.
- The Battle of Proxima. Ahead of Sirius Squadron's arrival, the Rooks infiltrate the city of Innes, on Proxima III, and destroy a communications tower used to coordinate Vaadwaur operations, sabotaging their defences.
- The Rooks confront the Vaadwaur overseer of the occupation of Proxima, preventing his planned public execution of government officials. The confrontation is transmitted across the Alpha Centauri system, inspiring further acts of resistance in occupied territories.
- In the space battle for Proxima, Blackbird and the Rooks play an integral role saving the boarded USS Liberty from destruction.
- Having liberated Proxima, Sirius Squadron secures spatial supremacy in the regions surrounding the stars Alpha Centauri A/B. The Blackbird plays a key role in harrying Vaadwaur operations and gathering military intelligence.
- The Battle of Proxima. Ahead of Sirius Squadron's arrival, the Rooks infiltrate the city of Innes, on Proxima III, and destroy a communications tower used to coordinate Vaadwaur operations, sabotaging their defences.
- May: Blackbird and the Rooks secure crucial intelligence on the location of the nearby Blackout Outpost, and transponder signatures to aid in infiltrating it.
- The Battle of Alpha Centauri. Sirius Squadron deploys to Alpha Centauri A/B and engages the Vaadwaur defenders to cover Blackbird's entry of Underspace. There, the Rooks locate and board the Blackout Outpost, setting charges before escaping. The destruction of the Blackout Outpost enables the First Fleet to reach Alpha Centauri, and ends the occupation.