Created by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane on Aug 16, 2016 @ 2:54am

USS NOVA (NCC-7000)

The USS NOVA, NCC-7000, was a Nova-class starship in service from 2412-2413. She was the lead ship of her class and the fourth Starfleet vessel to bear the name. Following the Battle of Coriana III, Starfleet decided to bring its recently-constructed Nova-class series online to boost its flagging numbers. There had previously been a Nova-class scout design active in Starfleet fifty years previously, but that design had been decommissioned for some time. The new Nova-class starship design incorporated many new technological advances, such a bio-regenerative hull matrix. Not heavily armed and with only twenty decks, the Nova-class starships were nevertheless to have a varied mission focus, able to respond quickly to any task deemed necessary. With NCC numbers ranging between 7000-7019, the Nova-class ships were all to be named after known constellations and galaxies.

Launched from Starbase 4 in early 2412 under Captain Elspeth Renata, the new USS Nova spent her first year helping with the rebuilding programme following the end of the Seventh War of Retribution, notably revisiting Coriana III to help with the construction of an orbital monument to the fallen of the great battle. At the beginning of 2413, Captain Elizabeth Allen assumed command of the ship, and the Nova was instrumental in assisting with the location and safe extraction of a dangerous Kem D'Neel weapons cache on an isolated planet.

Toward the end of the year, Captain Troy Svenson was assigned the centre seat. The Nova was dispatched to Vega, where a squadron of Romulan Warbirds had arrived. At that time, the planet Vulcan had (to the shock of its neighbours) seceded from the Federation and achieved political reunification with their Romulan cousins. Anxious at this potential shift in power, the Federation moved a fleet towards the Vega system to reinforce the orbiting Vigilance Platform, but the Nova was the first to arrive, followed shortly afterward by the USS Odyssey.

Entering negotiations with the Romulan fleet commander proved fruitless. Without warning, the Romulan fleet attacked the Vigilance Platform, crippling it and engaging the Odyssey and Nova in battle. The Nova stood no chance against the Romulan Warbirds, and after a short battle where she was heavily damaged, Captain Svenson ordered the ship abandoned. Most of the crew's escape pods landed safely on Vega, but they had the displeasure of seeing the USS Nova burn up in the atmosphere, bringing a tragic end to a promising career. The Romulan Incursion had begun, and the USS Nova was its first casualty.

As a side-note, Starfleet modified the Nova-class design in 2414. The new Mark-II Nova-class was beefed up with more defensive systems, being rebranded as a destroyer.