TIMELINE (Vers. 1)

2376

The Project Forestall initiative takes form. Licking their wounds after years of conflict with the Borg and the Dominion, some Starfleet Admirals decided that the Federation's open arms policy is what has led to many millions of people dying in wars that might have been prevented. A new policy was formulated: 'Look, see, but don't get caught!'

Many in Starfleet Command didn't like it. They regarded the idea as skulking around in the shadows. It flew in the face of many embedded Starfleet traditions of proud explorers representing the shining ideals of their Federation. Needless to say this mindset was perceived to be part of the original problem, and with hindsight helping to guide the way, Project Forestall became a new directive whose goal was to be applied to selected personnel and ships.

2377

USS Voyager returned with future technology given to them from an alternate timeline's Admiral Janeway, destroying a Borg transwarp hub in the process. The Maquis members of the crew were given full pardons. Those that wanted to continue serving in Starfleet were given 1 years' leave and then reassigned, including the ex-Maquis members. Most of them continued to serve. The USS Voyager was quarantined by Temporal Affairs.

2378

Captain Janeway was promoted to Admiral.

2379

Captain Jean-Luc Picard was ordered to Romulus by Starfleet, after a military coup resulted in a new government being formed, and peace overtures made towards the Federation. This was discovered to be a ploy by the new Praetor, Shinzon of Remus, to lure the Enterprise to Romulus so he could capture Picard and use his DNA to stabilise his own dying body. Shinzon was defeated when his vessel, the Reman warbird Scimitar, was destroyed by Commander Data, who was killed in the process.

After the death of the Reman Praetor Shinzon, the initial approaches between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire were continued, which marked the beginning of a new era of peace for both powers.

William T. Riker was promoted to Captain and took command of the USS Titan.

Beverly Crusher became head of Starfleet Medical.
Captain Riker and Praetor Tenklar created the new Romulan-Federation Treaty of 2379, bringing about an end to all hostilities between Romulus and the Federation. The clause in the Treaty of Algeron that prevented the Federation using cloaking devices was rescinded by the Romulans, allowing the Federation to create and use cloaking devices on Federation starships.
Operation Forestall began,with some Admirals introducing a secret new policy into Starfleet, summarised by: 'Look, see, but don't get caught!' In essence the idea was to use whatever techniques were available to detect and learn about other civilizations but not to allow them to learn of our abilities or even existence until defensive precautions could be taken.

Starfleet Command's reaction to the new concept was somewhat cool. They regarded the idea as 'skulking around in the shadows'. It flew in the face of many embedded Starfleet traditions of proud explorers representing the shining ideals of their Federation. Needless to say this mindset was perceived to be part of the original problem, and with hindsight helping to guide the way, Project Forestall became a new directive to be applied to selected personnel and ships.

2380

The first Romulan / Federation joint fleet operations, led by Captain William Riker, successfully defeated another Borg incursion. Apparently the Borg were trying to rebuild the hub destroyed by USS Voyager 3 years previously. Independent Borg provided Riker's fleet assistance, proving that a large-scale Borg civil war was in progress. This confirmed the suspicions Starfleet had been getting as they picked up large-scale energy bursts from the Borg area of the galaxy, consistent with some incredible high-energy combat.
Growing unrest on Romulus forced the Romulan senate to ban Ambassador Spock from trying to re-unite Romulus and Vulcan. Spock went into hiding.
The USS Talon (Defiant-class) was sent in on a black ops mission to retrieve Ambassador Spock from Romulus - at Spock's request. He had survived one recent assassination attempt on his life by Romulan anti-unification enthusiasts, and felt that staying there would be of no further use. 'It was logical to leave and continue my work, rather than stay and die.'
The USS Tornado defeated a joint Ferengi / Hirogen venture aimed at capturing Federation personnel and resources and using an alien wormhole generator to take them into the Gamma Quadrant for the Hirogen to use as prey. The Tornado destroyed the Ferengi and rescued all of the surviving Federation personnel, but were forced to quickly withdraw to the Alpha Quadrant to defend Starbase Intrepid from a major Hirogen attack using the wormhole generator. The USS Talon was involved in the battle, which was over very quickly, with the Hirogen fleet completely destroyed.
Testing of the wormhole generator by the USS Tornado result ed in an accident that sent the ship into an alternate universe. A backup of the generator was made and used on the USS Hurricane to send a rescue mission after them. The USS Talon was equipped with spare parts and followed the Tornado into the alternate reality.

2381

Project Forestall was openly initiated, with the USS Barantour being the first ship to be part of the operation. The Project was still top secret, but with the launching of the first ship under the new Starfleet policy, it was seen as a new beginning.
Starbase Praetor was re-equipped with more weaponry and defences, as well as the assignment of a large task force based there. Their assignment was to monitor the Typhon Sector, and provide forward-defences against any further Borg incursions from that area.
Lt Commander Alexi Sutton was promoted to Chief of Intelligence based at Starbase Praetor, responsible for intel-gathering in the sector and ensuring the Federation's safety and defence at that area.

2382

The USS Scorpion (Sovereign-class) and the USS Talon came through a wormhole between Tzenkethi and Cardassian space. Captain Aldous, CO of the Scorpion, was abducted by the mysterious Sernaix, and the Scoprion and Talon made their way to Deep Space Nine. Starfleet Command learnt about their 'adventures' in the alternate universe that the Tornado and the Talon went into, and then sent the Scorpion back to where Aldous was abducted in the hope of retrieving him.

They managed to find the Sernaix ship, and sent a marine boarding party to retrieve Aldous. Nearly all were killed however when the Sernaix retaliated . Aldous was retrieved and returned to the Scorpion , and the Sernaix departed . Unfortunately, Captain Aldous was somehow converted into an energy being, seemingly able to survive only within the computer environment of the Scorpion. Diarean, the sentient lifeform that already resided in the Scorpion's computer system, created a virtual reality and holomatrix for Aldous that allowed him to continue his role as Captain of the ship.

After Starfleet Command determined Aldous was fit for duty in his newfound environment, the Scorpion was assigned to Starbase Praetor of the Typhon Sector, where it became the second ship to be part of Project Forestall.
After returning from its first mission of exploration, Admiral Johanson redirected the Scorpion to his own fleet, wanting the unique Sovereign class for his own purposes, also for Project Forestall. Starfleet Command initially rejected the plan, but eventually agreed when Johanson convinced them of his need for the Scorpion's new Slipstream Drive. Aldous went with the ship, renamed the USS Alexia, while his crew was transferred to Starbase Praetor, awaiting their new ship.

A new Pathfinder-class Heavy Exploratory Cruiser was redirected to Starbase Praetor. It was a ship more suitable to Project Forestall's goals in this sector. A new captain was assigned to it, and it was no coincidence that they chose Jim Hawkins, as he had already served with many of the senior staff transferring to the Pathfinder, as well as having plenty of experience to take advantage of. After being renamed the USS Scorpion and having a new Slipstream Drive fitted, along with many other upgrades and refinements, the ship was ready to move out on its first mission. ¹

Timeline Updates

30 August 2004
1. Created version 1 of Timeline, leading up to the Pathfinder being redirected to Praetor, and commanded by Hawkins.