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Sky Harbor Aegis




Using a two pylon system, the first sections of Sky Harbor Aegis became operational on March 23, 2377 (Stardate 0103.23). Though the second pylon of the facility had yet to be completed, the station was brought online in an attempt to start meeting the goals it was designed for. With Federation architecture, Klingon and Romulan weapon systems, Ferengi power systems and a three deck high commerical complex, Sky Harbor Aegis served as a base for trade, commerce and support for the Cardassian star system.

The initial mission of Aegis was to providing medical aide, assist with reconstruction projects, food and shelter, aide the economy where possible and provide stability to the wartorn planet. Under the command of Federation Captain Stephen J. "Bull" Bulloc and Romulan Daise'Erei'Riov (Commander) Kalicia t'Ksa, Aegis continued it's mission to maintain the peace and provided protection to the Cardassian system at a time much else could.


Reconstruction
2377 - 2381

With the reassignment of Daise'Erei'Riov (Commander) Kalicia t'Ksa on July 5, 2377 (Stardate 0107.05), Commander James Tagget was assigned to fill the role of First Officer. This command staff remained until June 28, 2378 (Stardate 0206.28) when both senior officers took extended leaves of absence. During this period, operations started to shift from simply looking at today's problems but starting the process of rebuilding an operational government on the planet. While a provisional entity existed, the effective use of the "government" was limited. By the end of this period, local elections had been held in over half of the planet. In addition, most critical infrastructure had been repaired and was considered operational.

Andorian Captain Frederic Meve was assigned as the station's new Commanding Officer on June 28, 2378 (Stardate 0206.28). His First Officer would not be assigned for another month. On August 30, 2378 (Stardate 0208.30), Commander Nicholas Ayers was transferred to the facility as it's Executive Officer. Initial reaction to this change from locals was mixed, but would be challenged during a required system-wide evacuation. This act would actually eventually cause one third of Cardassia Prime's population to never return, instead moving to several worlds on the edge of Cardassian controlled space.

On February 6, 2380 (Stardate 0402.06), Captain Frederic Meve was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. In addition, Commander Nicholas Ayers was promoted to the rank of Captain. These two advancements were coordinated with charter changes dealing with Sky Harbor Aegis.

Effective February 10, 2380, Sky Harbor Aegis was seated as the primary headquarters for all Starfleet activities within the Cardassian Sector. This change from the role of pure planetary reconstruction was a drastic one, requiring numerous system upgrades and modifications to the station. It has also been admitted this was the first attempt to ensure that Aegis remained operationally effective. As time continued to move forward, the need for the station to provide daily relief to the surface was dropping. Furthermore, negative reaction to the facility's presence was growing as Cardassian society started to once again flourish. In an act to try to help, the station was moved into a free standing system orbit near Cardassia IV.

With the change of the station's status, and the development of rebel terrorist forces on Cardassia Prime, Rear Admiral Frederic Meve resigned as the Commanding Officer of Sky Harbor Aegis. He instead assumed full-time the position of Commander of Starfleet Operations within the Cardassian Sector. This change took place effective June 18, 2380 (Stardate 0406.18), when Captain Nicholas Ayers was officially promoted to the position of Commanding Officer of the station. In addition, long time Chief of Security Lieutenant Commander Ethan Hawke was promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CXO), fulfilling the roles normally assigned to a regular First Officer. It was hoped that this reorganization would allow the station to refocus more on security efforts that were plaguing the system, though resistance from Cardassian elements made such hopes unrealistic.


2382 - 2384

In January 2382 (Stardate 0601.06), Rear Admiral Iruam Goran assumed the role as Commander of Sky Harbor Aegis. Under this structure, Captain Nicholas Ayers continued to serve as Deputy Commander with Commander Ethan Hawke fulfilling the role as Chief Executive Officer (CXO). By the conclusion of 2382, the Breen had reappeared as a viable threat against the Alpha Quadrant. Utilizing previously unknown supplies and stockpiles from the Dominion War, they launched a bold attack on the Cardassian system that nearly destroyed Aegis. Over sixty percent of the station was damaged, once again causing many to question the purpose of the facility. Concerns raised by the Cardassian government about defense prompted its reconstruction. Efforts took less than two months, in large part due to labor and supplies provided by the Cardassian military. Later remarks would suggest this was also done with a secondary objective. While the Cardassian Government officially requested the station be rebuilt, they did not request the presence of Starfleet aboard it. Aiding in the rebuilding of the facility was seen as an attempt to possibly assume control over the base should political pressure cause the Federation and its Allies to depart.

On May 4, 2383 (Stardate 0705.04), Rear Admiral Iruam Goran resigned from active service within Starfleet. Command of Sky Harbor Aegis was immediately given to Captain Nicholas Ayers. His Executive Officer was Commander Muon Quark, long time Chief Security Officer of the facility. With security threats growing, this structure lasted only briefly as Captain Mikel St. John was assigned as Commanding Officer on May 10, 2383 (Stardate 0705.10). Growing distrust from the Cardassian government during this period only caused internal security issues to grow and diplomatic assistance to be refused.

It quickly became clear that refusal by the local government to work with Aegis would require another change, resulting in the promotion and assignment of Captain Muon Quark to the position of Commanding Officer on October 30, 2383 (Stardate 9710.30). One month later, Commander Brian Brown would be assigned as the new Executive Officer of the facility (Stardate 0711.15) and the two would attempt to once again bring stability to Cardassia.

The efforts were less than successful. The Cardassian Government identified a massive plague on the surface, whose origins were resistant to most medical treatments and initially allowed a rebuilding of trust with the Federation. As Aegis attempted to help solve the problem, an act that would change the political scene forever took place with the discovery a fringe group from Starfleet Command itself had developed the toxin now killing thousands. While eventually contained, the damage to relations could not be controlled and would eventually lead to all out riots on the planet. With the planet's first full round of open general elections, new political leaders came to office under the flag of forcing the removal of Aegis from their home system. Even though the station had not been in orbit of Cardassia Prime for years, public outcry only grew.

By March 2384, the first official discussions about the relocation or termination of Sky Harbor Aegis were started. Given the nature of the station, such a move would require involvement by all governments who had built the structure. While a full review lead by Federation Advisor Captain Sorehl, Ret. of the station's existing operations was performed by Starfleet Command and the Federation Council, opposition by the Ferengi Alliance to the change lead to a flashpoint when a blockade of the station was performed on August 19, 2384 (Stardate 0808.19). The incident would have lasting repercussions, with one unexpectedly being the first full mobilization of the Cardassian military since the end of the Dominion War.

In the midst of the heated situation, evidence of a second Breen invasion force surfaced which refocused all attention on this new threat. Eventually determined to be nothing of the kind, diplomatic and political forces eventually caused the Ferengi to agree to the relocation of Aegis but not its destruction.

By November 3, 2384 (Stardate 0811.03), the military buildup in the system had ended and full efforts were underway to relocate the station. Physical operations ceased just before the end of the year, with the final destination slated to be near territory of the Breen Confederacy.

Post-Relocation
2385-2386

Shortly after the transition was initiated, Captain Quark was transferred to a new position at her request (Stardate 0901.02). Sky Harbor Aegis would be entering a new chapter of its existence with a revised mission and new command team. In what was believed to have been an effort by political forces to put an end to the multi-national nature of the facility, the aging Ambassador Drankum of the Ferengi Alliance was appointed as the Station of Commander in January 2385 (Stardate 0901.20). Those who were looking for the station's end believed this would speed up the process, especially given the actions of the Ferengi government in late 2384. For those looking for a positive future, Drankum held a historical perspective and it was believed the Ferengi diplomat known for speaking his mind would be able to transition the base into its new role.

The new dynamic was a mixed bag. In early 2385, it was announced that a shipyard would be built using integration of Federation and Romulan technologies. The proposal called for the eventual development of a hybrid vessel, believed necessary given the strange and ongoing disappearance of the military wings of the Breen Confederation. Those reviewing the situation believed this announcement was a way of ensuring the station's continued operation in the future, regardless of political influence.

In February of that year, Commander Brown accepted a transfer to command of the U.S.S. Odyssey. Commander Chirakis Kirel, a Bajoran from Starfleet Intelligence, was installed as the station's First Officer a month later (Stardate 0903.17). Her appointment was seen as a way to ensure stability on the base given Ambassador Drankum's sometimes interesting history.

Shortly after, archaeological ruins were found in the nearby system of TKR-117. Later discovered to be over 100,000 years old, it was discovered that a substance from an ancient reactor of some kind was contaminating the surface. Eventually cleaned up, the colony of Alastair was eventually established to continue the exploration. During this time, Aegis completed the transition to a deep space outpost and concluded many diplomatic services that had previously been required during time in Cardassian space.

In April 2385, Aegis came under attack by a highly advanced unknown species. Later identified as the Athra, the facility suffered serious damage from the Athra�s blended mechanical and biological ships. Several ships arrived to assist Aegis during this period, including the U.S.S. Odyssey under the command of Commander Brian Brown.

Several weeks later, the Athra attacked the area again. While modified defense systems had improved, allowing them to better fend off the attack, after which Ambassador Drankum was arrested on the belief that he might have psychological issues. The situation almost led to armed conflict among station personnel, with several senior officers arrested on charges of mutiny (Stardate 0912.19). With the assistance of Captain Halloway of the U.S.S. Yorktown, a strike team sent to arrest officers seeking refuge in the TKR-117 was stopped. Eventually an uneasy truce developed and life aboard the station moved forward.

By the middle of 2386 (Stardate 1003.29), the initial tension seen during the early months after the relocation had passed. The Aegis shipyard was celebrated for having one berth operational. Mining operations started by civilian contractors in the asteroid field, including a major Romulan firm. The Athra had not been seen for sixteen months. Starfleet Command ordered the U.S.S. Yorktown, under the command of Captain Halloway, to begin a formal investigation into the lack of major contact with the Breen, though reports of a Breen military ship seen in late 2385 ran wild. By July 2386, Aegis had established itself as a hub of commerce on the frontier and the focal point for archeological digs taking places at the Alastair colony.

As the summer months came to a close, the station celebrated fifteen years of operation (Stardate 1008.20). Shortly thereafter, Aegis was visited by some strange whale-like space-faring creatures, named Dolatees by personnel. After their departure, it was discovered that they were carrying subspace metal-eating parasites that attacked the station, eventually requiring a full evacuation. In efforts reminiscent of the swarm of the 2370s, the station eventually eradicated the creatures but not before near catastrophic damage occurred. Repairs took weeks, with several major sections of the facility completely uninhabitable for extended periods.

With the repair efforts completing, a smuggling ring was suspected of being involved in the disappearance of supplies. Those accused became severely ill and claimed to be from a former Breen slave colony world of Deosi. At the same time, it was discovered that a loose confederation of warlords, the Tjurakh, were suddenly united and using highly advanced weapons in attacks against neighbors. Believed to be spawned from the believed absence of the Breen, the source of these new supplies was originally unknown.

In September 2386 (Stardate 1012.10), Ambassador Drankum leaves the station for a classified series of meetings. It was eventually discovered that a segment of the Ferengi Alliance government had been covertly responsible for the Tjurakh situation. In a shakeup that involved the resignation and arrest of over one third of the senior leadership, word began to spread in October about what was happening on Ferenginar. It also became known that Ambassador Drankum, after thirteen years of service to Aegis, had submitted his request for retirement to the Grand Nagus. It was believed this was done in order to avoid retribution by political forces against the station and prevent any suspicion of an Aegis-Tjurakh connection. While maintaining his title and a roaming position of Diplomatic Attache, he departed the station in late October 2386 (Stardate 1102.04), leaving the management of his business to associates.

Additional information may be found here.