Federation Affiliate Article

[Crash Calestorm 0]

Long Range FTR Projects

 

By Kaidan Shepard

The Federation Affiliate News Network

 

New Topeka City – Since the launch of the Starfleets First Threat Response program, public opinion has been reacting favorably to the border protection program.

 

Currently, the ongoing situation at Cold Station Thirteen is the latest project to be handled by the FTR offices and their field ship, the USS Comanche Creek. Further details regarding the situation are pending, although for now the Starfleet operations control offices are remaining tight lipped regarding the situation as it unfolds.

 

FTR program director Rear Admiral Shauna Walking Coyote recently held a press conference at the FTR satellite offices located here at the New Topeka colony in order to address any other concerns and answer questions from reporters regarding the next phase of the program.

 

An additional vessel, the USS James Walking Bear is due to be launched in less then a month, and is the second ship in the planned fleet of support and primary vessels. Unlike its sister ship, the Walking Bear is a Deadalus class support vessel and will be working closely with Starfleet colonial operations for colony support and establishment, providing medical care for colonists, as well as general colonial re-locations when needed.

 

James Walking Bear, a cousin of the rear admiral, was the chief medical doctor stationed at the Comanche Creek Colony in the year 2238; he is one of many who gave his life defending his fellow colonists during the infamous pirate attack on the colony.

 

The offices are also moving forward with the establishment of outposts at strategic intervals along Federation border space. The Starfleet Corps of Engineers have been proceeding with phase one of the plan, and will be setting up the first star base within Topeka colony space to coincide with the FTR Topeka satellite offices. The station outpost will be capable of providing repairs, accommodating shore leave crews and will proved layover support for all FTR fleet ships operating within the surrounding sectors.

 

The current launch timetable for the star base is at some point next year.

 

The FTR operations office will also be overseeing the final implementation stage of the Independent Contractor Captain (ICC) program. This sub-program of the FTR is open to any independent mercenary or civilian vessel master interested in contracting with the Starfleet border patrol to provide additional patrol assignments along the Federation borders. These independent crews will have less jurisdictional reach then regular patrol ship and crews such as the USS Comanche Creek, and will primarily be responsible for specific sector patrols and duties.

 

The first vessel to be assigned a sector under the ICC program will be the SS Hard Six, under the command of Captain Reed Mitros. The former mercenary ship is a Corsair class civilian freighter initially converted for military or patrol purposes.

 

Any official inquiries or questions regarding the FTR program can be sent to the San Francisco offices and to the attention of Lieutenant Kevin T. Riley at [email protected].