Task Force 11

Summary
Task Force 11 is a registration used for two subsequent fleet deployments into the Shackleton Expanse and the Narendra Sector with the commission to explore, cartograph and make first contact. Originally started in 2371 the designation was disbanded between 2374 and 2379.

A total of thirty-two ships have served in the task force at one point or another. It is Starfleet’s sole organized fleet association in the Narendra Sector and the Shackleton Expanse, currently under command of Vice Admiral Alexandre Tomaso Silva.

Previous and current flagships include the Galaxy Class USS Liberty and the Sovereign Class USS Valdivia.

2371 – 2374
It was originally on the behest of Starfleet Science, that a task force was established to explore the Shackleton Expanse. A plan hatched for nearly six years, while the Diplomatic Corps negotiated passage through their territory with the Klingons. As the Narendra Sector – from which the expeditions would be coordinated – was blocked off by both the Klingon and Romulan Empires.

Official fleet movements began in early 2371, when a breakthrough in negotiations became more likely, and Starfleet Operations started gathering resources at Starbase 234. Initially comprising of mostly cargo and manufacturing ships, the USS Liberty, a Galaxy Class, joined as flagship, under Commodore James Wells. Over the coming months five more starships would be added to the task force.

Late that year, finally, the Klingons signed an agreement for a joint scientific expedition and granted the Federation passage through their territory, for this explicit mission and under numerous restrictions. On October 17th, Task Force 11 set off from Starbase 234, on their journey to the Narendra sector. They rendezvoused with a group of five Klingon ships at Pheben, before moving onto the final leg towards the Ordek Nebula.

Here they would construct Starbase 364, Starfleet’s forward operations center. Shortly followed by Starbase 121 and 123 in close proximity, intended as array links for long range sensor triangulation with Starbase 364, to scan the expanse in volumetric detail. Many more bases would follow, as exploration continued.

By the middle of 2372, ten more minor stations were being established, bringing the total of Starfleet bases in the sector to thirteen. Additionally, about 50 lightyears of the Shackleton Expanse had been explored at this point, making up a sixth of its presume diameter of 300 lightyears. Then came the onset of the Dominion War and in late 2372 the Klingon Empire withdrew from the Khitomer accords and closed its borders as a direct result to the Federation Council condemning their invasion of Cardassia. Effectively cutting Task Force 11 off from the Federation.

At first hoping for a quick resolution of the situation, Starfleet personnel retained open communications through secure subspace channels. As the Klingons advanced into the Narendra Sector and occupied the Balduk and G’trok systems, former Federation space, closing in on Starbase 364, Commodore Wells sent several pleas for help to earth. Command, being caught up heavily on the Cardassian front, however, could not provide assistance and it was decided that Narendra was not a priority. Contact with Task Force 11 ceased on December 4th, 2374. The designation was subsequently put on hold.

2374 – 2379
Furious over the decision, Wells gathered his own resources and started his independent campaign against the Klingons. Over the coming five years he raged a ‘defensive’ guerilla war against both the Romulan and Klingon borders in the sector. Little is known officially about this timeframe. But Starfleet intelligence dossiers suggest that Wells established martial law sometime during these years and exploration was halted in favor of digging in throughout the various outposts.

Both Klingon and Romulan diplomats had repeatedly called for involvement by Starfleet during this time, but no further contact could be established. Virtually making Narendra an unassociated issue. The Federation officially declined all responsibility and connection to the former task force by 2375. Commodore Wells was formally dismissed from service ‘in absentia’ on January 12th, 2376. All former ships of Task Force 11 were subsequently declared rogue and removed from Starfleet registry.

2379 - XXXX
Task Force 11 was ultimately put back into active service on August 15th, 2379, as Vice Admiral Alexandre Tomaso Silva took command of 26 ships at Starbase 157, comprising of the new Shackleton Expanse Exploration Force. Using the same moniker was then considered both a signal of renewed strength and commitment, as well as a clear signal to the remaining rogue forces in the Narendra Sector.

Following a fifty-five-day journey through Romulan space, Task Force 11 arrived in the Narendra sector at Starbase 179 beginning of October. Here the fleet was official divided and preliminary home ports assigned. After short refuel the flagship Valdivia and its three escorts – as well as two base defense ships - continued on to Starbase 364, Starfleet’s forward operations center. Another two weeks journey.

The remaining twenty-one ships were spread among the 11 Starbases that contact could be established with, upon arrival in the sector. Starbase 147 and 53 initially remained silent, but later identified themselves as ‘Starstation India and ‘Starbase Montgomery’ respectively, considered rebel strongholds of remaining Starfleet personnel loyal to former Commodore Wells. Most ships – all of the exploratory vessels and their escorts – moved to Starbase 6 and 152 – the outposts closest to the border of the expanse. Further escorts were dispatched to the bases along the Klingon and Romulan borders, flanking Starbase 364.

As of October 21st, 2379, all ships have arrived at their respective home ports for refuel and restocking. Command structure has been established among the remaining personnel and bases loyal to Starfleet still. The six starships and various transports of the original task force remain unaccounted for. Two of them believed to be destroyed.