USS Valdivia

Summary
The USS Valdivia NCC-75000 is a Sovereign Class starship of the United Federation of Planets’ Starfleet, originally commissioned as USS Sentinel NCC-76021 in 2374. The 7th ship of its class, the USS Sentinel was the first Sovereign Class vessel to receive a major refit in 2375, after an unusually short service record. The second receiving a similar enhancement being the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E in 2377.

Before leaving San Francisco Shipyards once more, the ship was rechristened USS Valdivia and handed over to the command of then Rear Admiral Alexandre Silva. Serving four years as the flagship of the Kalandra Sector Fleet, before being reassigned to transport the Admiral to his new command, as head of Task Force 11, in the Narendra sector. Overseeing exploration of the Shackleton Expanse.

In this capacity the Valdivia is assigned to Starbase 364, Starfleet’s forward operations center.

2374 – 2375
Following its launch, the USS Sentinel NCC-76021 underwent a six months shakedown cruise along the core systems and Ferengi Alliance, away from the ensuing Dominion War. Officially being commissioned into active service in August that year, without any major adjustments to its systems necessary.

For the subsequent five months the vessel was briefly charged with patrolling the newly established Cardassian, Breen and Tzenkethi borders, enforcing Starfleet presence and deterring smugglers and pirates alike.

Leading to a minor skirmish with an Orion Syndicate attack cruiser, the ship’s starboard saucer RCS thrusters were damaged in a collision, caused by an ill-fated evasive maneuver of the Orion ship, which was subsequently destroyed. Three pirates were able to be taken into custody and delivered to the Federation intermittent court on Bajor.

2375 Refit
During the establishment of a period of peace, immediately following the end of the Dominion War, Starfleet had no immediate plans for a ship of the offensive capabilities the Sentinel had, so it was recalled to Earth. After short deliberation Starfleet Command decided to have the vessel undergo an experimental refit, that had been in the works since the original three Sovereign Class ships, the USS Sovereign, Enterprise and Poseidon, had entered service.

This refit included the installation of ablative armor, derived from the Defiant project, as well as enhanced defensive systems and the addition of four new phaser banks – addressing a dorsal blind spot issue of the original design – and four additional torpedo launchers. Other adjustments were made to the positioning of the warp nacelles, to improve the ship’s maximum speed, as well as added elements to the ‘neck’ portion, increasing structural integrity.

Shortly before being recommissioned into active service, however, the USS Sentinel was transferred into the command of Rear Admiral Alexandre Tomaso Silva, after his promotion to commander in chief of the Kalandra Sector Fleet. Per his request it was rechristened in honor of famous Portuguese conquistador and Chilean national hero Pedro de Valdivia. In addition, the ship was given a new registration per Starfleet tradition, from the reserved pool of admiralty registries ending on three zeros. Thus becoming USS Valdivia NCC-75000.

The ship’s captain’s yacht was also rechristened to ‘Valentia’ – meaning valor in Portuguese – as well as the dedication changed to "Não podemos voltar atrás. Ou temos sucesso aqui ou morremos aqui.” / “We can’t turn back. Either we succeed here or we die here.” – Hernan Cortéz, 16th century, burning his ships after arriving in South America.

2375 – 2379
Completing its maiden voyage to the Kalandra system the Valdivia would serve as the Sector Fleet’s flagship for the following four years without major incidents. Enforcing rigorous Starfleet presence and superiority in one of the wars’ most shaken sector of the federation. Eventually becoming an unofficial symbol of suppression among many of the inhabited systems within the area. As was perceived by the native inhabitants of the Americas, upon arrival of the Portuguese and Spanish.

During this time the Valdivia led annual fleet maneuvers, staged in the uninhabited Tracken system, along the Cardassian border. Intended as a show of teeth, by a conservative wing of Starfleet command, the week-long exercise would usually see the entire fleet’s armaments depleted and various decommissioned and ceased vessels destroyed.

Tracken has since been declared unstable, due to increased formation of rogue debris.

2379 – Present
This year the Valdivia was reassigned to lead the newly formed Task Force 11, in the Narendra sector, under newly promoted Vice Admiral Silva. Departing Kalandra in August with most of its original crew, the ship joined the fleet at Starbase 157, and on August 15th Silva officially took command.

Followed by 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 Valdivia and its escorts continued on to Starbase 364, Starfleet’s forward operations center. Another two weeks journey.

As of October 17th, 2379 the USS Valdivia is berthed at Starbase 364, awaiting further orders.

Command Line & Departmental Heads
Flag Officer: Alexandre Silva (NPC) Commanding Officer: Torrence Emerson Wilde (NPC) Executive Officer: Linette Garnier (NPC) Chief Tactical Officer & 2nd XO: Riley Hiram Glass (NPC) Chief Operations Officer: Colin Leitner (NPC) Chief Security Officer: Adam Jefferson (NPC) Chief Science Officer: Lorrie Knox Wolfe (NPC) Chief Medical Officer: Pat Moto (NPC) Chief CONN Officer: Gage Maja Axelsen