Phoenix

For similarly referenced terms, see Phoenix (disambiguation).

The Phoenix was named for the immortal bird from Egyptian mythology that
periodically was consumed in fire, then arose from the ashes reborn.

Specifications:

Prototype warp ship
Crew: 3 (1 pilot, 2 crew)
Speed: Warp 1 (light speed)

The Phoenix was an Earth spaceship used in the 21st century. She was the first manned space craft to achieve the speed of light with warp drive. She is remembered as the ship that instigated the first contact with Vulcans.

Dr. Zefram Cochrane, the inventor of warp drive, built this warp ship inside a missile complex in Bozeman, Montana. The ship was initially an United States Air Force nuclear missile with titanium casing. Dr. Cochrane was the pilot, and Lily Sloane was initially intended to be one of the co-pilots. It took Lily Sloane six months to scrounge enough titanium to build the four-meter cockpit of the Phoenix. However, William Riker and Geordi La Forge (both of the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-E , from 2373), ended up serving as the support crew.

On April 4th, 2063, less than 48 hours away from launch, Borg from the 24th century attempted to destroy the Phoenix. They managed to cause significant damage to various sections of the fuselage and the primary intercooler system. The damaged throttle assembly was leaking dangerous levels of theta radiation. There were temperature variations in the fuel manifold. The intermix chamber needed to be reconstructed. There was also a damaged warp plasma conduit that needed to be replaced. All damages were repaired in time for the launch. On April 5th, around 11 am, the ship was launches, and warp flight achieved. First-stage shutdown and separation was performed in orbit, nacelles were extended, the warp core and plasma injectors were brought on-line, and the nacelles charged. It took several seconds to accelerate to the speed where the warp barrier was broken. Light speed was then officially obtained by the craft.

The first flight of the Phoenix attracted the attention of a passing Vulcan ship. The Vulcans decided to make first contact. First Contact Day is celebrated annually to commemorate this First Contact between Humans and Vulcans.

By the 24th century, the Phoenix was an exhibit in the Smithsonian Institution.