Vanguard Station
| STARSHIP | |
|---|---|
 Vanguard Station
| |
 | |
| Class | Watchtower-class Starbase |
| Allegiance | United Federation of Planets |
| Launched | 2404 |
| Status | Active (22308.01) |
Contents
Lineage
Vanguard Station is the second Federation Starbase to bear the name, and was constructed in the location as its predecessor, on the very edge of Federation space towards the galactic "south". The original Vanguard Station, official designation Starbase 47, was completed in 2265 and served as a support and trading hub for local colonization efforts. Starbase 47 was destroyed in an accident in 2268, all records of which are classified.
History
Following the final defeat of the Borg in 2401, Starfleet once again turned its resources towards exploration, particularly in areas where such efforts had been curtailed by shifting political relationships in the century prior. A location deemed important for further exploration was the Taurus Reach, an area of space towards the galactic south bordered by the Klingon Empire, Tholian Assembly, and Gorn Hegemony. Initial exploration and colonisation efforts in this area had occurred in the mid-23rd century, despite diplomatic and military interference from the Klingons and Tholians, and had been mostly abandoned following the accidents that claimed Starbase 47 and several of its attending starships.
In 2402, plans were drawn up to expand operations in the area. With Starbases 22 and 27 within relatively close proximity, Starfleet instead decided to commission a smaller starbase in the area to avoid the assumption of a military buildup in the area; where the Watchtower-class had once been the premier frontier outpost, it had been superseded by larger and more capable designs, and thus was perfect for the region. Though technically a "second-class" Starbase by modern standards, it still remained a capable forward outpost and maintenance depot.
Due to pressure from the Federation Council and Diplomatic Corps, Starbase Vanguard would be formally commissioned in 2404, while still undergoing final construction.
Layout
Vanguard Station, despite being brand new, still retains the visual profile typical of 23rd century Federation design. A saucer-shaped primary hull, with a central command tower, sits atop a secondary hull which houses cargo bays and maintenance sections. The external docking wheel is located mid-way down the central core, with multi-spectrum sensor arrays and reactor cores forming the bottom of the station.
Command Tower
The Command Tower houses the Operations Center, offices for the various military and civilian organizations represented aboard Vanguard, and the primary Flight Deck.
Primary Hull
The Primary Hull contains four main docking bays in its Spacedock, each large enough to service a medium-sized starship. Above the Spacedock is the terrestrial enclosure encircling a residential tower. Support Facilities, Crew Quarters, the Computer Core, Shuttlebays, and Deuterium Tanks are housed below the Spacedock.
Promenade
Though officially labelled as the "Promenade", it is effectively a small city in space. Located in the domed area above the Spacedock, the area is a huge arboretum in the form of parkland surrounding the central residential tower. Lining the inner and outer edges of the park are hundreds of shops, restaurants, bars, boutiques and salons, and other establishments necessary to support civilian life on a deep-space station. Between the hours of 0800 and 2000 station time, a holographic sky is projected over the interior of the dome to give the impression of "day"; between 2000 and 0800, the holographic display is deactivated and minimal illumination gives the impression of "night".
Secondary Hull
The upper portion of the Secondary Hull consists mainly of cargo and maintenance facilities, as well as the external docking ring. The lower portion of the Secondary Hull contains the Engineering spaces and the support systems for the Multi-Spectrum Sensor Array mounted in the station's "base".
Capabilities
Vanguard Station is designed to operate as a forward operating base for Starfleet vessels in the Taurus Reach, as well as a support hub for colonial efforts in the region. As such it is well-provisioned and capable of docking dozens of starships at any one time. The enclosed Spacedock allows repair and refit of medium-sized starships, while the exterior Docking Ring allows for the docking of larger vessels, particularly bulk carriers or colony craft, or non-Federation vessels not in immediate need of repair.
Though not as heavily armed as a Spacedock-level Starbase, Vanguard Station is sufficiently equipped to deal with pirates or raiders in the local area; twelve Phaser Turrets and twelve Torpedo Turrets provide all-round defensive firepower, while a reinforced squadron of Starfighters serves as a system picket and customs enforcement patrol. Should Vanguard come under sustained assault by a military force, its defenses are sufficient to hold off an aggressor until reinforcements arrive, or until evacuation craft have fled.
