Welcome to TF17!
Or, more accurately, Task Force 17, Beta Quadrant Border Patrol Division. This document will provide a brief overview of the Task Force and its purpose, as well as the four ships that make up the Task Force itself.
Beta Quadrant Border Patrol Division
The Beta Quadrant Border Patrol Division (BQBPD) is a division of Starfleet responsible for ensuring that the Beta Quadrant portion of the Federation's borders remain secure. This area includes the Federation's carefully guarded borders with the Romulan Star Empire and the Gorn Hegemony, as well as the territory that overlaps with the Federation's most powerful ally, the Klingon Empire.
Most of the ships that are part of the BQBPD are generally spread out along the Romulan and Gorn borders, ensuring that those races don't invade Federation space and also making sure no Federation citizen violates the other powers' territory without proper permissions from their governments. In total, there are 77 starships in the BQBPD. Most of those are part of the Third and Fourth fleets. Those 77 ships are spread out among 25 Task Forces, which have on average three ships each, though a few have four or five, and a few are only two ships.
Task Force 17
Task Force 17 consists of four starships, under the command of Commodore Toroca. His flagship is the USS Dragonstar. The other three ships are the USS Niven, USS Sagan, and USS Caden. Task Force 17 is currently assigned to keep an eye on the Romulan border. It has been some time now since Shinzon's coup and the subsequent restoration of the Romulan government. Ties with the Federation are relatively cordial, though still strained at times.
There are, however, a large number of rebels operating within Romulan space. Starfleet's biggest concern is that there could be additional Scimitar Class dreadnoughts lurking somewhere in Romulan territory. Even without Thalaron-based weapons, a single Scimitar Class ship would represent a serious threat to Federation security, outclassing any ship in Starfleet's possession.
The ships in Task Force 17 have a variety of standard duties akin to those of any other Starfleet vessel. They are charged with exploration, scientific study, and defense, with each ship having more specific assignments as abilities dictate. However, they share the mandate to be ever-vigilant, constantly on guard for any threat from within or without the Federation's borders. The next section will go over each of the four ships in the Task Force in greater detail.
Name: USS Dragonstar
Registry: NCC-81625
Class: Prometheus
Rating: Advanced Tactical Strike Cruiser
Launch Date: Stardate 55010.0, January 3rd, 2378
The Dragonstar is the flagship of Task Force 17. As the most heavily armed, it is the ship most frequently charged with enforcement and threat deterrence. However, it also has extensive scientific, diplomatic, and exploratory capabilities, so it's well-rounded.
Further, its high emergency speed allows it to quickly render aid to any vessel in distress. The newest ship in the Task Force, the Dragonstar is a top-of-the-line vessel, and many of its systems and specifications are still classified. The commander of the ship, and indeed of the entire Task Force, is Commodore Toroca.
Name: USS Niven
Registry: NCC-79274
Class: Akira
Rating: Explorer/Heavy Cruiser
Launch Date: Stardate 51346.0, May 5th, 2374
Launched during the height of the Dominion War, this was one of many hastily-completed vessels launched to keep Starfleet's defensive lines intact. She served well, taking only minor damage in the dozen battles she fought, and took part in the invasion of Cardassia.
After the war, the Niven spent six months in a shipyard being refitted and properly completed. Her landing bays now carry only half a dozen tactical fighters, with the rest of the space being taken up by shuttles and other support craft. The largest ship in the Task Force, the Niven handles most of the diplomatic missions.
Name: USS Sagan
Registry: NCC-32474
Class: Excelsior Refit
Rating: Explorer/Science Vessel
Launch Date: Stardate 28800.0, October 19th, 2351
The Sagan is the oldest of the ships in Task Force 17. She's an uprated Excelsior Class starship in design, refitted with the latest in sensor equipment and other scientific accoutrements, as well as propulsion. The Sagan spends most of her time in scientific pursuits.
The Sagan's sensor arrays are more advanced than those on the Dragonstar or Niven, and as such are capable of greater resolution at longer distances. Typically, the Sagan can be found charting nebulae, studying supernova remnants, or conducting planetary surveys. Even so, she's always prepared to help out.
Name: USS Caden
Registry: NCC-77922
Class: Norway
Rating: Light Patroller/Scout
Launch Date: Stardate 49040.0, January 15th, 2372
This ship is the most likely to be found in unclaimed space or along distant parts of hostile borders. She's no battleship, but she's fast and agile, and serves well as the eyes and ears of Task Force 17 from her vantage point on the outskirts of Federation space.
In other words, she's part of the Federation's early warning system against impending threats from deep space. The Caden also performs light exploration duties, keeping the star charts up to date and locating points of interest for one of the larger, better equipped ships in the Task Force to examine in more detail.
