| STARSHIP | |
| USS Pioneer | |
| |
| Class: | Pioneer-class |
| Registry: | NCC-937 |
| Affiliation: | Federation, Starfleet |
| Commander: | Amanda Ferry (2217) |
| Launched: | 2217 |
| Status: | Active (2232) |
The USS Pioneer (NCC-937) was a Federation Pioneer-class starship active in the 23rd century.
The Pioneer-class ships were designed to have similar speed and range to Starfleet's larger ships, but in a small vessel that required fewer crew and resources to operate. These ships were most often used as research and patrol vessels, and although they were capable of long-range deep space missions, some crew members found them a bit cramped for extended journeys. Despite their small size, they were fast, highly maneuverable, and could hold their own in battle with a skilled crew.
History[]
Under command of Captain Amanda Ferry, the Pioneer had a long and storied career, including many first-contact missions and several instances of time travel. Captain Ferry turned down multiple promotions during this time, having grown quite fond of her plucky ship and crew.
Captain Ferry was close friends with Captain Stephanie Lambert of the USS Valiant (NCC-1223), a Ranger-class heavy cruiser. Ferry and her first officer, Commander Gillian Cage, had previously worked together on the Valiant. In 2217, the Valiant was destroyed at Eminiar VII. The Pioneer later traveled back in time in an attempt to prevent this, but this resulted in some unexpected changes in the timeline. Ferry's ultimate solution was to beam the entire crew off the Valiant seconds before it exploded and bring them back to the future, where Captain Lambert was given command of a new Constitution-class USS Valiant (NCC-1623).
Amanda Ferry's older brother, Captain Jackson Ferry, was the commanding officer of another Pioneer-class ship, the USS Trailblazer (NCC-940). The Trailblazer was mostly identical to the Pioneer, but was built later and had some minor technical upgrades. After only a few years in command, Jackson Ferry retired from Starfleet to raise his daughter, leaving the Trailblazer in the hands of another captain.
Other known Pioneer-class ships include the USS Wanderer, USS Pathfinder, and USS Sojourner.
Senior officers[]
- Captain Amanda Ferry (commanding officer)
- Commander Gillian Cage (first officer, helm officer)
- Lieutenant Brian Barstow (communications officer)
- Lieutenant Sarah "Sparky" Sparks (chief engineer)
- Doctor T'Par (chief medical officer)
Miscellaneous info[]
- The Pioneer was conceived as the main setting of a series of fan-written stories. Eventual plans to turn these stories into a web video series were abandoned when CBS/Paramount released their new restrictions for Star Trek fan films in 2016. At present, the original stories have not been published. The author is currently working on adapting the stories and characters to an original sci-fi universe to separate them from copyright-restricted Star Trek canon.
- The Pioneer was presumably the second starship to bear the name, the first being the Intrepid-class USS Pioneer (NCC-63) commanded by Captain Malcolm Reed, and later, Captain Caroline Paris. The existence of the NCC-63 may or may not be strictly canon. It has been featured in official licensed novels, but was never mentioned in any TV series or film. It is unknown if there was a third Pioneer between the NCC-63 and the NCC-937. The name would later be used on other ships after the NCC-937 was retired, including one with the registry NCC-1500.
- The Pioneer's dedication plaque bore the quote "Where are we going? Oh, I don't know, but still I've got to go." This is a line from the 2013 song "Pioneer" by The Band Perry.
- Chief engineer "Sparky" Sparks, despite being in her twenties in 2217, was actually born in the 1990s. She lived a normal life on Earth until she tragically "died" in an automobile accident. First officer Amanda Ferry of the USS Valiant, which had travelled back in time, saved Sparks' life, disrupting the timeline. The crew considered returning her to Earth, but discovered that this would have significant long-term repercussions on the course of history. Instead, Sparks travelled back to the 23rd century aboard the Valiant, letting history record that she was dead in the past, and enrolled in Starfleet Academy.