What if the Vulcans had not held back the Human's Warp Program for almost a century, how would that universe have changed? Under the Command of Commodore J. Archer and Crew. The USS Enterprise NX-300 launched too intercept a Romulan Fleet before they can start yet another war with the newly formed United Federation of Planets.
Star Trek Enterprise:
A Different Perspective.
On April 5th 2063, Earth made first contact with the Vulcans after the first successful warp flight by Doctor Zefram Cochrane in his warp ship known as Phoenix and leading too a new era for all humanity. After several tests on a new engine design and with the assistance of the new Vulcan allies, Zefram Cochrane oversaw the new test that would push the boundaries of the new design, as in 2067, Harrison Walsh piloted the Phoenix II to it's maximum speed of Warp 2.5 and six months later finally reaching Warp 3.
As the new technology of Warp Drive spread out across Earth, civilian companies had begun to develop variations of the original Warp One Engine. After several successful tests of the new warp 3 engine, exploration had begun for the first time outside of the Sol System as many new ships where launched almost on a monthly basis. Feeling the need to regulate space travel and exploration, an authority was founded and the United Earth Space Probe Agency was created and with it, it's scientific and exploration organisation came into existence known as Starfleet.
In 2095, the Keel was laid for Earth's first Warp five Starship named Enterprise NX-01 and launched in 2100 under the command of Commodore Nelson, a descendant of the legendary Horatio Nelson. Completing the first successful Five Year mission in Starfleet history, Enterprise returned too Earth after making first contact with over 50 new species including the Andorians and Tellerites. Quickly becoming allies with its new alien friends, the U.E.S.P.A was reorganised into a new authority known as the United Federation of Planets in 2121, an authority dedicated to the exploration of space and furthering understanding of the universe itself.
For the next thirty years, the Federation grew in strength and size as faster and more powerful vessels where developed as in 2155, a new generation of Federation starship was finally launched names USS Enterprise NX-300, designed by scientists and engineers from all over the Federation, she was the first of her kind with a powerful new engine which could reach speeds of over Warp 8 and finally opening up new areas of exploration for the galaxy. Commanded by Commodore Jonathon Archer, son of the Warp 8 engine designer Commander Henry Archer and with a crew from all over the expanding Federation, the largest and most powerful ship created to date began her first five-year mission.
Although he had been onboard Federation Starships his entire life, born onboard the Federation Starship Lexington, Jonathon Archer marvelled at the new design each time he stepped onboard his new command. Promoted to Commodore after stopping a devastating attack on a Federation outpost by a hostile Species known as Romulan at the loss of his old ship the Saratoga, Archer had become a hero to the Federation for saving thousands of lives with the loss of only three of his crew. Although he had only lost three of his personnel out of the four hundred on his ship, the death of one of his crew had taken its toll on the seasoned Starfleet officer with the death of his Astrometrics officer and wife Lieutenant Karen Archer. He had pushed back his feelings of personal loss, as his new mission was one he had been waiting for since the attack on the outpost two years earlier. Enterprise, his ship was to be sent to rendezvous with a large Federation taskforce gathered near the Romulan boarder as raids on Federation territory had begun with increasing attacks over the last six months.
Once again, he stepped into the large engine room of the state of the art vessel and marvelled at the new warp-core design. A four storey tall vertical warp core which pulsed with incredible power capable of pushing the new ship through space as speeds faster then even the Romulan vessels they where sent to fend off. Nodding with satisfaction at the engine core, he stepped closer as Andorian and Vulcan officers and crew worked around the clock to prepare the new vessel for launch.
"She's a beauty ain't she Cap'n?" Called out the Chief Engineer.
"You can say that again. How long before we launch?"
"We're buttoning down a few hatches as we speak, give me… two hours?"
"I'll hold you too that Trip" He smiled.
"I know, how are you doing with all of this?"
"You know me… I'll survive. Karen would've loved this. The Astrometrics lab is huge"
"I know. Have you been upto the bridge yet?"
"I was on my way; I just had to stop by once more to see this thing. I can't believe how far we've come in such a short time. Can you imagine what would have happened if the Vulcans held us back? We'd probably cruising around in something like the old NX Class at Warp Five" He laughed.
"Something like that. Those Romulans are in for a hell of a surprise once this baby gets to the front lines" He smiled.
"You have no idea. I got a message from Captain Walker before I came on board, the boarder attacks are becoming more frequent, it's like they're trying to push us into a full-on conflict" He sighed.
"I know, they're in for a shock" He laughed.
"You can say that again" Archer winked slightly.
"Two hours, then we launch. We can make the fleet in a few days if we go to Warp 7.5"
"I'm on it. I'll catch up with you later" He smiled.
Taking one last look at the heartbeat of the powerful vessel, he turned to leave the large engine room, as the large silver coloured doors slide up effortlessly, the Chief Engineer called after him with a laugh in his voice.
"Cap'n, you may wanna change into uniform, Civvies are not regulation on the bridge"
"Aye-Aye Captain" He mocked.
Although Archer held the official rank of Commodore, on his ship he took the title as Captain, much to the dismay of many of his fellow ranking officers around the fleet.
Before he stepped foot on the bridge, Archer changed into his Starfleet uniform. A sleek black two-piece uniform with gold trim across his chest just below the shoulders. On the left of his tunic, slightly above his heart was placed the arrowhead logo of Starfleet with a gold coloured bar above the arrowhead which stated his department on the ship. A full golden bar signified Command and Captain of the vessel, half gold half silver signified the First officer, a full red bar signified Chief Engineer and Security with half Red and Half Silver for Engineering crew and Security. However to signify the difference in departments, the colours had been inverted, likewise with the blue bars for Medical and Sciences divisions. Opposite the Starfleet symbol on every uniform where positioned the rank pins, Gold for Command level officers Captain and above, silver for ranks below Captain, baring the four golden bars of Captain and one gold with a silver stripe down the centre to signify his rank as Commodore.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped onto the bridge once more as the First Officer stood from the Command Console and nodded with respect as he entered while a crewmember called out.
"Captain is on the Bridge!"
"As you where. Well T'Pol, what do you think… ready to launch this ship?"
"Yes sir" She smiled.
T'Pol was a seasoned Starfleet officer whom had served with Archer since he took command of his last vessel, a Human-Vulcan hybrid of incredible intelligence even for a Vulcan. Since the death of his wife, Karen T'Pol had helped him overcome his grief by helping him focus on his career with Vulcan training and discipline. Taking most of his old crew with him too his new command, he felt more at home on his new ship then anywhere in the fleet.
Smiling, he sat down in the large leather chair as it gracefully moved into position towards the command console of his ship.
"Trying to remember how this thing worked"
"The new design is more efficient then what you are used too sir, however the controls are not Starfleet standard"
"So I remember. It's hard to believe its been three months since this ship's last test. I assume Trip fixed the sensor readout?"
"Yes, repairs and upgrades where installed this morning"
"Have you tried them out yet?" He smiled eagerly.
"Not yet, I believe the honour should be yours Jon" She nodded slightly.
"Of course. Hoshi, contact dry-dock, inform them we are almost ready to launch and request clearance"
"Yes sir" She called out.
"Sorry to cut your leave short Hoshi, but I need my Comms officer here, not on… where was it? Risa"
"Yes sir. My… Husband wasn't happy, he'll get over it" She smiled.
"I'm sure he will" Archer laughed.
Married three weeks ago on the bridge of the new ship, Lieutenant Sato and her new husband Rios, took leave on Risa for a month long honeymoon. Although he was a Starfleet Officer by training, he decided to turn down a position on Enterprise for a First Officer position onboard the USS Hathaway an old NX Class Starship now assigned to Starfleet Academy as a training vessel. An Expert in Linguistics and Alien languages like his wife instructing young cadets was something he had always wanted to do and where he met his new wife during her training.
Three Hours Later…
Final installations to Starfleet's latest ship had been completed and permission to depart was given as the busy crew made final preparations for launch. Taking a deep breath with his eyes closed, Archer gave the first orders of his new command as he opened his eyes and spoke with confidence.
"Set course for the fleet, thrusters at full. Once clear of dry-dock, bring the impulse engines online Stand by warp drive"
"Aye sir" Called out the Helm officer.
"All hands this is the Captain, baton down the hatches, everyone not assigned as crew should be off this ship by now. All stations, call out readiness to launch" Archer commanded.
"Engineering ready" Captain of Engineering Tucker replied over the intercom.
"Communications ready" Lieutenant Hoshi smiled.
"Sciences ready" Called out Captain T'Pol.
"Weapon, shields on-line and ready sir" Commander Reed smiled proudly.
"Helm ready Captain" Said Lieutenant Travis Mayweather.
"Sickbay Ready Sir" Commander Phlox replied over the intercom.
"Captain, get readiness reports from all over the ship"
"Thank you Hoshi. Travis, Take us out… nice and slow" He said with pride.
Bursting into life, the navigational thrusters of the large silver vessel slowly pushed the ship forwards out of the large web-shape airlock and into Earth orbit once again. Powering into life, the large Impulse engines of the new Enterprise slowly began to push the ship forwards out of Earth orbit as Archer looked on with a large grin on his face as Travis called out 'One half impulse power'.