[Strathkin]

Commander's Log - Stardate 64645.8 - Aug 24, 2387 - 17:53:02



EXCELSIOR RETROFIT

The work started in January of this year at the same time at the same time our Captain was called away on other duties.

It's perhaps not the first time this has occurred during a ship's refit or retrofit, and I know the Captain has the utmost confidence in Lt. Lacoste and myself to oversee the work done given our engineering background. Still the ship was re-lauched July 2nd on Stardate 64499.98 to begin final test flights and certification; so I've now taken on the additional duties of acting Captain really giving me the opportunity to demonstrate my leadership abilities to Command.

I realize I have the full confidence of the Captain, but while not being allowed to discuss the nature of his mission with me, I had originally been told he planned to return by the before Starship certification began. It's now been several weeks since into that testing, and Admiral Malan has asked for a full evaluation of the ship's systems, then asked I meet him along with Lt. Commander Saret who I'm not familiar with. The meeting with the Admiral is scheduled in 3 days at 14:00.

Trying to be diligent I wanted to familiarize myself with his Starfleet Record, but found it unusual that little information exists in his personnel file. The only information I was able to obtain was that he graduated from the Academy 29 years ago with an honorable mention from two Starfleet Science Professor's, after that he was transferred to Research Station were he worked with another researcher named Kosinski. The only other available information is that about a year ago he returned to Utopia Planitia after having taken an extended leave of absence to visit Tau Alpha C.

I need to schedule a meeting with Department Head's in the morning to request current status, we have our last test flight in 2 days, and my meeting with the Admiral is the day after that.


End Log Entry - U.S.S. Yorkshire NCC-47942-A

[Strathkin]

Commander's Log - Stardate 64647.429 - Aug 25, 2387 - 07:29:02


EXCELSIOR RETROFIT UPGRADES

I've scheduled a meeting with all Department Head's this morning at 08:00 to get updated status reports -- which I had advised all department head the admiral would be expecting in the near future. We had run a series of simulations, flight trials, and combat readiness drills last week; after the Corps of Engineers from Utopia Planitia attempted to correct an imbalances of the matter / antimatter ratio's impacting the new Core's efficiency. There was also a issue discovered with the system wide Gel Power Distribution Pack's a result of the new computer core having been upgraded prior to new deflector systems being brought into compliance. I was assured 3 days ago, all outstanding issues with the exception of a few minor issues, would be completed yesterday to be ready for one final test flight & simulation drills tomorrow.

It's hard to believe this ship has been in service for 28.5 years, to which I've been serving as the first officer the last 5. I feel really proud to have been chosen to by our Captain to serve on board such a fine class of ship. Excelsior's began service as the flagship of the fleet and later became its backbone against the Borg & Dominion. Still, aside from the ship's original appearance originating from an much earlier generation, I wonder what the Captain thoughts will be about the proposed retrofit I approved. I do know he was looking forward to interior refresh and had requested 7 of the senior officers quarters extended to include a private study / research area; but he never spoke or identified the refit or retrofit was going to be so extensive. I suppose I should have realized something was usual given the extra 1.5 months scheduled into the plan.

The Hull plating, supporting reinforcements, even starship deck layout in some cases were completely overhauled. Engineering teams began by almost stripping the ship down to what McCoy would call it's bones the first few months the crew spend most their time at Utopia Planitia or assisting engineering & science teams in EVA suits. The first work completed was the updated skeletal ship frame which still familiar to many who knew Excelsior, everything was completely reinforced or updated to extend ship's life 40 years.

The early months of the retrofit were designed to support a new enhanced polarized plating system, not quite as advanced as Ablative on the newest tactical ships, but effective at reducing damage & capturing energy to enhance shield and deflector subsystems. These help protect the hull from physical, kinetic and radiation damage in addition to deflecting or redistributing directed energy particles. Once the work had been completed on many of the hull reinforcements, teams got started on new tactical systems upgrades, along with the interiors having been completely remodeled, even the ship's dimensions have been slightly extended.

Currently the fleet only has plans to Retrofit a few Excelsior's at Utopia Planitia, and I hear the program will be entirely replaced within two to three year's to focus building new ships.


End Log Entry - U.S.S. Yorkshire NCC-47942-A

[Strathkin]

Commander's Log - Supplemental - Stardate 64648.26 - Aug 25, 2387 - 02:45:47


EXCELSIOR RETROFIT WRAPPING UP

All Department head's reported Ship Systems have been completed, and any remaining crews will begin boarding this evening.

I must admit the Corp's of Engineer's have really impressed me with the work they've done on the ship. In fact the lead engineer told me today our ship was only the first to receive a complete retrofit, he explained the program was to honor a Class that's served the Federation faithful for a century or more. She still looks like Excelsior at least from all the schematic's I've reviewed, but you sure can see some inspiration borrowed from Sovereign.

While I've seen, reviewed, and approved all ship planning activities, I admit holding off hoping to tour the ship in a shuttle with the Captain; however with the simulation & test flight tomorrow I can't wait any longer.

Perhaps I'll ask Lt. Commander Rae (2nd Officer) if she'd like to meet me at 18:00 in the Shuttle Bay. Lt Lacoste I already know had plans this afternoon to visit her family on Earth before we get back to space. That reminds me... I'll have to ask the Admiral about Shuttle's for the larger primary and new secondary bay.


End Log Entry - U.S.S. Yorkshire NCC-47942-A

[Strathkin]

Commander's Log - Stardate 64654.187 - Aug 27, 2387 - 18:41:06


EXCELSIOR RETROFIT: SHIP TOUR

Well a lot's happened in the last two days. I was joined by one of my Senior Office's and took a shuttle to tour the recently completed ship. I think we were really surprised seeing the ship up close in contrast to how she looked prior to getting to Utopia Planetia; it's like we've all been transferred to an entirely new ship.



This ship's sausar is a few meter's wider, still the most notable feature exists between the primary and secondary hull, as it's been completely re-engineered. I'll admit the secondary hull looks recognizable, even as the angle reduced as part of the improved reinforcement upgrade. The Cargo & Shuttle Bay's have almost doubled in size, and with a new lower docking bay, all work bee's and small craft have relocated there.

EXCELSIOR RETROFIT: FINAL TEST FLIGHT & SIMULATION

The next morning we ran thru all simulation drills, final warp core speed & efficiency tests, even a two hour combat simulation... All I can say is I've never seen the ship & her crew perform so well; even the evaluation team leader was very impressed by how well the crew handled things.

When I got the final evaluation report this morning all ship systems were successfully upgraded and met or exceeded expectations. The only twist I was given was finding out the Captain's returned has been delayed and the Admiral wants the ship back into service. In fact he's asked I remain in command of the Yorkshire until he is able to share more news about the Captain. That was the reason for him asking Lt Commander Walter Saret to join us, he's asked he be appointed my new Science Chief. As a result he's decided to transfer Lt Samuel's to another role which is likely to result in a promotion given his background.

The Admiral says he has the full confidence in me and the crew, but he's also know Lt Commander Saret a long time, and feels he would be a very valuable member of our crew - in lieu of the Captain's absence. Then the Admiral suggested I stop by the Utopia Planitia ship yards soon, he had given me a requisition form to provision a new Type 11 and 3 Argo Shuttles for the ship along with a Sphinx Work Pod.

NEW ORDERS

In typical fashion then asked I give him a tour of the ship before he departed back to Starbase 001; and at the conclusion of the tour wished me and the crew safety and success in the journey's ahead. He then added Lt. Commander Saret will be embarking tomorrow afternoon, to allow the crew a little downtime before departing, and would bring an encrypted data chip with our new order's.


End Log Entry - U.S.S. Yorkshire NCC-47942-A

[Strathkin]

Commander's Log - Stardate 64739.29 - Sept 27, 2387 - 20:15:44


ORDERS TO PICKUP DAYSTROM SCIENTISTS

When we left Utopia Planitia I was surprised to find out that the encrypted data chip our new science officer provided me ordered us into the Beta Quadrant. The Yorkshire was being requested to pickup two Trill scientists Sept 15 who worked with the Daystrom Institute; the Admiral didn't want us to rush to give the crew time to become fully acquainted with new systems. We remained at the Trill home world for two day's as one Daystrom Scientist had matter's that delayed his departure.

PROCEED TO BADLANDS: COLLECT DEUTERIUM

We then were asked to spent several day's mapping the badlands for Deuterium (Heavy Hydrogen) a very rare element. The Daystrom Scientists explained on earth deuterium only accounts for one atom in 6420 in the ocean, so we spent several days at low impulse mapping & scanning the system for regions with higher concentrations. Apparently many of the upgraded sensors & science equipment have reduce traditional collection method's by 2/3rds although the expertise of these two specialist is probably influencing this as well.

Our new Science Officer I must say is fitting in unexpectedly well with his new crew, and has been focused on ensuring the crew is fully familiarized with many of the new features of this ship. I must say the new Holographic Astrometrics & Science Labs show just how amazing this area is. Our Chief Science Officer anticipates we'll likely require another two weeks to obtain all the elements, even as crews have been utilizing the new shuttle's with updated systems to aid the rate at which elements are collected. The new Type-11 and Argo shuttle's have really become popular with the crew.



I'm glad to have finally started feeling fully familiar with everything this ship offers myself. While the ship certainly isn't as long as the new Sovereign class Starship Utopia Planetia busy constructing, she did have a lot of work done to her including a few larger decks expanded for Scientific & Engineering Research Labs. She may not be the biggest, or most powerful ship in the fleet, still one her crew is very proud of.

Perhaps tonight I should stop by one of the new Holodecks before retiring for the evening.


End Log Entry - U.S.S. Yorkshire NCC-47942-A

[Strathkin]

Commander's Log - Stardate 64781.65 - Oct 13, 2387 - 07:15:27


DEUTERIUM OBTAINED

I advised our communication officer to advise the Admiral yesterday evening that we had now collected a surplus of the elements the scientist were hoping to collect & locate. While Lt. Commander Saret seemed confident in our abilities from the onset with the updated science sensors, the two Daystrom Institute Scientists seemed almost quite relieved.

ORDERED TO STARBASE 621

This morning I awoke to a priority communication from Admiral Malan asking the ship immediately depart the system for Starbase 621; where were to rendezvous with the USS BELEREN, NCC-2261, and Cmdr. Jason Seaborne in Command. We've been asked to have our crew's work together sharing some of the knowledge my crew's obtained on the recent Excelsior Retrofit and assist Starbase personnel updating some of Beleren's system's. She's a class of starship that was around prior to the Excelsior being introduced.

The Admiral did mention the ship was intentionally chosen so as not to raise tensions being from an older era, still we are to do everything to best prepare the ship for what-ever she might encounter. Commander Seaborne will have the final say on any and all repair's or modifications over the next month or two (time permitting) depending on the availability of both ship's crews and any available Starbase personnel able to assist.

The Admiral appears the timeline is driven by external factors; so the sooner we can complete what needed the better... I've been instructed the two Scientists from the Daystrom Institute will remain on board.

→ Miranda Fixes & Upgrades: USS Beleren


End Log Entry - U.S.S. Yorkshire NCC-47942-A