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The Ambassador-Class Heavy Cruiser USS Highlander NCC 10530 was built at the Okana Shipyards, located planet-side on the Bajoran home-world. It was the third of a group of ships from the Hannibal subclass contracted out by STARFLEET to help Bajor rebuild its economy after the Cardassian occupation. Other sibling ships included the Amazon, the Illiad, the Empyreal, the Inexplicable, the Komodo, the Carpe Diem, the Potomac, the Midway, the Mustang, the Shakaar and the Valhalla.
The Highlander was launched from the shipyards for its "shakedown cruise" on Stardate 47838.3 (late 2370) and commissioned on Stardate 48959.1 (late 2371). Its first assignment was Federation Space near the Bajoran Sector, responding to any Cardassian aggression, while serving as tactical "backup" to the Defiant to any Threats against Deep Space Nine. This was a delicate political matter from the onset. Therefore, STARFLEET decided to assign a Bajoran as first Commanding Officer of the Highlander. LtCmdr Jaem Cheiryl, who was raised by Klingons with a fierce hatred of Cardassians, was previously the Chief of Security aboard the USS Wasp NCC 1721. In late 2372, as tensions between the Empire and the Federation grew, Capt Jaem's presence onboard the Highlander diminished, entertaining many conjectures and postulates about her whereabouts. Upon her return, Capt Jaem was assigned back to Security with the rank of Commander, along with the cryptic comment, "returned to that duty for which she was repeatedly demonstrated unswerving ability."
Command was given over to the Executive Officer/Science Officer Cmdr T'Rell of Vulcan. T'Rell was already an experienced diplomatic envoy for Vulcan. Her career spanned nearly thirty years, including a memorable mission on the Enterprise C in the early 2240s (a few years before the attack of Narenda III), while serving as an aide to Ambassador Saavik. When command was transferred to the half-Vulcan half-human commander, the Highlander was refitted and she was re-commissioned on Stardate 49882.2 (late 2372), following the outbreak of hostilities between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. T'Rell and her "Tribble in Training", Yeoman Ratt, inherited a crew that included many with Klingon heritage, as well as a diplomatic liaison and observer from the Romulan Empire. Gradually, the ship became a stabilizing influence in the quadrant, respected and feared by both Klingon and Cardassian forces……..
Stay tuned for further adventures of the USS Highlander
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