History of the Challenger NX-05
Construction of the original Challenger began in late 2004. The first version of the sim was set in 2154, picking up just before Star Trek: Enterprise ended. Commanded by Commodore Moose and Captain Moore, the Challenger NX-05 faced secret Andorian facilities, encounters with the Tholians, trips to a mirror universe, unwitting run-ins with the Omega Particle, and much more.
Adventures of the NX-05
Challenger faced difficulties from the beginning. The Vulcans continued to pressure Starfleet to be cautious. The Andorians, fearful of Starfleet’s increased ship construction, dispatched a fleet of warships toward Earth. Klingon saboteurs attempted to delay or derail the ship’s construction.
Through the valiant efforts of the civilians and crew on the construction project, the Challenger launched successfully. While on course for Alpha Centauri, the Suliban attempt to destroy the ship, succeeding only in sending it severely off course toward the Acamar system. There, the Challenger crew engaged in a conflict with the indigenous culture while replacing their spoiled organic stores.
The Challenger continued to the Khitomer system to offload surplus wildlife taken on in the Acamar system. A Klingon warship mistakenly accused the Challenger of being responsible for a recent massacre at their Khitomer settlement. Outgunned by the Klingons, Challenger had no choice but to search for forensic evidence to the contrary. Eventually, they did find such evidence—of Romulan origin.
In the unremarkable Episilon Indi system, Challenger encountered the Andorians and discovered a secret facility—Cold Stone. At first it appeared that the Andorians were willing to sacrifice diplomatic relations with humanity to keep the base’s existence unknown. However, sworn to silence, the crew of the Challenger was released, forging another link in the relations between the two species.
From Episilon Indi, Challenger proceeded to the Deneva system to divert an asteroid on a collision course with a defenceless colony. Orion pirates interfered, kidnapping Denevan colonists, Commodore Moose, and others of the crew. The Challenger pursued the pirates and retrieved those kidnapped, but the pirate ship itself evaded capture. When the Challenger returned to the Deneva system, its scientists determined that the asteroid would not impact the colony.
In February 2155, Challenger returned to Earth to attend the launch of the Columbia NX-02. Following that occasion, they made first contact with the Caitians, a pacifist, warp-capable feline species.
Format Change
By 2007, Captain Giovanni had assumed command of the Challenger, rising through the ranks from chief science officer to CO. In December 2007, Giovanni and Commander DeGenza, the XO, proposed a change of format to the crew of the Challenger: they wanted to leap forward over 100 years into the future, placing the ship at the turn of the 24th century. The crew voted in favour of the format change, and construction of the USS Challenger NCC-2457 commenced.
