USSValiant (NCC-74210)
TheUSSValiant (NCC-74210) was a24th centuryFederationDefiant-classstarship operated byStarfleet.
History[]
TheValiant was launched from theAntares Ship Yards in2372 onStardate 49456.5. It was assigned as atraining ship for the elitecadet corpsRed Squad under thecommand ofCaptainRamirez.
In late-2373, theValiant began a threemonthtraining cruise mission tocircumnavigate the entire Federation before returning home. The plan was for the cadets to run the ship while theofficers aboard observed and critiqued their performance.
The ship was transiting theKepla sector when theDominion War began, and subsequently trapped behind enemy lines after aDominion fleet conquered thatsector on the first day. In attempting to return toFederation territory, theValiant encountered aCardassianbattle cruiser nearEl-Gatark. In the first fifteenminutes, all seven of theregular officers were killed or critically wounded, including the captain. TheValiant lost mainpower and wasadrift; fortunately, the Cardassiancruiser was no better off. Despite having apuncturedlung and massive internal injuries, Captain Ramirez refused to go tosickbay and instead, stayed on thebridge to direct the entire damage control effort. The cadets gotweapons andimpulse engines back on-line within threehours, and were able to destroy the cruiser. The next day, just before Ramirezdied, heappointedCadetTim Watters to take command of theValiant.
Early in thewar, Starfleet ordered theValiant to track and collect technical data on a previously unidentifiedJem'Hadar battleship that was believed to be operating in the area. However, because theValiant was operating under completeradio silence and limited to a speed ofwarp 3.2, Starfleet was unaware that the ship's officers were dead, and Watters decided to undertake the mission.
Around2374, on Stardate 51825, theValiant rescuedJake Sisko andEnsignNog from therunaboutUSSShenandoah, which was fleeing from aJem'Hadar attack onStarbase 257. With his experience serving aboard theDefiant-class, Nog assisted theValiant's crew in repairing theirwarp drive, and the ship finally managed to catch up to theDominionbattleship and obtain detailed intelligence concerning the enemy's capabilities.
TheValiant destroyed
Captain Watters' overconfidence, however, proved to be theValiant's undoing. Rather than returning the valuable information to Starfleet, Watters decided to attempt to destroy the battleship by exploiting a perceived flaw in her construction.
Vastly outgunned, theValiant was quickly devastated after an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the enemy'santimatter storage system primary support braces with a specially-modifiedquantum torpedo. With Captain Watters and most of the bridge crew killed, Nog gave the order toabandon ship. Two of the fourescape pods launched were destroyed by the battleship, while a third was destroyed when it was unable to clear the explodingValiant. The remaining pod was able to flee the battle area and was eventually recovered by theValiant's sister ship, theUSSDefiant.
Out of a crew of 35 (plus Nog and Jake), only three survived the battle, and only one of them was fromValiant's original crew. (DS9: "Valiant")
Valiant personnel[]
Starships namedValiant | |
|---|---|
| Earth | |
| Federation |
|
Defiant-class starships | |
|---|---|
| Prime universe | |
| Mirror universe | |
Appendices[]
Background information[]
The motto on theValiant'sdedication plaque was "We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained and new rights to be won", a quote byJohn F. Kennedy.
"Valiant" was the name thatRonald D. Moore originally wanted to give to theDefiant. However, with the development ofStar Trek: Voyager, the producers asked him to avoid a name that began with 'V'. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 158)
Apocrypha[]
In the reference bookStar Trek: Celebrations, it was established thatStarfleet Academy created a service award to cadets who show exceptional teamwork and named it theValiant commendation to commemorate theValiant and its crew.
External links[]
- USSValiant (NCC-74210) atMemory Beta, the wiki for licensedStar Trek works
- Valiant commendation atMemory Beta, the wiki for licensedStar Trek works
- Drakon Cluster of Courage atMemory Beta, the wiki for licensedStar Trek works