Welcome to the USS Thunderbird!

The armistice between the United Federation of Planets and the Cardassian Union was signed in 2367. Under the terms of the cease-fire agreement, both sides agreed to end major engagements and to open diplomatic channels. It wasn't perfect. Minor skirmishes continued on both sides, primarily over unresolved issues such as control of border planets and of course, the occupation of Bajor.

Negotations between the two sides continued and through their efforts the Cardassians left Bajor -- two years later. Finally free, the celebrations on Bajor lasted for days but, as it always happens, reality set in. Things were far from settled. The Bajorans faced a long period of recovery from a brutal, fifty-year occupation; many in the resistance were left with an all-consuming rage against Cardassians responsible for countless atrocities.

While some struggle to form a government, members of the Kohn-Ma, under the leadership of a former member of the resistance, Sayal Mazi, decides that the guilty cannot go unpunished and begins to lay plans of their own.

And they were not alone. Colonists on border worlds, fearing the loss of everything they've built, take inspiration from resistance fighters in World War II on Earth and form the Maquis. Operating in the demilitarized zone between the Cardassian Union and the United Federation of Planets, they seek to safeguard their way of life against all comers whether they be Cardassian or Federation.

Among the Cardassians, Gul Zelar, commanding the CDS Ocett, a Galor Class Type-III cruiser, emerges as an outspoken opponent to the peace. Politically savvy with familial ties to the Obsidian Order, Zelar lays plans of his own.

In the Federation, with the memory of Wolf 359 barely two years old, Starfleet looks to improve their ability to respond to threats. Pre-production testing is scheduled to begin on a ship designed for a combat role while still capable of patrol and exploration. Five vessels, Akira Class, are scheduled for launch and crews are assembled.

The USS Thunderbird is one of these five. The captain and first officer are experienced in combat having been at Wolf 359. They arrive at Uptopia Planitia, after surviving an unexplained explosion on their former ship, the USS Ark Royal, that cost the life of their captain and key members of the crew.

Newly promoted and fresh from the memorial, they arrive to take command of the USS Thunderbird and their patrol route will take them right into the heart of the conflict.

2025:

2024:

Latest Mission Posts

» Where We Land

Mission: Friends and Traitors
Posted on Sat May 2nd, 2026 @ 9:46am by Lieutenant Bartholomew Hale & Lieutenant JG Jade Petracca

The sprawling shuttlebay of the Thunderbird was akin to the San Francisco spaceport on graduation day. Auxiliary craft were lined in rows like soldiers on parade; as one marched out, another replaced it. They came through in their hundreds; cargo handlers, passengers, pilots. The entire hangar operated like a ballet of man and machine cast in blue by the forcefield that separated them from space.

The Thunderbird's crew had been given her orders. There was an eleventh hour dash to ensure that all personnel and supplies were aboard and accounted for. It had fallen to the stern Napean, Senior Chief…

» Hello, Goodbye

Mission: Friends and Traitors
Posted on Fri May 1st, 2026 @ 10:24pm by Lieutenant Bartholomew Hale & Captain Erik Norsgaard

Stepping onto the bridge of the Thunderbird, a bottle of wine in hand, Hale was presented with a hive of activity. Like any vessel in port, technicians were buzzing around upgrading systems and performing checks, every detail scrutinised, every bolt secured, every panel polished to within an inch of its life. The Lieutenant shouldered his way past the jumpsuited techs, and ducked under bulkheads that had been shifted to access the bridge's innards.

On his way through to the ready room, he stopped by the CONN. The panel was sleek, a far cry from the clunky CONN positions he'd sat…

» Duty Bound

Mission: Friends and Traitors
Posted on Fri May 1st, 2026 @ 1:03am by Captain Erik Norsgaard & Lieutenant Commander Areum Choi

The Maquis, a thorn in the Federation and Starfleet's side. They finally had a name in recent months to put onto the source of their problems. Areum Choi had been monitoring the intel she had been privy to from the 'luxury' of her office at the stockade for several months, before the group had acquired a recognized name. What had initially been viewed as random malfunctions evolved to civil unrest to targeted attacks. They became organized, and their gorilla warfare methodology rapidly evolved with time. It was about then that she was finding more and more Starfleet personnel enlisted and…

» Dash and Clash

Mission: Friends and Traitors
Posted on Thu Apr 30th, 2026 @ 7:49pm by Lieutenant JG Caitlyn MacRae & Lieutenant Bartholomew Hale

Bartholomew scowled. He scrolled through Commander Hudson's report. With the most diplomatic phrasing, every sentence. Every word. Every single syllable was a damning indictment. The man who failed to see through a terrorist organisation taking hold. Who'd tolerated violence against innocent civilians. Who couldn't see his subordinates had become turncoats.

Pathetic.

"Lieutenant Hale," came Captain Franklin's voice through his combadge, echoing through the sparsely crowded replimat, "It's Captain Franklin. Can you hear me?"

Hale rolled his eyes and dragged his hand to his combadge. "Yes... I can hear you, Captain Franklin."

"Lieutenant, I've sent through your orders. Captain Norsgaard is…

» The Lost Kitten

Mission: Friends and Traitors
Posted on Wed Apr 29th, 2026 @ 7:45pm by Lieutenant JG Caitlyn MacRae & Lieutenant Daltom Vesper

Fight Me…

Those two words seemed woven into the baseline of the music, the favoured playlist she had curated for workouts in the ship’s gymnasium. Typically there were other early birds around and the music not only helped her maintain a steady and demanding pace but allowed her to drown out distractions.

And she had many distractions. Although, with the ship docked for a few hours yet, at least she had the gym mostly to herself. Until now.

She heard the sound in the brief millisecond of silence between tracks, sounding so odd and out of place it brought her…