Wednesday, January 28, 2026

2026 Character Creation Challenge Speed Run: Starfleet Task Force 777

Entries for January 3-6.

Are ships characters? I pulled this stunt last year, more than once, and nobody showed up to stop me.

All ships are stated out for Star Trek Adventures 1e.


Historical Brief

Records of Task Force 777 date back to the United Earth Starfleet and continue to its current incarnation. The first Task Force 777 was a relief force formed in the aftermath of the Earth-Romulan War. The designation was deliberately outside the format used during the war to avoid confusion with combat formations. Ships rotated through Task Force 777 as they became available or were needed elsewhere. It was disbanded as larger scale rebuilding efforts came online with the formation of the United Federation of Planets.

At least three different Task Forces 777 operated during the 23rd century. One was formed in the 2340s to respond to various emergencies emerging on the Federation's outlying settlements and outposts. Another operated during the Federation-Klingon War (2256-57) as a reserve and rear area security force, but is known to have seen front line combat. The third was created in 2393 to assist in repairing the damage caused by the Praxis disaster.

A Task Force 777 existed during the Federation border conflicts of the 2340s-60s. It mainly operated to provide security to vulnerable settlements and installations. It also provided emergency relief to stricken colonies and engaged in combat on occasion.


Task Force 777 (2380s)

Starfleet's current Task Force 777 was formed during the Dominion War (2373-2375) as a reserve and rear area security force. Task Force 777 was often called to respond to emergencies far from the front lines as it was the only substantial Federation Alliance force available. This sometimes resulted in facing grim odds against Jem'Hadar or Breen raiders. Happily, it also led to two first contact scenarios as Task Force 777 was called in to investigate odd sensor readings.

The mission and composition of Task Force 777 was changed after the Dominion War to assist in rebuilding. Its mandate was broadened to include relief and emergency efforts of all kinds as the years went on. This mission continues in the 2380s.

Task Force 777 is mainly deployed in situations that would overwhelm a single starship. Additional ships are rotated through Task Force 777 as needed. Only the ships permanently assigned to Task Force 777 are described below. These ships are intended to provide a wide variety of capabilities.

USS Vasquez

USS Vasquez, Galaxy class, NCC-71874

USS Vasquez is an example of Dominion War emergency construction. None of the things that define the Galaxy class were part of its original construction - no carpets, no wood paneling, none of the luxuries intended to support years-long deep space exploration missions. The ship was all gunmetal interiors, additional fusion powerplants, extra phaser arrays, and rough edges. After the Dominion War, the ship was refitted to peacetime standards, but the rough edges were never really buffed out.

USS Vasquez is the command ship of Task Force 777. It provides plenty of capability on its own and coordinates the efforts of the other ships.

I named this ship in honor of Vasquez Rocks - a location long a part of Star Trek.

USS Edmonton

USS Edmonton, Parliament class, NCC-70419

A support ship is required for Task Force 777's current mission. A California class was considered, but all ships of that class are fully committed to second contact missions. USS Edmonton provides additional support for relief and emergency missions.

Edmonton was the first name of a Canadian population center that caught my eye.

USS Katherine Johnson

USS Katherine Johnson, Nova class, NCC-73216

USS Johnson is Task Force 777's dedicated science ship. It provided analysis and research facilities when needed. Otherwise, the ship is detached to perform long term observation of phenomena along Task Force 777's patrol route.

Katherine Johnson was one of the first African-American women to work at NASA. Her calculations - often manual - were essential for Projects Mercury, Apollo, and the Space Shuttle program. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Silver Snoopy Award, a NASA Group Achievement Award, the Congressional Gold Medal, and was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame (posthumously) in recognition of her accomplishments.

USS Jeanne de Clisson

USS Jeanne de Clisson, Defiant class, NCC-74300

USS de Clisson is Task Force 777's dedicated combat ship. It provides area security, carries out patrols, and escorts any transport convoys supporting Task Force 777. This results in a surprising number of hostile encounters due to the value of relief and medical supplies. Fortunately, the reputation of the Defiant class often acts as a deterrent.

Jeanne de Clisson, also known as the Lioness of Brittany, was a French/Breton noblewomen who turned privateer after her husband was executed by King Philip VI of France. She led her three ships from her flagship My Revenge in a campaign of commerce raiding against the French. She regularly killed off almost the whole crew of the French ships she targeted. It was her practice to leave at least one sailor alive to carry word to King Philip VI.

Would Starfleet name a ship after somebody like Jeanne de Clisson? I can see the arguments against it, but this is a Defiant class starship.


Four more down, twenty five to go!

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