Zephyria Base

From FEInfobase

Zephyria Base is Starfleet's foremost centre of smallcraft development, and has been since its establishment in the late 22nd Century. Built on Mars in 2176, the base has been devoted to the design and testing of shuttles, starfighters, and other specialist smaller ships (scouts, etc.). Occasionally used as a training ground for fighter squadrons in its initial two centuries of existence, with the Dominion War and the frontline of the Federation shrinking back to the Sol System, it has become a more forefront home base for starfighter units. Now used for training and defence, and with resources for development at an all-time low, Zephyria has been 'reduced' somewhat to more of a squadron base than a research and development centre.

Directed by Commander Jonas Slone, who has served on Zephyria Base for his entire career and originally made his name in smallcraft R&D, these days the base is best known for its role as the 'home' of the highly publicised 12th EDF Squadron, the Angry Apes. With very little research and development under way - with the Epsilon Scout as one of the few exceptions, one of the only projects to not be axed since the Borg War - Zephyria is considered to be, by some, a glorified and over-funded fighter base.

Vice President Jellico has been a staunch defender of the R&D work done at Zephyria, praising it as being 'visionary' and playing a vital role in defining the future of the Federation. So long as Zephyria has the Vice-President's support and the public eye turned in its direction for the presence of the Apes, it is likely Zephyria shall continue on the long path towards it former research status.