Outback Squadron

From FEInfobase

Revision as of 20:47, 2 August 2005

In the late 2380s, Starfleet was suffering heavily in the Borg Wars. Ship and personnel losses were heavy, and Starfighter Command in particular had just found itself to be at almost half of its original strength. Borg ships would almost literally cleave through starfighter squadrons, and they proved to be somewhat ineffective against their enemies, prompting both heavy losses and little desire to rebuild them.

When Falcon Squadron, one of the foremost fighter squadrons of the Federation, was all but destroyed at the battle of [Khitomer], some thought this would signal the end for an effective starfighter presence in Starfleet. The recovery of the sole survivor, Lieutenant Joseph Ryan, was the catalyst for change. Ryan, a devoted pilot, managed to convince Starfleet Command to give him control of a final, spear-heading project to revitalise the fading presence of Starfighter Command in the Fleet.

This project was the new, elite, cutting-edge unit that was Outback Squadron. Made up of officers who were not just the best pilots of their generation but also the most innovative, Outback Squadron set out to both become one of the most effective front-line fighter squadrons in the Federation and a test-bed for a new age of starfighter combat tactics. Under the command of Ryan, the squadron developed modern smallcraft combat and brought it into the modern age, an age where battles against an enemy like the Borg were common.

As such, Outback was ultimately recognised across the Federation, for both its individual achievements in the Wars and the way in which it had influenced. The Squadron was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions at the Battle of Delonnois III in 2395, and many of its pilots were highly decorated as the wars went on.

When the Battle of Sol came around, the squadron was at full strength - and yet, Outback met its demise over the long conflict on Earth. All but the three senior officers were killed in the battle, though the unit remained strong throughout the fighting and had several significant kills to its name by the end of the fight.

Outback Squadron, although too devastated once the battle was over to be reformed, was awarded a second, 'posthumous' Presidential Unit Citation for its role in the fighting, one of the very few units to be awarded such an honour twice in the Borg Wars. The three survivors, Squadron CO Joseph Ryan, Squadron XO Kate Galloway, and Flight Leader Jason McQueen went their separate ways with the conflict over, and the squadron has since faded into memory and myth in Starfleet.

Pilots of Outback Squadron

Outback One:

Joseph Ryan (Edge), 2389 - 2398, Squadron Commanding Officer and One-Flight Leader (Human Male from Earth)

Outback Two:

Jason McQueen (Flash), 2389 - 2394 (Human Male from Luna)

Iara Bauw (Archer), 2394 - 2398 (Betazoid Female from Betazed)

Outback Three:

Antonia Young (Angel), 2389 - 2395 (Human Female from Earth)

Outback Four:

Valen Fiore (Spectre), 2389 - 2395 (Bajoran Female from Bajor)

Outback Five:

Michael Pulaski (Minotaur), 2389 - 2391, Squadron Executive Officer and Two-Flight Leader (Human Male from Io)

Kate Galloway (Blitz), 2391 - 2398, Squadron Executive Officer and Two-Flight Leader (Human Female from Earth)

Outback Six:

Bevan Garr (Shock), 2389 - 2391 (Cardassian Male from Cardassia)

Harrick (Gambit), 2391 - 2395 (Andorian Male from Andoria)

George Southerly (Black Jack), 2395 - 2398 (Human Male from Elannis VI)

Outback Seven:

Korad Jarn (Jester), 2389 - 2395 (Bolian Male from Bolarus IX)

SuDaj (Reaper), 2395 - 2398 (Klingon Female from Qo'noS)

Outback Eight:

Dusev Kallovus (Pilgrim), 2389 (Bajoran Male from Bajor)

Scovek (Psycho), 2389 - 2391 (Vulcan Male from Vulcan)

Roger Baldock (Hunter), 2391 - 2398 (Human Male from Earth)

Outback Nine:

Erika Dagmar (Cobra), 2389 - 2394, Three-Flight Leader (Human Female from Earth)

Jason McQueen (Flash), 2394 - 2398, Three-Flight Leader (Human Male from Luna)

Outback Ten:

Fiarinna (Obsidian), 2389 - 2391 (Orion Female from Orion)

Jovus (Smokey), 2391 - 2395 (Denobulan Male from Denobula)

Juan Cortez (Bear), 2395 - 2398 (Human Male from Earth)

Outback Eleven:

James O'Malley (Vertigo), 2389 - 2398 (Human Male from Titan)

Outback Twelve:

Lann Caulrey (Maestro), 2389 - 2398 (Betazoid Male from Betazed)