Registry: NCC-42296

Class: Excelsior

Constructed At: Beta Antares Shipyards

"The first Excelsior Class vessel was launched in 2284. This ship (The U.S.S. Excelsior), became the prototype for the numerous Excelsior Class starships built over the next several decades, including the new U.S.S. HOOD. Since construction, the HOOD has been modified for deep-space tactical assignments. It is now outfitted with the latest in offensive and defensive equipment - Multi-Spacial Torpedoes, Phase-modulated Ram and Gun Cannons, Pulsed Laser and Distruptor Arrays, Regenerative Shielding, Ablative Hull Armour, Several Bird Mark V Cloaking Devices, Astrometric Sensors, Mark XII 'Hawkeye' Artificially Intelligent Drones and the latest 'Onyx' and 'Merlin' Fighters."

Current Assignment: Trading in contraband :-)

Medals and Commendations

Command Crew: Palmer, Chili, Murray, David, Charles, Tracy, Thomas, Nathan and Olukoju, Gavin

Background History:

• 2266: The first HOOD (A Consitution Class), was one of the ships involved in the ill-fated tests of the new Bird B-10 Planetary Defense Computer. The ship was destroyed with all hands lost.
• 2290: The second starship to bear the name HOOD (Commanded by the newly appointed Captain Palmer), was brought into service.
• 2292: The HOOD was diverted to the Centauri system during the Groundhog tensions of stardate 43463.7 in response to defecting Admiral Hog-em's story of a secret invasion.
• 2298: The HOOD was due to resupply Bird colonists' terraforming project on Denub, until Captain Palmer's kidnapping delayed the rendezvous.
• 2298: Captain Palmer was rescued from a Groundhog Detention Centre by Bird Special Forces.
• 2300: After 2 years of planning, the HOOD took part in the destruction of the Groundhog colonies on Lyrae, Arcturus and Sirius. In retaliation for the destruction of numerous Bird colonies by the Groundhog High Command.
• 2300: Following on from the destruction of the Groundhog colonies. The HOOD was sent to make first contact with the Wasp People. Upon arriving at their homeworld, The HOOD began talks, however a mistake in translation by a young ensign caused the death of the negotiation team and the Wasp People to close their borders to the Bird Empire.
• 2301: A secret mission was sent to the Wasp Homeworld to open a dialog. The Wasp homeworld had become strategically important to the Bird Empire in its on-going war with the Groundhogs. After months of talks an alliance was formed. The crew of the HOOD were heavily envolved and have more than made up for their failure a year earlier. However for strategic purposes, the official clasification of the Wasp People is still 'Enemy of the Bird Empire'.
• 2301: After several unprovoked attacks by the Sloth on Bird freighters and colonies. The Bird Empire has assigned the HOOD to monitor Sloth activities and where possible destroy any Sloth ships.
• 2303: Due to intelligence gathering on the Sloth, by the HOOD. The Bird Empire was able to easily repell a massive Sloth strike force intent on destroying the Bird Homeworld. The HOOD commanded the fleet that accomplished this task.
• 2303 - 2305: The HOOD has been reassigned to monitor Sloth activities and gather more intelligence in preparation for a planned invasion of the Sloth homeworld.
• 2305: The planned invasion of the Sloth homeworld was a failure, we grossly under estimated the intelligence and military power of the Sloth. A new plan has been conceived, we are going to destroy every colony and outpost one by one and then attack the homeworld. We hope this strategy will be more successful. The HOOD is needed elsewhere, a new ship will be assigned to lead the fleet.
• 2310 - Present: Funds, personnel and technology are needed for the war. After an extensive refit at the Utopia Planitia ship yards, the HOOD has been reassigned to gather the necessary supplies. The HOOD is currently running contraband between various systems against the laws of the UPF.

Medals and Commendations won by the U.S.S. HOOD crew:

LCARS Accessed: Palmer, Chili

Bird Empire Personnel File: Palmer, Chili

Psychological Profile (Counselor's Office):

"Charming, bold, a born explorer. Palmer is guided by a core of human decency and intuition, even when they contravene direct orders. He is independent, yet has a strong sense of duty. Palmer holds a grudge against the Groundhogs, whom he blames for the murder of his father. Palmer is eager to make history and see what's out there. Commander Thomas once estimated that only a quarter of Palmer's tactics are traditional. Right from his first command, Palmer began acquiring this lifelong reputation for unorthodox solutions when, during a battle, he figured out a Wasp ship's sensor blind spot for use as a hiding place."

Rank: Captain

Asssignment: Commanding Officer, HOOD NCC-42296

Full Name: Chili Eugene Palmer

Birthplace: San Francisco, Earth

Often Heard Saying:

LCARS Accessed: Murray, David

Bird Empire Personnel File: Murray, David

Professional Assessment (Captain Palmer):

"David spends his free time on the holodeck surfing. He has adopted the manner of surfers to the effect that he's so laid back he's almost horizontal! As a child of 10, David witnessed the massacre of 4,000 people during a famine by the governor of Arcturus, nicknamed Ming the Executioner. Due to this experience, he has problems trusting anyone in authority and this distrust has gained him a reputation as an independent. His success couldn't be argued even though he often bucked the system. He has some friends among the crew (Myself included), and is totally devoted to his career and friends."

Rank: Lieutenant-Commander

Asssignment: Chief Engineer, HOOD NCC-42296

Full Name: David John Murray

Birthplace: Newquay, Earth

Often Heard Saying:

LCARS Accessed: Charles, Tracy

Bird Empire Personnel File: Charles, Tracy

Professional Assessment (Captain Palmer):

"Tracy is a tough officer who is not afraid to take chances, while her intelligence, thoughtfulness, dedication and diplomacy have earned her respect and recognition as one of the best in the Bird Empire. She prefers to be addressed as "Tracy" rather than either the gender-based 'sir' or 'ma'am'. Aside from math and the sciences her studies have included chromo-linguistics, American Sign Language and the gestural idioms of Lyrae. Since becoming involved with Nathan, she has taken courses in Genetic Engineering, Advanced Exobiology and Anatomy. The crew jokes at the fact she insists these curriculum choices were nothing to do with her boyfriend's occupation."

Rank: Lieutenant

Asssignment: Science Officer, HOOD NCC-42296

Full Name: Tracy Emily Charles

Birthplace: Copernicus City, Luna

Often Heard Saying:

LCARS Accessed: Thomas, Nathan

Bird Empire Personnel File: Thomas, Nathan

Professional Assessment (Captain Palmer):

"Nathan is a charming American with an amazing singing voice, he has an offbeat sense of humor and is always on the hunt for the next big adventure. I first met Nathan sometime before construction of the HOOD was complete, he was giving a lecture on a neural grafting procedure he had developed employing the creation of axonal pathways between the graft and a subject basal ganglia. Although he has been best friends with David since they met aboard ship, he has formed a romantic attachment to Tracy - when they met on Centauri, awaiting their new ship's arrival."

Rank: Commander

Asssignment: Chief Medical Officer / First Officer, HOOD NCC-42296

Full Name: Ian Nathan Thomas

Birthplace: Chicago, Earth

Often Heard Saying:

LCARS Accessed: Olukoju, Gavin

Bird Empire Personnel File: Gavin Olukoju

Professional Assessment (Captain Palmer):

"I asked for Gavin aboard the HOOD after I first saw him risk his life in a Wasp mine field to save a colonist, and his current captain owed me a favor. Well-trained in martial arts and athletics, he took part in the notorius Tauri Ultimate Fighting Champion Tournament as a bet! He became the first human to win in 300 years. Gavin is descended from a long line of Bird Special Forces men; in fact, he takes after his grandfather who was a Sergeant Major in the BSF. Rules and regulations, discipline, schedules — life is strictly by-the-book for this man who is fascinated by French cars. Oh and he's an irresistible chick magnet!"

Rank: Lieutenant-Commander

Asssignment: Security Chief / Tactical Officer, HOOD NCC-42296

Full Name: Gavin Emmanuel Andre Olukoju

Birthplace: African Confederation, Earth

Often Heard Saying: