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The history of the Enterprise - Part Two

© Tanya M. Blakeley

In this article we Explorer the Enterprises of the 23rd and 24 centuries. These are the Enterprises of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek. They are the flagships of the Federation.

The first of these starships named Enterprise, was commanded by Robert April. Captain April's first officer was Commander George Kirk, the father of the third, and most famous, Captain of the Enterprise Captain James T. Kirk. While Captain April had wanted to name the ship the USS Constitution, Commander Kirk made the suggestion of the USS Enterprise. This particular story is told in the Diane Carrey novel 'First Frontier'.

This same Enterprise was next commanded by Captain Christopher Pike. It was during this time that many of our favorite characters including Spock, Scotty and Uhura joined the crew. The Star Trek pilot episode 'The Cage' occurred. Also, their first mission is told in D.C. Fontana's 'Vulcan's Glory'.

After Captain Pike was promoted to Commodore, Captain James T. Kirk the most famous Enterprise Captain in Starfleet to command. During Kirk's command, the Enterprise began its legendary journey, acquiring other of our favourite crew members. After the death of Captain Spock in 'Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan', Admiral Kirk and crew set out to rescue Captain Spock, and in the process stealing the Enterprise which was to be decommissioned. These event can be seen in the movie 'Star Trek: The Search for Spock'.

After the events in 'Search for Spock', in the captured Klingon Bird of Prey, Kirk and crew began the return home to Earth to be court marshalled for disobeying a direct order from Starfleet command. In the process, while returning to Earth, they encounter an Alien probe and travel back in time to find a pair of humpbacked whales in order to save Earth and the Federation. It was after these events that they were given the Enterprise-A, and Admiral Kirk was demoted to the rank of Captain.

This Enterprise's first mission was to the planet of the Galactic Peace, Nimbus III, to rescue the diplomatic hostages. Its next mission was to escort the Klingon High Council's Chancellor Gorkon to the Peace conference on Earth. This conference was postponed due to Gorkon's assassination, it was later moved to camp Khitomer on the border of the Neutral Zone. After once again saving the Federation, the Enterprise-A was decommissioned.

The USS Enterprise-B, as seen in the movie 'Star Trek: Generation', was commanded by Captain Harriman. The Enterprise-B's maiden voyage was made with three of the original Enterprise's crew members, Captain Kirk, Captain Scott and Commander Chekov. This Enterprise on her maiden voyage responded to a distress call from a couple of El-Aurian transports caught in the temporal nexus. It was on this voyage the Captain Kirk was presumed dead after trying to save

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