Spotlight: Salem Sector and Station Salem One

SECTOR OVERVIEW

The area of space designated on Federation cartography charts as Sector 22851, but more informally known as Salem Sector (after the USS Salem, which first charted the region in 2328), is located on the current edge of the north-western quarter of the United Federation of Planets, approximately 250 light years from Sector 001.

Salem Sector is flanked by the aggressive Kzinti Patriarchy, and the territories of the more reclusive Paserak and the Nist, though much of the surrounding area is considered Open Territory, and has been used by races such as the Nausicaans and the Miradorn, as well as criminal organisations such as the Bel-Zon, Moonfleet and the Orion Syndicate, to bypass Federation security.

Among the features of the sector is: Scesity, a mining colony; Bandera III, a pre-Warp civilisation under observation from a Federation First Contact team; Nepenthe, a Class-M world whose fertile soil possesses unusual healing and regenerative properties; and Axylus, a dead planet with unique archaeological ruins dating back many millennia. 

LOCAL POWERS

The major hostile power in the area is the Kzin Patriarchy, a long-standing but relatively unstable government. They are felinoids, similar to Caitians and Ferasans, but generally larger, stronger and faster. 

They have raided Federation territory in the past, but generally have been unsuccessful because they were unprepared (preparation being seen as a sign of weakness) or dismissive of the efforts of races they consider inferior.  (Author's note: I am making creative changes to the Kzinti I will be depicting, which will differ to how they have been described in the works of their creator, Larry Niven, and in their very-rare appearances in canon Star Trek)

The Paserak are reptoids, operating as nomadic tribes, travelling through space, remaining reclusive but occasionally trading with outsiders for goods and services. They have a homeworld where they go to breed, but its location is kept classified. They believe no one can own planets, stars or space, which sometimes brings them into conflict with races or governments who are more territorial. 

They are generally open, peaceful and protocol-driven, and avoid contact with forces they consider too authoritarian or regimented, though some have secretly exchanged intelligence with Starfleet if the need is considered urgent enough.

In addition to these local powers, principal threats have been seen from the activities of the Orion Syndicate, who have used this sector of space as a route for their smuggling, piracy and slaver operations.

SECTOR HISTORY

Starfleet established Station Salem One (occasionally misidentified in some texts as Salem Four) in the sector as an outpost to serve the colonial, scientific and industrial projects that followed the initial surveys. Because of the limited military capability of Salem One and the continued threat from the nearby Kzinti, in 2354 a starship was assigned to offer support, the Steamrunner-class cruiser USS Furyk, commanded by the Caitian Captain Esek Hrelle.

Though the starship often faced superior numbers, it was new, fast and heavily-armed, and Hrelle proved to be a tenacious and talented commander, and his success in managing the Kzinti and other hostile factions earned him the nickname “The Lion of Salem Sector”.

In 2362, the Bel-Zon attacked the Furyk and killed all onboard but Captain Hrelle, who was sold into slavery to the Orions as part of a revenge contract raised by the Syndicate against Hrelle. The Bel-Zon used intelligence taken from the Furyk to raid Salem One and steal a huge consignment of trilithium resin being temporarily stored there, in the process killing several of the station's personnel (including, coincidentally, Captain Hrelle's wife, Lt Cmdr Hannah Eismann Hrelle, leaving their daughter, Sasha Hrelle, to be raised by her maternal grandparents on Earth).

After this tragedy, the station continued to operate with various other starships as support until 2374, when the Dominion War necessitated a reallocation of personnel and resources, and the station was temporarily shut down, leaving the various Federation parties in the sector to either evacuate to more populated regions, or prepare to fend for themselves in the interim.

Following the successful end to the War in 2376, Starfleet promoted Captain Hrelle (who had escaped slavery in 2369 and returned to active duty as Captain of the Surefoot) to Commodore and assigned him command of Salem Sector, given his prior knowledge of the region and his reputation there.

Due to the significant losses suffered by Starfleet during the War, there were no large vessels like the Furyk available for support, so Hrelle requisitioned six of the Sabre-class ambulance ships such as the Surefoot, due to their versatility, durability and size.

The post-War shortages in Starfleet extended to personnel as well, so Commodore Hrelle organised for Salem One to serve as an Annex of Starfleet Academy, with a class of 100 gifted cadets selected to live and study at Salem One, as well as serve as both Station and Sabre personnel, earning academic as well as monetary credits during these periods. Station and Sabre crews will ultimately supplement each other in rotating duties, including the more experienced officers and NCOs acting as instructors in their specialised subjects. 

SABRE SQUADRON ONE

Produced quickly and in large numbers, the Sabre is one of the simplest designs in Starfleet service, a modern, agile starship that favours speed, manoeuvrability and reliability over brute force.

It was the first Starfleet design to completely integrate a primary and secondary hull as well as the nacelles into a single structure, unifying support across the entire body of the vessel to both simplify construction and give added strength to the design, and has modular interiors to allow for the modification of additional sickbays, labs, cargo, personnel quarters, etc.

Dimensions

Length: 364.77m

Width: 250.2m

Height: 52.48m

Warp Speed

Cruising: 5

Maximum: 9.2

Emergency: 9.85

Personnel

Officers: 8

Enlisted: 32

Weaponry

Phaser Arrays

Torpedo Launchers

Decks: 12

The six Sabre-class vessels that Commodore Hrelle recruited to support Salem One all served as ambulance ships during the War, and most of the central crew remained, the auxiliary medical personnel moved onto other duties.

SQUADRON ROSTER

STATION SALEM ONE

The facility designated Station Salem One (shortened to just Salem One) is part of the R-Class Series, Masada Subclass, whose basic design extends back to the 2280s, and whose durability and versatility has ensured their continued use into the Twenty-Fifth Century.

Salem One is larger than the Regula-class research facilities, but smaller than the older K-class stations. Its typical mission profile to provide long-term independent defensive support for patrol ships and planets, and to serve as an early-warning post able to withstand a low to moderate-deck incursion by enemy forces.

Dimensions

Diameter: 600m (at widest point)

Length: 1,015m (including towers)

Complement 

Officers: 40

Crew: 80

Dependents: 60-80

Cadets: 100

Visitors: 20-50

Emergency Capacity: 1,000

Auxiliary Craft

Personnel Runabouts: 6

Cargo Runabouts: 4

Work Bees: 12

Commodore’s Yacht

Transporters

Standard 6-Person: 4

Emergency 24-Person: 2

Cargo: 4 

Defences 

Phaser Banks: 8

Torpedo/Probe Banks: 4

Transport: Not capable of independent movement; attitude control only, via impulse thruster units.

STATION FEATURES

In addition to personnel and cargo turbolifts connecting all station decks, a network of catwalks and stairwells provide access to each deck, though these can all be sealed off in the event of emergency. 

To protect base personnel in case of unexpected depressurisation, each deck contains independent life support and gravity control systems. Station designers have also made great efforts to accommodate both Humanoid and non-Humanoid personnel.

DECK LAYOUT

(The decks designated with the prefix R are off-limits to personnel below Security Level 5 without prior authorisation)

COMMAND SECTION

Deck R3 - Communications and Electronics Centre: The topmost deck of the outpost is a single room that houses the installation’s subspace communications system and navigation beacon, with exosuit equipment lockers and an airlock.

Deck R2 - Command Centre: Duty officers monitor the station’s operations and outside communications from this single-room deck. This deck possesses additional security facilities.

Deck R1 - Offices and Conference Rooms: This deck contains the permanent offices for Commodore Hrelle, Station Chief Kate Sternhagen, Superintendent Commander Haluk and other senior officers, as well as conference rooms and various dedicated small-scale Security, Engineering and Medical facilities, Transporters and Escape Pods.

HABITAT SECTION

Deck 01 - Officers’ Quarters: These accommodations are in single-, double- or family configurations, and each contains a living/dining room with a food replicator, bedroom(s) and bathroom. There are escape pods fitted at equidistant points.

Deck 02 - Guest Quarters and Executive Lounge: These accommodations are single-, double- or family configurations, and each contains a living/dining room with a food replicator, bedroom(s) and bathroom. The Executive Lounge is used for formal functions, restricted to VIPs and senior officers, and contains a bar and holostage for instruction and recreation. There are escape pods fitted at equidistant points.

Deck 03 - Crew Quarters and Hospital: On this deck are staterooms for station personnel. Two crewmembers share each suite, which contains a sleeping area, living area and bathroom (there are limited exceptions for crewmembers with families); there are communal dining areas with replicators and dining tables, as well as lounges. 

This deck also houses the station’s medical facilities, including a sickbay, Chief Surgeon’s and Counselor’s Offices, the Pharmacology, Xenobiology and Medical labs, operating theatres, and an intensive care ward that can accommodate up to 100 personnel. This deck also contains the Emergency Transporter Room, and there are escape pods fitted at equidistant points.

Deck 04 - Broadway: This deck contains an Arboretum supporting numerous floral specimens from Earth and other worlds, regulated by automated systems running below the deck’s surface. Besides the various plants and trees, there is also a fountain, benches, gravel paths, and a memorial to the crew of the Furyk and those lost on Salem One during the Bel-Zon attack. Beyond this there is a Commissary and a Support Service shop providing varied goods and services such as hairstyling, with room for expansion. 

Two airlocks for larger ships are located at equidistant points on this deck, with reception bays to receive personnel and visitors, decontamination and security facilities, and docking clamps and turbolocks to fix the vessels and allow safe passage.

Deck 05 - Cadet Quarters and Academy: On this deck are staterooms for the cadets. Four cadets share each suite, which contains a sleeping area, living area and bathroom; there are communal dining areas with replicators and dining tables, as well as lounges. This deck also houses the cadet instruction and training rooms and Holosuites.

Another two airlocks for larger ships are located at equidistant points on this deck, with reception bays to receive personnel and visitors, decontamination and security facilities, and docking clamps and turbolocks to fix the vessels and allow safe passage.

Deck 06 - Recreation Deck: This deck accommodates the various recreational needs of the station’s crew. Located here are the station’s library, theatre, gymnasium, sports courts, running track, hot tubs and Holodecks.

SECURE SECTION

Deck 07 - Security: This section houses a large well-protected Brig as well as an Armoury, and storage areas for valuable, combat-oriented, contraband and classified materials. Each cell contains a cot, sanitary facilities, and a forcefield as well as auxiliary metal bars. At least two security guards are always on duty in the Brig. Besides monitoring prisoners and visitors, these guards also scan such sensitive areas as Engineering, the Computer Room, the Armoury and the Transporter Rooms.

Also located here is the courtroom, where trials and courts-martial are conducted.

Access to this deck is restricted.

Deck 08 - Labs and Sciences: This deck contains laboratory facilities for science research, including Astrometrics, Biology, Chemistry and others that can be configured for mission-specific specialties. Access to this deck is restricted.

HANGAR / STORAGE SECTION

Decks 09-12 (Port) - Cargo Decks: The decks on the port side of the station contain facilities for the storage of bulk cargoes, including pre-fabricated equipment, consumables and raw materials for replication and fabrication, as well as private possessions and contraband. There are configurable security, environmental and gravimetric modifications available when required, and cargo transporters on each deck.

Deck 09 (Starboard) - Shuttle Storage Bay: All vehicles not being used, repaired, maintained or modified are stored here, and can be transported by pneumatic lift to the decks above and below. At least one runabout is required to be powered for launching at all times. 

Deck 10-12 (Starboard) - Hangar Bay: Vehicles take off and land from this deck. There are two Hangar Bay doors on this deck, with atmospheric forcefields and extendable guiding ramps. There is also a Launch Control Room, Decontamination Rooms and a Mission Ready Room. There is sufficient access to accommodate two Sabre-class starships, should major repair work be required.

This deck houses the machinery and electronic systems to maintain, repair and modify runabouts, shuttlecraft and other small vessels. Features include pneumatic lifts, industrial fabricators and the Hangar Bay Chief’s office.

Deck 13 - Auxiliary Command: This deck contains the Auxiliary Command Centre, where command personnel can monitor and direct station functions in the event that the Command Centre is rendered unusable. There is always one security guard posted outside this room.

Deck 14 - Storage Batteries

Deck 15 - Life Support and Fabrication Centre: This deck contains the air purification system, fabrication centre which takes raw and recycled materials and convert them into desired items, waste treatment centre, and the laundry room for any washable item that cannot be broken down and reconstructed.

Decks 16-18: Engineering: These decks contain the main power generators and distribution systems, the Structural Integrity Field and Inertial Dampening Field Generators, and access to the manoeuvring thrusters. Small one-person turbolifts and vertical access shafts run through these decks. 

Decks 19-21 - Drydock Deck: These decks control the assembly and operation for the Drydock, an extendable and adjustable framework that facilitates the basic maintenance and repair of large starships by providing for the storage of drones, materials and tools, a power supply whilst onboard generator systems are not active, deflectors to protect the ship from external dangers, and generally supporting the activities of those working on the vessel. 

While the actual maintenance and repair offered will be limited, at its maximum the framework can accommodate medium-sized vessels such as Intrepid-, Nova- and Steamrunner-class. There are also exosuit lockers and airlocks. 

Deck 22+: Access to Ventral Phaser Pods and Torpedo and Probe Storage and Launchers