Pilot escort

The pilot escort was a combat-oriented starship type developed by the Alpha Quadrant Alliance at Utopia Planitia in the early 2410s decade. This type of escort was inspired by the dramatic flight maneuvers performed by Red Squad of Starfleet Academy, but hard to reproduce in a large starship. Tom Paris, a Federation Starfleet ace pilot since the 24th century, and the staff of the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards combined elements from the nimble Flyer-class heavy shuttle with the Defiant-class warships to launch the USS Mercury in the year 2410, the baseline for nine pilot escort ship classes. (STO - Delta Rising mission: "Delta Flight")

History and specifications[]

The Alpha Quadrant Alliance developed new tier 6 starship classes to combat the Iconian Whole and their Herald forces durin the Iconian War. Captain Tom Paris, a former Federation Starfleet admiral, worked with the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards on the USS Mercury, and assumed command of the ship upon its launch in the year 2410. It was one of nine prototypes, three for each AQA major power. (STO - Delta Rising mission: "Delta Flight")

Due to their unusual flight capabilities, command of several prototypes was given to 'mistfits'. One of the first engagements was a mission behind the lines. (STO - The Iconian War mission: "Delta Flight")

Ships of the nine classes then saw action in major engagements at the Herald Sphere surrounding Iconia, and the last-line defense of Earth. (STO - The Iconian War missions: "Broken Circle", "Midnight")

In 2411, due to the success of the pilot escort line, Federation Starfleet, the Klingon Defense Force and the Romulan Republican Force called on their members to contribute additional ship classes. The call was answered by the Andorians, the Letheans and the inhabitants of New Romulus for the Federation, Klingon Empire and the Romulan Republic, respectively. The Andorian classes were an upgrade of the Kumari-line escorts, whereas the Romulans had unearthed and enhanced designs of the extinct Dewans, a former servitor race of the Iconian Empire. (STO - Emergence missions: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock", "Explore the Flotilla")