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Changes: USS Excelsior (NCC-2000)

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{{spoiler PIC}}
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{{sidebar starship|
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{{sidebar starship
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Image= USSExcelsiorVOY.jpg
  
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| Name= USS ''Excelsior''
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|image = USS Excelsior.jpg
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| Class= {{ShipClass|Excelsior}}
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|name = USS ''Excelsior''
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| Registry= NX-2000 / NCC-2000
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|dt = USS ''Excelsior'' (NCC-2000)
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|class = {{class|Excelsior}}
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| Affiliation= [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]]/[[Starfleet]]
  
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|registry = [[NCC]]-2000
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| Status= Active
  
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|owner = {{Federation}}
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| Datestatus= 2370
  
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|operator = [[Starfleet]]
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|status = Decommissioned
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|datestatus = 2320
 
}}
  
}}
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{{aquote|My [[God]], that's a big [[spacecraft|ship]].''"<br />"''Not so big as [[Hikaru Sulu|her captain]], I think.|[[Leonard McCoy]]''' and '''[[Montgomery Scott]]|2293|6}}
   
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The '''USS ''Excelsior'' (NCC-2000)''' was a [[Federation]] [[starship]] that was in service during the late [[23rd century]] and [[24th century]]. It was also the [[prototype]] for the very successful {{ShipClass|Excelsior}} of starship.
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The '''USS ''Excelsior'' ([[NX]]-2000''', later '''[[NCC]]-2000)''' was a [[23rd century]] [[Federation]] {{class|Excelsior}} [[starship]] operated by [[Starfleet]] from [[2285]] to [[2320]]. The ''Excelsior'' was the [[prototype]] of her [[starship class|class]].
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  +
== History ==
  ⚫
=== Trial runs ===
  ⚫
[[File:USS Excelsior in Spacedock.jpg|thumb|The ''Excelsior'' in spacedock]]
  ⚫
Dubbed "[[The Great Experiment]]," the ''Excelsior'' was conceived during the early [[2280s]] as the first [[Starfleet]] vessel equipped with [[transwarp drive]]. An awe-inspiring concept to some, traditional [[engineer]]s were more skeptical, as in the case of [[Montgomery Scott]], who expressed his doubt in transwarp technology with the [[analogy]], "''and if [[Scott's grandmother 001|my grandmother]] had [[wheel]]s, she'd be a [[wagon]].''" ({{film|3}})
   
  ⚫
Designed under radically new principles of propulsion, the ''Excelsior'' had the potential for becoming the fastest starship in the entire Federation, as at that time, the Starfleet record for faster-than-light travel was [[warp factor]] 14.1, set by the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} in [[2269]]. ({{TOS|That Which Survives}})
⚫
==Trial runs==
  
⚫
[[Image:Excelsior in spacedock.jpg|thumb|The ''Excelsior'' in spacedock]]
  
⚫
Dubbed "[[The Great Experiment]]," the ''Excelsior'' was conceived during the early [[2280s]] as the first [[Starfleet]] vessel equipped with [[transwarp drive]]. An awe inspiring concept to some, traditional [[engineer]]s were more skeptical, as in the case of [[Montgomery Scott]], who expressed his doubt in transwarp technology with the analogy, "''and if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a wagon.''" ({{film|3}})
 
   
  ⚫
[[File:Excelsior bridge 2285.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Excelsior''{{'}}s bridge, manned by the ship's commanding officer, Captain Styles, and other officers]]
⚫
Designed under radically new principles of propulsion, the ''Excelsior'' had the potential for becoming the fastest starship in the entire Federation, as at that time, the Starfleet record for FTL travel was [[warp factor]] 14.1, set by the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} in [[2269]]. ({{TOS|That Which Survives}})
 
  ⚫
In [[2285]], the ''Excelsior'' was under the command of [[Captain]] [[Lawrence H. Styles]], and had taken a berth in [[Earth Spacedock]] as she was prepared for [[trial run]]s, hoping to break some of the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[maximum speed|speed]] {{dis|record|accomplishment}}s.
   
  ⚫
The ''Excelsior'' was days away from her first full field test of the transwarp drive, when she was unexpectedly called for duty. The crew of the USS ''Enterprise'', attempting to rejoin Captain [[Spock]]'s ''[[katra]]'' with his regenerated body, [[hijacking|hijacked]] the ''Enterprise'' for an illegal journey to the {{dis|Genesis|planet|Genesis Planet}}.
⚫
[[Image:Excelsior bridge 2285.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Excelsior'''s bridge, manned by the ship's commanding officer, Captain Styles, and other officers.]]
  
⚫
By [[2285]], the ''Excelsior'' ([[NX]]-2000) was under the command of [[Captain]] [[Styles]], and had taken a berth in [[Earth Spacedock]] as it prepared for trial runs.
 
   
  ⚫
[[File:USS Excelsior stalls outside Spacedock.jpg|thumb|The ''Excelsior'' sputters out, dead in space]]
⚫
The ''Excelsior'' was days away from its first full field test of the transwarp drive, when it was unexpectedly called for duty. The crew of the USS ''Enterprise'', attempting to rejoin [[Captain]] [[Spock]]'s ''[[katra]]'' with his regenerated body, hijacked the ''Enterprise'' for an illegal trip to the [[Genesis Planet]].
 
  ⚫
Captain Styles, confident in his new "incredible machine," was ordered to pursue as the ''Enterprise'' entered warp, fleeing the system. However, Captain Montgomery Scott, assigned as [[captain of engineering]] aboard the ''Excelsior'', had [[sabotage]]d the ship's [[transwarp computer]], leaving the ''Excelsior'' dead in space. Proud of his accomplishment, Scott explained that "''the more they over-think the [[plumbing]], the easier it is to stop up the [[drain]].''" ({{film|3}})
   
  ⚫
Following this embarrassing failure, the ''Excelsior'' essentially spent the next two years in spacedock. In [[2286]] she was briefly ordered to be launched during an apparent attack by an [[Whale Probe|alien probe]], but the ''Excelsior'', as well as the spacedock, lost all internal power and was left stranded in her bay. ({{film|4}})
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[[Image:ExcelsiorSpacedock.jpg|thumb|The ''Excelsior'' sputters out, dead in space.]]
  
⚫
Captain Styles, confident in his new "incredible machine," was ordered to pursue as the ''Enterprise'' entered warp, fleeing the system. However, Captain Montgomery Scott, assigned as [[Captain of engineering]] aboard the ''Excelsior'', had sabotaged the ship's [[transwarp computer]], leaving the ''Excelsior'' dead in space. Proud of his accomplishment, Scott explained that "''the more they overtake the plumbing, the easier to stop up the drain.''" ({{film|3}})
  
   
  ⚫
After the ''Enterprise'' was destroyed at the Genesis Planet, [[Hikaru Sulu]] believed he and his ''Enterprise'' shipmates would be assigned to the ''Excelsior'' before learning their next assignment was the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A|-A}}. At the time, Montgomery Scott believed the ''Excelsior'' to be nothing more than a "bucket of bolts." ({{film|4}})
⚫
Following this embarrassing failure, the ''Excelsior'' essentially spent the next two years in Spacedock. In [[2286]] it was briefly ordered to be launched during an apparent attack by an [[Whale Probe|alien probe]], but the ''Excelsior'', as well as the Spacedock lost all internal power and was left stranded in its bay. ({{film|4}})
 
   
  ⚫
The ''Excelsior'' remained in spacedock until at least [[2287]], before subsequently being recommissioned for active service by the end of the decade. ({{film|5}}; {{film|6}})
⚫
After the ''Enterprise'' was destroyed at the Genesis Planet, [[Hikaru Sulu]] believed he and his ''Enterprise'' shipmates would be assigned to the ''Excelsior'' before learning their next assignment was the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A}}. At the time, [[Montgomery Scott]] believed the ''Excelsior'' to be nothing more than a "''bucket of bolts.''" ({{film|4}})
  
   
  ⚫
[[File:Excelsior Bridge 1.jpg|thumb|Updated bridge design in 2293]]
⚫
The ''Excelsior'' remained in Spacedock until at least [[2287]], before subsequently being recommissioned for active service by the end of the decade. ({{film|5}}, {{film|6}})
  
  ⚫
Prior to her recommissioning, the ''Excelsior'' was [[refit]]ted with a new [[bridge]] module, which also included a significant modification to the [[aft]] portion of the [[saucer section]], surrounding the [[impulse drive]], and a modification to the [[cargo bay]] on the aft [[ventral]] portion of the ship. ({{film|6}})
   
  ⚫
{{bginfo|Although never directly addressed, the only evidence that the ''Excelsior'' was a failure as a transwarp prototype can be found in the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual]]'' (p. 14), which stated that "''the attempt to surpass the primary warp field efficiency barrier with the Transwarp Development Project in the early 2280s proved unsuccessful&hellip;''".|In addition, the {{ste|c|1|75|76}} speculates that the reference made by [[Data]] in the {{s|TNG}} [[TNG Season 2|second season]] episode {{e|Evolution}}, where he stated that "''there has not been a system-wide technological failure on [[Federation system-wide failure starship|a starship]] in [[2287|seventy-nine years]],''" may have been in reference to the failure of the transwarp drive.}}
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[[Image:Excelsior Bridge 1.jpg|thumb|Updated bridge design in [[2293]].]]
  
⚫
Prior to its recommissioning, the ''Excelsior'' was [[refit]] with a new [[bridge]] module, which also included a significant modification to the [[aft]] portion of the [[saucer section]], surrounding the [[impulse drive]], and a modification to the [[cargo bay]] on the aft [[ventral]] portion of the ship. ({{film|6}})
  
   
  ⚫
=== Three-year mission ===
⚫
: ''Although never directly addressed, the only evidence that the ''Excelsior'' was a failure as a transwarp prototype can be found in the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual]],'' which stated that "''the attempt to surpass the primary warp field efficiency barrier with the Transwarp Development Project in the early 2280s proved unsuccessful...''".
 
  ⚫
[[File:USS Excelsior escapes shockwave.jpg|thumb|The ''Excelsior'' escaping the shock wave of the Klingon moon Praxis]]
  ⚫
In 2287 now-Captain [[Hikaru Sulu]] took command of the ''Excelsior''. ({{PIC|The Star Gazer}}) In [[2290]] the ship embarked on a three-year mission, cataloging [[gas]]eous [[planet]]ary [[anomaly|anomalies]] in the [[Beta Quadrant]]. ({{film|6}})
  ⚫
{{bginfo|According to a line cut from the script, the crew cataloged "fifty-four planets &ndash; and their gaseous atmospheric anomalies."}}
   
  ⚫
In [[2293]], as the ''Excelsior'' was returning to [[Federation space]] following the successful conclusion of her mission, she was struck by a powerful [[subspace shock wave]] caused by the destruction of the [[Klingon Empire|Klingon]] [[moon]], [[Praxis]]. Upon discovering the cause of the disaster, Sulu immediately contacted the [[Klingon High Command]] to offer his ship's assistance. The [[Klingon]]s, including [[Klingon 23rd officer 001|an officer]] on Praxis, called for help, however, the transmission was cut-off when [[Brigadier]] [[Kerla]] interrupted and reported that there had been an incident on Praxis, and turned the offer for assistance down because everything is under control, requesting that Sulu obey treaty stipulations and remain outside the [[Federation-Klingon border|Neutral Zone]]. Thereafter, Sulu reported the incident to [[Starfleet Command]]. ({{film|6}})
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: ''In addition, the ''[[Star Trek Chronology]]'' speculates that the reference made by [[Data]] in {{TNG|Evolution}} stating "''there has not been a system-wide technological failure on a starship in [[2287|seventy-nine years]],''" may have been in reference to the failure of the transwarp drive.''
  
   
  +
[[File:USS Excelsior and Kang's cruiser faceoff.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Excelsior'' encounters Kang's battle cruiser]]
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==Three-year mission==
  
  ⚫
Two months later, following the arrest of [[James T. Kirk]] and [[Leonard McCoy]] on charges of [[assassin]]ating [[Klingon chancellor]] [[Gorkon]], Captain Sulu ordered an aborted raid into Klingon territory from [[Sector 21185]] on an ill-advised rescue attempt. ({{film|6}}; {{VOY|Flashback}})
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[[Image:Excelsior shockwave.jpg|thumb|The ''Excelsior'' inside the shock wave of the Klingon moon Praxis.]]
  
⚫
By [[2290]], the ''Excelsior'' (NCC-2000) was under the command of the now-Captain Hikaru Sulu. His first assignment was a three-year mission, cataloging [[gas]]eous [[planet]]ary [[anomaly|anomalies]] in the [[Beta Quadrant]]. ({{film|6}})
  
⚫
:''According to a line cut from the script, the crew cataloged "''fifty-four planets &ndash; and their gaseous atmospheric anomalies.''"
  
   
  ⚫
Sulu, who attempted to sneak the ''Excelsior'' into Klingon territory by traversing the [[Azure Nebula]] at maximum warp, was discovered by [[Kang's battle cruiser (2293)|a Klingon battle cruiser]] commanded by [[Kang]]. While Sulu explained that the ''Excelsior'' was on a [[survey mission]], studying the nebula, and had gotten lost due to a malfunction in the [[navigation system]], Kang offered to escort the ''Excelsior'' back to Federation space. As the ''Excelsior'' emerged, she fired a modulated [[positron beam]] that triggered a thermochemical reaction, and successfully disabled Kang's ship.
⚫
In [[2293]], as the ''Excelsior'' was returning to Federation space following the successful conclusion of its mission, it was struck by a powerful [[subspace shock wave]] caused by the destruction of the [[Klingon Empire|Klingon]] [[moon]], [[Praxis]]. Upon discovering the cause of the disaster, Sulu immediately contacted the [[Klingon High Command]] to offer his ship's assistance. The [[Klingon]]s, however, turned the offer down, requesting that the Sulu obey treaty stipulations and remain outside the [[Neutral Zone]]. Thereafter, Sulu reported the incident to [[Starfleet Command]]. ({{film|6}})
  
   
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[[Image:Excelsior and kangs ktinga.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Excelsior'' encounters [[Kang's battle cruiser (2293)|Kang's battle cruiser]].]]
 +
[[File:USS Excelsior and Enterprise firing on Chang.jpg|thumb|Firing [[photon torpedo]]es on Chang's Bird-of-Prey]]
  ⚫
The ''Excelsior'' then made a break for [[Qo'noS]], but was almost immediately intercepted by [[Klingon 23rd battle cruisers 001|three Klingon battle cruisers]]. The ''Excelsior'' and Klingon ships continued to exchange fire until the ''Excelsior'' was forced to retreat back to Federation space. ({{VOY|Flashback}})
⚫
Two months later, following the arrest of [[James T. Kirk]] and [[Leonard McCoy]] on charges of [[assassination|assassinating]] [[Klingon chancellor]] [[Gorkon]], Captain Sulu ordered an aborted raid into Klingon territory on an ill-advised rescue attempt. ({{VOY|Flashback}})
  
   
  +
{{bginfo|In the first draft script of "Flashback", the ''Excelsior'' set a course for Qo'noS at "warp seven" rather than "maximum warp", though this was changed by the time the final draft of the episode's script was written.}}
⚫
Sulu, who attempted to sneak the ''Excelsior'' into Klingon territory by traversing the [[Azure Nebula]], was discovered by a [[Kang's battle cruiser (2293)|Klingon battle cruiser]] commanded by [[Kang]]. While Sulu explained that the ''Excelsior'' was on a [[survey mission]], studying the nebula, and had gotten lost due to a malfunction in the [[navigation system]], Kang offered to escort the ''Excelsior'' back to Federation space. As the ''Excelsior'' emerged, it fired a modulated [[positron beam]] that triggered a thermochemical reaction, and successfully disabled Kang's ship.
 
   
  +
The ''Excelsior'' was viewed as a potential participant in [[Operation Retrieve]] and would have worked alongside the {{USS|Eagle}} and the {{USS|Potemkin|NCC-1657}}. According to the plans, the ''Excelsior'' would have provided protection along the ''Potemkin''{{'}}s starboard flank as the latter ship retrieved the two Starfleet officers. ({{film|6}})
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[[Image:USS Excelsior and Enterprise firing on Chang.jpg|thumb|Firing [[photon torpedo]]es on [[Chang's Bird-of-Prey]].]]
  
⚫
The ''Excelsior'' then made a break for [[Qo'noS]], but was almost immediately intercepted by three [[K't'inga class|Klingon battle cruisers]]. The ''Excelsior'' and Klingon ships continued to exchange fire until the ''Excelsior'' was forced to retreat back to Federation space. ({{VOY|Flashback}})
 
   
−
Shortly thereafter, the ''Excelsior'' played a pivotal role in assisting the USS ''Enterprise''-A in the battle at [[Khitomer]] against [[Chang's Bird-of-Prey]], and in preventing the assassination of the [[Federation President]] at the [[Khitomer Conference]]. ({{film|6}}; {{VOY|Flashback}})
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Shortly thereafter, the ''Excelsior'' joined the ''Enterprise''-A at [[Khitomer]] where the two ships battled [[Chang's Bird-of-Prey]]. Due to the ship's cloaking technology, the two Federation starships were at a disadvantage until a modified torpedo from the ''Enterprise''-A took out the bridge. The ''Excelsior'' and the ''Enterprise''-A were then able to destroy the Bird-of-Prey with a combined attack. The ''Excelsior''{{'}}s crew aided the ''Enterprise''-A crew in preventing the assassination of the [[Efrosian president 001|Federation President]] at the [[Khitomer Conference]]. ({{film|6}}; {{VOY|Flashback}})
   
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=== After Khitomer ===
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==Later service==
  
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For the next twenty-seven years, under Captain Sulu, the ''Excelsior'' carried out hundreds of exploration and first contact missions. In [[2320]], the ship was [[decommission]]ed. ({{PIC|The Star Gazer}} ''commemorative plaque'')
−
In [[2370]], ''Excelsior'' was in service along the Federation's border with the [[Cardassian Union]]. In that year, it was assigned to help search for the missing {{USS|Hera}}. ({{TNG|Interface}})
 
   
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==Legacy==
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:''While there's no absolute proof that the ''Excelsior'' mentioned in "Interface" was the same ship but given the complete absence of any canon indications of the existence of another USS ''Excelsior'' or of this ship's retirement or destruction this is most likely a reference to the NCC-2000.''
  
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[[File:USS Excelsior, commemorative plaque.jpg|thumb|Depicted at Starfleet Academy in 2401]]
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In [[2401]], a commemorative plaque depicted the ''Excelsior'' alongside other historically significant ships at [[Starfleet Academy]]. ({{PIC|The Star Gazer}})
   
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{{bginfo|The "Ships of the Line" plaques were designed by [[Geoffrey Mandel]], with ship artwork and pedestal design by [[John Eaves]]. ''{{twitter|DaveBlass/status/1501055817088335873}}''}}
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==Appendices==
  
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⚫
===Related topics===
  
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== Command crew ==
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*[[USS Excelsior personnel|USS ''Excelsior'' personnel]]
  
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* [[Commanding officer]]
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** [[Lawrence H. Styles]] ([[2285]]&ndash;[[2287]])
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** [[Hikaru Sulu]] (2287&ndash;[[2320]])
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* [[First officer]]
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** [[USS Excelsior first officer 001|Unidentified first officer]] (2285&ndash;)
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* [[Chief engineer]]
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** [[Montgomery Scott]] (2285)
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* [[Helmsman]]
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** [[USS Excelsior helmsman 001|Unidentified helmsman]] (2285&ndash;)
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** [[Lojur]] (2290&ndash;)
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* [[Communications officer]]
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** [[Janice Rand]] ([[2293]])
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* [[Science officer]]
  +
** [[Dimitri Valtane]] (2293)
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** [[Tuvok]] (2293)
  +
  ⚫
'''See also:''' [[USS Excelsior unnamed 000|USS ''Excelsior'' personnel]]
  +
  +
{{Excelsior class starships}}
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{{Starships Excelsior}}
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  ⚫
== Appendices ==
  ⚫
=== Related topics ===
 
*[[Captain's log, USS Excelsior|Captain's log, USS ''Excelsior'']]
  
*[[Captain's log, USS Excelsior|Captain's log, USS ''Excelsior'']]
   
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===Appearances===
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=== Appearances ===
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<div class="appear">
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* {{film|3}}
  
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* {{film|4}}
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* {{Star Trek films}}:
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* {{film|5}}
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** {{film|3}}
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* {{film|6}}
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** {{film|4}}
  ⚫
** {{film|5}}
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** {{film|6}}
 
* {{VOY|Flashback}}
  
* {{VOY|Flashback}}
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* {{PIC|The Star Gazer}} ([[LCARS]] graphic)
  +
</div>
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  ⚫
=== Background information ===
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The USS ''Excelsior'' was first mentioned in the script of {{film|2}}, in which Kirk stated that Sulu was going to have command of the ''Excelsior'' by the end of the month. {{st-minutiae|resources/scripts/twok.txt}} Apparently, Sulu's presence aboard the ''Enterprise'' at that time was solely as a courtesy to Kirk.
  +
  +
The ''Excelsior'' was featured in the story outline ''Star Trek III: Return to Genesis'' (which served as the conceptual starting point for ''Star Trek III: The Search for Spock'' and was dated {{d|16|September|1982}}). However, in the first draft script of ''The Search for Spock'' (dated {{d|23|March|1983}}), the ship was instead named USS ''Valiant''.
  +
  ⚫
The USS ''Excelsior'' was designed for the production of ''Star Trek III'', after the review of several prototype [[studio model]] ideas. Built by [[ILM]], this highly detailed studio model was reused for many guest appearances until 1994 when it was refurbished to become the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-B|-B}} and later the {{USS|Lakota}}. After that, a half-scale recreation was built for "Flashback", with minor differences &ndash; even though it was supposedly the same ship as seen earlier. For example, "Flashback" features the only appearances of the ship's warp [[nacelle]]s glowing, although the episode also incorporated footage from ''Star Trek VI'' in which the nacelle sides did not glow.
  +
  +
The model is now part of ScienceFictionArchives.com collections. {{el|sciencefictionarchives.com/en/object/276/uss-enterprise-b-model-ncc-1701-b.htm}}
  +
  +
The ship's [[computer voice]] was supplied by ''Star Trek'' star [[Leonard Nimoy]], who was credited as "Frank Force".
  +
  ⚫
The ''Excelsior''{{'}}s motto, as seen on the [[USS Excelsior dedication plaque|ship's dedication plaque]], was "''No matter where you go, there you are,''" a quotation taken from ''[[Buckaroo Banzai]]''.
  +
  ⚫
In the German dubbing of ''Star Trek III'', Uhura's line "''Would you look at that!''" was changed to (re-translated) "''Look at that: Thorndike's idea!''" This could provide insight into who was material to the creation of the ship. Done for lip-syncing purposes, common practice when dubbing episodes and movies, the name "[[MemoryAlpha:de:Thorndike|Thorndike]]" was introduced solely for this purpose and does not refer to any canonical figure in the ''Star Trek'' universe.
  +
  +
The ''Excelsior'' was originally to have been included in the [[Star Trek films|film]] {{film|7}}, being saved (along with some [[El-Aurian]] refugees) by the crew of the ''Enterprise'' (including [[Uhura]]). However, in that case, the ''Excelsior'' was ultimately replaced with the ''Enterprise''-B. (''[[The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years]]'', p. 315)
  +
  +
According to the {{ste|4|1|254}}, the ''Excelsior'' was either launched in [[2284]] or in 2285.
  +
  +
According to ''[[Star Trek - The Art of the Film]]'', a USS ''Excelsior'' (NCC-1729) was to be among the ships sent to the [[destruction of Vulcan]]. It was to be a darker-colored version of the {{USS|Armstrong|NCC-1769}}.
   
  ⚫
According to the ''[[Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual]]'', there was also a {{class|Constitution}} USS ''Excelsior'' in service in the mid-23rd century, with the registry NCC-1718.
⚫
===Background===
  
⚫
The USS ''Excelsior'' was first designed for the production of ''Star Trek III'', after the review of several prototype [[studio model]] ideas. Built by [[ILM]], this highly detailed studio model was reused for many guest appearances until 1994 when it was refurbished to become the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-B|-B}} and later the {{USS|Lakota}}. After that, a half-scale recreation was built for "Flashback," with minor differences &ndash; even though it was supposedly the same ship as seen earlier. For example, "Flashback" features the only appearances of the ship's warp [[nacelle]]s glowing, although the episode also incorporated footage from ''Star Trek VI'' in which the nacelle sides did not glow.
  
   
  ⚫
=== Apocrypha ===
⚫
The ''Excelsior'''s motto, as seen on the [[USS Excelsior dedication plaque|ship's dedication plaque]], was "''No matter where you go, there you are,''" a quotation taken from [[Buckaroo Banzai]].
  
  +
In the [[Pocket TOS]] {{novel}}izations of ''{{dis|Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan|novel}}'' and ''{{dis|Star Trek III: The Search for Spock|novel}}'' by [[Vonda N. McIntyre]], it was stated that Sulu helped design the ship, and was originally slated to be her captain at the time of the "minor training cruise" in {{film|2}}. It was further explained in the novelization for ''Star Trek III''' that the arrogant Captain Styles was placed in temporary command by Fleet Admiral [[Morrow]] as part of an effort to sequester those with direct knowledge of Genesis and Starfleet's unwillingness to delay trial runs until the controversy subsided, due to the considerable investment in the ship's development. In the novel ''[[Forged in Fire]]'', Sulu became captain of the ''Excelsior'' in [[2289]], after Captain Styles was [[murder]]ed by [[the Albino]].
   
  ⚫
The ''[[Star Trek: The Lost Era|Lost Era]]'' novel ''[[The Sundered]]'' was set aboard ''Excelsior'' in [[2298]] with [[Pavel Chekov|Chekov]] as first officer, [[Christine Chapel]] as [[chief medical officer]], [[Leonard James Akaar]] as security chief, [[Janice Rand]] as communications officer, and [[Tuvok]] as science officer. In the later ''Lost Era'' novel ''[[One Constant Star]]'', the ''Excelsior'' was destroyed in [[2308]] after passing through a [[temporal rift]]; Captain Sulu and his surviving crew are rescued [[2319|eleven]] years later by the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-B|-B}}, commanded by Sulu's daughter [[Demora Sulu|Demora]].
⚫
In the German dubbing of ''Star Trek III'' Uhura's line "''Would you look at that!''" was changed to (re-translated) "''Look at that: Thorndyke's idea!''" This could provide insight into who was material to the creation of the ship. Done for lip-syncing purposes, common practice when dubbing episodes and movies, the name Thorndyke was introduced solely for this purpose and does not refer to any canonical figure in the ''Star Trek'' universe.
  
   
  +
The crew also appear in the novelization ''{{dis|Star Trek Generations|novel}}''.
⚫
===Apocrypha===
  
⚫
According to the ''[[Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual]]'', there was a {{ShipClass|Constitution}} USS ''Excelsior'' in service in the mid-23rd century, with the registry NCC-1718.
  
   
  +
When [[DC Comics]] created [[DC TOS volume 1|the first set of comics]] for ''Star Trek'', because they were being released in between {{film|3}} and {{film|4}}, the crew of the ''Enterprise'' ends up taking control of the ''Excelsior'' after the events of ''[[The Mirror Universe Saga]]'' until "[[Choices!]]", when the crew switches over to the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A|-A}}.
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In the [[Pocket TOS]] novelizations of ''[[Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (novel)|Star Trek II]]'' and ''[[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (novel)|Star Trek III]]'' by [[Vonda N. McIntyre]], it is stated that Hikaru Sulu helped design the ship and that, by the events of ''The Wrath of Khan'', he had already been named as the vessel's commanding officer. Apparently, his presence aboard the ''Enterprise'' at this time was solely as a courtesy to Kirk.
  
   
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It is further explained that the arrogant Captain Styles was placed in temporary command by Fleet Admiral [[Harry Morrow|Morrow]] as part of an effort to sequester those with direct knowledge of Genesis and Starfleet's unwillingness to delay trial runs until the controversy subsided, due to the considerable investment in the ship's development.
  
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Also, the novel ''[[The Sundered]]'' was set aboard ''Excelsior'' in [[2298]] with [[Pavel Chekov|Chekov]] as first officer, [[Christine Chapel]] as [[Chief Medical Officer|CMO]], [[Leonard James Akaar]] as security chief, [[Janice Rand]] as communications officer and [[Tuvok]] as science officer.
  
   
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Latest revision as of 17:36, 6 August 2022

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Warning!
This page contains information regarding Star Trek: Picard, and thus may contain spoilers.


"My God, that's a big ship."
"Not so big as her captain, I think."

The USS Excelsior (NX-2000, later NCC-2000) was a 23rd century Federation Excelsior-class starship operated by Starfleet from 2285 to 2320. The Excelsior was the prototype of her class.

History

Trial runs

The Excelsior in spacedock

Dubbed "The Great Experiment," the Excelsior was conceived during the early 2280s as the first Starfleet vessel equipped with transwarp drive. An awe-inspiring concept to some, traditional engineers were more skeptical, as in the case of Montgomery Scott, who expressed his doubt in transwarp technology with the analogy, "and if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a wagon." (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

Designed under radically new principles of propulsion, the Excelsior had the potential for becoming the fastest starship in the entire Federation, as at that time, the Starfleet record for faster-than-light travel was warp factor 14.1, set by the USS Enterprise in 2269. (TOS: "That Which Survives")

The Excelsior's bridge, manned by the ship's commanding officer, Captain Styles, and other officers

In 2285, the Excelsior was under the command of Captain Lawrence H. Styles, and had taken a berth in Earth Spacedock as she was prepared for trial runs, hoping to break some of the Enterprise's speed records.

The Excelsior was days away from her first full field test of the transwarp drive, when she was unexpectedly called for duty. The crew of the USS Enterprise, attempting to rejoin Captain Spock's katra with his regenerated body, hijacked the Enterprise for an illegal journey to the Genesis Planet.

The Excelsior sputters out, dead in space

Captain Styles, confident in his new "incredible machine," was ordered to pursue as the Enterprise entered warp, fleeing the system. However, Captain Montgomery Scott, assigned as captain of engineering aboard the Excelsior, had sabotaged the ship's transwarp computer, leaving the Excelsior dead in space. Proud of his accomplishment, Scott explained that "the more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain." (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

Following this embarrassing failure, the Excelsior essentially spent the next two years in spacedock. In 2286 she was briefly ordered to be launched during an apparent attack by an alien probe, but the Excelsior, as well as the spacedock, lost all internal power and was left stranded in her bay. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

After the Enterprise was destroyed at the Genesis Planet, Hikaru Sulu believed he and his Enterprise shipmates would be assigned to the Excelsior before learning their next assignment was the USS Enterprise-A. At the time, Montgomery Scott believed the Excelsior to be nothing more than a "bucket of bolts." (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

The Excelsior remained in spacedock until at least 2287, before subsequently being recommissioned for active service by the end of the decade. (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Updated bridge design in 2293

Prior to her recommissioning, the Excelsior was refitted with a new bridge module, which also included a significant modification to the aft portion of the saucer section, surrounding the impulse drive, and a modification to the cargo bay on the aft ventral portion of the ship. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Although never directly addressed, the only evidence that the Excelsior was a failure as a transwarp prototype can be found in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual (p. 14), which stated that "the attempt to surpass the primary warp field efficiency barrier with the Transwarp Development Project in the early 2280s proved unsuccessful…".
In addition, the Star Trek Chronology (1st ed., pp. 75-76) speculates that the reference made by Data in the Star Trek: The Next Generation second season episode "Evolution", where he stated that "there has not been a system-wide technological failure on a starship in seventy-nine years," may have been in reference to the failure of the transwarp drive.

Three-year mission

The Excelsior escaping the shock wave of the Klingon moon Praxis

In 2287 now-Captain Hikaru Sulu took command of the Excelsior. (PIC: "The Star Gazer") In 2290 the ship embarked on a three-year mission, cataloging gaseous planetary anomalies in the Beta Quadrant. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

According to a line cut from the script, the crew cataloged "fifty-four planets – and their gaseous atmospheric anomalies."

In 2293, as the Excelsior was returning to Federation space following the successful conclusion of her mission, she was struck by a powerful subspace shock wave caused by the destruction of the Klingon moon, Praxis. Upon discovering the cause of the disaster, Sulu immediately contacted the Klingon High Command to offer his ship's assistance. The Klingons, including an officer on Praxis, called for help, however, the transmission was cut-off when Brigadier Kerla interrupted and reported that there had been an incident on Praxis, and turned the offer for assistance down because everything is under control, requesting that Sulu obey treaty stipulations and remain outside the Neutral Zone. Thereafter, Sulu reported the incident to Starfleet Command. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

The Excelsior encounters Kang's battle cruiser

Two months later, following the arrest of James T. Kirk and Leonard McCoy on charges of assassinating Klingon chancellor Gorkon, Captain Sulu ordered an aborted raid into Klingon territory from Sector 21185 on an ill-advised rescue attempt. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country; VOY: "Flashback")

Sulu, who attempted to sneak the Excelsior into Klingon territory by traversing the Azure Nebula at maximum warp, was discovered by a Klingon battle cruiser commanded by Kang. While Sulu explained that the Excelsior was on a survey mission, studying the nebula, and had gotten lost due to a malfunction in the navigation system, Kang offered to escort the Excelsior back to Federation space. As the Excelsior emerged, she fired a modulated positron beam that triggered a thermochemical reaction, and successfully disabled Kang's ship.

Firing photon torpedoes on Chang's Bird-of-Prey

The Excelsior then made a break for Qo'noS, but was almost immediately intercepted by three Klingon battle cruisers. The Excelsior and Klingon ships continued to exchange fire until the Excelsior was forced to retreat back to Federation space. (VOY: "Flashback")

In the first draft script of "Flashback", the Excelsior set a course for Qo'noS at "warp seven" rather than "maximum warp", though this was changed by the time the final draft of the episode's script was written.

The Excelsior was viewed as a potential participant in Operation Retrieve and would have worked alongside the USS Eagle and the USS Potemkin. According to the plans, the Excelsior would have provided protection along the Potemkin's starboard flank as the latter ship retrieved the two Starfleet officers. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Shortly thereafter, the Excelsior joined the Enterprise-A at Khitomer where the two ships battled Chang's Bird-of-Prey. Due to the ship's cloaking technology, the two Federation starships were at a disadvantage until a modified torpedo from the Enterprise-A took out the bridge. The Excelsior and the Enterprise-A were then able to destroy the Bird-of-Prey with a combined attack. The Excelsior's crew aided the Enterprise-A crew in preventing the assassination of the Federation President at the Khitomer Conference. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country; VOY: "Flashback")

After Khitomer

For the next twenty-seven years, under Captain Sulu, the Excelsior carried out hundreds of exploration and first contact missions. In 2320, the ship was decommissioned. (PIC: "The Star Gazer" commemorative plaque)

Legacy

Depicted at Starfleet Academy in 2401

In 2401, a commemorative plaque depicted the Excelsior alongside other historically significant ships at Starfleet Academy. (PIC: "The Star Gazer")

The "Ships of the Line" plaques were designed by Geoffrey Mandel, with ship artwork and pedestal design by John Eaves. [1]

Command crew

See also: USS Excelsior personnel

Excelsior-class starships
USS Berlin • USS Cairo • USS Charleston • USS Crazy Horse • USS Enterprise-B • USS Excelsior • USS Farragut • USS Fearless • USS Fredrickson • USS Gorkon • USS Hood • USS Lakota • USS Malinche • USS Melbourne • USS Potemkin • USS Repulse • USS Valley Forge • Unnamed
The Starships Excelsior
USS Excelsior (NCC-2000) • USS Excelsior (NCC-21445) • USS Excelsior (NCC-42037)

Appendices

Related topics

Appearances

Background information

The USS Excelsior was first mentioned in the script of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, in which Kirk stated that Sulu was going to have command of the Excelsior by the end of the month. [2] Apparently, Sulu's presence aboard the Enterprise at that time was solely as a courtesy to Kirk.

The Excelsior was featured in the story outline Star Trek III: Return to Genesis (which served as the conceptual starting point for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and was dated 16 September 1982). However, in the first draft script of The Search for Spock (dated 23 March 1983), the ship was instead named USS Valiant.

The USS Excelsior was designed for the production of Star Trek III, after the review of several prototype studio model ideas. Built by ILM, this highly detailed studio model was reused for many guest appearances until 1994 when it was refurbished to become the USS Enterprise-B and later the USS Lakota. After that, a half-scale recreation was built for "Flashback", with minor differences – even though it was supposedly the same ship as seen earlier. For example, "Flashback" features the only appearances of the ship's warp nacelles glowing, although the episode also incorporated footage from Star Trek VI in which the nacelle sides did not glow.

The model is now part of ScienceFictionArchives.com collections. [3]

The ship's computer voice was supplied by Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy, who was credited as "Frank Force".

The Excelsior's motto, as seen on the ship's dedication plaque, was "No matter where you go, there you are," a quotation taken from Buckaroo Banzai.

In the German dubbing of Star Trek III, Uhura's line "Would you look at that!" was changed to (re-translated) "Look at that: Thorndike's idea!" This could provide insight into who was material to the creation of the ship. Done for lip-syncing purposes, common practice when dubbing episodes and movies, the name "Thorndike" was introduced solely for this purpose and does not refer to any canonical figure in the Star Trek universe.

The Excelsior was originally to have been included in the film Star Trek Generations, being saved (along with some El-Aurian refugees) by the crew of the Enterprise (including Uhura). However, in that case, the Excelsior was ultimately replaced with the Enterprise-B. (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 315)

According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 1, p. 254), the Excelsior was either launched in 2284 or in 2285.

According to Star Trek - The Art of the Film, a USS Excelsior (NCC-1729) was to be among the ships sent to the destruction of Vulcan. It was to be a darker-colored version of the USS Armstrong.

According to the Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual, there was also a Constitution-class USS Excelsior in service in the mid-23rd century, with the registry NCC-1718.

Apocrypha

In the Pocket TOS novelizations of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock by Vonda N. McIntyre, it was stated that Sulu helped design the ship, and was originally slated to be her captain at the time of the "minor training cruise" in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. It was further explained in the novelization for Star Trek III' that the arrogant Captain Styles was placed in temporary command by Fleet Admiral Morrow as part of an effort to sequester those with direct knowledge of Genesis and Starfleet's unwillingness to delay trial runs until the controversy subsided, due to the considerable investment in the ship's development. In the novel Forged in Fire, Sulu became captain of the Excelsior in 2289, after Captain Styles was murdered by the Albino.

The Lost Era novel The Sundered was set aboard Excelsior in 2298 with Chekov as first officer, Christine Chapel as chief medical officer, Leonard James Akaar as security chief, Janice Rand as communications officer, and Tuvok as science officer. In the later Lost Era novel One Constant Star, the Excelsior was destroyed in 2308 after passing through a temporal rift; Captain Sulu and his surviving crew are rescued eleven years later by the USS Enterprise-B, commanded by Sulu's daughter Demora.

The crew also appear in the novelization Star Trek Generations.

When DC Comics created the first set of comics for Star Trek, because they were being released in between Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, the crew of the Enterprise ends up taking control of the Excelsior after the events of The Mirror Universe Saga until "Choices!", when the crew switches over to the USS Enterprise-A.

External links

This is a featured article. At the time it was featured (April 2008) it was considered one of the best examples of the Memory Alpha community's work. This article was featured more than five years ago though, and its status should be reviewed. The links below can be used to check how the article has changed in that time.
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