Project Phoenix is a joint special operations project designed to ensure continuity of government for the United Federation of Planets in the event of the fall of civilization.

History

Origin

Established by the Khitomer Alliance, the Temporal Accords were an interstellar treaty that prohibited the use of the temporal technology for altering history. Expansive in scope, the Accords permitted time travel only for the purpose of scientific research and set forth rules and procedures as to how to do so without contaminating the timeline. Despite this, multiple groups possessing time travel technology ignored the Accords and actively attempted to alter history to suit their own ends. These events led to the Temporal Wars and, later, the Temporal Cold War that impacted the Federation throughout history.

Due to the significant risk to the safety of the United Federation of Planets and its member governments, the Office of the Federation President directed the Department of Temporal Investigations and Starfleet to work together to ensure the continuity of the Federation government following massive temporal incursions. This new project would lay the foundation for an autonomous safe-zone housing critical Federation citizens and personnel that would be stocked with an abundance of resources and supports for the rebuilding civilization in the event of the Federation's collapse.

Named in honor of the Phoenix, Zefram Cochrane's Warp Ship, Project Phoenix was highly classified and was only known by select members of the Federation government. Located at an undisclosed location, selected Federation officials were provided with specialized datafiles containing detailed plans for the Federation's resurrection. In support of the goals of the project, selected citizens and personnel were also allowed to bring their families and other personnel with them to the safe-zone in the event of emergency to help improve morale. The vessels of Starfleet's Battle Group Omega were assigned to provide support to Project Phoenix, serving as the peacekeeping and humanitarian arm of the endeavor.

The Burn

Around the mid-30th century, the Dilithium supply in the Milky Way Galaxy began to dry up, leading the Federation to direct its members explore alternative Warp Drive designs that did not require Dilithium, but none proved reliable. Multiple expeditions were dispatched to look for new Dilithium reserves, but none were successful. This situation was exacerbated in 3069 when a previously unencountered type of subspace shockwave spread throughout the galaxy. Known as The Burn, this event destabilized refined Dilithium, leading it to become inert and causing any ship with an active Warp Core to lose antimatter containment and its Warp Core to detonate in a breach. Countless starships were destroyed, billions of lives were lost, and subspace was damaged in many regions.

Following the disaster, the Federation was unable to determine the cause, nor did they know if it would happen again. Because of their failure to protect the galaxy from harm, many of the member races of the United Federation of Planets chose to secede from the Federation and reestablish themselves as independent planetary governments. Among the planets to leave the Federation were Ni'Var, who believed that they caused the Burn through their propulsion experiments, Andoria, who would later join with the Orion Syndicate to create the Emerald Chain, and Earth, who felt the need to protect their planet. The Federation President ordered the immediate implementation of Project Phoenix.

Deployed

Under the command of Vice Admiral Zaklim Targaryen (a Deltan/El-Aurian/Human hybrid), Project Phoenix deployed the starships of Battle Group Omega to retrieve the designated survivors and bring them to Phoenix Base in the Beta Quadrant. Consisting of all the resources and supplies needed to rebuild the Federation, the safe-zone consisted of an outpost facility, drydocks, expansive cargo stores, and personnel support barracks for the personnel assigned to the operation. Nonetheless, despite their best efforts, many of the designated survivors belonged to governments that had left the Federation and were no longer eligible for retrieval and had to be abandoned. This led to animosity and potential risks to the operations of Project Phoenix.

Admiral Targaryen and Acting President Khonsh bim Paavrahk built Phoenix Base into a literal fortress. Within 10 years of the Burn, Project Phoenix deployed for their purpose of rebuilding the Federation, beginning distribution of their stored supplies as their leadership knew they couldn't survive on their own without trading partners. Within five years their location had been discerned by multiple minor governments, who banded together to launch an assault upon Phoenix Base. While the enemy force was repelled, the damage they inflicted significantly impacted Project Phoenix's operations. Further, many raids were launched against Project Phoenix by those same organizations that were initially repelled.

Facing certain death, the Acting President and Admiral Targaryen agreed that they would implement Operation Failsafe. Intended as a last-ditch effort to protect Project Phoenix from aggressors, Operation Failsafe would install a computer virus into existing programming code within formerly Federation allied computer systems to locate any reference to Phoenix Base or Project Phoenix and erase those records from the database. A massive distortion field, displaying the characteristics of both a gravity well and a deflector shield, would also be deployed to conceal Phoenix Base's location from those passing near to the station, making sensors interpret the station as an unremarkable Class D planet. Knowing their options were limited, Operation Failsafe was deployed.

Myths and Legends

In recent decades Project Phoenix, which was already highly classified, has descended even further into rumor and myth than its designers ever intended. While original objectives required that the Project would work to restore the Federation, no official contact has been made with Project Phoenix since the late-31st Century. Rumors abound regarding a mysterious lost Federation Outpost filled with material resources that are unimaginable, which have spread throughout many star systems, but many believe these to be the drunken stories of treasure hunters. Despite this, many have tried to locate Phoenix Base for its material wealth, but few have returned and those who have always are empty handed.

Starfleet's Battle Group Omega, however, have remained active and often conduct hit and run attacks against starships, outposts, and even planets. Carefully safeguarding their origins, Battle Group Omega frequently uses hit and run actions to acquire additional supplies and resources. Rumors also suggest that Battle Group Omega use civilian vessels as a source of spare parts, deciding that the military needs of the Battle Group take priority over the survival of any civilians aboard. As part of this, the Battle Group Commander reviews passenger lists and prepares a list of valuable survivors to forcibly draft into its crew; however, some civilians are traveling with their families and refuse to leave them. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the families of any who resist are forcibly killed and the civilian ships are then stripped of useful items before being left to their fate.

Government

Origin

When established the government of Project Phoenix was to closely replicate that of the United Federation of Planets and maintained its structure as a federal constitutional republic. The three branches of the Federation Government were recreated through Project Phoenix, with a fully formed Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branch represented.

The Executive Branch

The Executive Branch oversaw the day-to-day management of the United Federation of Planets and was led by a democratically elected Federation President; however, the Acting President was appointed by the existing President before deployment. As Chief Executive Officer of the government, the President determined the Federation's foreign policy, managed budgetary concerns, and served as supreme commander of Starfleet.

The Legislative Branch

The Federation Council was the legislature of the Federation, and many representatives from various member worlds were escorted to Project Phoenix. By the Federation Charter, the Federation Council held the power to create, amend, and ratify Federation law and held a great deal of influence over the operations of the Federation's military and humanitarian service.

The Judicial Branch

The judiciary was responsible for resolving legal disputes under Federation law. Normally consisting of a hierarchy of courts, the Federation Supreme Court is the only remaining court within Project Phoenix.

Current

Little is known about the current Government of Project Phoenix due to loss of contact.