USS Dauntless

Trinity, I want to thank you so much for sitting down with me this month and telling us about the Dauntless. The USS Dauntless is a ship in XFleet and is Captained by Trinity’s character Ael Aihia.

1. When was the USS Dauntless launched?

I’m not positive. When I joined STF in late 2016, she already had two prior COs. That being said, the Mjolnir class was launched in 2010, so I would assume somewhere in the 2010-2016 range.

2. XFleet ships usually have to be launched under an interesting premise/or theme. What was the Dauntless’ premise/theme?

The Dauntless takes inspiration from NCIS, JAG and DS9. She is a Mjolnir-Class tactical flagship, doubling as a carrier vessel. Her missions are a mixture of search-and-rescue, battle, diplomatic/tactical relations, and currently: murder investigations.

3. What command experience do you have from the main fleet that has enabled you to Command the Dauntless?

To be frank, command of Dauntless has been more trial and error than anything else. With that said, my training/assistant position with Tony and Sidney on Oed has factored into my leadership on the Dauntless. They’ve helped give me a greater understanding of the administration behind a vessel (for Oed’s sake, a colony), as well as insight into commanding a starship.

4. Did you have the command position on the Dauntless before or after your main fleet command position?

Dauntless came before my Main Fleet position.

5. If you had the Dauntless first, have you found that it helped you in learning to command for the Main Fleet? Or on the flip side if it was after a Main Fleet Command position do you think commanding an XFleet ship has helped you in commanding a Main?

The XFleet and Main Fleet are two completely different environments. Commanding a starship in XFleet is nothing in contrast to commanding one in the main fleet; the level of responsibility is incomparable. However, Dauntless has given me basic insight into what command might look like on a much smaller and simpler scale.

6. Have you belonged to any other XFleet ships?

Yes! I have belong to several other XFleet experiments, including the USS Swift and Shipyard Serenity.

7. If so which one has been your favorite premise/or theme wise?

The USS Swift. In her glory, she was a Prison vessel, responsible for the transport of the Federation’s most wanted. The overall atmosphere of the Swift was unlike any other ship..it was almost like you could feel the tension between characters (specifically prisoners/guards and prison staff/Starfleet), even when they weren’t arguing.

8. With the Dauntless, have you been able to keep its original theme going?

We have! Dauntless’ theme has not changed since I was handed the reigns back in 2018.

9. What is the greatest challenge of running an XFleet ship?

Recruitment. Most Club Members know of XFleet, but many remain unsure to its purpose. So, it’s difficult to find recruits.

10. What are your thoughts on the viability of the XFleet idea? Do you feel it adds value to the club?

I find it gives members of the club an opportunity to explore their wildest dreams in an environment without judgement. The XFleet is home to a myriad of wacky characters and peculiar storylines; weird is mandatory, not encouraged. In simpler terms, yes. XFleet adds value to the club by acting as a playground for new ideas.

Any last minute thoughts you would like to share as Captain of the Dauntless or an XFleet ship in general?

Don’t be afraid to suggest new premises/themes for experiments! It may seem daunting, but XFleet is always looking for members to pursue their ideas. Try something new, get out there and have fun! Just be sure to stay within STF’s ToS. ;)

Trinity Sutalo