USS Gideon: Incident at System 313

First contact with the Valkurak

The first recorded encounter with the Valkurak Alliance occured in early 2376. The USS Ark Royal sent out an automated distress signal during her visit to the Jahl'Tek System. Two ships received the signal, the USS Kennedy (commanded by Captain Morax) and the USS Gideon. The latter was stationed at Starbase 250 under the command of the recently demoted Commander Novaq. His First Officer, Commander Ty'Ida Moroda was enroute on the USS Ark Royal at the time of her distress call. Both ships responded to the call, but contact was lost with the USS Kennedy before the Gideon arrived on the scene at System 313, close to the Jahl'Tek System.

The first thing the Gideon discovered was a "variation in subspace", evidence of the use of sub-atomic disruptors. Unknown to them, they were being shadowed by a enemy vesssel using jamming signals and false sensor projections to hide the presence of their massive ship. By the time they realised this they found themselves face to face with the Rukakon.

They claimed not to recognise the Federation's claim to that particular region of space, that they were part of an allegiance of races based in the Beta Quadrant, and that they were here to bring the people of Jahl'Tek into their number. When Novaq turned down their offer to join them they attacked. It was only the use of unconventional tactics that enabled the crew of the USS Gideon to survive the encounter, though the ship itself was destroyed in obtaining the victory.

Meanwhile, at Jahl'Tek other members of the crew were under threat from the second Rukakon Destroyer. Timely intervention from a Starfleet Taskforce commanded by Admiral Drake forced the Rukakon to withdraw from the area, preventing further loss of life.

In total, Starfleet lost three ships, the Ark Royal, the Kennedy and finally the Gideon. The vast majority of the Kennedy's crew were able to survive in escape pods, however, those on the Ark Royal were less fortunate. As it turned out, Commander Ty'Ida Moroda had been working with the Rukakon and had sabotaged the Ark Royal, leaving her defenceless before the Rukakon moved in for the kill. Having taken several critical hits the USS Ark Royal fell into the gravity well of a local planet in System 313 and broke up on impact. There were no survivors, except Ty'Ida Moroda who escaped beforehand.

This was the first time the Valkurak Alliance announced their presence to the Federation.

The planet on which the Ark Royal crashlanded has since been named Memorial, in honour of those lost in the ensuing conflict.