Class: Zephyr-class (retrofit)
Designation: Experimental Warp Ship
Affiliation: Compact Navy
Summary:
The Challenger is a refitted Zephyr-class starship assigned to test the Compact‘s newly developed warp drive technology. While Zephyr-class vessels were originally built as light cruisers and saw extensive use during the Polygamy Wars, most are now being phased out or reassigned. The Challenger represents a unique exception—serving as the Compact Navy’s first serious attempt to develop and deploy faster-than-light travel without reliance on Projection Drives or hypergates.
Externally, the Challenger is distinguishable from other Zephyr-class vessels by its oversized engineering section, a visible alteration made to accommodate the experimental warp core and containment systems. This enlarged module disrupts the sleek silhouette typical of the class, making the Challenger appear back-heavy and overbuilt.
Commanded by Captain Hideki Okada and engineered by Lt. Commander Peter Lancaster, the ship is rushed into readiness under tight oversight from Cybercommand. Despite Cybercommand’s involvement, traditional Navy officers such as Rear Admiral Eileen Burke ensure that Navy protocols and practices dominate bridge operations.
The ship’s systems suffer from early faults due to Cybercommand’s flawed retrofitting work, including a misaligned plasma control system that would have killed the entire engineering crew on the first warp attempt had it not been corrected by Lancaster. After these issues are resolved, the Challenger successfully completes a warp jump from Tian to Earth, marking a major milestone in Compact spaceflight history.
Although primarily a testbed, the Challenger is combat-capable and features standard Zephyr-class armaments. However, its primary role during the events of Warped is experimental and strategic: proving warp travel is viable and necessary for future military and civilian missions.
Appearances: Warped, Flight Blade, Storming Amargosa, Checkmate