
This page details the USS Defiant (NX-74205) (I) in the primary universe; for the Defiant in the mirror universe see ISS Defiant (NX-74205); for the USS Defiant in the Kelvin timeline, see USS Defiant (Kelvin timeline).
This page is named with an (I) to differentiate it from the second Defiant-class USS Defiant. You may also be looking for other ships named Defiant.
"She may have flaws, but she has teeth."
Benjamin Sisko, 2371[src]

The USS Defiant (NX-74205) was a Federation Defiant-class escort (or battleship) in service to Starfleet in the late 24th century. When commissioned in 2370, the Defiant was the prototype for this new class. The class was originally developed to counter the Borg, however the Defiant was assigned to starbase Deep Space 9 in light of the increasing threat of the Dominion. In exchange for intelligence data on the Dominion, the Defiant was equipped with a cloaking device on loan from the Romulan Star Empire. Benjamin Sisko was involved in the development of the Defiant, and served as the ship's commanding officer throughout her service. The Defiant was a participant and flagship throughout the Dominion War, until her destruction by the Breen at the Second Battle of Chin'toka in 2375. Her successor was the USS São Paulo, which was re-named and registered to the Defiant's name and registration in honor of the fallen vessel. (DS9 episodes: "The Search", "The Changing Face of Evil", "The Dogs of War"; WizKids module: Tactics)

Construction history[edit | edit source]

The Defiant

The Defiant was originally designed in 2366, as the first of a new line of starships. While being officially designated as an escort, the Defiant-class was tasked with being able to fight and defeat the Borg. However, soon after the Defiant was completed, the diminution of the Borg threat and the presence of several design flaws caused Starfleet Command to postpone the project. The shakedown crews noted that the Defiant's propulsion systems were overpowered relative to a ship its size, as the Defiant nearly "tore itself apart" during its shakedown cruise. (DS9 episode: "The Search, Part I")

After its construction, the Defiant went on a trial run to the Romulan Neutral Zone where it was being tested under the command of Benjamin Sisko. During this test run, it discovered a derelict D'deridex-class warbird in Federation space in 2368. Whilst investigating this find, they encountered a group of warbirds under the command of Valerius of the Tal Shiar who had laid a trap for the rogue Vulcan criminal called T'Uerell. When Commander Sisko challenged the Romulan officer, he began his attack which forced Defiant to flee into a nebula whereupon it left an emergency distress beacon. When the USS Enterprise-D came to rescue the ship, they discovered that the prototype vessel had fallen to the Romulan Star Empire who were beginning to study it at a secret starbase. However, the Starfleet task force managed to destroy the starbase and allow the crew of the USS Defiant to escape. (ST video game: Legacy)

However, in early 2371, tensions between the Federation and the Dominion continued to escalate following the destruction of both the USS Odyssey and the New Bajor colony in the Gamma Quadrant. Commander Benjamin Sisko traveled to Earth to stress the threat of the Dominion to Deep Space 9 and the Alpha Quadrant and request additional defenses. In response, Starfleet gave Sisko command of the Defiant and assigned it to DS9.

An agreement (by way of a treaty) signed between Starfleet and the Romulan Star Empire allowed a cloaking device to be installed aboard the Defiant in return for intelligence about the Dominion and that it only be used in the Gamma Quadrant. (DS9 episodes: "The Search, Part I", "Visionary", Last Unicorn RPG module: All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook)

Service history[edit | edit source]

2371[edit | edit source]

The Defiant in orbit of Earth.

Shortly after its arrival at DS9, Sisko took the Defiant into the Gamma Quadrant on a mission to open negotiations with the Founders of the Dominion. With assistance from the Karemma, the Defiant was able to locate a Dominion communications relay near the Omarion Nebula. Shortly after arriving at the station, the Defiant was attacked by several Jem'Hadar attack ships and was boarded. (DS9 episode: "The Search, Part I")

The senior officers were taken to the Founders' homeworld in the Omarion Nebula and were placed in a simulation which depicted the Dominion attempting to gain a foothold in the Alpha Quadrant. Once Constable Odo and Major Kira Nerys found them, the Founders allowed them to return home to DS9 aboard the Defiant. (DS9 episode: "The Search, Part II")

Following the Defiant's return to the Alpha Quadrant, Chief Miles O'Brien and Commander Sisko worked on the design flaws to the ship's systems, which led to her being sent to the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards on Mars where the repairs were carried out over several weeks. (DS9 novel: Proud Helios)

The Defiant was absent from Deep Space 9 during the Cardassian incursions into Bajoran space during a crisis on Cardassia when the Goran Tokar was to announce his heir. (DS9 novel: Valhalla)

The Defiant is pursued by a Keldon-class starship.

On stardate 48467.3, the Defiant was stolen by Maquis member, Thomas Riker, after he posed as Commander William T. Riker in order to gain access to the vessel, he also had Major Kira aboard as a prisoner. After leaving DS9 he proceeded into Cardassian space where he began attacking Cardassian vessels en route to investigate rumours of a secret military build-up by the Obsidian Order in the Orias system. While the Order threatened to destroy the Defiant, Commander Sisko and Gul Skrain Dukat struck a deal which would return the Defiant to DS9 in exchange for Tom Riker and sensor data from the Orias system. (DS9 episode: "Defiant"; WizKids module: Tactics)

A few weeks later, the command staff of DS9 used the Defiant to travel to Earth for an annual symposium in San Francisco. Unfortunately, when Commander Sisko and Lieutenants' Jadzia Dax and Julian Bashir stepped in the transporter, chroniton particles reacted with the Defiant's ablative armor, which resulted in the three officers being sent to the year 2024. They were later recovered. (DS9 episodes: "Past Tense, Part I", "Past Tense, Part II")

The Defiant battles Jem'Hadar vessels at the Battle of the Omarion Nebula.

A month later, Commander Sisko took the Defiant into the Gamma Quadrant against orders in order to retrieve Odo and Elim Garak from the combined Tal Shiar-Obsidian Order fleet that were planning to destroy the Founder's homeworld and execute them all. Unfortunately, it was a trap as the Founder's had moved to a new homeworld and a large Jem'Hadar fleet were waiting for them. The Defiant engaged several vessels before rescuing their comrades. (DS9 episode: "The Die is Cast")

The Defiant was assigned to investigate the threat of the Magellanic Hive after it destroyed and absorbed the Bajoran colony on Darane IV as part of a Grand Design, which involved dividing the hive into two units: one bound for Bajor, the other for Cardassia Prime. Although the Cardassian Third Fleet was able to destroy the hive headed to Cardassia at the cost of themselves, Bajor was defended by the Defiant and several small fighters.

Realizing they had no chance of defeating the hive, Commander Sisko attempted to negotiate with the leaders of the hive. Thankfully, a civil war broke out aboard the hive regarding the original interpretation of their Grand Design, and instead the hive made Darane III their new home. (DS9 novel: Objective: Bajor)

Near the end of the year, the Defiant nearly sparked a war between the Federation and the Tzenkethi when a Changeling posed as Ambassador Krajensky ordered newly promoted Captain Sisko to patrol the border following a supposed coup on Tzenketh. The Changeling managed to gain control of the Defiant's weapons, but was stopped and killed by Odo. (DS9 episode: "The Adversary")

The Defiant engaged and attacked the Rugg'l when the Cardassian ship attacked Deep Space 9. (DS9 novel: Station Rage)

2372[edit | edit source]

Prior to the launch of the new USS Saratoga, Sisko commanded the Defiant with several of the USS Saratoga survivors to Utopia Planitia. Esteban Lopez plotted a course for the Defiant to take into a wave nexus which damaged the starship. Sisko and the crew were able to restore power before Retizians could capture the crew. (DS9 novel: Saratoga)

In order to find the Orion who had sold defective replicators that eventually arrived on Bajor, Sisko took the Defiant to Mephil Trantos to talk to the Orion, Calculanthra. After Quark beat Calculanthra in a game of dabo, the Orion pursued the Defiant in the Orion raider Laslapadil. The Defiant destroyed two of the raiders and disabled two more. (DS9 novel: Wrath of the Prophets)

The Defiant protects the CDS Prakesh from Klingon vessels.

In early 2372, the Klingon Empire launched an invasion of the Cardassian Union believing that the recent coup and rise of the Detapa Council were the result of Changeling infiltrators. The Federation remained neutral in the conflict, but Gul Dukat pleaded with Captain Sisko to deliver the Detapa Council to safety, and Sisko took the Defiant to rendezvous with the Galor-class warship, CDS Prakesh.

When the Defiant arrived at the rendezvous point they discovered that the Prakesh was under heavy fire from three Klingon Birds-of-Prey and a Vor'cha-class attack cruiser. The Defiant was able to quickly dispatch two of the Birds-of-Prey, but had to drop its shields to beam the Prakesh survivors aboard. Taking heavy attack from the Vor'cha-class cruiser the ablative armor was at risk of failing, but Lieutenant Commander Worf recommended they locked a tractor beam on the Vor'cha to decrease their weapons efficiency. As a result the Defiant was able to escape back to DS9 with the Council. (DS9 episode: "The Way of the Warrior")

The Defiant begins to create an artificial wormhole.

On stardate 49195.5, the Defiant was assigned to work with Trill scientist, Dr. Lenara Kahn and her team to test technology that would make it possible to create artificial wormholes. While the tests were provisionally successful, they were not able to create a stable wormhole. (DS9 episode: "Rejoined")

A few weeks later, the Defiant traveled into the Gamma Quadrant so that Quark could conduct trade negotiations with the Karemma. However, during the meeting the Defiant was forced into a gas giant's atmosphere following a Jem'Hadar where it was severely damaged and many of its crew badly injured. Fortunately, the Defiant was able to destroy the three Jem'Hadar attack ships and rescue the Karemma vessel. (DS9 episode: "Starship Down")

The Defiant engages the USS Lakota.

Shortly after, the Defiant traveled to Earth to aid Sisko in suppressing Admiral James Leyton's plot to seize control of Earth from the President Jaresh-Inyo. As the Defiant approached Earth it was attacked by the Excelsior-class USS Lakota, commanded by Erika Benteen who had been led to believe that the Defiant's crew had been replaced by Changelings. Both starships were damaged but both stood down before either could be destroyed. (DS9 episode: "Paradise Lost")

Several days alter, Sisko diverted the Defiant to Trill from its journey from Earth to Deep Space 9 after the Trill Symbiosis Commission urgently wanted to meet with Jadzia Dax. (DS9 short story: "Reflections")

Sisko, Worf and Dax traveled in the Defiant to Starbase 201 to be briefed on a mission to the Gamma Quadrant that Worf, Odo and Kira would be undertaking. (DS9 novel: The Heart of the Warrior)

2373[edit | edit source]

In 2373, the Defiant was on routine mission to test a new navigation grid when it received a distress call from the USS Amhurst. The Amhurst later exploded and the Defiant pursued a Gorn believed responsible into Restricted Sector One-Four-Bravo, Metron space. Sisko and Bashir were taken from the bridge of the Defiant to meet with the S'slee and the Metrons on the same planet James T. Kirk had been brought to more than a century before. Agreeing to preserve the Metrons knowledge before they died out, Sisko took the Defiant to Venexar, where the ship launched an information pod that carried this knowledge to the planet's surface. (DS9 short story: "Where I Fell Before My Enemy")

When the Borg launched their second invasion of the Federation, Admiral Jeremiah Hayes ordered the Defiant to join the fleet and specifically ordered Captain Sisko to remain on Deep Space 9 and give command to Worf, due to Sisko's previous experience with the Borg. (TNG - Slings and Arrows eBook: Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment)

The Defiant was one of the first ships to arrive in the Typhon sector to combat the Borg cube that was on course for Earth. Under Worf's command, the Defiant fought a running battle with the Borg, scoring a number of impressive hits on the cube's surface. (TNG novelization: Star Trek: First Contact)

Morgan Korsmo saw the damage the cube was inflicting on the Defiant from the bridge of the USS Excalibur. Korsmo wanted to help the Defiant, but saw it was holding its own. (NF short story: "Making a Difference")

The Defiant was still engaging the Borg on its approach to Earth some time later. Its shields had failed by this time and its weapons had been depleted. Worf had just ordered the Defiant to ram the cube when the USS Enterprise-E arrived, blocking an energy beam fired at the Defiant by the cube in the process. The Defiant's life support system began to fail, and its crew was beamed aboard the Enterprise. The Defiant survived the destruction of the cube and Jean-Luc Picard (who knew the grief of losing a ship, such as the USS Stargazer and the USS Enterprise-D) took great pleasure in telling Worf the Defiant was "adrift, but salvageable". (TNG novelization: Star Trek: First Contact)

The Defiant was taken to McKinley Station where several small repair operations were undertaken. Later, Worf commanded the Defiant back to Deep Space 9, where Chief O'Brien would finish the repairs. (TNG novel: Rogue)

After a Changeling posing as Julian Bashir attempted to destroy the Bajoran sun with trilithium, protomatter and tekasite, Kira Nerys had Jadzia Dax take the Defiant to warp speed inside the star system to stop the Changeling's runabout. (DS9 episode: "By Inferno's Light")

While on a reconnaissance mission in the Gamma Quadrant, the crew of the Defiant discovered a planet which was inhabited by their descendants, as they learned the Defiant would be sent back in time and crash on the planet. This timeline was erased from history when the Odo who lived on the planet changed the trajectory of the Defiant, making it avoid the anomaly that would have sent it back in time. (DS9 episode: "Children of Time")

A week after the discovery on Gaia, the Defiant discovered the wreckage of the Columbia, although the approach of Jem'Hadar starships prevented a salvage operation or a detailed investigation. (ST - Destiny novel: Gods of Night)

After Starfleet Command ordered the Bajoran wormhole to be mined to prevent more Dominion ships entering the Alpha Quadrant, the Defiant deployed self-replicating mines in a minefield near its entrance. The Dominion launched an attack on Deep Space 9 and the Defiant came under attack while laying the minefield, but was allowed to continue its work after the IKS Rotarran came to its aid and provided cover fire by engaging the attacking Jem'Hadar fighters. The Defiant later evacuated all of the Starfleet personnel from the station and joined a Starfleet battle fleet. (DS9 episode: "Call to Arms")

2374[edit | edit source]

Three months after the Dominion War began, the Defiant had been forced to retreat several times from battle. The ship was ordered to Starbase 375, where Sisko was relieved of command of the Defiant. Sisko and some of the crewmembers were assigned on a mission to destroy a ketracel-white facility using the captured Jem'Hadar fighter, Robinson. ( (DS9 episode: "A Time to Stand")

Jadzia commanded the Defiant on several missions, including an attack on a sensor array in the Argolis Cluster and "playing possum" to attract Dominion ships and catch them unaware. (DS9 episodes: "Behind the Lines", "Favor the Bold", DS9 novelization: ...Sacrifice of Angels)

Sisko later returned to command the Defiant when he launched Operation Return and commanded a fleet of starships from Starbase 375. (DS9 episode: "Favor the Bold")

The Defiant would lead the Starfleet ships into the Dominion lines, losing aft shields and nearly losing forward shields. The Defiant was able to break through the lines after the Klingons arrived. Racing to Deep Space 9, the Defiant was unable to prevent the minefield from being detonated. As a last resort, Sisko ordered theDefiant into the wormhole to attack the Dominion reinforcements. After the Prophets intervened and caused the reinforcements to disappear, the Defiant returned to the Alpha Quadrant and fired on Terok Nor. After the Dominion forces retreated, the Defiant docked at the station. (DS9 episode: "Sacrifice of Angels")

The Defiant later led an invasion fleet into the Chin'toka system as part of an overall invasion of Cardassian space. The Defiant was later able to dismantle the Cardassian orbital weapon platform network by imprinting a Federation warp signature on the power source for the platforms. (DS9 episode: "Tears of the Prophets")

2375[edit | edit source]

The Defiant had just completed a mission to Bolarus when Admiral Ross ordered it to Starbase 133 in preparation of the liberation of Betazed. During the battle, the Defiant and the Enterprise-E destroyed several Dominion ships. The Defiant later transported Deanna Troi, Elias Vaughn, Beverly Crusher, Data and Hent Tevren aboard from the Jarkana Mountains on Darona. (TNG novel: The Battle of Betazed)

Three months after the taking of Chin'toka, the Defiant was assigned to convoy duty. (DS9 episode: "Image in the Sand")

The Defiant later brought supplies to the Starfleet forces on AR-558. While Sisko and his away team decided to help the depleted troops, the Defiant was forced to withdraw after coming under attack by the Jem'Hadar. The ship returned following Sisko's teams victory over the Jem'Hadar ground forces. (DS9 episode: "The Siege of AR-558")

Following the destruction of the IKS Koraga the Defiant spent several hours searching the Badlands for Worf. Large numbers of Jem'Hadar ships forced them to call of their search. After Ezri Dax took the USS Gander without permission to mount her own search for Worf, Sisko had a copy of the sensor scans the Defiant had taken in its search. (DS9 episode: "Penumbra")

The Defiant destroyed in the Second Battle of Chin'toka

When the Dominion and the Breen launched an offensive against the Federation Alliance forces in the Chin'toka system, the Defiant joined an assault fleet to stop them retaking the system. The Breen used an energy dampening weapon against the Defiant, robbing it of shields and weapons. The Breen damaged the Defiant forcing Sisko to order the crew to abandon ship. Several escape pods were able to leave the Defiant before it was destroyed. (DS9 episode: "The Changing Face of Evil")

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Several weeks after the destruction of the Defiant, Starfleet gave Sisko command of the USS São Paulo and allowed him to change its name to Defiant. Sisko remarked that the new Defiant "had some pretty big shoes to fill". (DS9 episode: "The Dogs of War")

Nog found the new Defiant was not as smooth to pilot as the old Defiant, finding it sluggish. (DS9 episode: "What You Leave Behind")

Personnel[edit | edit source]

See also: USS Defiant personnel roster

Command crew[edit | edit source]

Other personnel[edit | edit source]

Auxiliary craft[edit | edit source]

USS Defiant auxiliary craft
USS Defiant I Chaffeeda VinciFaraday Emblem of the United Federation of Planets Seal of the Federation Starfleet
USS Defiant II ChaffeeSaganTyson

Appendices[edit | edit source]

Connections[edit | edit source]

Ships named Defiant
United Earth Starfleet USS Defiant (NX-class) Seal of United Earth. Starfleet emblem.
Federation, Starfleet USS Defiant (NCC-1764, Constitution-class)USS Defiant (NCC-1764, Enterprise-class)USS Defiant (NX-74205, Defiant-class prototype)USS Defiant (II, NX-74205, Defiant-class)USS Defiant (NCC-75633-C, Defiant-class)see also: Defiant-classKelvin timeline: USS Defiant (Kelvin timeline NCC-1764)USS Defiant (Kelvin timeline NX-74205)see also: Defiant's Constitution-class alternatesDefiant's Defiant-class alternates UFP emblem image. Defiant assignment emblem image.
Klingon Empire, Klingon Defense Force IKV Defiant (E4D-class bird-of-prey drone escort) Seal of the Klingon Empire. Asparax Confederation, Asparaxian Navy ACS Defiant (K5B-class gunboat)
Imperial Starfleet
(mirror universe)
ISS Defiant (NCC-1764, Constitution-class)ISS Defiant (23rd century) Seal of the Terran Empire. Terran Rebellion
(mirror universe)
ISS Defiant (NX-74205, Defiant-class) Terran symbol.
Defiant-class destroyer/escort starships
Federation Starfleet
(primary universe)
standard arrangement AjaxAlaskaAlbatrossAldebaranAlexey LeonovArmstrongArk RoyalAvengerBaracusBarracudaBaton RougeBelfastBenningtonBoxerChampionCheyenneCobraConcordCondorCormirCorvusCrockettDauntlessDefiant (I)Defiant (II)Defiant-CEagleEclipseFalkirkFargoFormidableFranklinGallantGalahadGauntletGawainGrantHalberdHavocHelenaHorizonHornetHurricaneIllustriousIncessantIwo JimaJavelinKantKingfisherLawLeeLeyteLoganLokiMan-o-WarMatadorMayaMedvedevMerrimackMichiganMongooseMonitor (I)Monitor (II)MonsoonMorganaMoscowMyrmidonNarcissusNeptuneNomadPendragonPleiadesPotemkinPythonQuillonRamsesRangerRavenRedoubtableRelentlessRenegadeRevereRockfordRomeSaladinSao Paulo (I)Sao Paulo (II)SavannahScorpionSiouxSiroccoSnake EyesSpitfireStalwartStrommingTenaciousThorTiconderogaTitanTreplevTriumphTritonTsunamiTurinValiant (I)Valiant (II)ValorousVanyaVictoriaVictoriousVigilantVoltaireWarspiteWaspWolverineZeppelin Federation icon image. Starfleet Command icon image.
other configurations Incursion-subclass: IncursionGallant-subclass: GallantSao Paulo-subclass: IndefatigableNikeSao Paulo-AValiant-subclass: Valiant (III)Vigilant-subclass: DefiantStalwartVigilantSao Paulo-subclass: IndefatigableNikeSao Paulo-A
mirror universe Terran Rebellion Capital GainDefiantJadziaTerra Victor Terran Rebellion icon image.
Terran Empire DefiantDefiant-CSao Paulo-subclass: Quantum Terran Empire icon image.
Species 8472 Poseidon-U Undine icon image.
Starships at the Battle of the Omarion Nebula
Romulan Star Empire (Tal Shiar) BelakD'merakGarelonMakarRoharranSerrola Emblem of the Romulan Star Empire. Symbol of the Tal Shiar.
Cardassian Union (Obsidian Order) DanasketKoranakNammarOkaraSudanit Emblem of the Cardassians. Emblem of the Obsidian Order.
Federation, Starfleet DefiantMekong UFP emblem image. Emblem of Starfleet.

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