USS Aurora (Ambassador class)

USS Aurora
Class:	Ambassador-class
Affiliation:	Federation Starfleet
Launched:	24th century
Status:	destroyed (2373)

For other uses, see Aurora.

The USS Aurora was a Federation Ambassador-class heavy cruiser starship in Starfleet service in the 24th century.

Following the outbreak of hostilities with the Cardassian-Dominion alliance in late 2373, the Aurora was one of hundreds of ships that were dispatched to the Federation-Cardassian border in preparation for a mass attack. Shortly after, the Aurora was engaged by a Jem'Hadar battle cruiser while on standard patrol.

Outmatched by the battle cruiser, the Aurora sent out a general distress call which was first answered by the Maquis transport Orb of Peace, operating under a Bajoran flag and under the command of Captain Ro Laren. The Orb attempted to draw the battle cruiser's fire but it continued to hammer the Aurora.

Shortly after, the USS Enterprise-E also responded to the Aurora's distress call. However, the Enterprise was also unable to draw the battle cruiser's fire and the constant hammering with torpedoes severed the ship's port warp nacelle. Although the Enterprise succeeded in destroying the cruiser, the extreme damage caused to the Aurora resulted in a warp core breach, killing all crew aboard. (TNG - The Dominion War novel: Behind Enemy Lines)

The Aurora was eventually succeeded in name by the Galaxy X-class USS Aurora. (TNG video game: Birth of the Federation)

Background

The Ambassador-class Aurora being in service in the mid-2370s could possibly contradict with the Nova-class USS Aurora which was shown to be in service in 2371 according to Decipher RPG module: Starships. However, the Nova-class Aurora could have been destroyed prior to 2373 and the older Ambassador-class Aurora could have been in service prior to the Nova and was pressed back into service for the Dominion War.