The USS Challenger (NCC-71099) was a Galaxy-class starship that saw service during the latter half of the 24th century. Constructed sometime after the initial production run of Galaxy-class vessels, she was commissioned prior to 2371, under the command of Vulcan Captain Simm. During the early part of that year, the Challenger was on assignment in the Gamma Quadrant. (TNG novel: The Return)

Following the destruction of the USS Enterprise-D, Commander William T. Riker was temporarily assigned as first officer of the Challenger. During a covert mission, Riker assumed command and brought the Challenger to Starbase 804, where Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Dr. Beverly Crusher, and Ambassador Spock were recovered. Shortly thereafter, the Challenger engaged the Romulan warbird Avatar of Tomed in order to allow the USS Monitor to escape. (TNG novel: The Return)

In 2378, the Challenger was part of a fleet which destroyed Borg Sphere 634 as it emerged from a transwarp conduit near Earth. (VOY: "Endgame")

By 2383, Challenger's mission profile had been changed to being a testbed for new technologies. Captain Montgomery Scott was her commanding officer. The officers and crew of the Challenger were instrumental in making the lost NX-class Intrepid spaceworthy. Geordi LaForge succeeded Captain Scott in command after he was disabled, and the ship's exec, Tyler Hunt, killed. (TNG novel: Indistinguishable From Magic)

Geordi LaForge was promoted to Captain and given command of the Challenger in 2385. (Starfleet Command (RPG), Star Trek: Artemis)

Alternate timelineEdit

In an alternate timeline of 2390, Challenger was commanded by Geordi La Forge. The Challenger was tasked with taking former USS Voyager crew members Chakotay and Harry Kim into custody to stop them from changing the timeline by stopping the destruction of Voyager. Despite Challenger's efforts the pair succeeded. (VOY: "Timeless")


During Montgomery Scott's tenure as CO, there were two runabouts named after rivers in the United Kingdom on Earth: Clyde and Thames. (Indistinguishable From Magic)

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