User:B-TaRe-4/Starfleet Star Cross

The only two Starfleet Star Cross Medal Order Classes in Federation history ever given, the Starfleet High Order 4 Star Cross, the 'Stella', and the Starfleet Highest Order 5 Star Cross, the 'Stella Excellence', were especially designed for Lieutenant Commander Data in 2365, and a last time in 2379, both by the Terran Computer Programmer and distinguished artist MT DeMoy, the difference being the four points of the 'Stella', and five stars engraved on the rare purple Earth gemstone 'Sugilite' as so depicted in the centre, and five points and larger size of the 'Excellence'.

Commander Data received the Star Cross 'Stella' being the very first humanoid 'artificial lifeform' officer, and no less as well later still only sentient android in Starfleet to date, to ever have gained these special commendation medals, for his exceptional valour, and recognised dare of 'thinking & acting outside the 'ordered' box', while on Starfleet duty during his most invaluable early career, as so shown on numerous occasions at his exceptional skills and wide-ranging special knowledge, and unquestionable integrity to Starfleet, as well so having become apparent during several battle situations, in the face of sometimes great personal and professional adversity at his unique android status,, as so received in 2365 in general recognition of his having saved many lives to date, on recommendation of his captain and friend, Jean-Luc Picard, whilst serving on the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) as his second in command.

He was awarded the Star Cross of the Highest Order the 'Stella Excellence' posthumously by Starfleet Command in 2379, on the order of its entire committee, in special honour to his most outstanding service record of remarkable merits, & ultimate action, after he was killed in the line of duty, during the attack of the Reman warbird Scimitar engaged with the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-E) that second year, at the Battle of the Bassen Rift, to see safeguarded the 800 lives of his fellow crewmembers, under the command of Captain Picard, when he sacrificed his life aboard the Scimitar for him to return to their stricken ship, by the only means available of a single prototype site-to-site emergency transporter device given to Picard to beam him to safety, to undoubtedly set out to prevent the crippled warbird from destroying the Enterprise, by disrupting the unstoppable thalaron radiation weapon intended to annihilate the Federation ship, which in turn obliterated the Scimitar in effect, along with the no less by then as second time ranked commanding First Officer of the Enterprise, Commander Data, as so declared lost in action that day, which ended the lethal stand-off. .

- Commander Data of Omicron Theta - - *February 2, 2338AD – †December 13, 2379AD -

(--B-TaRe-4 05:43, 25 March 2007 (UTC))