In 2265, the Constitution class Starships reached 20 years of age. These starships proved themselves worthy time and again, so Starfleet Command decided to launch a modernization program that would extend the life of this class another 20+ years. All new hull surfaces were manufactured and it was decided to leave off the standard grey thermacoat. Leeding Engines Ltd. provided their new FWG-1 warp nacelles to replace the FWF-1's of the Constitution class and Daystrom Data Concepts stepped forward to provide their M-6 logic system in place of the M-4. Weapons power was also signifcantly upgrade. Phaser power was channeled through the warp drive which greatly increased power & range while a manned two-story Photon Torpedo Launch Facility was installed as a replacement to the automated system used by Constitutions.

The first Enterprise class ship to be launched, was the Enterprise herself, ahead of schedule in 2271 to face the energy cloud known as V'Ger. The Enterprise successfully saved earth & embarked on another 5 year mission under Captain Kirk. In 2277, the Enterprise was retired from active duty and assigned to Captain Spock at Starfleet Academy. 8 years later, in 2285, Admiral Kirk once agan took command, this time to investigate the mysterious theft of a top secret terraforming device codenamed "Genesis". Kirk's old nemesis, Khan Noonian Singh had returned & hijacked the USS Reliant. About 12 1/2 hours before the Enterprise was to reach Space Laboratory Regula 1, they were intercepted by Khan onboard the Reliant. Thinking all was well, Kirk let the Reliant get too close. Before the Reliant was destroyed, the Enterprise sustained massive battle damage. Upon returning to earth, Starfleet decided to retire the old ship and re-assign her crew. Kirk had unfinished business in the Mutara Sector, so he took his loyal officers & stole his old ship. As they entered orbit of the newly formed Genesis Planet, they were ambushed by a Klingon Bird-of-Prey. Rather than let the Klingons get their hands on the Enterprise, Kirk destroyed his old ship. After 40 years of faithful service, the USS Enterprise was no more.

In 2286 after saving Earth from the "whalesong" crisis, Kirk was demoted to Captain and presented with a new starship, the Enterprise-A. Although the ship was only in service for 7 years, it completed many missions, the most notable of which was saving the Khitomer Peace Conference; as the Enterprise escorted the Klingon Chancellor to his peace meeting, assassins beamed over to the Chancellor's ship and killed him. Kirk and his CMO, Leonard McCoy were promtly arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment at the penal asteroid of Rura Penthe. Kirk hastly escaped & went to Khitomer where the Enterprise & Excelsior destroyed a Klingon Bird of Prey commanded by the traitorous General Chang. After successfully saving the Khitomer Conference, the Khitomer Accords were signed and the Enterprise returned to spacedock. In 2293, the ship was decomissioned when here crew retired from starfleet. The Enterprise now resides in the Starfleet Museum.