Outpost 4

Outpost 4 was an outpost constructed a mile deep on an asteroid of almost solid iron by Starfleet in 2160. The outpost's protective shield was made of cast rodinium. This outpost was one of eight Earth Outpost Stations located in Sector Z-6 on the Federation side of the Romulan Neutral Zone.

In 2266, Outpost 4 came under attack by an unknown starship that was later discovered to be Romulan Bird-of-Prey. Although protected by full deflectors, the outpost was hit by a powerful high-energy plasma torpedo that completely blew out the outpost's deflector shield, as well as taking out its phasers and killing its weapons crew. The second attack by the plasma torpedo hit the outpost, unprotected, resulting in the base's disintegration. (TOS: "Balance of Terror", display graphic)

In 2293, the location of the Neutral Zone in the Milky Way Galaxy was depicted on the Federation star chart The Explored Galaxy. This chart was first seen on aboard the starship USS Enterprise-A. In the 2360s, the chart was seen again at Starfleet Headquarters on Earth, aboard the USS Enterprise-D, in a courtroom in the Starfleet outpost Starbase 173, and in a classroom on the space station Deep Space Nine. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country; TNG: "Conspiracy", "The Measure Of A Man", "Emissary"; DS9: "In the Hands of the Prophets")

By 2366, this outpost had been rebuilt. THe location of this outpost was depicted on a tactical intelligence analysis. (TNG: "The Defector", display graphic)

Commander Hansen transmits his report of the attack from Outpost 4.

The location of the Neutral Zone in "The Explored Galaxy" star chart

Romulan Neutral Zone map.jpg

Federation map showing the position of Outpost 4 in relation to Romulus/Remus and the Romulan Neutral Zone, 2266

The location of Outpost 4 on a tactical intelligence analysis star chart, 2366

Background information

According to the Star Trek: Star Charts (pg. 66), there were 23 Earth outposts. Outposts 1 to 8 were mentioned in dialog or were seen on the Z-6 Sector map in "Balance of Terror" and Outpost 23 was mentioned in dialog in "Future Imperfect". Outpost 4 was constructed in an area of space that been contested over during the Romulan War Theater of Operations (2156-2160).

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