Starfleet's expansion in to the Omega Antares Sector is the first major attempt to expand the Federation's influence in many years, with the memories of the Dominion War begining to fade in to the background of the Federation's collective psyche the fleet has once again returned to its scientific roots. What began with a few short range stellar mapping expeditions has grown over the past few years was launched rapidly in to a push for Starfleet to assist in the colonisation of an area of space 150 lightyears south east of Gamma Tauri where a civilian colony had already been created.
Thus the proposal for Deep Space 13 was born, spear headed by Vice Admiral Viran the proposal called for the creation of a station a few light years away from the colony to provide defense and support of Federation interests in the Omega Antares sector. It took less than 6 months for Viran to secure the proposals acceptance; a mere blink of an eye compared to the hoops some proposals are forced to go through before Starfleet Command signs off on them. Almost imediately Viran, his flagship USS Saratoga and the Minsk were dispatched to begin construction of Deep Space 13 whilst the Hathaway. The biggest proponant of Viran's proposal turned out to be Starfleet Science who were interested in the platform Deep Space 13 would provide for thier plans for research and exploration in the area, thier support was shown during construction as they routinely filled the gap for Viran's project when it ran low on resources a Starfleet Science vessel was always dispatched to bring the project whatever it needed.
During construction the Federation encountered the Ratarian Republic for the first time when an Oberth Class science vessel sent out distress call in what became to be known as Ratarian space. A Ratarian cruiser informed the ship it should leave Ratarian space or be destroyed. At the time Starfleet Intelligence categorised the Ratarian's as a low priority threat.
Deep Space 13 was declared operational a touch under 2 years after construction began, with the completion of the station Starfleet assigned 3 more vessels to the area each dedicated science vessels leaving USS Hathaway the only capital ship in the area. It didn't take long for Deep Space 13's tasking to change, the station itsself brough several undesirable factions in to the area all seeing Deep Space 13 as a platform to push thier own agendas. Like aboard Deep Space 9 Starfleet couldn't turn these people away without proof of wrong doing firstly for moral reasons and secondly because the station desperately needed thier trade. Information became the most important comodity in the Omega Antares Sector and Starfleet quickly found itself unable to get all of the information it required.
Over the next two years Starfleet's efforts to map and expand within the Omega Antares Sector grew until the Federation encountered the Ratarian Republic once again, this time there was a standoff between USS Hathaway and 3 Ratarian cruisers who had laid claim to an area of space the Hathaway was mapping. Both parties left the incident with bloodied noses, Captain Pierce's report caused Starfleet Command to re-assess the views on the Ratarians and the Omega Antares Sector.
As Starfleet Command worked on making its decision about what to do with that area tensions between the Ratarians and Starfleet in the area grew, finally three months later Starfleet cut orders for the newly promoted Bravo Fleet Executive Officer Admiral Taylor to take overall command of the Omega Antares Sector. Taylor's flagship USS Ronald Reagan along with 5 other ships including USS Cerberus made their way down to Deep Space 13 to take up thier assigned stations. Despite Starfleet's orders Taylor chose to leave Vice Admiral Viran in charge of the sector, prefering instead to simply act as the figure head for Starfleet's benefit.