The SS Vico (NAR-18834) was a Federation Template:ShipClass research vessel that was in service with Starfleet in the mid-24th century. This ship was on loan to a civilian agency, and was given a civilian registry. Vico operated out of Starbase 514. In 2368, the Vico explored an astronomical formation known as a black cluster.
While exploring the cluster's interior, the Vico began to encounter severe gravitational wavefronts, and in order to compensate, the Vico increased shield strength. Unknown at the time, the cluster contained a phenomenon that reflected the ship's shield output, so the more the Vico increased its shield strength, the more the wavefronts were amplified. This continued to occur until the Vico essentially destroyed itself with its own shields.
Two days later, when the Vico was located by the USS Enterprise-D, only one survivor, Timothy, was discovered aboard. (TNG: "Hero Worship")
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