EAS Cortez

From The Great Machine

EAS Cortez is an Earthforce Explorer class ship commanded by Captain Jack Maynard.

Under Maynard's command, the Cortez was assigned to explore the rim of the galaxy. Maynard reports a sighting of a Shadow ship in Sector 857, although he doesn't know the ship or its origin when relaying this story to Captain John Sheridan. As a result of this expedition, Sector 900 is fully mapped during 2257 to 2259. Sector 900 also borders Vorlon space.

The Cortez later visits Babylon 5 in 2259. Captains Maynard and John Sheridan reminisce over old times, sharing anecdotes with the B5 command staff and others.

Shortly after the Cortez departs, it experiences an accident in hyperspace, thus losing fix on the local hyperspace beacon. Thanks to Sheridan and the crew of Babylon 5, the Cortez is subsequently recovered by Zeta Squadron in the first successful rescue attempt in hyperspace. The only loss of life during this effort is that of Zeta Squadron's commander, who is killed in the hyperspace backwash of a Shadow Warship, then-unknown to the Earth Alliance or most of the known galaxy (A Distant Star).