USS Bluford (NCC-644) was a Gagarin-class science scout active in the 23rd and early 24th centuries. In 2298, Bluford intercepted several subspace communications bursts in a heretofore unknown language. Among the communications specialists on board who struggled to decipher the transmissions was Ensign Hugh Sesay. Years later, these were found to be from a ship of the Tzenkethi Coalition. (Star Trek: Avenger: "Nearly a Valediction")