Carpathia Class

Design by John Bullerwell

Type: Luxury liner
First commissioned: 2297
Length: 330m
Width: 107m
Height: 60m
Decks: 12
Complement: officers + 390 crew, evacuation limit: 3500
Speed: Warp 5 (cruise), Warp 7 (max.), Warp 8.2 (max. emergency)
Sublight speed: 0.65c (max.)
Armament: Standard phasers, 2 banks each fore and aft; 1 bank dorsal
Defense: Standard deflector shields
Embarked craft: 8 Type C shuttlecraft

A luxury liner designed for the Federation by the San Francisco Fleet Yards civilian design division. Sporting the latest in late 23rd century luxury amenities, it is designed for medium to long range cruise voyages in core Federation space.

Columbia Class

Design by Nixon's Head

Type: Cruiser
First commissioned: 2297
Length: 381m
Width: 185m
Height: 69m
Decks: 12
Complement: 60 officers + 390 crew, evacuation limit: 1200
Speed: Warp 6 (cruise), Warp 7.5 (max.), Warp 8 (max. emergency)
Sublight speed: 0.8c (max.)
Armament: : 6x twin phaser banks on primary hull, 4 single phasers in aft firing arc, 2x photon torpedo launchers
Defense: Standard defensive shields
Embarked craft: 10 standard personnel shuttles, 5 cargo shuttles, 5 workbees

De Milo Class

Design by Robert Heckadon

Type: Terraforming robot
First commissioned: 2270
Length: 119m
Width: 263m
Height: 254m
Displacement: 120000t
Sublight speed: 0.001c (max.)
Armament: none
Defense: none
Embarked craft: none

“Reaching, searching for something untouched, Hearing voices of the Never-Fading calling” - Amaranth; Nightwish

Venus, also known as the morning star. Named after the Roman goddess of beauty and the consort of Vulcan. Its name alone conjures images of incredible beauty and stories of a planet ruled by Amazon women. But in reality Venus is a fiery hell with temperatures and pressures high enough to melt lead.

Yet there are dreams of taming Venus and make it into a world like Earth through a process known as terraforming. And one crucial step in the terraforming process is to reduces Venus’s day from 243 Earth days (retrograde) to 16 hours. By increasing its axial rotation from 6.5 km/h from east to west, to 2375 km/h west to east. A task best suited for the De Milo array.

First commissioned in 2270, the De Milo array uses a series of powerful robots, simply referred to as De Milo class, that uses brute force to increase Venus’s axial spin. They lock onto the planet with tractor beams on the planet’s “west” side on a near tangent angle to Venus. The robots then uses an electromagnetic solar sail, similar to the M2P2 drives used by the DY-100 sublight cruisers, to propel the robot. Both tractor beams and solar sail are boasted as being the most powerful built by Earth.

The robots accelerate Venus’s rotation at a rate of 14.2km/h/year, which would take approximately 167 years to complete. The reason for the increasing its rate of rotation are for thermal dissipation, magnetic field generation, and a more proper sense of night and day.

The tractor beams used by the robots uses a two-way tractor emitter with one beam aimed towards Venus and the other aimed inside the robot. Within the robot, a series of subspace coils generates what is called a gravimagnetic matrix which allows the internal tractor beam to lock onto the solar sail’s electromagnetic field itself. And with the two-way tractor emitter, this virtually eliminates the robot from any real physical interaction with its solar sail, tractor beam, and Venus. This also virtually eliminates the structural limitations of the robot due to the fact that even with such a low acceleration of 14.2 km/h/year, with Venus’s mass being 4.87 billion trillion metric tonnes, even with the forces divided between 50 robots, the amount of force per robot is approximately 21.2 million billion Newton per robot. Or using old English measurements, 2.73 million billion pounds per robot. No known material within the Federation can withstand those forces.

The gravimagnetic matrix is highly sensitive and fragile, and requires warp control systems used in faster than light starships to maintain. If the matrix were to ever fail, the internal tractor beam could lock onto the robot’s interior and destroy it from the inside out. Warp control systems are also used in the balancing of the forces generated by the robot’s tractor beam and solar sail.

The robot’s solar sail generates a powerful magnetic field that allows the sun’s solar winds to push against it, generating thrust. With the accumulated magnetic field strength of 50 robots, the solar sail expands to a diameter of nearly 220,000km. Nearly one-quarter of the diameter of the sun.

The robots are powered by a series of nuclear reactors whose fusion rate is so high, they can maintain the warp drive of a Constitution class starship at warp factor 8. This also means that the robot’s fuel supply will be exhausted in less than a week. The plasma exhaust is then vented into the solar sail itself to enhance the magnetic field. The robots uses a highly advanced cooling system to prevent the nuclear reactors from over heating. And often the cooling systems are working at 90% + capacity. There have been instances where the heat dissipation fins had begun to glow red. The robot’s duotronic brain and thrusters are powered by solar energy.

The De Milo array uses 70 robots, with 50 of them active and 20 of them in reserve. The extra 20 robots are primarily used to rotate with the 50 robots for refit and repair time, as well in the event a robot is destroyed or disabled. By 2310, 22 robots were destroyed by overloads, gravimagnetic matrix failures or other problems. But fortunately a rate with the robots can be replaced at a decent rate. The robot control station is in Venus’s polar orbit being very careful not to be caught by any of the robot’s tractor beams. Secondary emitters locks onto another part of Venus to compensate for the planet’s rotation.

The De Milo robots have often been targeted by critics. Critics have asked why not have the robots be powered by matter/antimatter reactions? Though the amount of antimatter required can be attained by a dedicated antimatter refinery, the dilithium requirements would far exceed the cost of the project. Plasma fuel cells are also dismissed due to the fact that the solar sail prevents the solar winds from even reaching the robots. As well, the amount of fuel required would be having to refuel the robot literally every few minutes.

Critics have also asked why not simply use a matter/antimatter thruster? Even with the same energy output, the matter/antimatter thruster would only generate at the most 10% the thrust required. The thrust from the solar sail comes from the matter expelled from the sun. As well, the robot’s structure cannot withstand the stresses of the antimatter thruster while anchored to the planet Venus.

Critics even asked why not simply use warp drive? Aside from structural reasons, warp drive are not Newton based propulsion systems. Warp drive moved space towards the ship at faster than light speeds, but they cannot apply kinetic energy onto anything the way impulse engines can, which is needed for Venus. Meaning when a faster than light ship is anchored to Venus via tractor beam, all the engines will do is build up space between the planet and the ship, which will destabilize the tractor beam. And even if the tractor beam holds, it will collapse the warp field pulling the ship out of warp instantly.

Critics also claimed that a deflector, not a tractor beam, would be more suited for the task and reduce the complexity of the robots. The deflector concept was considered before with a test robot in 2262 and an asteroid, however stability problems occurred as well as incompatibilities with the gravimagnetic matrix. And the complexity if the robot was in reality much greater.

In 2271, a milestone was achieved when the robots were able to stop Venus’s retrograde rotation. In 2306, it was decided that rather than Venus having 16 hour days, it will have 20 hour days. This is because with Venus beginning to develop its own magnetic field, the centre of the accumulated magnetic fields begins to shift towards the centre of the planet, making it more difficult to increase its axial spin. So rather than it requiring 167 years, ending in 2437, to complete this stage of terraforming, it will only require 134 years instead, ending in 2404.

Even then, though the Van Allen’s Belt would be closer to the surface of Venus, the magnetic field strength would be strong enough to protect the future colonists of Venus. As well the stronger sunlight on the planet will allow photosynthetic plants to clear the planet of greenhouse gases, making it reasonably cool.

Over the years the De Milo robots have been routinely upgraded especially with the replacement robots to those that were destroyed, and in 2368, 90% of the robots were powered matter/antimatter reactions and synthetic dilithium. By 2404, 49 robots were destroyed and 22 heavily damaged. But their sacrifice paved the way to the first steps into turning Venus into a true sister of Earth.

Deep Space 2

Design by Robert Heckadon

Type: Deep space outpost
First commissioned: stardate 7420.1
Length: 461m
Width: 444m
Height: 287m (Dimensions exclude solar array for clarity.)
Decks: 83
Displacement: 3300000t
Complement: 200 officers + 2500 crew, evacuation limit: 10000
Armament: 24 phasers; 4 rotating photon torpedo launchers
Defense: Magnetic radiation shields; Cast rodinium shields
Embarked craft: 25 standard shuttles; 10 cargo shuttles

“Funny how comedians makes more (political) sense than politicians.” - Dr. Mark Piper

Located in the Gamma Pegasi (Algenib) star system, 335 light years away from Earth in the constellation of Pegasus, Deep Space 2 is the Federation’s newest deep space outpost. Commissioned in 2272, it serves as a waypoint for deep space exploration cruisers to expand the final frontier.

Deep Space 2 is a modular space station that is based upon the Space Island class star base. Based upon the standard cargo and shipping containers used by the Federation, each module is 40 metres in diameter and 150 to 200 metres long. The modules are constructed in a shipyard on Mars to take advantage of the planet’s low gravity to lift the modules off the surface. They are then transported via tug ships to the Gamma Pegasi star system where they are then assembled.

The modules consists of the following:

4 - 200 metre long; 40 metre diameter service modules,
8 - 200 metre long; 40 metre diameter habitat modules, 
8 - 150 metre long; 40 metre diameter habitat modules,
1 - 200 metre high; 40 metre diameter command module,
1 - 33 metre high; 40 metre diameter engineering module,
1 - 657 metre long solar array

Though considered small for a major space port, the modular design was deemed the best option for such a deep range outpost. And despite its size, it is capable of handling various diplomatic missions, layovers, and significant repairs to deep range spaceships.

Deep Space 2 then inspired Deep Space 3, only with some redesigning. Specifically the engineering module on the bottom of the station instead of the top, and the solar array replaced with a rotating Bussard collector/plasma fuel cell combination.

Dreadnought Type

Design by Kris, ASDB Member

The Starfleet Technical Manual by Franz Joseph depicts a three-nacelled "dreadnought" of the Federation class. The USS Entente NCC-2120 mentioned in STTMP was classified as Federation class in the STTM. Kris has developed a design that fits into the movie era. Decide for yourself if the two-nacelled or three-nacelled version is better.

Frankfurt Class

Design by Daniel Gerson

No specs

Citing the need for a new light cruiser to fill the gap in size and capability between the dominant Oberth- and Constellation-classes, design of the Halifax-class began on Earth in 2266, finishing in mid 2268. It was part of the wide-ranging Project Urania, which lead to the Halifax and its brother, the Frankfurt-class light destroyer, along with a host of new technologies and parts that would later be used or adapted to other vessels.

The Frankfurt, a notable destroyer of the 2270s, served as a source of inspiration for the later Freedom-class of the 2360s and MacKenzie-class of the 25th century. Design Proposal 2003A-4 was drafted in 2263, resulting in an intensive study and analysis of the current fleet capabilities and weaknesses. The project was subsequently approved, eventually forming an entire family of small to midsize starships that bridged the Constitution family to the Excelsior and beyond. The Frankfurt was one of the ships derived from the study. Research and design planning began in mid 2364. The Frankfurt would be a destroyer, fast, reasonably manoeuvrable, and well armed, aimed at supplementing the refitted Constitutions and providing fire support for the exciting new Transwarp Excelsior-class. The Frankfurt consists basically of proven design elements, such as the very Constitution-like saucer and similar nacelles to the larger Federation ship. The Frankfurt, however, was one of the pioneers of oval deflector dishes, and mounted its nacelles and dish in a new, unconventional arrangement; a thick neck extended downwards at an angle, containing the powerful dual forward torpedo launchers and main deflector, then branched out into a pair of AW-8.8mx nacelles. The nacelle struts also contain conveyor systems and small cargo bays, accessible from the dorsal side.

The odd placement of the warp nacelles allows higher power to be channelled through the warp field itself; essentially, the overpowered field would interfere less with the saucer's power grid and critical systems if they were placed farther away. The addition of the spine was a large change from the original idea, which mounted the nacelles directly under the saucer, with deflector placement not unlike the later Akira-class. A huge VIIIhd/r phaser cannon sits on top of the dorsal spine, providing devastating punch either fore or aft. While limited in firing angle, this weapon worked to devastating effect, allowing groups of Frankfurts to smash through enemy lines. The small groups of Frankfurts guarding the Federation border were rarely harassed by unwieldy Klingon battlecruisers.

While Starfleet was initially quite pleased with their new destroyer, enthusiasm quickly faded. The Frankfurt, while superior to her Constitution-family cousins, lacked the prowess of Excelsior-family designs. Dissipating tensions with the Klingon lead to a slashing of the initial unit run, but over a hundred vessels were produced. Twenty four were destroyed in Klingon and Romulan skirmishes, while the rest were either retired or demoted to system patrol duties, especially in outer colonies. Jem’Hadar invaders destroyed many of the venerable Frankfurts that remained during the Dominion war. One has been donated to the Starfleet museum, eighteen still serve as border patrol ships, and a further six have been stripped down to research purposes. None remain in active duty within the main fleets; the Norway-class and its unremarkable predecessors largely replaced the Frankfurt.

An interesting concept whose time was cut short by the end of an era, the Frankfurt will forever maintain her rightful place among the other unsung hero ships of Starfleet past.

Halifax Class

Design by Daniel Gerson

Type: Light cruiser
Length: 245m
Decks: 19, including pylons
Crew: 179
2x photon torpedo launcher (fore)
6x Type-XII phaser turrets
Max. warp: Warp 8.1
Max. cruise: Warp 7.6
Cruise: Warp 7

Project Urania, along with the Excelsior project, laid the groundwork for all designs to come until the next shift in starship design in the early 2300s. The prototype was built, borrowing many components from existing classes, along with newly developed parts designed for the Constitution refit and modern Excelsior class. The USS Halifax herself was completed in 2270, and the class was certified for production nine months later. The starship was produced in two models, each sharing the same space frame and basic systems. The light cruiser model mounted heavier weaponry and featured less scientific capability, while the science cruiser was less well defended but incorporated a plethora of scientific systems.

The Halifax combines both the hardware and style of the Oberth and Constitution, while foreshadowing the future Excelsior and Centaur-classes with a remarkably similar saucer. A large, semicircular science pod sits under the thin engineering hull, while the pair of nacelles is mounted on a pylon above the engineering hull, in a similar manner to the Constellation. Unlike her distance relative, these nacelles are mounted on a pair of supports joined by a long deck, then sit across a long pylon with the deflector mounted in the centre. This odd arrangement provides maximum deflection in the area around the nacelles and upper saucer, while any warp field emissions are reflected perfectly off the contoured hull and out into space.

The two Swift-AE II nacelles provide good power and efficiency, among the best of the ships of her time in overall performance. Sublight propulsion is provided by two huge ASPU Mk 1 engines, mounted on either side of the saucer, and supplemented by two SPU Mk. 9s mounted on the engineering hull. The ship is adequately defended, reflecting the needs of the time. Half a dozen Type-VIII (Type-VII in the case of the SC) phasers strategically positioned around the saucer provide strong, though limited coverage, while 2 Mk. IIr or mk. IIs fore torpedo launchers and, in the case of the Light Cruiser version, a pair of aft torpedo launchers provide heavy punch and discourage pursuit. 

The distinctive modular science pod under the engineering hull is capable of being used for a variety of tasks. The entire section can be removed, or the access piece in the front can be removed in drydock and entire compartments added or removed. The most common refit involves extra living quarters and improved sensor array, but the ship can also be refitted to carry arboretums, extra phasers and torpedo launchers, extra torpedo launcher magazines, a large through-deck shuttlebay, a pair of large Bussard collectors, a heavy tractor beam emitter, and many others. The Halifax was certainly part of the inspiration for the highly modular Nebula-class. In the case of the Halifax LC, the modular section is almost always fitted with extra torpedo storage and sometimes an extra pair of phaser emitters, along with high sensitivity optical imaging arrays and sensor receptors. Both variants of the Halifax carry a specialized high-resolution subspace scanner array on either side of the engineering hull. In theory, this scanner was extremely accurate, capable of evaluating phenomena with precision from close up or long range. In practice, it was often used to detect and interceptor Klingon transmissions from across the border, a fact never discovered until after the Khitomer accord.

The Halifax is quite versatile, and is ideally suited for a number of missions. She can perform detailed scientific scans, freeing up larger and more capable classes, or provide a swift, high endurance border patrol vessel that is capable of defending itself much better than an Oberth.

As the ship aged, fewer and fewer of the science cruiser models were produced, with many refitted to the light cruiser standard. However, production swung in favour of the science cruiser after the signing of the Khitomer accord, and overall production was split nearly half and half. Production was halted in the late 2290s, as more and more similar, stronger midsize classes were produced, such as the Centaur and Miranda. Nonetheless, the now decommissioned Halifax is remembered as a highly capable, highly respected former mainstay of Starfleet. 14 of the ships live on as research or civilian vessels, while a single Halifax maintains watch over a quiet corner of the Starfleet Museum, retired but not forgotten.

Ships of the class include: USS Sydney NCC-1994, USS Toronto NCC-1934, USS Seattle NCC-1897, plus 213 others.

Huxley Class

Design by Daniel Gerson, description by USS Paladin

Type: Colony transport vessel
First commissioned: 2271
Length: 154m
Decks: 10
Crew complement: 51
3x Type VI phaser turrets
Speed: Warp 7.1 (max.), Warp 6.9 (max. cruise), Warp 6.2 (cruise)
Notable ships of class: USS Australia NCC-1949, USS Chaffee NCC-1970, USS Steed NCC-2001, USS Nomad NCC-2010

In a time when the immense Galaxy, Sovereign, and even Ambassador-classes were decades away, the creation of a colony could not be established by a single vessel. Rather, convoys of vessels needed to ferry the supplies, personnel, and colonists themselves to establish civilization in the appropriate area. Starfleet Design Bureau Proposal 398-C (proposed and granted in 2269), called for a small colony ship, emphasizing a design that would be easy to produce and efficient. The first vessel, the Huxley herself, was completed in late 2270, looking oddly out of place among the Constitutions and Mirandas housed at Utopia Planitia. Her uneventful testing was finished in 2271, and the class was quickly certified for full production.

Design Study 4 easy filled these requirements and, in some cases, exceeded them. It was a compact design, borrowing elements from many of the designs currently being refined or evening entering production at Utopia Planitia, like the Excelsior and Oberth. The small saucer, used almost exclusively for control of the vessel and crew quarters, was mounted on top of the main fuselage, which contained the main deflector, large cargo bays, a collection of personnel quarters, and a small shuttlebay for carrying vehicles. Like the Excelsior, the nacelles and their struts were mounted from the dorsal side of the fuselage. Owing to its relatively unconventional shape, many of the Huxley's components needed to be specific to its class only; however, they were used on, or as the basis for, parts for numerous other small vessels.

Typically, 3-9 Huxleys would comprise a colonization convoy, with one third carrying colonists, another third carrying general items and food, and the last carrying raw materials and parts for constructing buildings exclusively.

The Huxleys were simple to produce, and due to the rapid expansion of the Federation, were almost literally churned out during that waning years of the twenty third century and into the twenty fourth. Many of them were delivered in half-painted or unfinished states, with no need for the utilitarian vessels to be as well equipped as their top-of-the-line counterparts. In total, five hundred and sixty nine of these vessels were produced; a full third were produced as or refitted to be deuterium tankers and provide fuel for other ships, while much of the remainder were converted into mere cargo vessels as expansion cooled. As of 2379, only forty-eight Huxleys remained in service, past their operational lifetime. A further sixty four lived on in civilian service, providing an excellent platform for research missions or scientific expeditions; their ample cargo space could be easily converted to house extra sensor suites or carry large amounts of specimens and samples.

While certainly lacking the flash and glory of its larger brethren, the Huxley filled a vital role in the expansion of the Federation, and will always have a place in the annals of history, as a workhorse of the stars.

Kirov Class

Design by James Donovan

Type: Medium cruiser
10 vessels built
In service: 2268-2320
Length: 297m
Beam: 140.8m
Height: 64.4m
Decks: 20
Mass: 165,000mt
Speed: Warp 8 (std.)

No description

Riku Class

Design by Mackie

Length: 266 m
Width: 183 m
Height: 70 m
10 decks
Mass: 250,000 t
Speed: Warp 9 (max.),
Warp 8 (cruise)
Crew complement: 410

This ship class was first commissioned in 2275. A major refit took place around 2345, in the course of which the ASRV lifeboats and the phaser rings were added. The weapons now include: 6 type-8 phaser rings (2 saucer top, 4 saucer bottom), 2 pulse phasers, 4 torpedo tubes (2 fore, 2 aft).

Susquehanna Class

Design by James Donovan

Type: Light cruiser
20 vessels built
In service: 2295-2368
Length: 298m
Beam: 141.7m
Height: 68.4m
Decks: 21
Mass: 198,000mt
Speed: Warp 9.5 (std.)

No description

On September 22, 2288, Starfleet entertained an offer from the Research and Exploration division to examine the possibility of developing a class of shuttles and could share time proven components and share similar sectional parts, which would improve production of the design. They recognized that as the new designs would be called upon in battle in a variety of roles, armor protection would be essential. A new layered ceramic/transparent aluminum compound, giving the outer skin a multi-shaded appearance, was developed to withstand most hand-held and shoulder fired phasers and a non-direct hit from most small ground tactical photon torpedoes.

A standard docking collar based on the ones found on existing travel pods and warp shuttles was fitted to comply with Starfleet requirements of both space station and starship connectivity.

VIP Transport Shuttle (VTS) By January 19, 2289, the first prototype was ready for test runs - a VIP transport model. During the 6 month testing phase, small defects were found in the new armor but for the most part, it turned out to be a versatile platform warranting further development.

The first Starfleet VIP Transport Squadron, VT-106 based at Starfleet headquarters, San Francisco, Terra, was made operational on September 1, 2289 under the command of Commodore Francis Jakob. To date, there has been only one operational loss of the shuttle, due not to attack but mechanical and computer failure.

Command and Control Shuttle (CCS) The first operational combat model was a lengthen, and strengthened VIP model redesigned as a Combat Command and Control Shuttle. Flight tests began on March 27, 2289 at Starfleet Fighter Operations Division on the unarmed Command variant with similar success to the VIP prototype. More powerful inertial dampeners were added as well as the new AIFC-21c Flight Control Computer, giving the CNC shuttle more agility. A new upper deck was added for the Command officer in Charge and two staff members as well as seats for a small squad of Starfleet Marines, located below the command deck.

Weapons tests began on May 5, 2289 with the addition of turret containing a single phaser cannon with a full 360 degree rotation in the Y axis, with a 70 degree range of motion in the Z axis. The cannon's primary function was not as an offensive weapon, as the CNC shuttle would be used in rear echelon areas. The first operational units were delivered on October 25, 2289. Twenty-three vehicle were expected to be delivered overall throughout Starfleet Command and Starfleet Marine Stations.

Medical Shuttle (TMS) Along with the prototype testing of the first two models, Starfleet's imagined usage of their new multi-use shuttle grew with the development of the Medical version - basically an even longer version of the CNC shuttle, with a new upper deck. The MSU (Medical Staff Unit) contained seats for a doctor and 2 nurses as well as the bio-pharmaceutical, patient monitoring and first aid/surgical equipment. The lower main deck, behind the flight deck, contained 8 fold-down triage beds/seats. The initial trials were successful, though it was remarked by Admiral Thomas Chambers of Starfleet Medical Command to be slightly cramped and that a more powerful drive system was needed during heavy load missions. He went so far as to suggest an even larger variant should be built. Based on his recommendations, Starfleet Command agreed to continue the design and upgrade process at a later date after real-world test were completed. Starfleet's intention was to re-equip all medical starships large enough to house the shuttle with two units for use during tactical operations.

Production of the first Medical Shuttle began on August 14, 2289.

Transport Shuttle (TTS) With the Starfleet Marines now interested in the multi-use shuttle system, a key concern for them was vehicle and resupply capability. SFRE ordered a pre-production Medical shuttle frame and asked their designers to re-enforce the frame and deck units with the addition of a 4-part grappling unit for both supplies and connecting via vehicle support units built-in to the wheeled or tracked vehicle frame. A test shuttle was made available on July 22, 2289 with test pilot Lt. Commander Paul Roberts at the helm, with Commander Hiram R. Jefferson as the co-pilot and test coordinator. During the first week of testing, Roberts encountered stability issues while performing a high speed, low-level vehicle release which resulted in fatal crash, killing both pilots. An inquiry by SFRE confirmed that the forward two arms of the vehicle grappling unit failed, causing the test vehicle to nose into the ground. The resulting impact while still connected forced the transporter to strike the ground and tumble several times before it exploded.

As a result of the loss, the transport version was shelved and the 3 pre-production test vehicles were grounded. On August 15, 2289, one of the pre-production vehicles began a ground test program to determine how the instability at high speeds and low level could be resolved. Several options, including having a detachable storage pod were brought forward, however, the additional weight factors would have required more powerful engines (which also added to the overall weight) and a 1/4 scale test vehicle proved just as unstable during trials. Starfleet R&E decided on a stop gap solution in order to have pre-production testing restarted by eliminating the "fast drop" from the flight profiles and test environments.

On September 9, 2289, flight tests and service trials continued. Production models were delivered from January 15, 2290.

Fighter Shuttle (TFS) After the initial batches of production vehicles were delivered and field studies began, recommendations concerning design and internal improvements were submitted to SFRE. Some of the findings stated that if the design were to be used for combat vehicles, armor and weapons would need to be added. Finding the balance between improved performance and weight restrictions would be the key to the continuation of the program.

Beginning in February, 2290, SFRE requested that developers and builders from the Utopia Shipyards be brought in to give their input. After an exhaustive 6 month effort, a design review report was delivered to SFRE. A new armor mix and new engines as well the addition of phaser cannons would bring the design into a better tactical system. Utopia Shipyards created the Tactical Shuttle division and took over production of multi-use shuttle system. Production of the first Tactical Fighter Shuttle (TFS) was begun on October 1, 2290.

The fighter version included all of the improvements suggested in the Utopia report including a redesign of the fuselage and more powerful engines. The new armor, though a lighter composite mix, was thinner than yet just as strong as the original ceramic/transparent aluminum compound. The weight reduction in armor delivered improved performance and allowed the two man crew less sharing of responsibilities of operating the shuttle and allowed dedicated pilot and weapons officer/engineer to better focus on the individual tasks at hand. Deliveries began to the 45th and 92nd Starfleet Fighter Squadron and the 169th Starfleet Marine Strike Group on January 1, 2291 with amazing success. The new fighter units agreed that performance was outstanding for it's size and began field modifications to the TFS which included mounting of missile racks beneath or along the flanks of the fuselage. It's one drawback was protection to the aft section where the engines and docking/egress collar were located, though this improvement would come later in the Attack variant.

Eventually, 10 fighter squadrons and 5 strike squadrons were to carry the TFS and they are all still in use as of January, 2293.

Attack Shuttle, Heavy (HAS) As part of the TFS program, another test bed was created based on the field modifications done by the 169th Starfleet Marine Strike Squadron and the requests for rearward protection. The result was another complete variant designated the HAS for Attack Shuttle, Heavy. Armor protection was increased overall based on the strike unit’s propensity to draw fire as well as the addition of another turret mounted to the rear aft station. The rear turret required the addition of two further crewmembers - a rear turret gunner and a full-time engineer/communications officer.

Prototype testing began on December 29, 2291. The initial trials began with similar results to the fighter version, however, performance was slightly less due to extra personnel, weapons and equipment. A small buffeting problem was encountered with the upper turret in atmosphere, so a new cowling for the upper fuselage was developed and the buffeting ceased.

Delivery began, as with the TFS with the 169th Starfleet Marine Strike Group for operational testing. 6 squadrons now use the HAS with both Marine and Starfleet units.

Theben Class

Design by Daniel Gerson, description by USS Paladin

Type: Science ship
Proposed: 2268, commissioned: 2271
Length: 140.2m
Height: 46.8m
Beam: 74.2m
Crew: 93
Speed: Warp 7.58 (max.), Warp 7.0 (max. cruise), Warp 6.2 (cruise)
Armament: 4x Type-VI phaser emitters (fore), 1x Type-V phaser emitter (aft)
Auxiliary craft: 2x Type-22 midrange shuttlecraft, 2x Mk. IV work bees

The Theben class, a close relative of the Huxley and offshoot of the Excellentia technology program of the late 2260s is one of the numerous but unremarkable companions to the Oberth-class. The ship is meant as a small, medium range science ship, swifter than the outdated Oberth and more modular. A small saucer is integrated into a wide-bodied engineering hull, easily recognizable by the circular deflector and long set of bridge windows. Two small EnduranceMaster III nacelles extend from the engineering hull alongside the dorsal launch bay doors. The end of the ship has the typical Starfleet cutout, along with a shuttlebay for the Type-22 midrange shuttlecraft and any other auxiliary craft, such as Work Bees.

Impulse power is provided by a pair of sturdy SPU-IID units, which provide reasonable performance and long life. They are mounted on the neck, just behind the probe bay doors. Armament is minimal, with only five sets of relatively weak phaser emitters providing defense. A satisfactory shielding system enables the Theben to chase off most minor pirates or last until help can arrive, though the ship would not last long against a more capable opponent like a Bird of Prey.

The ship provides ample scientific capability, though its modular nature prevents it from being as efficient and purpose-built as the Oberth. A large sensor dome sits on a tower section above the bridge and provides excellent coverage, allowing the Theben to perform excellent astrometric scans. Advanced thermal imaging arrays and subspace transceivers dot the top of the hull and take up much of the forward compartments. Large probes can be launched via dorsal bay doors, a unique feature. The doors on the "neck" by the Impulse engines are meant to launch small payloads and scientific packages, while two larger bay doors are mounted on the ship's spine. They are capable of launching large probes, satellites, or specialized equipment packages, simplify manual cargo transfer and refitting.

The ship is also useful as a small freighter. A good sized shuttlebay provides easy access to the interior, as does the two large launch bay doors, which may also be used to load cargo. A standard round airlock is fitted to either side of the hull, providing maximum versatility for encounters with unknown or odd ships/stations. Interior cargo room for specimens and special equipment is ample. The Theben provides an easy to produce, simple science ship capable of performing cargo duties. A total of 954 were produced. 414 remain in service, with many of them acting as support ships for small colonies and the rest working as low level science ships or small freighters.

Vandenberg Class

Design by Daniel Gerson

Type: Heavy cruiser
Start of development: 31.6.2288
First flight: 7.9.2290
Time in service: 2290-2360
Length: 285m
Beam: 150m
Height: 70m
Decks: 12
Speed: Warp 6 (cruise), Warp 8.5 (max.)
Crew: 70 officers, 244 enlisted
Weapons: 8 x Type VIII phaser banks, total output 12,500 terawatts, 4 x 2nd class photon torpedo tubes + 140 torpedoes

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