Snapshots of an Evolving Starship

Snapshots of an Evolving Starship by Pope Torak

Snapshots in the lifespan of a starship class provide a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of Starfleet technology and mission requirements. The Miranda-class starships in particular provide a century long progression in multiple hull configurations. Changes in mission payload and propulsion technologies are quite substantial between generations. The following section examines an archtypical example of the class from 2280 to 2380. In some cases the examples are the same ship in different stages of her career.

For the sake of comparative ease, all measurements, performance specifications and classifications use Starfleet standard units of the 24th century. The anachronism of applying Revised Cochrane Scale velocities for a ship from 2280 is respectfully acknowledged, and duly ignored

2280 - 2285

In the 2280s the Miranda-class represented Starfleet's state of the art mainline cruiser. Sometimes classified a heavy frigate for political reasons, the class had a formidable mixture of scientific and tactical capabilities well suited to an era characterized by tensions with the Klingon and Romulan Empires.

USS Reliant NCC-1864

Famous for her involvement in the Mutara Nebula Incident, Reliant was a typical example of the Miranda class circa 2280, fitted with modern computer, propulsion and weapons systems. She featured an extensive internal compression hull skeleton constructed of an alloy of duranium and trititanium. In contrast to later ships of her class, she weighed in at 675,000 metric tons and had a usable payload volume of 125,000 m³.

Basic Specifications

Builder: 40 Eridani-A, Yoyodyne Systems Engineering

Classification: Heavy Frigate

Hull Configuration: Duranium/Trititanium Alloy Endoskeletal Hull, Duranium Transverse Bulkhead Compartments, Duranium Outer Hull

Complement: 32 Officers, 298 Enlisted, 22 Mission Specialists

Cruising Speed: Warp 4 for 24 Months

Maximum Cruising Speed: Warp 6 for 2 Months

Maximum Rated Speed: Warp 8 for 12 Hours

Mission Endurance: 24 Months

Propulsion Systems

Primary Powerplant: Leeding Warp Systems CF-75 Model Dilithium Energized Swirl Matter-Antimatter Reactor Core

Warp Propulsion: 2x Leeding LN-64 Warp Nacelles, Rated at 1,300 Cochranes

Secondary Powerplant: 2x Inertial Confinement Fusion Generators

Sublight Propulsion: 1x Dual-IMRF Equipped Impulse Propulsion Drive Rated at 200 Milicochranes

Tactical Systems

Energy Armament: 4x Type-VII Equivalent Phaser Cannon (2x Fore, 2x Aft), 6x Dual Type-VI Equivalent Phaser Banks

Projectile Armament: 4x Mk.6 Photon Torpedo Launchers (2x Fore, 2x Aft)

Deflector Systems: Two-layer EM/Graviton Forcefield Shield System

Scientific Equipment

Laboratory Facilities: 4 General Purpose Laboratory Facilities, 1 Planetary Survey Laboratory, 1 Astrophysics/Navigation Laboratory, 1 Special Purpose Configurable Laboratory

Primary Computer Systems: 2x Duotronic Computer Cores

Sensor Capabilities: 12x Mk.V Primary Sensor Palettes (Active Optical, EM, Gravitic and Subspace Sensors), 1x Navigation Sensor Suite

Auxiliary Craft

Warp Capable Smallcraft: 2 Low-warp Courier Shuttles

Sublight Smallcraft: 8 Shuttlepods/Travel Pods

Emergency Smallcraft: 150 Triple-Occupancy Lifepods, 2 20-person Lifeboats

Smallcraft Facilities: 1 Standard Maintenance Facility

2295 - 2310

With the inaugural decennial plan in 2295, Starfleet put into production and updated version of the reliable Miranda-class starship. The first production batch initiated at Starfleet's Tranquility Base Fleet Yards were a conservative revision of the class. Unlike later designs they did not fully abolish internal stress frames, keeping most of the major transverse bulkheads. With most of the heavy combat roles now filled by Excelsior and Constellation class starships, the Miranda was classified as a cruiser with an emphasis on multi-role missions in Federation territory.

USS Himera NCC-4122

Built at Tranquility Base in 2297, Himera falls under the first production run of post-Khitomer Miranda-class starships. She featured minimal upgrades from her predecessor with a hybrid hull construction. The resultant savings in mass and volume were less than anticipated, resulting in a ship with an operational mass of 650,000 metric tons and 130,000 m³. The result was a modest improvement in habitability, particularly when combined with reduced crew numbers, but nowhere near the amount expected by Starfleet logistics planners.

This first production run was considered somewhat over-built and cramped in later years, particularly compared to newer versions of the basic hull frame. They were sturdy ships that found consistent employment due to their rugged construction. In later years Starfleet made a habit of employing these vessels in lieu of more valuable ships, and Himera was retired in 2320 after an uneventful career. She was sold for scrap in 2340 after SCE surveys found her unfit for rebuilding.

Basic Specifications

Builder: Fleet Yard Operations, Tranqulity Base, Luna

Classification: Multipurpose Cruiser

Hull Configuration: Hybrid SIF-integrated Duranium/Titanium Truss and Beam Construction, Tritanium Transverse Bulkheads, Duranium Outer Hull

Complement: 28 Officers, 232 Enlisted/Specialists

Cruising Speed: Warp 4 for 24 Months

Maximum Cruising Speed: Warp 5 for 3 Months

Maximum Rated Speed: Warp 8.2 for 18 Hours

Mission Endurance: 24 Months

Propulsion Systems

Primary Powerplant: Shuvinaaljis CXF-90 Matter-Antimatter Reactor Core

Warp Propulsion: 2x Leeding LN-64B Mod.1 Warp Nacelles Rated at 1,500 Cochranes

Secondary Powerplant: 2x Inertial Containment Fusion Generators

Sublight Propulsion: 1x Dual-IMRF Equipped Impulse Propulsion Drive Rated at 215 Milicochranes

Tactical Systems

Energy Armament: 4x Type-VII Equivalent Phaser Cannon (2x Fore, 2x Aft), 6x Dual Type-VI Equivalent Phaser Banks

Projectile Armament: 4x Mk.6 Photon Torpedo Launchers (2x Fore, 2x Aft)

Deflector Systems: Two-layer EM/Graviton Forcefield Shield System

Scientific Equipment

Laboratory Facilities: 4 General Purpose Laboratory Facilities, 1 Planetary

Survey Laboratory, 1 Astrophysics/Navigation Laboratory, 1 Special Purpose Configurable Laboratory

Primary Computer Systems: 2x Duotronic Computer Cores

Sensor Capabilities: 12x Mk.VI Primary Sensor Palettes (Active Optical, EM,

Gravitic and Subspace Sensors), 1x Navigation Sensor Suite

Auxiliary Craft

Warp Capable Smallcraft: 2 Low-warp Courier Shuttles

Sublight Smallcraft: 8 Shuttlepods/Travel Pods

Emergency Smallcraft: 150 Triple-Occupancy Lifepods, 2 20-person Lifeboats

Smallcraft Facilities: 1 Standard Maintenance Facility

2315 - 2325

Operational experience with trussed frame designs in the late 23rd and early 24th century gave Starfleet engineers and surveyors greater confidence in the soundness of the basic concept. The 2315 Decennial Plan took this into account when ordering new ship production. In particular Starfleet was eager to move more basic hull production to civilian yards. Mirandas were considered ideal learning vehicles for civilian yards still uneasy with trussed frame construction. Most Starfleet hulls conducted in the 2310s were Miranda-class frames.

USS Carthage NCC-7739

Built at Salazaar's Centauri Spaceworks facility, Carthage was among the first of the "third generation" Mirandas. Built with a full trussed frame configuration, she was a svelte 550,000 metric tons and had a usable payload volume of 145,000 m³. Her LN-64N warp nacelles used coils derived from Excelsior and Apollo class technology providing a welcome boost to speed and overall range.

Internally Carthage also represented a significant advance. Hybrid quadritronic/duotronic computer cores provided sufficient processing power for the installation of general use replicators, providing significant increase in mission endurance. Her sensor suites were two generations more advanced than in the previous batch, matching the configuration of the 2310 Excelsior upgrades in capability.

Carthage served with distinction under the command of Vance Haden along the Federation's Alpha Quadrant Frontier. She served as mediator during the Betreka Nebula Incident, and later in the sporadic border conflicts of the 2340s. Among Haden's senior staff who later found renown were Rachel Garett of the Enterprise-C and Wai-Lin Li of Achilles. Carthage remains in service over half a century after her commissioning and is slated to be upgraded to Medea's configuration by the end of 2385.

Basic Specifications

Builder: Centauri Spaceworks, Salazaar Shipyards

Classification: Cruiser/Survey Cruiser

Hull Configuration: SIF-integrated Duranium/Titanium Truss and Beam

Construction

Complement: 32 Officers, 132 Enlisted/Specialists

Cruising Speed: Warp 5 for 24 Months

Maximum Cruising Speed: Warp 7 for 2 Months

Maximum Rated Speed: Warp 9 for 8 Hours

Mission Endurance: 30 Months

Propulsion Systems

Primary Powerplant: Shuvinaaljis CF-15N Matter-Antimatter Reactor Core

Warp Propulsion: 2x Leeding LN-64N Warp Nacelles Rated at 1,750 Cochranes

Secondary Powerplant: 2x Inertial Containment Fusion Generators

Sublight Propulsion: 1x Dual-IMRF Equipped Impulse Propulsion Drive Rated at 215 Milicochranes

Tactical Systems

Energy Armament: 4x Type-VII Equivalent Phaser Cannon (2x Fore, 2x Aft), 6x Dual Type-VI Equivalent Phaser Banks

Projectile Armament: 4x Mk.6 Photon Torpedo Launchers (2x Fore, 2x Aft)

Deflector Systems: FSS-1 Subspace Graviton Forcefield System

Scientific Equipment

Laboratory Facilities: 2 General Purpose Laboraties, 2 Multi-configuration Specialty Laboratories, Astronavigation Charting Laboratory

Primary Computer Systems: 2 Quadritronic-Duotronic Hybrid Computer Cores

Sensor Capabilities: 20x Mk.VII Primary Standard Sensor Palettes (Active Optical, EM, Gravitic and Subspace Sensors), 1 Ventral Sensor Bay with Long-range Survey Equipment

Auxiliary Craft

Warp Capable Smallcraft: 2 Low-warp Courier Shuttles

Sublight Smallcraft: 8 Shuttlepods/Travel Pods

Emergency Smallcraft: 80 Triple-Occupancy Lifepods, 2 20-person Lifeboats

Smallcraft Facilities: 1 Standard Maintenance Facility

2325 - 2340

The advent of widespread industrial replication in the 2330s dramatically changed the Federation's economy. Widespread displacements occured as the terms of interstellar trade changed substantially in a short period of time. The Federation Commerce Department partnered with Starfleet and the Merchant Marine to assist struggling planetary economies with adoption of replicator economics. Starfleet vessels and SCE teams were instrumental in assisting these endeavors, providing rapid transport and substantial technical knowledge to worlds in need of expertise. Miranda-class variants were at the forefront of this effort, with many hulls being rapidly converted as industrial support ships.

USS Proserpine NCC-21172

Originally completed as a reserve hull in 2318, Proserpine was activated and completed in 2332 to the support transport configuration first tried with USS Lantree (NCC-1837). As a support vessel, Proserpine had a small complement of 52 with substantial cargo room and guest quarters for Commerce Department specialists. Warp and impulse propulsion were tuned primarily for heavy hauling duties, with an emphasis on fuel economy and cruise economy at full weight. Overall mass of the spaceframe was reduced to a mere 500,000 tons, and she contained 80,000 m³ of ccargo space. Approximately half of this space was typically filled with industrial replication equipment for infrastructure construction.

Proserpine was a highly successful support transport, providing industrial conversions and replicator deployment for over two dozen star systems. For Proserpine's later career, consult the later entry.

Basic Specifications

Builder: Salazaar Shipyards

Classification: Support Transport

Hull Configuration: SIF-integrated Duranium/Titanium Truss and Beam Construction

Complement: 8 Officers, 44 Enlisted/Specialists; 40-80 FCD Replicator Integration Economics Specialists

Cruising Speed: Warp 6 for 12 Months

Maximum Cruising Speed: Warp 7 for 2 Months

Maximum Rated Speed: Warp 8.3 for 6 Hours

Mission Endurance: 12 Months

Propulsion Systems

Primary Powerplant: Cochrane Warp Dynamics T4CW-1 Class 4 Transport Matter-Antimatter Reactor Core

Warp Propulsion: 2x LN-64H2 Cargo Hauling Warp Nacelles, Rated at 1,250 Cochranes

Secondary Powerplant: 4x Inertial Containment Fusion Generators

Sublight Propulsion: 2x IMRF Equipped Heavy Duty Impulse Engines, Rated at 350 Milicochranes

Tactical Systems

Energy Armament: 6x Type-V Equivalent Phaser Banks

Projectile Armament: 1x Mk.17 Light Torpedo/Probe Launcher

Deflector Systems: FST-12 Class 3 Graviton Forcefield System

Scientific Equipment

Laboratory Facilities: 1 Industrial Fabrication/Replication Laboratory, 1 Planetary Survey Laboratory

Primary Computer Systems: 2 Quadritronic Subspace Accelerated Computer Cores, Rated at 1,250 Milicochranes

Sensor Capabilities: 20x Mk.VII Primary Standard Sensor Palettes (Active Optical, EM, Gravitic and Subspace Sensors)

Auxiliary Craft

Warp Capable Smallcraft: 2 Low-warp Courier Shuttles

Sublight Smallcraft: 8-16 Cargo Carriers/Work Pods

Emergency Smallcraft: 50 Triple-Occupancy Lifepods, 2 20-person Lifeboats

Smallcraft Facilities: 1 High-Capacity Maintenance Bay with Class II Industrial Replicator

2340 - 2350

The mass activation of reserve hulls in the 2340s resulted in numerous novel variations of Miranda and Excelsior hull configurations. The large number of new and reserve hulls built to smaller designs during this period gave Starfleet ample opportunity to experiment. Most starships during this period had some degree of payload customization, configurations being customized by individual yard engineers to try different combinations of capabilities.

USS Antares NCC-9844

Part of the reserve hull program, Antares was originally built by Salazaar Shipyards in the 2320s before being fitted out for service in 2345. Like the Proserpine in the previous decade, Antares was fitted out to fill a particular niche. The niche in the 2340s was for a picket cruiser capable of serving as either a scout or surveyor on the Alpha Quadrant frontier. She was the first of the Miranda hull designs to be fitted with a modern isolinear computer core, allowing for high capacity sensor and electronic warfare equipment to be installed in lieu of a roll bar.

Compared to the somewhat cramped ships fitted out in the first half of the 2340s, Antares retained the habitability improvements first made on the Carthage generation of Mirandas. Her warp nacelles were changed to the light weight, high speed LN-64SL. Although mission endurance was reduced compared to existing Miranda variants, she proved to be more capable at the advanced picket role. Antares herself remains in service, serving as the picket leader for Starbase 375's attached squadron.

Basic Specifications

Builder: Centauri Space Works, Salazaar Shipyards

Classification: Scout Cruiser

Hull Configuration: SIF-integrated Duranium/Titanium Truss and Beam Construction

Complement: 34 Officers, 112 Enlisted/Specialists

Cruising Speed: Warp 6 for 12 Months

Maximum Cruising Speed: Warp 8 for 2 Weeks

Maximum Rated Speed: Warp 9.1 for 20 Hours

Mission Endurance: 12 Months

Propulsion Systems

Primary Powerplant: Cochrane Warp Dynamics C4C2 Class 4 Matter/Antimatter Reactor Core

Warp Propulsion: 2x Leeding LN-64SL Nacelles Rated at 2,000 Cochranes

Secondary Powerplant: 2x Mk.IX Inertial Confinement Fusion Generators

Sublight Propulsion: 2x IMRF Equipped 250 Milicochrane Impulse Engines

Tactical Systems

Energy Armament: 2x Type VIII Phaser Emitters, 2x Type VII Phaser Arrays with 6 Emitters Each

Projectile Armament: 1x Mk.9 Dual Fire Photon Torpedo Launcher

Deflector Systems: FSS-2 Subspace Graviton Forcefield System

Scientific Equipment

Laboratory Facilities: 6 General Purpose Planetary Research Laboratories, 2x Specialist Survey Laboratories

Primary Computer Systems: 1 Primary Isolinear Subspace Accelerated Computer Core, Rated at 3,150 Milicochranes

Sensor Capabilities: 1x Electronic Warfare Pod (Active High Resolution Full Spectrum Sensors, Subspace Transmission Jammer, High Capacity Subspace Communications Amplifier), 30x Primary Standard Sensor Palettes (Active Optical, EM, Gravitic and Subspace Sensors, Passive Chronometric Sensors)

Auxiliary Craft

Warp Capable Smallcraft: 2 Low-warp Courier Shuttles

Sublight Smallcraft: 8-16 Cargo Carriers/Work Pods

Emergency Smallcraft: 50 Triple-Occupancy Lifepods, 2 20-person Lifeboats

Smallcraft Facilities: 1 High-Capacity Maintenance Bay with Class II Industrial Replicator

2350 - 2370

Miranda class hulls remained in extensive use through the middle decades of the 24th century. As newer more combat focused designs replaced them in frontline roles, more support oriented refits were conducted on existing hulls along with their major refits. In particular the introduction of the Sabre class freed Miranda-class ships from border patrol roles.

USS Saratoga NCC-31191

Famous as one of the combatants lost at Wolf 359, Saratoga is a common example of a Miranda class configuration of the 2350s and 2360s. She is a fully modernized example of the class, fitted with new equipment ranging from isolinear computers to array based phaser prefire chambers. Despite the removal of the torpedo module and phaser emitters normally carried on the roll bar structure, Saratoga had similar tactical capabilities to 2330s vintage Miranda class ships, while substantially expanding her scientific potential.

Saratoga herself was fitted out at Earth Station McKinley in 2352 as the first example of her configuration. The success of the configuration resulted in follow-up orders, including Portia and Nerissa.

Basic Specifications

Builder: Earth Station McKinley

Classification: Light Cruiser/Surveyor

Hull Configuration: SIF-integrated Duranium/Trititanium Truss and Beam Construction

Complement: 22 Officers, 48 Enlisted/Specialists; 10-15 Civilian

Cruising Speed: Warp 6 for 18 Months

Maximum Cruising Speed: Warp 7 for 2 Months

Maximum Rated Speed: Warp 9 for 20 Hours

Mission Endurance: 18 Months

Propulsion Systems

Primary Powerplant: Cochrane Warp Dynamics C5C2 Class 5 Matter/Antimatter Reactor Core

Warp Propulsion: 2x Leeding LN-64FN3 Nacelles Rated at 2,000 Cochranes

Secondary Powerplant: 2x Mk.IX Inertial Confinement Fusion Generators

Sublight Propulsion: 2x IMRF Equipped 250 Milicochrane Impulse Engines

Tactical Systems

Energy Armament: 1x Type IX Phaser Emitter, 2x Type VII Phaser Arrays with 6 Emitters Each

Projectile Armament: 1x Mk.12 Triple Fire Photon Torpedo Launcher

Deflector Systems: FSS-3 Subspace Graviton Forcefield System

Scientific Equipment

Laboratory Facilities: 8 General Purpose Planetary Research Laboratories, 2x Specialist Survey Laboratories

Primary Computer Systems: 1 Primary Isolinear Subspace Accelerated Computer Core, Rated at 3,150 Milicochranes

Sensor Capabilities: 2x Outboard Enhanced Sensor Pods (Active High Resolution Full Spectrum Sensors), 30x Primary Standard Sensor Palettes (Active Optical, EM, Gravitic and Subspace Sensors, Passive Chronometric Sensors)

Auxiliary Craft

Warp Capable Smallcraft: 2x Type 6 Shuttles

Sublight Smallcraft: 8x Type 15A Shuttlepods

Emergency Smallcraft: 40x ASRV, 2x High Capacity Warp-Capable Lifeboats

Smallcraft Facilities: 1 Standard Maintenance Bay with Class 2B Industrial Replicator

USS Proserpine NCC-21172

The extensive refit of Proserpine shows the versatility of trussed frame ships. Previously configured as a support transport, Proserpine was fitted as a cruiser after her 20 year refit in 2352. She was provided a new model of roll bar equipped with a driver-coil equipped impulse engine, 2 dual fire photon torpedo launchers and enhanced targeting suite. Other changes included nacelle coils being replaced to bring her to LN-64FN3 standard, the fitting of more general purpose scientific facitilies, and the installation of phaser arrays in her primary hull.

Under this configuration, Proserpine was assigned to the Federation 9th Fleet. She was present at the McAllistair Nebula Crisis and later participated in the Typhon Sector Battle during the Borg Invasion of 2373. She was later lost in the Federation counter offensive into the Archanis Sector, protecting USS Rutledge from a ramming attempt by a K'tinga class cruiser.

Basic Specifications

Builder: Salazaar Shipyards

Classification: Light Cruiser

Hull Configuration: SIF-integrated Duranium/Titanium Truss and Beam Construction

Complement: 20 Officers, 82 Enlisted/Specialists

Cruising Speed: Warp 6 for 18 Months

Maximum Cruising Speed: Warp 7 for 2 Months

Maximum Rated Speed: Warp 9 for 20 Hours

Mission Endurance: 18 Months

Propulsion Systems

Primary Powerplant: Cochrane Warp Dynamics C5C2 Class 5 Matter/Antimatter Reactor Core

Warp Propulsion: 2x Leeding LN-64FN3 Nacelles Rated at 2,000 Cochranes

Secondary Powerplant: 2x Mk.IX Inertial Confinement Fusion Generators

Sublight Propulsion: 2x IMRF Equipped 250 Milicochrane Impulse Engines, 1 Subspace Driver Coil Equipped Impulse Engine Rated at 450 Milicochranes

Tactical Systems

Energy Armament: 2x Type VIII Phaser Emitters, 2x Type VII Phaser Arrays with 6 Emitters Each

Projectile Armament: 2x Mk.18 Dual Fire Photon Torpedo Launcher

Deflector Systems: FSS-3 Subspace Graviton Forcefield System

Scientific Equipment

Laboratory Facilities: 8 General Purpose Planetary Research Laboratories, 2x Specialist Survey Laboratories

Primary Computer Systems: 1 Primary Isolinear Subspace Accelerated Computer Core, Rated at 3,150 Milicochranes

Sensor Capabilities: 2x Outboard Enhanced Sensor Pods (Active High Resolution Full Spectrum Sensors), 30x Primary Standard Sensor Palettes (Active Optical, EM, Gravitic and Subspace Sensors, Passive Chronometric Sensors)

Auxiliary Craft

Warp Capable Smallcraft: 2x Type 6 Shuttles

Sublight Smallcraft: 8x Type 15A Shuttlepods

Emergency Smallcraft: 40x ASRV, 2x High Capacity Warp-Capable Escape Pods

Smallcraft Facilities: 1 Standard Maintenance Bay with Class 2B Industrial Replicator

2370 - 2380

The mobilization efforts of the late 2360s included experimental upgrades to existing ship designs with technology developed after first contact with the Borg. Many of these upgrades would later be applied to ships during the Dominion War.

USS Samson

Refitted in 2371, Samson was a test-bed to integrate the results of the Defiant, and Intrepid class development technologies to older hull frames. Her roll bar phaser hardpoitns were replaced by pulse phasers originally developed for the Defiant class, while she was refitted with deflector shield generators first employed aboard Intrepid. Computer systems were also up to Intrepid standards, featuring dual isolinear computer cores backed with bioneural circuitry based networks and secondary coprocessors. Overall she was a substantial upgrade that required a 6 month lay-over to complete.

For integration testing she was placed under the command of veteran officer Captain Roger Adrian and conducted war games with the Sovereign class Enterprise undergoing final integration testing of her own. The results of the war games were inconclusive on the upgrade's capabilities, as soon after the games Samson was lost with all hands as a result of Dominion sabotage. As a result of her loss modernization efforts of the remaining Miranda class ships of similar configuration were put on hold, leaving a large number unmodernized at the start of the Dominion War.

Basic Specifications

Builder: ASDB Integration Facilities, Utopia Planitia

Classification: Cruiser

Hull Configuration: SIF-integrated Duranium/Titanium Truss and Beam Construction

Complement: 38 Officers, 182 Enlisted/Specialists

Cruising Speed: Warp 6 for 24 Months

Maximum Cruising Speed: Warp 7 for 3 Months

Maximum Rated Speed: Warp 9.2 for 8 Hours

Mission Endurance: 18 Months

Propulsion Systems

Primary Powerplant: Shuvinaaljis C6S-2 Mod.2 Class 6 Matter-Antimatter Reactor Core

Warp Propulsion: 2x Leeding LN-64FN5 Warp Nacelles, Rated at 2,200 Cochranes

Secondary Powerplant: 2x Three Chamber Impulse Reactor Networks (6 total IRCs)

Sublight Propulsion: 2x Subspace Field Coil Impulse Engines, Rated at 600 Milicochranes

Tactical Systems

Energy Armament: 2x Type VIIP Pulse-Phaser Cannons, 2x Type VII 180 Segment Phaser Arrays

Projectile Armament: 2x Quad-fire Mk.35 Torpedo Launchers

Deflector Systems: FSS-5 Reinforced Subspace Graviton Forcefield System

Scientific Equipment

Laboratory Facilities: 2 General Purpose Laboraties, 1 Multi-configuration Specialty Laboratory, 1 Holographic Experimentation Laboratory

Primary Computer Systems: 1 Primary Isolinear Subspace Accelerated Computer Core, Rated at 3,250 Milicochranes

Sensor Capabilities: 30x Primary Standard Sensor Palettes (Active Optical, EM, Gravitic and Subspace Sensors, Passive Chronometric Sensors), 1 Ventral Sensor Bay with Long-range Survey Equipment

Auxiliary Craft

Warp Capable Smallcraft: 4x Type-6 Shuttles

Sublight Smallcraft: 3x Type 16 Shuttlepods

Emergency Smallcraft: 52x ASRV Escape Pods

Smallcraft Facilities: 1 Primary Maintenance Bay, Equipped with Class 2B Industrial Replicator

2380 - 2385

The aftermath of the Borg Invasion brought the reactivation of first and second generation industrial replication and fabrication facilities. With their limited flexibility, Starfleet chose to procure updated frames to outfit with new technology to bring fleet strength numbers back to pre-invasion levels. The result is a modern generation of older starship designs externally similar, but substantially more capable than their predecessors.

USS Medea NCC-81778

Construction of Medea was authorized on Stardate 60783.2 as part of a 8 ship contract given to the newly established Alonis Prime Space Systems. Medea used frame templates taken from the 2330 revision of the Miranda, combined with tritanium composite materials pioneered on the Merian-class starship. Changes included significant structural strength improvements along the inner saucer hull, allowing a full emitter array for her 180 segment phaser array, and a 4.5% reduction in hull mass. The reduced frame load allowed an additional 3% additional payload volume compared to the baseline Miranda configuration.

The Leeding LN-64AL4 Warp Nacelles, while using the classic cowlings of the LN-64 were internally based on the Merian's LF-51 coils. The V6S-3 class 6 warp core powering the latest Sabre-class starship was optimized for cruiser mission endurance and payloads. A pair of standard Mk. XII fusion reactor networks and two 750 milicochrane field coil based impulse engines round out Medea's propulsion system.

Overall the ship represents a high endurance, medium capability starship suited for extended deployment in Federation territory. Medea and her sister Dido are currently assigned to sector patrol and surveying duties near Starbase 197.

Basic Specifications

Builder: Alonis Prime Space Systems

Classification: Light Cruiser

Hull Configuration: SIF-integrated Tritanium/Ceramic Nanopolymer Truss and Beam Construction

Complement: 16 Officers, 54 Enlisted/Specialists

Cruising Speed: Warp 6 for 30 months

Maximum Cruising Speed: Warp 7 for 2 months

Maximum Rated Speed: Warp 9.4 for 6 hours

Mission Endurance: 30 months

Propulsion Systems

Primary Powerplant: Shuvinaaljis C6S-2A Mod.3 Class 6 Matter-Antimatter Reactor Core

Warp Propulsion: 2x Leeding LN-64AL4 Mod.5 Warp Nacelles, Rated at 2,500 Cochranes

Secondary Powerplant: 2x Three Chamber Impulse Reactor Networks (6 total IRCs)

Sublight Propulsion: 2x Subspace Field Coil Impulse Engines, Rated at 750 Milicochranes

Tactical Systems

Energy Armament: 2x Type VIIP Pulse-Phaser Cannons, 2x Type VII 180 Segment Phaser Arrays

Projectile Armament: 2x Quad-fire Mk.35 Torpedo Launchers

Deflector Systems: FSS-7A Regenerative Subspace Graviton Forcefield System

Scientific Equipment

Laboratory Facilities: 2 General Purpose Laboraties, 1 Multi-configuration Specialty Laboratory, 1 Holographic Experimentation Laboratory

Primary Computer Systems: 1 Primary Isolinear Subspace Accelerated Computer Core, Rated at 3,750 Milicochranes

Sensor Capabilities: 30x Primary Standard Sensor Palettes (Active Optical, EM, Gravitic and Subspace Sensors, Passive Chronometric Sensors), 1 Ventral Sensor Bay with Long-range Survey Equipment

Auxiliary Craft

Warp Capable Smallcraft: 1x Flyer-class Heavy Shuttle, 2x Type-11 Shuttles

Sublight Smallcraft: 4x Type 16 Shuttlepods

Emergency Smallcraft: 38x ASRV Escape Pods

Smallcraft Facilities: 1 Primary Maintenance Bay, Equipped with Class 2B Industrial Replicator

I do not own or even wrote this great article but I was granted permission by the author to post this to my blog for my wonderful readers :) Thanks my friend for allowing me to share your great work c: