Shields are probably very important. They let you survive random nonsense long enough to flee (reducing the need to be super agile, too)... Well, they reduce how often this doesn't work, at least. Or they can be used to get closer to otherwise hazardous things. And we want to prototype them anyway.
After a close debate, the full saucer design wins out for its potential scientific capabilities. The overall shape of the ship quickly develops, with a saucer diameter of around eighty percent that of the NX but a deeper profile. The midsection has been expanded to provide ready space for the deflector if needed but also to maximise interior availability away from the skin of the outer hull. It's a more stocky design than you are accustomed to creating, but the hope is that advancements in technology will allow you the leeway for a less streamlined warp bubble so you can make more effective use of the internals.
The deflector itself is the next step, and unlike the Skate there's no way you'll manage to install a smaller variant. The question here is where to put it. The first option is to put it in the front of the saucer section, allowing you to install an inline secondary hull - or even no secondary hull at all, depending on how experimental you feel with the nacelle layout. The second option is to use an underslung deflector in the same vein as the NX class, with a visually distinct engineering section. Alternatively a lower blister of the kind that was used in the Skate would preserve the existing internal space at the cost of higher mass, something of a compromise option between the inline deflector and the dedicated engineering section.
I imagine a blister deflector would still allow us to mount an inline secondary hull if so desired. Knowing that this is a scientifically minded ship, the focus shouldn't be on engineering, but I do think it does warrant some space on the vessel beyond simply keeping it running for other scientific endeavors beyond the theoretical.
Edit: To further expand my reasoning here, the sensors may need tuning to other specifications that the scientists on board dictate, the ship may need to fabricate temporary replacements for burned-out equipment or sensors, or find use as material experiments for any safe matter brought on board might be more easily conducted within them. Granted, that last one might just fall under the purview of labs, but having an engineering section on board might make such a task easier.
The first option is to put it in the front of the saucer section, allowing you to install an inline secondary hull - or even no secondary hull at all, depending on how experimental you feel with the nacelle layout.
I feel that the engineering section would serve us well in both being able to manufacture and repair the tools and equipment used by the science section, it will also act as a buffer for anything that might happen near anomalies (Which this being Star Trek is liable to be an absolute menagerie of weird and wacky things)
The cheapest option is the Inline deflector, it eats some internal space but the full-saucer already gives a lot.
I'm in favor of that, or maybe the blister. We don't need to build this out into a full Explorer.
I feel that the engineering section would serve us well in both being able to manufacture and repair the tools and equipment used by the science section, it will also act as a buffer for anything that might happen near anomalies (Which this being Star Trek is liable to be an absolute menagerie of weird and wacky things)
The cheapest option is the Inline deflector, it eats some internal space but the full-saucer already gives a lot.
I'm in favor of that, or maybe the blister. We don't need to build this out into a full Explorer.
The problem with the Inline is that it takes internal space, and that was the whole benefit of taking Full Saucer. I do believe Blister is the best choice here.
This seems like the best option to me. I want to save internal space for lab and sensors.
I'm also fine with inline but I really don't want to do a secondary hull.
I think if the thread is going to vote to add a bigger cargo bay (in exchange for something else) then we should add a full Engineering Section, but I don't think this ship needs a big cargo bay. I want to make the utility cruiser next which will have the big cargo bay and a good set of weapons and maneuverability. I want to show some restraint by letting this ship focus on science and medicine and we have enough room for that with just a blister deflector.
