Remove ads

Starfleet Design Bureau

Linked contents
Starship Design Bureau Starfleet Design Bureau
Reader mode
Firehawk242 said:
Admiral Jordan Macnair of the Star Fleet Command lounged untidly in his chair, a vaguely bemused grin on his face. His exact title beyond "Admiral" was still being worked out, what with Star Fleet finally getting around to coming up with permanent nomenclature and ranks to replace the confused medley that was the inevitable result of combining four different organizations into a unifying whole, but broadly speaking Macnair was responsible for the development and requisition of new ship designs and technologies.

"You are looking even more smug than you usually do," Admiral Naith remarked, settling into her chair with Vulcan precision. Her job title had been settled three months ago as the Chief of Requistions, tasked with unifying the logistical networks of the Federation. They had a genial working relationship, particularly with the deployment of the Cygnus class making her job that much easier.

"Smug? Me?" Macnair replied. "Why, I would never!"

"Just because I do not use sarcasm does not mean I do not understand it," was Naith's clipped answer.

"Fine, fine," he said, waving off her criticism. "The SDB just got their newest design to my desk two days ago. It's... certainly something."

"You intend to advance this design for the consideration of Star Fleet Command."

"They did their job, now it's my turn." He shrugged. "You'll see it in the meeting. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."

Naith's eyes narrowed. "You are a uniquely frustrating human at times."

------

"Next item on the agenda," Admiral Shress Ch'kalnes, the Andorian Chief of Staff of Star Fleet Command said, scrolling up on his dataslate. "A report on the conclusion of Project Copernicus. Admiral Macnair, you have the floor."

"Thank you," Macnair said. "Rather than tell you, I think it would be better if I showed you." A few quick taps and he took control of the holographic projector at the center of the table. "So, I think we can all agree that the NX class has served well, but technological changes mean it hasn't aged well. Three years ago, we approached the SDB to design her replacement. This was Project Copernicus."

He tapped his dataslate again, bringing up a hologram of the Enterprise NX-01. A mere twenty years old, and she was already obsolete. He tapped again, and another ship appeared next to the Enterprise. The two ships were broadly the same size, but where the Enterprise was thin and nearly skeletal in places, this new ship was far more solidly built.

"This is the product of Copernicus," Macnair said. "You will note the novel four nacelle arrangement, which is yielding significant increases in warp factor."

Naith's eyes narrowed in contemplation, but it was Admiral Glog Kheblaw, the Tellarite who currently held the title of Commander, Star Fleet, who spoke. "It looks like a modernized and heavier Enterprise," the most senior field commander of the organization noted.

"In a sense," Macnair agreed. "It saves on weight using a new electro-ceramic hull material, a very promising development. Despite the mass savings, it still outmasses the Thunderchild class."

There was a chorus of startled reactions from the assembled Star Fleet Command. Naith's clipped voice cut through the stunned babble. "And what does this ship use this mass for?"

"Glad you asked," Macnair said, tapping his dataslate again. "Here are the specifications for your consideration."

Admiral Ntoya Wallace, the Commander in Chief of Star Fleet and chairman of the meeting cleared her throat. "Perhaps a recess is in order, both to consider this information, and for refreshments. It is just about time for lunch, I should think."

"Agreed," Naith stated.

------

"So," Macnair said, sidling up to Naith during the recess. "What do you think?"

"It is a remarkable vessel," Naith said, paging through the documentation with one hand and consuming a pastry with a name Macnair couldn't pronounce with the other. It wasn't an alien pastry, Macnair just struggled with French. "And an expensive vessel."

"Can we build it?" he asked.

"Obviously," Naith replied. "You wouldn't be presenting this information if the prototype wasn't nearing completion."

Macnair rolled his eyes. "That's not what I meant. You know better than anyone else what the Federation's supply lines look like right now. Can we build this?"

Naith considered for nearly three minutes, the silence only broken by the occasional tap on her dataslate and the sound of her chewing at the pastry. "Yes."

Macnair blinked in surprise. "No qualifiers you'd like to attach to that? No demands for it to be stripped back?"

"No," she said. "Were this Vulcan, or Andoria, or Tellar Prime, I would say this ship is impractical and infeasible. But this is Earth. Were I consulted, I would have described the Enterprise as impractical and infeasible, considering Earth's capabilities at the time. I would have considered the Thunderchild equally impractical and infeasible. And for the other members of the Federation, they would have been. But the factors that prevail elsewhere clearly do not apply to Earth. You seem capable of, to borrow a phrase from your people, doing anything you choose to set your mind to. And you are quite capable of setting your collective mind to tasks."

"So you're saying we can afford it, but no one else could pull together the will to make it real?" Macnair said. "Good. Then she's following in the Enterprise's footsteps."

"Indeed." Admiral Naith finished off the last bite of her pastry. "Project Copernicus has my approval, pending final space trials. And I now understand your earlier smugness."

"What? Me? Smug?" Macnair said, putting a hand to his chest. "I would never."

"Your sarcasm is noted. I recommend refraining from using it when you argue Project Copernicus's case in front of the others."
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

This was fantastic!~ I hope it gets put into Sidestory.
 
NexusEye said:
Technically speaking there is no such thing as the Enterprise class, she was the lead ship of the NX-class but the name of that class is NX, not Enterprise.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
In my heart that's the Enterprise-class. Enterprise was the lead ship, and we actually built enough of them to qualify as a proper class of vessels rather than two experimental prototypes/testbeds.
 
Sayle said:
Checking the actual diagram tells me the Thunderchild should be 33 meters high. Dunno why it's 72 written down. I'll fix it on the comparison chart.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
@Sayle while you are at it, the beam of the Curiosity class also seems wrong because it is listed at 182 meters, the same as its length. The ship is clearly not square and it shares a saucer diameter with the Cygnus, which is listed at only 102 meters beam.
 
Sayle said:
Current Technology
Component
Tritanium Hull
Type-1 Thruster
Warp 7 Engine
Type-2 Deflector
Type 2 Warp Coils
Antimatter Pod
Optical Computer
Type-1 Shield Emitter
Type-1 Phaser
Photonic Torpedoes
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
So this was our techbase at the beginning of Project Copernicus. In total, our gains from prototyping a bunch of new technologies include:
  • Electro-Ceramic Hull (-20% Mass, +Defence)
  • Parallel Nacelle Configuration (Not tracked in list?)
  • Type-2 Thruster
  • Photon Torpedoes
A pretty good haul, I'd say.
 
[X] UFS Copernicus, named for astronomers and astrophysicists

One dollar/credit under budget is still technically under budget!
 
Yeah, I think we cracked the Parallel Nacelle bit, between the new hull material and having a test with the Copernicus. Which is nice, because +.2 Sprint and Cruise is better on average IMO.

Still, this ship is going to be a beast, I can't wait to see the Retrospective on it.
 
Joyful_Overkill said:
With the monster we designed, I am sure there will be acusations of Gunboat diplomacy any day now.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
From who?

Seriously, who's nearby that would care?

The Romulans? They don't have a leg to stand on, diplomacy isn't their strong point, and they're busy licking their wounds.

The Klingons? That's their favorite kind of diplomacy!

The Tholians? They're just weird, and unlikely to care.

The Gorns? Okay, maybe.

The Kzinti? Same boat as the Klingons.

The Organians theoretically care, but there's not a whole lot we can do about that.
 
Warp 5 cruise, Warp 7 sprint, with more offensive throw-weight than the combat punch of a Thunderchild-class dreadnought, an entirely new class of defensive protection, and more Science than anything else currently serving in Starfleet.
Smaller in dimensions than a Thunderchild, but significantly heavier.

For a benchmark comparison, at Warp 5 cruise, Project Copernicus has higher normal cruise than the warp factor of an NX-class or Thunderchild-class at maximum warp sprint, and more than twice the range of an NX-class.
Hell, its maximum warp sprint of Warp 7 is higher than the Warp 6 maximum of the Romulan Advanced Bird of Prey.

Not bad, not bad.
A little surprised that the Secondary computer core didnt have any synergy with Fabrication, but I'll take what we can get.
====
Sayle said:
In concordance with the findings of this review and in consultation with Starfleet Command, Supervisor San Francisco authorises one (1) production run of five vessels, further orders to be reviewed after a performance analysis in five years.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Thats 1 prototype and an initial run of 5 vessels, for a total of 6 ships.
Brisk build tempo at that, which gives some idea of Starfleet's internal mood.
Assuming the standard 1:1:1 deployment ratio of RL navies, in five years Starfleet will have
  • 2x Project Copernicus explorers deployed beyond the Federation's borders on exploration missions,
  • 2x explorers inside Federation space conducting working up, training and lowrisk missions
  • 2x explorers in dock undergoing maintenance/extended shore leave


VOTE
[X] UFS Sagarmāthā
[X] UFS Copernicus, named for astronomers and astrophysicists.


Either of these works for me.
 
Last edited:
Firehawk242 said:
Admiral Jordan Macnair of the Star Fleet Command lounged untidly in his chair, a vaguely bemused grin on his face. His exact title beyond "Admiral" was still being worked out, what with Star Fleet finally getting around to coming up with permanent nomenclature and ranks to replace the confused medley that was the inevitable result of combining four different organizations into a unifying whole, but broadly speaking Macnair was responsible for the development and requisition of new ship designs and technologies.

"You are looking even more smug than you usually do," Admiral Naith remarked, settling into her chair with Vulcan precision. Her job title had been settled three months ago as the Chief of Requistions, tasked with unifying the logistical networks of the Federation. They had a genial working relationship, particularly with the deployment of the Cygnus class making her job that much easier.

"Smug? Me?" Macnair replied. "Why, I would never!"

"Just because I do not use sarcasm does not mean I do not understand it," was Naith's clipped answer.

"Fine, fine," he said, waving off her criticism. "The SDB just got their newest design to my desk two days ago. It's... certainly something."

"You intend to advance this design for the consideration of Star Fleet Command."

"They did their job, now it's my turn." He shrugged. "You'll see it in the meeting. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."

Naith's eyes narrowed. "You are a uniquely frustrating human at times."

------

"Next item on the agenda," Admiral Shress Ch'kalnes, the Andorian Chief of Staff of Star Fleet Command said, scrolling up on his dataslate. "A report on the conclusion of Project Copernicus. Admiral Macnair, you have the floor."

"Thank you," Macnair said. "Rather than tell you, I think it would be better if I showed you." A few quick taps and he took control of the holographic projector at the center of the table. "So, I think we can all agree that the NX class has served well, but technological changes mean it hasn't aged well. Three years ago, we approached the SDB to design her replacement. This was Project Copernicus."

He tapped his dataslate again, bringing up a hologram of the Enterprise NX-01. A mere twenty years old, and she was already obsolete. He tapped again, and another ship appeared next to the Enterprise. The two ships were broadly the same size, but where the Enterprise was thin and nearly skeletal in places, this new ship was far more solidly built.

"This is the product of Copernicus," Macnair said. "You will note the novel four nacelle arrangement, which is yielding significant increases in warp factor."

Naith's eyes narrowed in contemplation, but it was Admiral Glog Kheblaw, the Tellarite who currently held the title of Commander, Star Fleet, who spoke. "It looks like a modernized and heavier Enterprise," the most senior field commander of the organization noted.

"In a sense," Macnair agreed. "It saves on weight using a new electro-ceramic hull material, a very promising development. Despite the mass savings, it still outmasses the Thunderchild class."

There was a chorus of startled reactions from the assembled Star Fleet Command. Naith's clipped voice cut through the stunned babble. "And what does this ship use this mass for?"

"Glad you asked," Macnair said, tapping his dataslate again. "Here are the specifications for your consideration."

Admiral Ntoya Wallace, the Commander in Chief of Star Fleet and chairman of the meeting cleared her throat. "Perhaps a recess is in order, both to consider this information, and for refreshments. It is just about time for lunch, I should think."

"Agreed," Naith stated.

------

"So," Macnair said, sidling up to Naith during the recess. "What do you think?"

"It is a remarkable vessel," Naith said, paging through the documentation with one hand and consuming a pastry with a name Macnair couldn't pronounce with the other. It wasn't an alien pastry, Macnair just struggled with French. "And an expensive vessel."

"Can we build it?" he asked.

"Obviously," Naith replied. "You wouldn't be presenting this information if the prototype wasn't nearing completion."

Macnair rolled his eyes. "That's not what I meant. You know better than anyone else what the Federation's supply lines look like right now. Can we build this?"

Naith considered for nearly three minutes, the silence only broken by the occasional tap on her dataslate and the sound of her chewing at the pastry. "Yes."

Macnair blinked in surprise. "No qualifiers you'd like to attach to that? No demands for it to be stripped back?"

"No," she said. "Were this Vulcan, or Andoria, or Tellar Prime, I would say this ship is impractical and infeasible. But this is Earth. Were I consulted, I would have described the Enterprise as impractical and infeasible, considering Earth's capabilities at the time. I would have considered the Thunderchild equally impractical and infeasible. And for the other members of the Federation, they would have been. But the factors that prevail elsewhere clearly do not apply to Earth. You seem capable of, to borrow a phrase from your people, doing anything you choose to set your mind to. And you are quite capable of setting your collective mind to tasks."

"So you're saying we can afford it, but no one else could pull together the will to make it real?" Macnair said. "Good. Then she's following in the Enterprise's footsteps."

"Indeed." Admiral Naith finished off the last bite of her pastry. "Project Copernicus has my approval, pending final space trials. And I now understand your earlier smugness."

"What? Me? Smug?" Macnair said, putting a hand to his chest. "I would never."

"Your sarcasm is noted. I recommend refraining from using it when you argue Project Copernicus's case in front of the others."
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Macnair and Naith professionally executed a sketch of a kid asking mom if he can get a pricey new toy. Bravo! The Federation certainly has done wonders for the entertainment industry. :V
 
NexusEye said:
Technically speaking there is no such thing as the Enterprise class, she was the lead ship of the NX-class but the name of that class is NX, not Enterprise.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Er, no. It is the Enterprise-class. Class names are based on the lead ship of the class. NX was the name of the project. Calling it the "NX-class" breaks the mold of literally every other class we've designed without any explanation given as to why.

It's the Enterprise-class.
 
SaltyWaffles said:
Er, no. It is the Enterprise-class. Class names are based on the lead ship of the class. NX was the name of the project. Calling it the "NX-class" breaks the mold of literally every other class we've designed without any explanation given as to why.

It's the Enterprise-class.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
That's how it's recorded in the stats, and how it's been described throughout the quest, sooo...
Sayle said:
NX-class Explorer [2151]
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
 
SaltyWaffles said:
Er, no. It is the Enterprise-class. Class names are based on the lead ship of the class. NX was the name of the project. Calling it the "NX-class" breaks the mold of literally every other class we've designed without any explanation given as to why.

It's the Enterprise-class.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
The wiki disagrees.
And so does the quest.
Sayle said:
NX-class
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Sayle said:
NX-class
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Sayle said:
NX-class
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Sayle said:
NX class
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Sayle said:
NX-class
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

I could go on but there are literally dozens of mentions of the NX-class and I don't want to bloat the post. The closest thing to an Enterprise class that I could find on Memory Alpha was a single page talking about a simulator. Could you please cite your source that makes you think the NX-class is called the Enterprise class?
 
Reader mode
You must login or register to reply here.
Remove ads
Back
Top