Starfleet Design Bureau

[Sayle]

[X] 10 Phaser Banks (Type V) [Damage 32] [100% Coverage] [Cost: 149]

The new phaser banks are installed at the edge of the saucer, where they will be able to provide coverage of the surrounding space. The newer models have higher power draws and an aggressively sharp 'buzzing' noise when they discharge compared to the higher pitch of the current standard, as well as an emission spectrum that leans firmly towards reddish orange. The design is certainly shaping up to have the heaviest punch yet with its phaser complement.

When it comes to torpedoes there haven't been any major innovations for some time, which makes the Mark IV a welcome change. The new torpedo has both a larger antimatter warhead and more efficiently shaped defensive fields that not only deflect fire but also focus the detonation towards the target. The disadvantage is the added expense as the production process is further refined and the larger footprint they demand in terms of mounting space.

Given the logistics involved with the new torpedo casings, not to mention different launcher components even between the rapid and standard tubes, there's no appetite in Command to accommodate two supply chains for what is effectively the same system. As a result your potential payloads are somewhat constrained.

Given the potent all-around coverage of the ship's phasers, your first option is to go light on the torpedoes. Two standard launchers for both fore and aft would provide a quick doubling of firepower every time the tubes cycled, as well as dissuading any chase-engagements from smaller and more maneuverable vessels.

The second option is to implement the new prototypes. The Mark IV needs a much larger launcher and is somewhat more expensive, so a dual launcher package facing forward would give you twice the firepower as standard torpedoes at a higher premium, effectively concentrating the cost of the full standard loadout into just the forward arc. You could then double up for another set pointing aft if you prefer a comprehensive armament.

Finally there are the rapid launchers, with two mounted forward providing a six-torpedo salvo that exceeds even that of the Excalibur-class. While expensive you may consider the sheer firepower to be a benefit. If leaving the rear arc unprotected causes concern, an additional launcher can be installed to fire aft.

[ ] Two Forward, Two Aft (Standard) [12/36 Damage] [Cost: 158]

[ ] Two Forward (Mark IV) [24/72 Damage] [Cost: 159]
[ ] Two Forward, One Aft (Mark IV) [24/72 Damage]/[12/36 Damage] [Cost: 164]
[ ] Two Forward, Two Aft (Mark IV) [24/72 Damage] [Cost: 169]

[ ] Two Forward (Rapid) [36/108 Damage] [Cost: 173]
[ ] Two Forward, One Aft (Rapid) [36/108 Damage]/[18/56 Damage] [Cost: 185]


Two Hour Moratorium, Please

Class	Federation	Miranda
Design Team	Utopia Planitia	San Francisco
Mass	300,000	220,000
Cost	--	80
Single Target Rating	32	27
Multi-Target Rating	32	14
Maneuverability Rating	150kt	134kt
Max Sustained Damage	32	34
Alpha Strike Damage	32	58
Coverage	100%	73%
Engine Power	Very High	High
Hull Rating	64	47
Shield Rating	73	43
Engineering
Science
Efficient Cruise	6.8	6
Maximum Cruise	7.4	7
Maximum Warp	8	7
Operational Range	314	216

 

[Sayle]

[X] Two Forward, Two Aft (Mark IV) [24/72 Damage] [Cost: 169]

With the weapons in place to provide the ship with a solid forward and rear-facing armament, you turn your attention to the internal systems. Before you begin work on the floorplans, however, you need to finalise those systems that would involve any restructuring of the internal spaces. The prime culprit for this is the shuttlebay, which currently consists of only the main landing and shuttle storage area. As you see it you have two options for completing the extravehicular capabilities of the design, both with their merits.

The first option is to add on to what already exists, expanding the landing section of the shuttlebay and increasing the complement of small craft. Shuttles are particularly useful for evacuations, spaceborne evaluation of damage, or travel when transporters are inoperable or impractical. An additional set of shuttles and a pair of workerbees would allow basic damage control and assistance of other starships. If you want to focus the ship more towards a support and emergency response role that exploits its high cruise speed and efficiency, this is the way to go.

The second option is to specialise towards the transport of extra-large cargo such as finished infrastructure or volatiles requiring heavy containment, which as a capability is in short supply in the fleet outside of the slow Archer-class and its bulk transport role. Some shuttle storage will be put aside for a set of cargo bees, a workerbee variant that has a nose-mounted tractor beam. Access to a large cargo bay will be accomplished through a ventral spacedoor, allowing larger containers than possible with purely internal storage spaces.

[ ] Expanded Shuttlebay
[ ] Expanded Cargo Bay

Two Hour Moratorium, Please

 

[Sayle]

[X] Expanded Cargo Bay

The cargo bay is finalised as planned, with the space for two compartments capable of storing extra-large containers and a third bay which can be used either as general storage or to hold a neutronic fuel pod. In addition to providing more space than anything short of a cargo pod, the ship's ability to carry anti-deuterium fuel with only a few days work at a dockyard means it can fully resupply several starships with antimatter. It could be a useful quality for extending range outside of traditional supply routes.

But you're not quite done in the engineering section just yet. There exists a small but nonetheless significant space left between the main deflector and the warp core. As it stands there are two main options. The first is to add extra antimatter storage, which will double the ship's existing range and allow more time out of port before needing to return. Given the large cargo space, this could allow the ship to take onboard a great number of parts and machinery, then spend over a year on the border rendering assistance to the more distant colonies and settlements.

Alternatively the unique capabilities of the deflector dish could be exploited by installing an extra computer core and a set of spectral analysis sensors. By using the gravitational beams and fields emitted by the main deflector, lensing effects could be used to gather data about the incoming light beyond the traditional capability of standard sensors. This ability and its highly efficient warp drive would likely incentivise the ship for mission profiles that bake in a more excursionary course. It would then be able to gather useful data as it passes nearby otherwise uncharted systems or points of interest, while the higher cruise permits it to still arrive at its destination in a timely manner compared to other starships.

[ ] Antimatter Storage (Range: 314ly -> 628ly)
[ ] Spectral Analysis (+2 Science)

Two Hour Moratorium, Please

Deck 1: Bridge
Deck 2: Crew Quarters, Aft Lounge
Deck 3: Main Computer Core Access
Deck 4: Transporter Room One, Sickbay
Deck 5: Impulse Engine Access, Aft Launcher Access
Deck 6: Main Energizer, Photon Magazine, Transporter Room Two, Main Tractor Beam
Deck 7: Deuterium Injector Control, Navigational Array
Deck 8: Forward Launcher Access
Deck 9: Deuterium Storage
Deck 10: Turbolift Maintenance, Engineering Shop, Main Transceiver
Deck 11: Shuttlebay Control
Deck 12: Shuttlebay Cargo, Workshop, Main Engineering
Deck 13: Antimatter Storage
Deck 14: Shuttlebay, Main Deflector
Deck 15: Shuttlebay Tractor Beam, Neutronic Fuel Storage
Deck 16: Main Cargo Bay, Antimatter Injector Control, Deflector Control
Deck 17: Neutronic Transfer Port, Cargo Bay Door Control

 

[Sayle]

[X] Antimatter Storage (Range: 314ly -> 628ly)

While the scanners would be useful, more antimatter is always helpful for a ship that expects to be further from resupply than most of the fleet. With the growing influence of the Federation, Starfleet is having to continually upgrade its standard fuel loads for longer mission times. This addition, at least, means that the design should be capable of comfortably reaching the border from the core for the next half-century. That brings you to the auxiliary systems in the saucer section.

While the generally useful systems will always be available - there's hardly a starship built that won't benefit from a scientific suite with the essentials - you could do with some overarching focus on theme for the more specialised modules. You will still have choices to make down the line within those specialisations in any case, but if you want a survey ship you should be able to exclude extra transporter rooms.

You identify four major areas that have synergy with each other. The first is a collection of systems focused on assisting the frontier and border regions with medical and emergency support, along with the expected transport capacity. The second group is similar, but disposed towards the needs of Starfleet with fabrication of spare parts and repair work aimed to get other starships back up on their feet after damage.

The third set is survey and anything involving the examination of planets and biospheres, whether that be cataloguing the local conditions and species or conducting detailed investigations for valuable materials. The fourth area is pure exploration, where a starship needs to have a detailed view of its surroundings and be able to investigate phenomena unknown to current science.

Available module options will be prioritised based on overall popularity.

[ ] Frontier (Cargo, Evacuation, Medical)
[ ] Support (Cargo, Fabrication, Repair)
[ ] Survey (Geology, Biology, Prospecting)
[ ] Exploration (Pathfinding, Scanners, Analysis)


Two Hour Moratorium, Please



Deck 1: Bridge
Deck 2: Crew Quarters, Aft Lounge
Deck 3: Main Computer Core Access
Deck 4: Transporter Room One, Sickbay
Deck 5: Impulse Engine Access, Aft Launcher Access
Deck 6: Main Energizer, Photon Magazine, Transporter Room Two, Main Tractor Beam
Deck 7: Deuterium Injector Control, Navigational Array
Deck 8: Forward Launcher Access
Deck 9: Deuterium Storage, Antimatter Storage Tank One
Deck 10: Turbolift Maintenance, Engineering Shop, Main Transceiver
Deck 11: Shuttlebay Control
Deck 12: Shuttlebay Cargo, Workshop, Main Engineering
Deck 13: Antimatter Storage, Antimatter Storage Tank Two
Deck 14: Shuttlebay, Main Deflector
Deck 15: Shuttlebay Tractor Beam, Neutronic Fuel Storage
Deck 16: Main Cargo Bay, Antimatter Injector Control, Deflector Control
Deck 17: Neutronic Transfer Port, Cargo Bay Door Control