Starfleet Design Bureau

[Sayle]

[X] 1: Engineering Workshop (+2 Engineering, Capability: Fabrication Suite)
[X] 2: Biological-Rated Transporter Room (Capability: Transporters)
[X] 3: Large Cargo Bay (+1 Engineering, Capability: +3 Cargo)

Engineering: 5 (Shuttles, Transporter, Fabrication Suite, Cargo)
Science: 2


Khufu Mission Certification

The Khufu design specification is for a utility cruiser capable of internal policing, cargo transport, and general duties in the Federation interior. As part of the New Economy Transition Plan of 2164, the prototype budget was limited to 2.2 million Terran Credits, equivalent to 2.2 million Federation Credits, with an industrial footprint of 20% United Earth's annual capacity.

It is the judgement of this report that the Khufu (NX-800) meets these requirements under-budget. Details follow.

The Khufu has a short operational range at an efficient cruise of Warp 5.2 and maximum cruise of Warp 6. This translates to an operational range of sixty light years from the nearest refuelling station. The Khufu is capable of a maximum velocity of Warp 6.8 for twelve hours.

The Khufu is equipped with a Type-1 shield matrix, four Type-1 phaser emitters, and two forward photonic torpedo launchers. The design lacks weapon arcs firing aft. This is compensated by three Type-1 impulse thrusters each capable of outputting one hundred kilotons of standard acceleration for above-average maneuverability.

The Khufu is serviced by a twelve-meter optical computer stack. It is also equipped with a standard medical and diagnostics bay with beds for eight.

The Khufu has an aft-opening shuttlebay with a standard complement of four shuttlepods (2 active, 2 disassembled). This is supplemented by a biological-rated transporter system for the rapid deployment of personnel and supplies. Cargo is stored in the forward bow section on deck 5, with room for three hundred standard containers. On-site fabrication and assembly is provided by a workshop and prototyping section on deck 13.

In concordance with the findings of this review and in consultation with Starfleet Command, Supervisor San Francisco authorises one (1) production run of ten vessels, further orders to be reviewed after a performance analysis in five years.

Khufu prototype is authorised and reclassified for deployment under registry number NCC-800, pending commissioning.


[ ] 0: United Starship (USS)
[ ] 0: Federation Starship (FSS)
[ ] 0: United Federation Starship (UFS)
[ ] 0: United Federation of Planets Starship (UFPS)

[ ] 1: Khufu
[ ] 1: Cygnet
[ ] 1: Assistor
[ ] 1: Other

 

[Sayle]

[X] 0: United Federation Starship (UFS)
[X] 1: Cygnus

Ships that Built the Federation, 2320
The Cygnus-class

2167 was an important year for the Federation for more reasons than one. Benzar had become the first non-affiliated civilization to express interest in joining the Federation, and was beginning the accession process. The Federation Starfleet was formally established with its headquarters in San Francisco, the nucleus of a defense and exploratory force that would slowly eclipse the member fleets in prestige and power. Then the very first Federation Starship was launched: the UFS Cygnus, NCC-800.

The Cygnus was not what one would expect from such a groundbreaking ship, possessing neither powerful weaponry or advanced scientific facilities. Instead it was an intensely practical design, focused entirely on supporting the internal structure and outward expansion of the Federation. Over the next two decades, Starfleet would commission twenty eight starships of the Cygnus-class, practically all of which never set foot outside Federation-claimed space. But what they accomplished was nonetheless transformative.

The first task of the Cygnus was to completely expunge piracy from Federation territory, a task that had essentially been completed along the main trade lanes by the increased presence of the Andorian and Vulcan member fleets, both now willing to draw down longterm military deployments and redistribute them to constructive ends. But this did not account for the long-standing Naussican and Orion presences near the outer colonies, which were often subject to protection rackets and exploitation of the raw materials they produced. These were not the profit-focused and criminal enterprises of the Orion Syndicate that would necessarily come to characterise piracy in the 23rd century against the proactive response of Starfleet, and precisely because of this opportunistic and squatting lifestyle they proved unable to mount a real resistance.

Over the next five years, the first four vessels of the Cygnus-class apprehended over a dozen criminal gangs while simultaneously providing much needed resupplies and technical expertise to the colonies. On Arcadia III, the UFS Peregrine averted an impending famine with a shipment of climate-adapted seeds that prevented mass starvation. When an industrial accident caused a major delta radiation leak on Delta Pavonis IV, the UFS Osprey was able to divert from a nearby patrol and arrived ten days later to conduct emergency repairs. Most impressively, the UFS Kingfisher rescued the Benzite colony on Loracus II from a pirate group extorting medical supplies and valuable materials from the Benzite government with a neutron bomb by disabling their ship and then audaciously beaming the bomb aboard and back out into space. The Kingfisher was exposed to the detonation at close range with its shields still down, inflicting no casualties but requiring a complete decontamination at Benzar Prime. The memorial to the ship and the bravery of the crew still stands in the central annex of the Loracus capitol building.

By 2220 more aggressive policing actions had passed to more modern and heavily-armed starships, but the Cygnus-class remained the first responder to many domestic crises and reports of hostile incursions thanks to its ubiquity in the Federation interior. The final vessel of the class was decommissioned in 2252, of which regrettably none now survive in their original launch conditions. However the UFS Goshawk became a cargo ship in civilian service and was converted in 2294 into a ground-based museum of spaceflight on the outskirts of Tycho City on Luna, during which the bridge and main engineering were restored and can be viewed in their original context.



Cygnus-class Utility Cruiser [2167]
Single Target Rating: 8
Multi-Target Rating: 3
-Average Damage: 4.6
-Max Sustained Damage: 10.5
-Alpha Strike Damage: 23
-Coverage: 75%
-Maneuverability: Medium
Defense Rating: 32
Engineering: 5 (Shuttles, Transporter, Fabrication, Cargo)
Science: 2
Warp (Efficient Cruise): 5.2 (140.6c)
Warp (Maximum Cruise): 6 (216c)
Warp (Maximum Warp): 6.8 (314.4c)
Industrial Cost: 20 (Civilian) + 23 (Starfleet)

 

[Sayle]

With an internal science ship and an internal utility ship completed in the last decade, there's one significant element missing from the newly established Federation Starfleet: explorers. Those are the ships designed with romantic notions to cross the boundaries of known space and see what's out there, uncovering new scientific wonders and making contact with new civilizations. Furthermore, now that resources and ideas are beginning to flow freely between the five Federation member worlds (Earth, Vulcan, Tellar, Andoria, and Denobula), the earlier restrictions that the bureau operated under have been rescinded. Resource limitations still exist, but how much you use will impact the reception and build orders of the design you output, not the design itself.

With that in mind, you will be graded on six metrics: costs incurred by Starfleet to the civilian sector, infrastructural capacity required from the fleetyards, tactical analysis for both single and multiple-target engagements, engineering capabilities, and scientific facilities. In these you will be graded from "D-", representing the lowest possible result, to "A" at the highest. The scores of A+ and S are reserved for breakthroughs in capability thanks to prototype technology or unforeseen design synergies, with a score of "C+" representing an average result. These scores are relative: the Thunderchild-class would always be considered an A in tactical, even if its absolute ratings become less relevant over time.

It's time to go to work on the next flagship of Starfleet, one you hope will live up to the importance of the NX-class in those early years for United Earth. The first decision to make for Project Copernicus is the main saucer, and not simply one of scale. There is currently debate as to whether the saucer section should remain the primary center of a starship's operational capabilities, or if it should be kept largely clear for crew habitation and auxiliary functions. These proponents advocate instead that most critical functions should be moved entirely to the secondary hull to a greater extent than they were on the Cygnus-class, centralising practically all engineering and utility functions there. Smaller saucer, larger engineering hull.

Whether that idea will carry the day or not is another question, and not the only one you have to grapple with. The increasing mass of starships in relation to engine power has become something of a concern, and while there are thruster improvements in the pipeline you might be able to exploit, that certainly isn't the only place that you can find performance increases. If the ship is lighter, for example, the engines won't have to work so hard. There is a promising but unproven electro-ceramic composite that could cut mass by as much as 20% if it was used on the project, though it would carry some risks in implementation. Or there is ditanium, a less complex and durable alloy than tritanium used in the early 2140s as a primary hull material. But with shield technology now protecting the skin of the ship from direct damage rather than polarised hull plating it may be due a resurgence for its mass advantages.

Hull Shape	Mass	Diameter (Meters)	Torpedo Slots	Phaser Slots	Phasers Required	Engine Slots
Large Saucer	380,000	140	4	10	6	3
Small Saucer	200,000	100	2	6	2	2

[ ] 0: Large Saucer (380,000 Tons)
[ ] 0: Small Saucer (200,000 Tons)

[ ] 1: Ditanium Hull Plating (-20% Mass) (-20% Defensive Rating)
[ ] 1: Electro-Ceramic Hull Composite (-20% Mass) [Experimental] (Two Success Checks: Cost/Defense)
[ ] 1: Tritanium Alloy Hull Plating (Standard)

Two Hour Moratorium, Please

 

[Sayle]

[X] 0: Large Saucer (380,000 Tons)
[X] 1: Electro-Ceramic Hull Composite (-20% Mass) [Experimental] (Two Success Checks: Cost/Defense)

The electro-ceramic hull composite is a gamble, especially for a project of this scale. But the transition from small-scale to large-scale manufacturing can be difficult, but you soon hear that it is now being produced en masse with no impediments to an economy of scale with the new material. Some of the fabrication processes were touch-and-go for a while, but experience and some gentle tweaks to the sequencing has ironed out the remaining barriers in time for a full run of production for the hull plating of the Copernicus. It's more expensive than the standard tritanium alloy mix that has been used for decades, but not exorbitantly. You are also pleased to find that the electro-part of the electro-ceramic is proving quite amenable to the high energies involved in modern structural integrity fields. Not quite as durable as the old polarised armor, but this isn't supported by polarisation relays all over the ship. All told you're quite happy with the new hull material, and expect it will become standard in future barring any unforeseen issues.

(Electro-Ceramic Hull Composites match expected production costs and provide increased hull strength compared to predictions.)

The saucer itself isn't the largest ever built by diameter, but certainly is by mass. The new plating gives it a rather bright and austere look that provides quite the contrast against its predecessors, while the trio of phasers near the bridge provides all-round protection, with two more optional hardpoints for each surface to further support the side and forward arcs. The interior is quite spacious and you feel confident that it will be able to support plenty auxiliary systems of a decent size.

Next is the secondary hull. The first option is to create an inline hull, which will keep the ship sleek and low-profile. It will also eliminate one of the main engine hardpoints in doing so, but minimize the mass additions overall. The main deflector will have to be moved to a forward blister, but otherwise the design should be quite straightforward. You can even add a shuttlebay.

The second option is to follow in the footsteps of the Cygnus and add a ventral engineering hull connected by a neck. This would allow you to install the deflector there rather than building out the bow of the ship, as well as place the warp engine as close as possible to the nacelle struts. It would add a substantial amount of mass, however, even if it is less than anticipated thanks to the new hull material. The first proposals are very much in the vein of the Cygnus, with similarly sized sections, but the largest option is a full deck deeper with more auxiliary space. Fortunately no matter what you choose, it is now standard practice to carve out at least enough space for another antimatter pod for a standard operating range of one year, though further expansion will need to spend auxiliary space.

[ ] Inline Secondary Hull
[ ] Inline Secondary Hull (Long)
[ ] Ventral Secondary Hull
[ ] Ventral Secondary Hull (Long)
[ ] Ventral Secondary Hull (Engineering Section)

Secondary Hull	Length	Decks	Base Mass	Auxiliary Slots	Phaser Slots	Advantages
Inline	40 Meters	4	50,000	1	2	Low Mass
Inline Long	60 Meters	4	75,000	1	2	Inbuilt Shuttlebay
Ventral	50 Meters	4	80,000	1	2	Inbuilt Shuttlebay
Ventral Long	70 Meters	4	100,000	1	3	Inbuilt Shuttlebay
Ventral Engineering	70 Meters	5	120,000	2	4	Inbuilt Shuttlebay

Two Hour Moratorium, Please.

 

[Sayle]

[X] Ventral Secondary Hull (Engineering Section)

The large secondary hull is still dwarfed by the main saucer, but it's still the largest you've ever constructed. Five decks of space, the front dominated by the main deflector. Many of the highest-mass and most vital systems on the ship will be mounted here, including options for extra phaser hardpoints. In this case you have made the decision to keep the engineering section closer to the main hull, keeping the ship more compact and streamlined than the gangly-looking Cygnus. It should help offset the mass increases that would be needed by larger nacelles.

But that brings you to the nacelles. This is the largest ship ever produced by human hands, though still dwarfed by the Vulcan explorator ships. But where those are fast and hyper-specialised, you aim to accomplish similar velocities and capabilities in a much cheaper package. Part of that involves ditching the circular warp coil assemblies for linear subspace emitters, which trade off field stability for greater performance and vulnerability to damage at a cheaper cost.

But here two nacelles are only one of the options. Be it in a cruise or sprint configuration, the warp coils are going to struggle to match the field densities of smaller starships. This can be compensated for by doubling up on the nacelles, mounting two on each pylon in a twinned configuration. This would allow them to work in tandem, strengthening the field and providing matching or even superior performance to standard nacelles. The greater subspace warp would also allow another crack at the parallel configuration to boost both cruise and sprint speeds simultaneously.

[ ] Dual Nacelles Cruise (+0.2 Cruise)
[ ] Dual Nacelles Sprint (+0.2 Sprint)
[ ] Quad Nacelles Cruise (+0.4 Cruise) [Prototype] [One Success Roll: Performance] (+Cost)
[ ] Quad Nacelles Sprint (+0.4 Sprint) [Prototype] [One Success Roll: Performance] (+Cost)
[ ] Quad Nacelles Parallel (+0.2 All) [Prototype] [One Success Roll: Performance] (+Cost)



Current Ratings
Cost: C-
Infrastructure: C

Two Hour Moratorium, Please.

 

[Sayle]

[X] Quad Nacelles Parallel (+0.2 All) [Prototype] [One Success Roll: Performance]

You spend some time weighing up the advantages and disadvantages, eventually deciding on the quad nacelles. But this presents a problem for the nacelle struts, which are always a source of nervousness when they start to get too long. Angling them from the secondary hull up to the midpoint between the twin nacelle mounts represents a worrisome flex problem in the event of high-kinetic weather like particle storms or upper-atmosphere operations. Ideally the Copernicus would never encounter those scenarios, but starships do, and that's the kind of scenario you can imagine. You have to proof against what you can't imagine if at all possible.

Eventually a compromise is reached. Adding a warp field regulator between the two nacelle pairs will help even out the subspace bubble and stabilise any anomalies or differences in power flow. At the same time you can take advantage of the elevated assembly above the engineering hull to run straight and reinforced nacelle mounts. As an added bonus, you might be able to fit an aft launcher in with the regulator, too. At this point the ship weighs nearly four hundred and fifty thousand tons, and while she is theoretically capable of warp speeds that's only half the equation. She needs sublight engines.

To reach the minimum thrust and acceleration factors required, you'll need a minimum of three Type-1 engines. Given that you can only mount a maximum of three engines, that's somewhat alarming. While this would be sufficient, you are aware of new impulse engines designs that promise higher efficiencies and thrust than current designs. You are able to get in touch with the main designers at Avidyne, who caution that the assembly is yet untested. Nonetheless, the Type-2 should have a 50% increase in thrust over the Type-1, albeit at greater expense. That could give the Copernicus some much-needed manoeuvrability, although she'll never be able to dance. But then again, does she need to be particularly agile when you will be able to mount enough phasers to cover every firing arc? Maybe sticking to the safe option would be better.

[ ] 3 Type-1 Thrusters (Maneuverability: Low)
[ ] 3 Type-2 Thrusters (Maneuverability: Medium) [Experimental] [Two Success Rolls: Cost/Performance] (+Cost)



Two Hour Moratorium, Please

 

[Sayle]

[X] 3 Type-2 Thrusters (Maneuverability: Medium) [Experimental] [Two Success Rolls: Cost/Performance]

The new thrusters are installed without much ceremony beside furrowed brows from the supervisors. It's quite a complex operation, but eventually all the supports and braces are in place to support a full burn from the sublight drives without risking buckling the spaceframe. The saucer section has gained a deuterium-fusion impulse reactor which feeds two thruster assemblies either side of the secondary hull at half-strength each, while two lighter but nonetheless full-power assemblies on the nacelle struts siphon their activation energies from the warp plasma itself and have done away with much of the usual engine mass. The cost has been as projected, but unfortunately the thrust tests have shown an almost ten percent shortfall in expected output. Strictly speaking the Type-1s remain a slightly better performance to cost proposition, but your main limitations are structural rather than financial so it may be worth sticking to the Type-2s and hoping for refinements rather than ditching it.

That brings you to tactical systems. As you see it there are three major decisions to make, each relating to a different part of the ship. First is the main saucer, which is currently equipped with six Type-1 phaser emitters capable of covering all major firing arcs. Presently they have a strong presence to aft, but the forward arcs only have two emitters to cover them. Adding another two emplacements to bring the total to ten would further reinforce port and starboard, while also allowing three emitters to fire forward for each arc at the bow rather than just one.

Second is the torpedo systems. While the Copernicus has space for four forward photonic torpedo tubes and two aft at the warp regulator, an alternative to the standard payload is currently being developed. The photon torpedo intends to further enhance the standard payload with a larger antimatter charge and counter-defense systems. However this would require much more internal space for the extra preparation and launch systems, and you will at most be able to mount two forward torpedoes and one aft with the tighter space constraints. The technology is also yet to be proven, and you can't be sure it will live up to the hype.

Last are the phasers on the engineering section, with mounting points available along the ventral and dorsal surfaces. The two ventral hardpoints would provide extra firepower both forward and aft in the ventral plane, while the two hardpoints above the shuttlebay would add extra security aft in the dorsal plane. Given that every extra phaser and all the attendant power conduits and sophisticated technology increases the infrastructure needed to devote to the ship, you should probably consider carefully if you really want to push the ship to its maximal capabilities in exchange for a high cost.


[ ] 0: Six Saucer Type-1 Phasers (Standard) [Avg Damage: 5]
[ ] 0: Ten Saucer Type-1 Phasers (Infra++) [Avg Damage: 9]

Photon Launchers [Prototype] [One Success Roll: Damage]

[ ] 1: No Forward Torpedoes
[ ] 1: Two Forward Photonic Launchers (Infra+) [Avg Damage: 0.6] [Alpha Strike: 15]
[ ] 1: Four Forward Photonic Launchers (Infra++) [Avg Damage: 1.25] [Alpha Strike: 30]
[ ] 1: Two Forward Photon Launchers (Infra++) [Avg Damage: 1.5] [Alpha Strike: 36]

[ ] 2: No Aft Torpedoes
[ ] 2: Two Aft Photonic Launchers (Infra+) [Avg Damage: 0.6] [Alpha Strike: 15]
[ ] 2: One Aft Photon Launcher (Infra+) [Avg Damage: 0.75] [Alpha Strike: 18]

[ ] 3: No Engineering Section Phasers
[ ] 3: Two Engineering Section Type-1 Phasers (Infra+) [Avg Damage: 2]
[ ] 3: Four Engineering Section Type-1 Phasers (Infra++) [Avg Damage: 3]



Current Ratings
Cost: D
Infrastructure: B
Single Target: D (6)
Multi-Target: C- (5)


Two Hour Moratorium, Please.

 

[Sayle]

[X] 0: Ten Saucer Type-1 Phasers (Cost++) [Avg Damage: 9]
[X] 1: Two Forward Photon Launchers (Cost++) [Avg Damage: 1.5] [Alpha Strike: 36]
[X] 2: One Aft Photon Launcher (Cost+) [Avg Damage: 0.75] [Alpha Strike: 18]
[X] 3: Two Engineering Section Type-1 Phasers (Cost+) [Avg Damage: 2]

With the tactical systems complete the Copernicus has nearly as many armaments as you can give it, although the expenses attached are somewhat painful. While very nearly the equal of the Thunderchild-class dreadnought in some aspects and nakedly superior in others, the truth is that the Copernicus isn't meant to be a dreadnought, so that is either a mark in favour of the progress made in the last two decades or an indictment on feature creep. Many sins can be forgiven or turned to virtues if the ship is excellent in the fields it is intended to excel in, so the next step is vital to the success of the design as a whole.

Your decision to use a large saucer and secondary hull has given you plenty of space to fill, and plenty of options with which to fill it. Beneath main engineering you could fit an engineering workshop like those on the Cygnus or a cargo bay, either of which would provide useful capabilities. Then adjacent to that area is a space you can either leave empty to save on costs or fit either a secondary computer core for more scientific capabilities or more antimatter pods for extended range. This would give the Copernicus an unparalleled four-year range, although you worry that the ship would need greater emphasis put on the living conditions of the crew if such long missions were feasible.

The ventral main saucer provides a great deal of space, by far the largest uninterrupted expanse on the ship. Fitting it with general scientific labs would be quite useful for exploration, but it could also be made into a cargo bay capable of transporting and carrying enormous amounts of material, which would be potentially useful for the ship itself and certainly vital in the event of emergency humanitarian interventions.

By comparison there is less space in the dorsal hull, but still enough to potentially fit a specialist astrometrics lab for stellar analysis and navigation purposes. On the other hand, the space could be used to expand the crew quarters to provide the personnel aboard with their own private beds and some limited personal storage rather than forcing them to share as is the standard on most vessels.

Moving to the bow, a biosciences annex could prove useful in the event of interesting medical finds, though much of the space is necessarily given over to isolation and analysis systems for dangerous samples. On the other hand, a small cargo bay could provide useful carrying space - every ship needs at least a little, or it will be sorely missed.

Lastly a geology lab would provide access to mineralogical and geological tools for surveys and investigation of any interesting finds, planetary or otherwise. The universe is full of interesting materials, not all of them animate. Optionally a small cargo bay could be handy. In fact, given the usefulness of many of the auxiliary systems it may be more a question of which you are willing to sacrifice for at least some carrying capacity.


[ ] 1: Cargo Bay (+1 Engineering, Capability: +2 Cargo)
[ ] 1: Engineering Workshop (+2 Engineering, Capability: Fabrication)

[ ] 2: Miscellaneous Storage
[ ] 2: Secondary Computer Core (+1 Science, Capability: Advanced Computers, +1 Cost)
[ ] 2: Extra Antimatter Pods (+250ly Range, +2 Cost)

[ ] 3: Science Labs (+4 Science)
[ ] 3: Cargo Bay (+2 Engineering, Capability: +6 Cargo)

[ ] 4: Astrometrics (+2 Science, Capability: Astrometrics)
[ ] 4: Extra Crew Quarters (Shared Quarters -> Personal Quarters)

[ ] 5: Biosciences (+2 Science, Capability: Advanced Medical)
[ ] 5: Cargo Bay (+1 Engineering, Capability: +2 Cargo)

[ ] 6: Cargo Bay (+1 Engineering, Capability: +2 Cargo)
[ ] 6: Geology Lab (+2 Science, Capability: Geology)

Current Scores:
Engineering: 2 (Shuttles)
Science: 2
Range: 250ly (Two Years)



Two Hour Moratorium, Please.

 

[Sayle]

[X] 1: Engineering Workshop (+2 Engineering, Capability: Fabrication)
[X] 2: Secondary Computer Core (+1 Science, Capability: Advanced Computers, +1 Cost)
[X] 3: Cargo Bay (+2 Engineering, Capability: +6 Cargo)
[X] 4: Astrometrics (+2 Science, Capability: Astrometrics)
[X] 5: Biosciences (+2 Science, Capability: Advanced Medical)
[X] 6: Geology Lab (+2 Science, Capability: Geology)


Copernicus Mission Certification

The Copernicus design specification is for an explorer vessel capable of diverse missions beyond Federation space. It requires scientific facilities capable of robust analysis of data and samples, and should be capable of independent operations with sporadic contact with Starfleet Command.

It is the judgement of this report that the Copernicus (NX-900) meets these requirements. Details follow.

The Copernicus has a medium operational range at an efficient cruise of Warp 5 and maximum cruise of Warp 6, supported by two antimatter storage units fed into the main warp engine. This translates to an operational range of two hundred and fifty light years from the nearest refuelling station. The Copernicus is capable of a maximum velocity of Warp 7 for twelve hours.

The Copernicus is equipped with a Type-1 shield matrix, twelve Type-1 phaser emitters, and three prototype photon launchers: two forward and one aft. The weapon firing arcs are capable of a maximum output of twenty gigawatts of nadion particle energy in the bow aspect when in pre-fire mode. Standard energy flow supports a continual output of eight gigawatts in all aspects.

The Copernicus masses four hundred and forty eight thousand tons, reduced from projections by the use of prototype electro-ceramic plating. The spaceframe is propelled by three Avidyne Type-2 impulse thrusters each capable of outputting one hundred and forty two kilotons of standard acceleration for a turn time of thirteen seconds at full military thrust.

The Copernicus is serviced by two twelve-meter optical computer stacks, one acting as the primary command processor on decks 4-5, and the second situated below main engineering on decks 11-12. Additional computing power has maximised the effectiveness of the Copernicus' astrometrics suite, while the geology laboratory provides planetside analysis capabilities. It is also equipped with an advanced medical and diagnostics bay with beds for sixteen and an isolation and biomedical lab attached to sickbay.

The Copernicus has an aft-opening shuttlebay with a standard complement of four shuttlepods (2 active, 2 disassembled). This is supplemented by a biological-rated transporter system for the rapid deployment of personnel and supplies. Cargo is stored in the aft saucer section on deck 6, with room for six hundred standard containers. On-site fabrication and assembly is provided by a workshop and prototyping section on deck 12.


Internal Review of the Copernicus Design, San Francisco Fleetyards

The Copernicus is an extremely expensive starship, requiring substantial outlays to the civilian sector for manufacture of hull materials and standard operating systems. This is compounded by an equally onerous expense to the Utopia Planitia manufacturing center for her substantial armament and defensive systems. This is somewhat mitigated by the reduction in mass provided by the new electro-ceramic plating and a reduction in the aft phaser emplacements, but remains prohibitive. Accordingly the Copernicus is awarded one point out of eleven for both civilian and starfleet cost metrics, resulting in a D- in these sectors.

Tactically the Copernicus is equipped with weapons able to aggressively prosecute both single and multiple targets, with a minimum of two phaser emitters capable of outputting the full eight gigawatt grid throughput to weapons at any target, with more substantial yields available with selective use of pre-fire charging. The new photon warhead prototypes provide an unexpectedly high but highly effective source of damage in the longitudinal axis. Accordingly the Copernicus is awarded maximum points in the standard combat metric despite a reduced armament, and ten out of eleven points in the fleet combat metric for a result of A and A- in these sectors.

The Copernicus is equipped with a fabrication suite allowing local manufacturing on a small scale, as well as an expansive cargo bay. The provision of a transporter and an aft shuttlebay provides varied means of movement on and off the ship with and without equipment. The ship is capable of supporting itself as well as carrying a substantial amount of cargo, and is therefore awarded eight points out of eleven, a B.

The Copernicus is equipped with specialist astrometric, biomedical, and geological laboratories to allow detailed survey and analysis of phenomena in these categories, but is otherwise limited to standard equipment in other fields. This disadvantage is offset by the addition of a secondary computer core able to service non-vital tasks in a more timely fashion. The Copernicus is correspondingly awarded ten points out of eleven for a targeted but effective provision of scientific expertise for its mission, an A-.

Overall despite the major expense, the Copernicus has leveraged its cost into a wide range of capabilities slightly beyond those projected for a vessel of its cost. Accordingly the Copernicus as a whole is rated as seven points out of eleven, a B-. The designers are to be congratulated for a reliable design that is more than the sum of its parts.

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.

Copernicus prototype is authorised and reclassified for deployment under registry number NCC-900, pending commissioning.

[ ] UFS Copernicus, named for astronomers and astrophysicists.
[ ] UFS Everest, named for mountains.
[ ] UFS Beagle, named after ships of exploration.
[ ] Other



Project Copernicus
Single Target Rating: 19
Multi-Target Rating: 13
-Average Damage: 13
-Max Sustained Damage: 26
-Alpha Strike Damage: 56
-Coverage: 100%
-Maneuverability: Medium-Low
Defense Rating: 54
Engineering: 6 (Shuttles, Transporter, Fabrication, 6 Cargo)
Science: 10 (Astrometrics+Advanced Computing, Geology, Advanced Medicine)
Warp (Efficient Cruise): 5 (125c)
Warp (Maximum Cruise): 6 (216c)
Warp (Maximum Warp): 7 (343c)
Operational Range: 250ly
Industrial Cost: 35 (Civilian) + 63 (Starfleet)

Starfleet Command Rating Score
Cost: D-
Infrastructure: D-
Single Target: A
Multi-Target: A-
Engineering: B
Science: A-
Final Score: B-

 

[Sayle]

The First Starships of the Federation
Chapter 9: The Sagarmatha

When we think of the great early explorers, the same names repeat themselves. Enterprise, Excelsior, Constitution. Those ships and their crews that exemplify the Federation ideals of exploration, scientific discovery, and service to the greater whole. But practically every example that anybody will ever give you are all after almost a hundred years of Federation spaceflight. Was Starfleet just sitting around doing nothing all those years? Why are the NX-class and Sagarmartha an afterthought to the latter greats? Some people will tell you that time has dulled their memories, but I have a more controversial proposition for you. People don't remember them as Federation explorers because they weren't Federation explorers.

I can see the sceptical expressions now. Hear me out. There is a tendency in the retelling of history to assume that there are events that neatly divide two states of being - the before, and the after. Of course this isn't true, and we all know it isn't true, but it's how we tell our history to those who want the knowledge but not the context. Nobody has time to only learn history in the context! You'd never move past the first thing you decided to study. So we tell students and curious museum-goers a version of the truth: that the Federation was formed in 2161 from the Coalition of Planets, and the Articles of Federation established all those things we know and love: the Federation Council, the legislative capital in Paris, and Starfleet itself.

Except that's not what really happened. The Federation was established on that date, but it was not formed for decades afterwards. There were still so many questions to be asked, especially regarding Starfleet. Was it to be an organisational body which merged the member fleets into a single federal command structure? Was it an entity in its own right that covered the entire range of responsibilities, or did it only deal with Federation-wide mandates? When the Federation formed, the idea that there would be multi-species crews under the aegis of Starfleet Command was very much a fringe view, not an accepted inevitability. The Starfleet formed in 2161 would not be the Starfleet we know for many years.

So to return to the original question, why do we not remember its explorers with the same fondness as their descendants? I'll give you a simple answer. Before 2200, Federation Starfleet was just United Earth Starfleet with a different logo. There were no Vulcan ships. There were no Andorian crews. There were no Tellarite admirals. Meet the new management: same as the old management. Nothing meaningful had changed. Without the pillars of the modern Starfleet mythos, it just doesn't feel like Starfleet.

But in the Sagarmatha we can see some of the germinating ideas and strategies of the Starfleet to come. Like later explorers it was equipped with a wide array of scientific capabilities combined with useful engineering and support functions. In the same vein as the more militarised exploratory designs of the early 23rd century, it was equipped with the most sophisticated defensive technology available. It was the first ship to abandon the traditional silver-grey tritanium hulls of United Earth for the pale electro-ceramic that sheathed Kirk's Enterprise, though it was not until the addition of molecular duratanium that it would take on the subtle golden glow that defined the era.

Here also we see the close-in phaser emplacements near to the center of the primary hull, a design decision driven by the high expense associated with the fabrication of weapons-grade EPS conduits. This was also the last vessel which utilized phaser capacitors capable of holding a full weapon charge, an ability inherited from the phase cannon. However in a more advanced phaser the capability was rarely useful and the capacitors rapidly degraded in effectiveness as they were used. There is only one record of them being used in a combat situation, during which the UFS Kilimanjaro ambushed a Klingon D6 cruiser over Archer IV, turning a lopsided confrontation into an even fight that the Kilimanjaro won after sustaining substantial battle damage. Later vessels would draw phaser power straight from the EPS system as needed, having found it a cheaper and less maintenance intensive alternative.

Lastly, the Sagarmatha used the first mass-produced photon torpedo, fully abandoning the focused antimatter radio-thermal detonator for the modern antimatter-catalysed particle emission warhead. All told it represented a major technological step forward tactically, which proved very useful indeed in 2192 during the rapid-response phase of the Federation-Kzin War. In more peaceful pursuits the Sagarmatha was involved in three First Contact scenarios and remained a local explorer ship even after it was obsoleted in the long-range role by more modern designs thanks to its varied scientific capabilities, as well as representing a useful deterrent and emergency response vessel in the local Federation neighbourhood. However the ship was showing its age by 2240, with increasing maintenance costs prompting a full decommissioning by 2250.

In total, the Sagarmatha-class consisted of twelve hulls: Sagarmatha, Kilimanjaro, Seleya, Olympus, Fuji, Matterhorn, Denali, Vesuvius, Elbrus, Toubkal, Aoraki, and Sinai. Of these the Elbrus survived as a training ship until 2266, when an accident flooded the engineering section with delta radiation. Decontamination was deemed impractical and the ship was scrapped in 2268. The only remaining element of these vessels is a section of nacelle plating with the name and registry of the UFS Olympus (NCC-903) in the Olympus Mons visitor center on Mars.