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In response to a need for larger deep-space vessels that can accommodate families of Starfleet personnel as well as various equipment and cargo, Starfleet Command authorizes the promising Quasar*-class project in 2353 AD.
The finalized designs see a return to a conservative circular saucer section, unlike the elliptical saucer sections seen on Galaxy-, Nebula-, and Pulsar*-class starships. The stardrive section mirrors the deeper feel of the Excelsior-class starships.
The typical Quasar*-class starship boasts a length of 672 metres and a height of 36 decks. Starfleet Command classifies the Quasar*-class starship as an Explorer.
Quasar*-class starships, like many other starships, have a separation feature incorporated into their designs. These sections can be separated and rejoined on demand in emergency situations. The saucer section (Primary Hull) remains controlled from the normal bridge while the stardrive section (Engineering Hull) is controlled from Deck 7's Battle Bridge.
The saucer section consists of 14 decks, including the Captain's Yacht and its docking port. The majority of living quarters and function centers are located throughout the Primary Hull, including an Observation Lounge on Deck 1, the Ten-Forward lounge on Deck 10, and the Ambassador's lounges on Deck 12. Two main impulse engines and the main shuttlebay are also located in the saucer section. There are two computer cores in the Primary Hull, located on Decks 3 through 9..
Incorporated in the saucer section are viewports in the deck plating on Decks 10, 11, and 12, making this a first for a Federation starship and offering a quite interesting and refreshing view of space travel.
The majority of primary medical facilities aboard the Quasar*-class starship are located on Deck 6 of the saucer section. Two main Sickbay facilities are separated by the Chief Medical Officer's Office and Med-Lab 1. Adjacent to these facilities lie many care wards, including single and multiple patients' rooms, a nursery, surgery center, and other such medical facilities. Like many starships, the Quasar*-class starship is equipped with an Emergency Medical Hologram program.
A smaller cargo bay complex stands on Decks 2 and 3 in the Primary Hull. In cases of long-term separation scenerios, this specific cargo bay complex can be stocked with vital equipment and supplies. This complex also has four cargo transporters scattered throughout the two decks.
Personnel Transporter Rooms 1 through 4 are located on Deck 4. Each transporter room can transport up to 6 people at one time. Emergency Personnel Transporters are located adjacent to this transporter complex, and each emergency transporter can transport 22 people at once.
Recreation complexes are dotted throughout the lower decks of the saucer section. Two main gym complexes are on Decks 8 and 10, while a Holodeck complex lies on Deck 10 with a smaller Holosuite complex on Deck 9. The main lounge, called Ten Forward, is located on Deck 10.
Ambassadorial functions are critical to maintaining strong, peaceful ties in the United Federation of Planets. Quasar*-class starships incorporate an ambassadorial function center onto Decks 12 through 14 of the saucer section. Three main Ambassador Lounges are located on Deck 12, each with stunning views of space. The Captain's Yacht, docked at Deck 13, comprises the majority of Decks 13 and 14 of the Primary Hull. The Yacht has two decks, with the bridge, crew quarters, and warp drive housing (as well as impulse drive housing and upper engineering) on the top deck and lounge, guest quarters, engineering, deflector control, and landing apparatus located on the lower deck. The Captain's Yacht stays in place in its docking facility with the help of a mag-lock system, similar to the system that holds the defelctor dish in place.
The stardrive section houses many of the vital systems essential to warp travel. Main Engineering brags one of the largest sections aboard the Quasar*-class starship, with the primary Main Engineering room spread on Decks 25 and 26 with the warp core prevelant in this room. The Engineering Lounge is located towards the front of the stardrive section, while the main impulse engine of the Engineering Hull is located a few decks upward.
The deflector dish complex takes up another major part of the Engineering Hull, with the dish itself being at least eight decks high. The long range sensor array and subspace communications array are located in this complex as well.
Shuttlebays 2 and 3 are located on Decks 30 and 31 on the underside of the Engineering Hull. Each of these complexes have their own repair facilities as well as access to one of the three main cargo bay complexes in the stardrive section. Both Shuttlebay 2 and Shuttlebay 3 are significantly smaller than their main shuttlebay counterpart in the saucer section.
Three cargo bay complexes are located throughout the stardrive section. One complex lies on Decks 10 and 11, with external access located near the join in the interhull ("neck" of the starship) and the bottom of the "battle head" on the underside of the joined saucer and stardrive sections. Another cargo bay complex stands on Decks 28 through 30 and can be accessed through Shuttlebays 2 and 3 as well as the external cargo bay doors. The third and final complex lies from Deck 34 through to Deck 36 and has its own cargo transporter facilities on Deck 34. This final complex is amongst the most impressive.
There are two computer cores housed within the Engineering Hull, located on Decks 25 through 34. These two cores work in conjunction with the Primary Hull's two computer cores, and when in separated mode, the stardrive section maintains its indepenence with its own computers.
Personnel Transporter facilities are located near Main Engineering on Deck 25. Four transporter rooms are within the same section, with emergency transporter facilities on the same deck and in the same section, as well as on Deck 15.
The typical Quasar*-class starship has two warp nacelles, both of which have a control room, located on Decks 11 and 12. Access to the nacelle control rooms can only be made through Jefferies Tubes that tunnel through the various equipment located in the nacelle pylons. Secondary warp nacelles emerge from the saucer section after emergency saucer separation occurs.
There are also limited recreational facilities located throughout the stardrive section. Two holosuite facilities are located on Decks 21 and 32, while the Main Arboreteum stands at the aft-most tip of the Engineering Hull on Decks 25 and 26. The Main Arboreteum windows show an astounding view of space.
The Quasar*-class starship has offensive and defensive capabilities, including an extensive shield grid and weapons systems.
The shield grid system is comprised of 15 different grids, which include 6 major grid groupings: Primary Hull dorsal and ventral grids, Engineering Hull dorsal and ventral grids, Interhull grids, and nacelle grids. The Primary Hull dorsal and ventral grids have both inner and outer grids, while the Engineering Hull dorsal and ventral grids have port and starboard grids. The Interhull grids are separated in the same way as the Engineering Hull grids, while the nacelle grids include lateral and medial port or starboard pylon grids as well as a ventral grid.
Four torpedo launchers protect the Quasar*-class starship from enemies. The saucer section has auxilary facilities on Deck 11 to accommodate for forward and aft launches while in separated flight mode. The main forward and aft launchers are located in the stardrive section, with the forward launchers on Deck 22 and the aft launchers on Deck 20.
There are several phaser banks located on the hull of the Quasar*-class starship. The four main phaser banks are located on both the Primary and Engineering Hulls, with two on the saucer (dorsal and ventral) and two on the stardrive (ventral and aft). There are also smaller arrays located on the battle head, the stardrive section, and the warp nacelles and pylons.
The main deflector dish has a counterpart on the Primary Hull for emergency separated flight mode. This deflector array is located on Deck 11.
Sensors are located all over the Quasar*-class starship's hull. Long range sensors are hooked-up through the main deflector dish complex. Shorter range sensors can be found; on the Primary Hull laterally, on the upper platform, and on the lower platform; on the Engineering Hull laterally and upper platform (dorsal); and on the nacelle pylons, dorsally starboard and port. This group of shorter range sensors can be used for scientific and navigational purposes.
In case of a ship-wide disaster scenerio, several options may be considered. If systems are critical aboard the Engineering Hull (i.e. warp core breach), the Primary Hull may act as an escape option for the crew, resulting in a separation of the two sections. If both sections are comprimised, the lifepods, secondary craft (such as the USS Determination and USS Peacekeeper) and shuttlecraft may evacuate the crew from the starship. Emergency transporters are also an option if a friendly or hospitable planet is nearby.
There are twelve planned starships in the Quasar*-class projects (Starfleet Command has also created another 6 space frames which may be fully constructed, dependant on the success of the Quasar*-class project). They are listed as follows:
- USS Quasar*, NCC-81203, Commissioned in 2372 AD at Utopia Planitia
- USS Aoraki*, NCC-81204, Renamed to...
- USS Cantabrian*, NCC-24705-A, Commissioned in 2374 AD at Earth Station McKinley
- USS Earheart, NCC-81207, (to be) Commissoned in 2376 AD at Utopia Planitia
- USS Hawking, NCC-81208, (to be) Commissioned in 2376 AD at Utopia Planitia
- USS Galileo, NCC-81221, (to be) Commissioned in 2376 AD at Antares Ship Yards
- USS Chicago*, NCC-66506-A, (to be) Commissioned in 2376 AD at Antares Ship Yards
- USS Sloane, NCC-81222, (to be) Commissioned in 2378 AD at Antares Ship Yards
- USS Liberator, NCC-81223, (to be) Commissioned in 2378 AD at Antares Ship Yards
- USS Freedom*, NCC-81247, (to be) Commissioned in 2378 AD at Utopia Planitia
- USS Discovery, NCC-81248, (to be) Commissioned in 2378 AD at Utopia Planitia
- USS Roanoke, NCC-81249, (to be) Commissioned in 2380 AD at Antares Ship Yards
- USS Norfolk, NCC-81250, (to be) Commissioned in 2380 AD at Antares Ship Yards
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| Resource By: | |
| Posted: |
2005.09.10 |
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