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GALAXY-CLASS LARGE EXPLORATORY CRUISER

Galaxy-Class Large Exploratory Cruiser

The Galaxy class was the manifestation of the dreams and desires of an entire generation of Federation citizens. Designed to be the largest explorer ever constructed, they were expected to serve as the Flagships of the Federation and to lead the charge in a new era of exploration. Quite simply, they were to be shining examples of the Federation’s technical prowess and enlightenment. Though they no longer represent the state-of-the-art, the Galaxy class remains one of the most versatile and capable ships in the Star Fleet inventory.

 

Class:

The Galaxy Class Starship Development Project began in 2343 as a replacement for the Ambassador and Excelsior Classes in the primary deep-space exploration role. The Galaxy was also the first starship designed from the outset to carry the dependents and families of the crew. As such, the vessel sports the most luxurious fittings of any Star Fleet ship, as well as wide and well-lit corridors. Original plans were for twelve vessels, but the sheer costs and timeframe involved ensured that the vessels were funded separately, which accounts for the widespread in NCC numbers.

 

Classification:

Due to the variety of roles these vessels were expected to perform, initial consideration was given to calling them Heavy Cruisers. However, their primary role was to be that of an explorer, and when the project was approved, they were officially classified as a Large Exploratory Cruiser.

 

Design:

The Galaxy class drew heavily from both the Ambassador and the New Orleans classes for design inspiration. The class remains the most complicated starship platform ever conceived and constructed by the Federation. Designed to operate far beyond explored Federation space for years at a time, they were over-thought and over-engineered in the extreme. When they were commissioned, they incorporated the state of the art in computer, propulsion, tactical, scientific, and personnel systems, most of which had been developed specifically for the class. Scientific and exploration suites were top-notch, rivalling many starbases and shore facilities. As an Explorer, the Galaxy class is designed to perform every type of scientific study known and the interchangeability of modules gives it the flexibility to perform new roles as they are developed. The Galaxy class is by far the most luxurious starship in service in terms of crew appointments. At 110m², cabin space is larger even then the spacious Ambassador class and almost palatial compared to the cramped quarters of the Excelsior class. Living and sleeping quarters are separate, and multiple staterooms can be linked together for family use. The Galaxy class mounts the latest Holographic Environment Simulators, or holodecks. Using holographic and forcefield projections, these areas can be used to create almost any environment and are excellent recreational and training facilities.

The Galaxy class was the first starship to perform separated flight operations. While the primary saucer of Federation starships have been detachable since the early 2200’s, they were not designed to operate as independent entities and then re-attach themselves in flight. The latching and structural systems were significant hurtles, but they were eventually overcome.

 

Engineering:

Leeding Energies, who specialized in warp drives for multi-million metric ton starships, enhanced their LF-30 warp drive from the New Orleans class into the LF-41. Kloratis also developed the FIG-5 impulse drive system, of which two are fitted — one each in the saucer and stardrive sections. The Galaxy class is capable of a sustained cruising speed of Warp 6 and can achieve a maximum speed of Warp 9.6 for a period of up to twelve hours.

 

Tactical:

Though classified as a Large Exploratory Cruiser, the Galaxy class was expected to operate in the frontier areas of Federation space and, like the Ambassador class, to serve as the primary Fleet Defender. As such, the Galaxy is extremely well armed with twelve Type X collimated phaser strips as well as two Mk 85 photon torpedo launchers. The ship is equipped with the FSQ shield system with additional generators to provide extended coverage.

 

Computers:

Early on it was noted that the Galaxy class would need to carry the most advanced shipboard computer system ever in order to perform the missions being developed for it. Daystrom Industries began development on a successor to the M-14 Isolinear II computer. The result was a breakthrough in both processing power and storage capacity. The new M-15 Isolinear III computer system is almost twice as powerful as the M-14 and carries almost three times the storage. Another advantage of the M-15 is an enhanced LCARS (Library Computer Access and Retrieval System) supplement. This system is designed to make it easier for the crew to interface with the central computer system and improve crew-computer interoperation and performance. The Galaxy class carries three redundant M-15 computer cores. Two parallel each other in the Primary Hull and incorporate both clustering and fail-over capabilities. Either core can handle all primary ship’s functions if necessary. The third core is located near Main Engineering and serves as both a “hot spare” should the two Primary Hull systems fail, as well as providing computer power for the Secondary Hull during Separated Flight Mode.

 

Builders:

All six Galaxy class vessels were built in the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards in Mars orbit due to the sheer size of the spaceframes. Shinohara Heavy Industries was the primary contractor on the Galaxy class, though such a large vessel involved thousands of subcontractors of various sizes.

 

Development and Construction History:

Originally, six Galaxy class vessels were funded – Galaxy (CKE 70637), Challenger (CKE 71099) Yamato (CKE 71807), Enterprise (CKE 1701-D), Odyssey (CKE 71832), and Venture (CKE 71854). Six additional vessels were ordered and assigned names and NCC numbers, however they were only completed to the basic spaceframe stage. Of the original six, after continuous issues were encountered during early construction, it was decided to complete three vessels and subject them to a three-year intensive testing and certification process to ensure that the ships were operating as expected and to allow the crews for all six ships to begin familiarization. As Galaxy, Yamato, and Enterprise were farthest along, they were chosen to be completed first. The U.S.S. Galaxy was commissioned in 2357 and began a three-year shakedown and trial period. She was launched on her first operation deployment in 2361. The U.S.S. Yamato joined the Fleet in 2362 followed by the U.S.S. Enterprise in 2363. U.S.S. Challenger and U.S.S. Odyssey commissioned in early 2366 and U.S.S. Venture joined them about mid-year.

 

Current Specifications for the Galaxy class:

Displacement 4,500,000 mt

Overall Length 642.51 m

Overall Draft 195.26 m

Overall Beam 463.73 m

 

Propulsion:

Two LF-41 Mod 1 energized-energized antimatter warp drive units

Two FIG-5 subatomic unified energy impulse units

QASR-2 particle beam maneuvering thrusters

“Trentis IV” pulsed laser reaction control system

 

Velocity:

Warp 6 Standard Cruising Speed

Warp 9.2 Maximum Cruising Speed

Warp 9.6 Maximum Attainable Velocity

 

Duration:

5 years, standard

 

Complement:

185 Officers

525 Enlisted Crew

1000 Passengers (Normal – Up to 5000 Maximum)

1710 Total Crew (Standard)

 

Embarked Craft:

0 Danube Class Runabout

4 Type 6 Personnel Shuttle

2 Type 7 Personnel Shuttle

2 Type 9A Cargo Shuttle

8 Type 16 Shuttlepod

8 Peregrine Class Fighter

1 S-3 Sentry SWAC Shuttle

 

Navigation:

RAV / ISHAK Mod 3 Warp Celestial Guidance

 

Computers:

M-15 Isolinear III with LCARS interface software

 

Phasers:

12 Type X Collimated Phaser Array

 

Missiles:

2 Mk 85 Photon Torpedo Launchers

 

Defence:

FSQ Primary Force Field

 

Life Support:

MM6 Modular Gravity Unit

AL4 Life Support System

Galaxy-Class Large Exploratory Cruiser
Galaxy-Class Large Exploratory Cruiser