Robert Archer went through a fit of designing and designed us three vessels at once! This is the second of the three. Lax review rules in effect. Lets all take a look!

PS Sorry for the line breaks again, I'm leaving it up to designers from now on to format their documents properly. - Jen

CATEGORY: Researcher
VARIANT: Light
DESIGNER: Robert Archer
Mark I
Draft 1
DATE: 14 November 2009
REFERENCED URLs:
HISTORY AND MISSION OVERVIEW
During the peaceful years before the Dominon war when Starfleet was still quite focused on exploration there came a pressing need for a replacement for the Oberth and its refit model Gagrin class scouts. Both were slow, cumbersome, and virtually without armament. Making there main need of exploration a risky business when exploring the unknown.
While Starfleet wanted a replacement that was more heavily armed, more peaceful minded Vulcans pressed the desire for a light, fast, and heavily research oriented scout. Starfleet accepted the idea and opened up contracts for a variety of designs. The one stipulation they had made though was that the model must be better armed then present scout designs.
The Vulcan designer To’pek a man in his later stages of life saw a chance to hearken back to the earliest days of exploration, as such he set to work on the design of the Mal’chet, named after an exotic mammal on Vulcan. However, when his design came forward the design bureau accidentally butchered the name to Mackery. The name unfortunately stuck despite To’pek’s protests.
The war with the Dominon though soon put such peaceful designs on the shelves and the Mackery was soon fitted to be forgotten if it hadn’t been for a twist of fate. Six years after the war with peace more or less returned to the troubled quadrant, during a purge of needless information models in the Design Bureaus computer core. An engineering officer by the name of Charles Hessian found the shelved designs for the original Mal’chet, though the man tried to contact To’pek to push the design for consideration once more it was found the elder Vulcan had passed away only a week before.
Feeling it was his solemn duty to see such an honored man’s work put to light Charles immediately pushed for the designs consideration to replace the still in service Oberth and Gagrin designs. Starfleet feeling the political pressure to return to its root of explorations agreed.
Outfitted with the best sensor suite available and containing some of the Federations best science labs the Mal’chet is well suited to its role as a science vessel.

The Mal’chet is equipped for the following mission profiles
Exploration
Planetary and Spatial study
Cultural study
First contact
STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION
The Mal’chet is a purely Vulcan design, and though built by Starfleet its very presence gives away no chance that it is anything but a vessel of exploration and peace, not war. The design is straight forward and as one ensign put it ‘quite logical’.
The Mal’chet is shaped in many was like a smaller version of the early Vulcan ships. With a long six deck tube line, encircled by a high intensity sensor suite which connects by four access tubes to the main body of the ship. The tubular shape ovals out slightly near the center in a slight wing like shape that houses the hull mounted warp nacelles like those on the Defiant class. The single impulse engine is mounted at the rear of the ship, and the main deflector at the fore of the ship sunken in similar to the Akira class.
SCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS
The Mal'chet offers the best sensor suite that the Federation has on offer, incorporating the latest designs and technologies before, during, and after the Dominon war. Most of these suites are located in the circular ring around the main body of the ship.
The Mal'chet houses a Type-X sensor suite the best that can be mounted on a starship. Power is given more often to longer range sensors then short range, allowing the ship greater warning of any threats, but better yet earlier warning to interesting things to study.
The short range sensors can reach out to a range of five light years. The long range out to seven-teen light years.
WARP PROPULSION SYSTEM
The Mal'chet utilizes a simple Class-VI warp core set in a laid down fashion on deck six, a hanger bay like door provides emergency ejection of the warp core and antimatter pods if needed in an emergency.
This engine allows the ship a standard cruising speed of Warp 5, with a max sustainable speed of Warp 7, and a maximum speed of Warp 9.3 for 12 hours. The engine is rated for a total cochrane output of 1516. Though others argued for a more powerful warp core on the Mal'chet it was felt that the cheaper and less maintenance heavy Class-VI was better suited considering there were no plans to send the Mal'chet into far deep reaches like other vessels.
IMPULSE PROPULSION SYSTEM
The Mal’chet uses a simple single impulse reactor and engine mounted at the rear of the vessel located just above the shuttlebay.
TACTICAL SYSTEMS
Defensive shields
The Mal'chet uses the Type-VIII shield generators. Mounted at critical areas along the tubular section of the ships beam. It produces a maximum graviton load of 1344, and a total dissipation rate of 3.7 x 10^5. Again like the engines it was argued to put better shields but due to the complexity of the sensor suite and the power needed for it and the other science equipment the Type-VIII was felt sufficient.
Metaphasic shields
The Mal’chet is the first Federation ship to mount new metaphasic shields standard allowing the vessel to enter into a star’s corona. Though the actual depth of stress tests have yet to be proven in actual field designs.
Phaser systems
The original design of the Mal'chet called for two phaser strips, one ventral forward and one dorsal forward along the ships tubular beam. The new revamped design though was finally argued over and the choice to use the basic Type-VI setup. The strips are setup as on the orginal design but with the addition of another set dorsal and ventral on the aft of the ship. One annoyed Admiral over heard by an Ensign on his way out of the design room overheard the words, “Ships so weak a child could beat it up” The admiral it was later learned wished to put heavier and more phaser strips on the design. However the vulcans were determined to stick to the original design of being better then the Orbeth class but not more then needed.
The Type-VI's setup are in 100 emitters per strip. With an effective range of 18,750 km, with a maximum energy output of 0.6 MW
Torpedo Systems
The Mal'chet uses the Type-IV launching system setup for primarily probe launches though it can also launch photons. The Type-IV's range varies with payload design.
The ship due to its small size carries a total of 60 casings, 50 are devoted to probes, and the remaining 10 as standard photon torpedoes.
COMMAND AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Bridge / Conference Room / CO/XO offices
The Bridge of the Mal’chet is mounted on the top of the tubular deck line. The bridge itself is large for such a vessel, in many ways similar to that on the older Galaxy class explorers; however where the Galaxy has a slight incline the Mal’chet does not. The main view screen is at the front as on all designs, however it possess the interesting ability to slide up into recesses of the bridge ceiling, much like a old styled garage door, where a reinforced shielded window is set, allowing the crew if chosen to manually view what there studying in a more natural setting. Back from the view screen is a combined helm and ops station manned by two personnel both though are trained in the others duty in case one is injured or unable to perform for whatever reason.
To the port side of the bridge in a recessed area are two Science stations, the starboard side has an engineering station similar in appearance and setup to that of the Intrepid.
Having a railing area like the Galaxy class at the front of this there is the CO, XO stations. Due to the very small size of the crew and ship there is now position for a CNS Behind them are three stations combined, the center part the security and tactical station, and on either side two stations manned by sensor specialists though they are also often used for mission and experiment critical personnel.
To the rear of these stations are the aft lines of stations, configurable for whatever is presently needed for the mission at hand. By default though they are more focused stations setup for a variety of specialized science departments.
The conference room of the Mal’chet is setup similar to that of the Galaxy class the area where ships were displayed though is replaced with a large modular view screen able to display whatever is needed.
The Captain’s ready room is curved along the hull line circling half way around the bridge, and houses as well the CO’s quarters though an inner door way sections this area off for privacy reasons.
On the opposite side of the bridge is the XO’s office, and as with the CO the XO’s quarters are attached again with a secondary inner door for privacy concerns.
The bridge itself is accessed by two turbolifts located on either side of the view screen.
Science Labs
The science labs on the Mal’chet are located on decks four and five forward, and contain all matter of equipment from stellar cartography to exobiology. They are equipped with the best tools that the Federation can offer for all manner of experiments and study. The CSO’s office is located here as well.
Engine Room
All along the forward and aft areas of deck six are housed the main engine room. The warp core is laid out along the ships beam feeding both nacelles in an angled fashion. The CE’s office is located here able to access any and all of the ships systems and watch over their staff.
COS office / armory / brig
Almost actually forgotten in the final design of the Mal’chet due to its peaceful nature are the combined COS’s office, brig, and armory. Located on the very forward area of deck four in front of the science labs, the office is quite cramped and small more like a large walk in closest then a proper office. The brig is about the same size as the office about four by four feet in length and width. The small armory of the ship contains only Type-2 hand phasers, the feeling being given by the Vulcans was that Type-3’s were illogical considering the peaceful nature of the Mal’chet.
UTILITY SYSTEMS
Transporter Room
The Mal’chet possess one large 12 man transporter stationed on deck 3 on the port aft section. This gives ability to fully transport the entire ships compliment in two beam outs if needed, a feature found lacking on the older Oberth designs.
Cargo Bays
The Mal’chet contains two large open cargo bays modular in design so they can be setup for a variety of needs in storage. Able to have there atmosphere adjusted to the minute detail if needed. Both are located in the forward section of the ship on Deck 3 port and starboard. Also contained in each bay are cargo transporters though they can not beam life forms without extensive modifications.
Tractor beams
The Mal’chet comes with four high intensity tractor beam emitters situated just behind each of the phaser strips on the top and bottom, fore and aft areas of the ship. These tractor beams were made in such a fashion as to allow the Mal’chet to tow a target three times their size, utilizing an encapsulating sphere to lighten the load of the target.
Computer core
The Mal’chet contains one fully bio-neural computer core. Using the standard MAJEL/LCARS OS. It is located on deck four and five aft
CREW SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Two-Forward
The Mal’chets two-forward mess hall is small compared to many other ships, but being the vessel only has a total of 24 crewmembers this was deemed not a problem. It has two replicators, and two, two person tables, and three four person tables. A reinforced forward view window is also present, with three small simple panels below able to holo project interesting fact data about what is presently in the windows view.
Sickbay
Sickbay for the Mal’chet is slightly larger then that found on the Defiant class vessels. Curved around the forward area of Deck four. It houses four bio-beds and one surgical bay.
Holsuite
Just behind sickbay one deck four nearing the center line of the ship is the single holosuite for the Mal’chet. It contains many educational and entertainment programs from all across the known races.
CO's quarters
As stated earlier the CO’s quarters are connected directly to the bridge’s outer area, screened off by a wall and door to the CO’s office. It contains a bedroom, bathroom, and small living area with replicator.
XO's quarters
As with the CO’s quarters the XO’s are connected to their office in the same way, though are slightly smaller and compact, containing a bedroom, shower stall, and even smaller living area with replicator.
COS/CE/CSO/CNS quarters
These quarters are setup on deck 2 in the aft area of the ship, and are smaller then the XO/CO quarters housing a combined bedroom/shower stall area, a small living area with replicator and Spartan furnishings.
Crew quarters
These quarters are on deck three aft situated below the senior staff quarters. Each is shared by two people in bunk style fashion. Containing a shared shower stall, and small combined work and living area, with replicator.
AUXILIARY SPACECRAFT SYSTEMS
Shuttlebay
The Mal’chet supports a small shuttlebay housing two class-9 shuttles with maintenance and launching areas. It is located below the impulse reactor on the aft of the ship. On decks four and five.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions & Structure:
Length: 130 meters
Beam (Width): 75 meters
Height: 50 metters
Decks: 6
Crew Complement:
Officers and Crew: 24
Visiting Personnel: 5
Maximum Evacuation Limit: 64

Computer Systems:
Core: Isolinear data core x1 with bioneural circuitry
Software: Starfleet Library Computer Access and Retrieval System
(LCARS)

Warp Systems:
Power Plant: One 1500+ cochrane MARA core feeding two nacelles
Cruising Velocity: Warp 5
Max. Sustainable Velocity: Warp 7
Max. Velocity: Warp 9.3 (12 hours)

Impulse Systems:
Full Impulse: 0.25c
Zero-0.25c: 10 seconds
0.25c-Zero: 20 seconds

Defensive Systems:
Shield Maximum Graviton Load (Continuous): 1344
Shield Maximum Energy Dissipation Rate: 3.7 x 10^5

Offensive Systems:
Torpedo tubes (x1)
Standard payload: 50 Probes, 10 photons

Phaser systems
4 Type-VI phaser strips
DECK LAYOUT
Deck 1:
Bridge
Conference Room
Ready Room / CO’s quarters
XO’s office / XO’s quarters

Deck 2:
COS Quarters
CE Quarters
CMO Quarters
CSO Quarters
Two-Forward

Deck 3:
Transporter rooms
Crew Quarters
Cargo bays (x2)

Deck 4:
Holosuite
Sickbay
Upper shuttlebay
COS office / Brig / Armory
Computer Core
Science Labs

Deck 5:
Lower shuttlebay
Computer Core
Science Labs

Deck 6:
Main Engineering
Warp Core
Antimatter storage
Deturium Storage

SHIPS OF CLASS
USS Mal'chett, NCC-93652
USS Mackery, NCC-93653
USS Nebula, NCC-93654
USS Proton, NCC-93655

Except for the first two ships the Mal'chet class are named after various scientific phenomenon.
CONCLUSION
The Mal'chet suits its primary task of scientific missions well equipped with the best scientific minds the federation has on offer, as well as the equipment to carry it out.

SUBMITTED: 14 November 2009

Author: Robert Archer