Robert Archer has worked diligently since the passing of the USS Sentinel’s provisional charter to provide the crew with a vessel design that is more appropriate to what the proposal had in mind. Although the Governor-class is a serviceable place holder, it has several aspects which make it less than desirable as a specification for an exploration sim set between 2250 and 2270. These include:

• A launching date of 2257
• A classification as a Destroyer
• Use a a template for the Abrams-verse Kurtzman-class which the USS Chernov currently uses, which would mean that a historical Alt-RPG would have basically the same specification as another (technically) historical Alt-RPG

Bearing this in mind, Rob has submitted a ship that is more in line with the plans for the USS Sentinel going forward. Feel free to take a look at it, especially if you are currently on the Sentinel or have a soft spot or interest in TOS, TAS, or Discovery. Remember to keep your replies focused on the specification itself. As there is a US holiday the day after this is posted, the review period will be one week longer than usual. The final day of reviews is June 14, 2020.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Nicholas “Pelican” Villarreal
Engineering Director

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Independence-Class
Category: Frigate
Variant: Heavy
Designer: Robert Archer
Mark I
Draft 1
Date: 05/19/2020

History and Mission Overview

The dawning of 2240 was a generally peaceful one for the Federation. Though there were random border raids near Klingon space, and the occasional issue with Orion pirates, Starfleet felt confident that the immediate future would be one of expansion and discovery. But still one where they had to remain vigilant for possible threats of old enemies and new discoveries. It was this in mind that Starfleet put the call out for a multi-role rugged frigate, one which though smaller then common cruiser designs could perform just as well in a variety of situations.

It took the Starfleet design bureau almost five years of design and construction before the first five Independance class frigates came out of the assembly yards around Earth, with another three ready for commissioning should the need arise. Built around the 21st century idea of the United States Navy’s littoral combat ship, the Independence took many of the same cues of these multi-role frigates from history. The intent was to build a small, fast, maneuverable and relatively inexpensive ship that could be easily reconfigured for a variety of different roles should the need arise. This would range from system patrols, to scientific surveys, anti-pirate/raider action ships, and service as a logistics transport.

Mission Profiles

The Independence Class Frigate is suited to the following mission profiles:

Survey, analysis and cataloging of anomalies and uncharted systems.
Planetary and astrological event crisis response, management and containment.
Deployment of scientific and engineering response efforts in a crisis.
System and border patrols, anti-piracy/raider combat roles.
Cargo supply and relief efforts in emergencies.

Structure And Construction

The Independence Class Frigate was designed from the ground up to be rugged, dependable, and functional for its missions. Starfleet decided to accelerate the construction of the Independence-class by reusing structural designs from previous vessels, but with new materials. The forward section has exactly the same shape and structural outline as the upper-fore of the old Daedalus-class starship from a century prior. The rearward sections of the ship are shaped as rectangular platforms which then connect seamlessly as one unit into a half dome shaped saucer. Projecting upwards at the rear of the ship, on short V shaped pylons are the ship’s two warp nacelles.

The entire frame of the ship spans 12 decks across a triple layered duranium hull structure, in between each hull layer are 5cm of dura plastic foam. The outer layer of hull plating is in a state of permanent polarisation to enable greater unprotected resistance to enemy weapons fire. The duranium trusses that support the outer hull are then laser welded to form a permanent support chassis.

The Independence class is capable of atmospheric entry and flight, though not landing, on gravity up to 2.5 times Earth standard gravity. Atmospheric flight is handled through a combination of the ship’s impulse reactors fed through special atmospheric RCS thruster packets along the ship’s frame.

Science And Remote Sensing Systems

Sensor Systems

The Independence class makes use of the 150 sensor palettes arranged across the ship in clusters of four. The ship’s circular navigational deflector is located on decks 7 and 8 in a square shaped inset. These together make up the standard TOS-Type-5 sensor system. It has a short range scan of 2 light years and a high range scan of 6.5 light years. Through the application of high power emissions diodes, the sensor array can be utilised as a jamming system to prevent enemy vessels from sending or receiving transmissions. Effective jamming range for this system at full power is 100,000km. It should be noted that affecting this jamming system also prevents the jamming vessel from utilising their own communications systems.

Computer and Network Systems

The Independence Class Frigate is equipped with a single duotronic computer mounted vertically on the rear sections of decks 2 and 3. Any requests from the library computer must be issued through the main Computer Room and any portable information must be copied to recorder tapes. The only information terminals capable of accessing the library computer without passing through the computer room are those in the Captain’s Quarters, the Main Conference Lounge, Main Engineering, the Science Labs, Sickbay and the Bridge.

Warp Propulsion Systems

The Independence Class Frigate is equipped with the Class V warp core system. It has a maximum Cochrane output of 615, with a standard cruising speed of TOS-Warp 5, a maximum sustainable speed of TOS-Warp 7, a maximum speed for 12 hours of TOS-Warp 8, and an emergency speed for 2 hours of TOS-Warp 8.5.

The core is positioned vertically on decks 11 and 12 with support systems on deck 12 with the matter/antimatter pods. Emergency ejection systems propel the core and pods in an emergency out the bottom of the ship.

Impulse Propulsion Systems

The Independence Class Frigate has one quad-injector impulse engine positioned at the rear of deck 1. The engine has a maximum output of .23c and can accelerate or decelerate the ship, coupled with the RCS thruster system, in 35 seconds.

Tactical Systems

Defensive Shields and Hull Polarization Systems

The Independence Class Frigate is equipped with the Type 5 shield system; made up of 5 shield generators located at key points around the ship. The system has a maximum dissipation rate of 109,500 kilowatts, and a maximum graviton load of 403 megawatts.

Finally, the class was one of the last to be equipped with a hull polarization system that strengthens the ship’s hull by nearly 100% above normal. In an emergency of shield failure, it also has a maximum energy dissipation rate of 54,750 kilowatts.

Phaser Systems

The Independence Class Frigate is equipped with the Type-5 phaser bank system. The system has a maximum energy output of 0.3 MW out to a range of 18,750km. The ship has two, triple paired banks to port and starboard along the forward lines of the ship to dorsal and ventral. With an additional pair of banked emitters to port and starboard, dorsal and ventral along the aft end of the ship next to the ship’s nacelle pylons.

Forward phaser fire can angle 90 degrees to port and starboard respectively providing a full 180 degree length of coverage along the forward dorsal and ventral beam of the ship. The aft phasers cover an additional 180 degrees of the aft quarter except for a narrow line between the ship’s nacelles and pylons.

Fire control for the forward banks is handled by the control room on deck 7, while the aft control is handled by the control room on deck 8.

Torpedo Systems

The Independence Class Frigate has two Type 2 standard fire torpedo launchers positioned with 1 forward and 1 aft facing on deck 2. Each launcher is capable of firing a single torpedo or probe every 4 seconds.

Feeding, storage, fire control and servicing system rooms for both launchers are located centrally on deck 2. The ship carries 55 Mark-II torpedoes, and 20 assorted class 1-9 scientific probes.

Command And Support Systems

Bridge

The Independence class’s bridge is located on the central area of deck 1 in a circle shaped inset. At the center of the room is the Captain’s chair that sits on a 5 inch raised platform from the floor while the rest of the bridge stations are sunken below. Ahead of them is the Helm and Navigator seats and consoles. To the port side of the bridge are two engineering focused stations, while to port are two scientific related stations. Directly behind the ship’s captain seat is the ship’s comm station. Access to the bridge is obtained by a single turbolift to port of the comm’s officer or to starboard by an emergency Jeffries Tube access hatch. Forward of the helm and navigation stations is the ship’s rectangular view screen. Although there is no designated seat for the First Officer, as he is traditionally a Department Head himself, it is assumed that he will be manning one of the duty stations located throughout the Bridge

Auxiliary Control

The Independence class’s auxiliary control is located on the central area of deck 7. This area is laid out just like the main bridge except it only has one of each engineering and science related stations. It is manned during yellow and red alerts at all times by secondary staff officers in case of main bridge loss.

Conference Room

The Independence’s conference room is located on deck 3 to the forward port areas along the outer hull edge with a pair of oval shaped windows. It has seating room for up to six people around a fold up and adjustable table. Along the aft quarter of the wall is a 30 inch briefing and communication screen.

Brig

Located on deck 5 to starboard is the ship’s brig, it can hold up to 3 occupants if needed. The cell’s utilise a series of two recessed force field generators which deliver a painful, but relatively harmless shock to anyone who touches the field while it is active. When activated, the generators slide into place and glow with a soft yellow light. Feeding of the brig occupants is processed by an air pushed delivery tube from outside ensuring no direct access between the cell occupant and watch officer. A single shared waste dispenser with a lower body covering for semi-privacy is also present

Armory

Located next to the brig on deck 5, is the ship’s armory. It contains the chief of security’s office and a small 15 meter by 15 meter training room. Access to the ship’s armory is also internally located here to the port of the chief of security’s office. It contains enough Type-2 phasers to arm the ship’s entire standard security crew if required. Five Type-3 phaser rifles, for the ship’s security staff only, are also on hand for special mission needs as required.

Scientific, Medical and Engineering Labs

The scientific, medical and engineering labs of the Independence class span the central areas of decks 9 through 12. Each grouping of labs for both the science and engineering departments, contain 10 dedicated duotronic computer cells for lab processing and faster archival storage to the main computer system. The labs also contain basic 2-D holographic projection systems for object analysis and study.

Each lab layout is modular, though in general contains two work areas with 1 or 2 consoles and work tables each, for their specific individual fields of focus. Each section can also be isolated by force fields or exposed to the vacuum of space, in case of experiment containment breach. Each science and medical lab also has a 5x5 meter cold storage stasis unit for resuming experiments at a later time.

A single access lift connects each of the lab clusters to those above to aid in joint fields of work.

The Independence’s scientific, medical and engineering labs are divided as follows:

On Deck 9 are the hydroponics, botany, agronomy, zoology, animal anatomical/physiological labs. The Chief Science Officer’s office is also located here
On Deck 10 are the geology, hydrology, volcanology and meteorology labs.
On Deck 11 are the chemistry and their assorted sub-disciplines, general physics, astrophysics, astronomy, cosmology, and stellar cartography labs. The last of which extends down to the port side of deck 12.
On Deck 12 are the mechanical science, computer science, robotics labs and the access point for the stellar cartography lab.

Main Engineering

The Independence’s main engineering room is located on the aft sections of deck 12. This rectangular shaped room houses the ship’s warp core arrayed in a vertical line from deck 11 to 12. Control consoles are arrayed in a cluster of three around the core with another two to port and starboard along the entire T shaped room. The Chief Engineer’s Office is located just down the hall to port.

Utility Systems

Cargo Bays

The Independence’s primary cargo bay takes up the majority of the aft sections of decks 5 and 6, with the two secondary smaller bays located to port and starboard on deck 6 situated to either side of the primary bay. The primary bay has an exterior hatch capable of supporting a work bee of standard shuttle for temporary measures of loading or off loading cargo. All the bays can also support up to H, K, L, M, N, or N(2) environments for a variety of purposes, and up to 3 times Earth standard gravity.

Tractor Beam Systems

There are 2 tractor beam emitters located dorsal and ventral on the aft ends of decks 2 and 12, the dorsal emitter is clear of the ship’s nacelle pylons for a full 180 degree area of lock. The 2nd emitter is located ventrally on deck 12 providing the same 180 degree area coverage. Both emitters have a maximum range of 22,000km, depending on local relativistic and delta-v conditions.

Transporter Systems

There are a total of 3 transporters designed in use by the Independence Class. There are two standard six pad transporters, one on deck 3 one on deck 10. In addition, there is then a single ten pad emergency transporter on deck 8. Ranges of the standard transporters are 30,000km, while that of the emergency transporter is 11,250km. Full transport takes 15 seconds, start to finish. The emergency transporters take 11 seconds start to finish. The emergency one is, by design, outbound transport only.

Turbolift System

The Independence operates 5 turbolift cars. Shafts connect to all major hub areas of each deck along the central structure in a ring around the ship. Service areas are located on decks 7 and 10.

Machine Shop

The Independence has a small mechanical machine shop for the processing of raw ore and minerals to allow the manual fabrication of simple parts and tools up to the size able to be carried on a common grav cart on deck 4 above the ship’s primary cargo bay. This shop then connects by inter-bay lift to this bay for storage purposes.

Crew Support Systems

Sickbay

The Independence’s Sickbay is located on deck 9 down the hall from the ship’s science labs. It consists of an examination room separated by a surgical room, which in turn is also bordered by a recovery room. The examination room is outfitted with two biobeds. The surgical room is similarly outfitted with two bio beds, which are in turn modified specifically for delicate surgical procedures. The recovery room is outfitted with four bio beds that are designed more for a patient’s comfort and recovery. Located next to the examination room is the ship’s chief medical officer’s office. Lastly, across the hall from Sickbay is a 3x6 meter, 10 body capacity, morgue.

In addition, there are emergency aid stations located on every deck near a turbolift entrance. Each aid station is nothing more than an equipment locker housing two gurneys, and a fully stocked emergency first aid kit.

Gymnasium

There is a medium sized gymnasium located on the lower aft section of Deck 8. It is equipped with a sparring ring for boxing/wrestling/fencing or other forms of hand to hand combat, and cardiovascular and weights machinery to keep the crew in peak physical condition. Should the situation arise, the Gymnasium’s equipment can be easily stored, thus opening up the room’s area to be used as an auditorium or act as an auxiliary storage room or stage area for theatre performances. At any given time, the gymnasium can comfortably contain 20 people, though in theatre configuration it can easily handle 40.

Galley/Crew Lounge

The ship’s Galley and crew lounge is located on the forward section of deck 9. It has a pair of small but appreciable viewing windows out into space. The room also contains seating for up to 10 people at a time, though more could be made with appropriate table and chairs removed.

Although capable of reproducing a variety of food selections, the Independence Class is equipped with both a food synthesizer system, and a fully functioning Galley. Food stuffs for the Galley are stored in two separate fully compartmentalized pantries, each compartment is equipped with their own stasis field generators to preserve freshness. This provides something of an alternative to the standard cubed nutritional supplements offered by the food synthesizer system.

The food synthesizer system is a matter resequencer system connected to the waste reclamation system. The matter resequencer recycles biological waste materials into simple protein and sucrose compounds in taste similar to meat/dairy/vegetable byproducts such as ground beef, fish or poultry, cheeses, fruit juices and preserves but in appearance simple multicoloured cubes. Although highly efficient, the re-sequencer is incapable of creating food stuffs with a complex layered formation as found in a turkey leg (with fat, bone and skin attached to the meat), or the fibrous consistency of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Galley prepared or processed synthesized food stuffs are distributed via a computer controlled network of food dispensers. Any materials left over from the meal such as the dinner ware, or undigested food stuffs placed back into the dispenser are automatically recycled into the waste reclamation system. Each dispenser consists of a closed circuit micro transporter mounted as an enclosed wall unit in specified areas throughout the ship. These areas include: the crew lounge, the Captain’s, XO’s, and VIP’s quarters, Main Engineering, and the ship’s Sickbay.

Command Staff/VIP Quarters

Located in a half ring around deck 3 along the forward areas are the ship’s commanding officer, and executive officer quarters. Along deck 4 in a half ring is the ship’s 10 VIP and department head quarters. The ship’s commanding officer and 10 VIP quarters have the largest quarter setup with a bathroom which contains a whirlpool bath, shower, and a bedroom large enough for a walk-in closet, a full sized bed, and a large work/entertainment station. The Executive officer has a similar layout but minus the whirlpool path. While the Department heads have twin sized sleep bed areas. Only the Captain, Executive Officer, and VIP. quarters are outfitted with food dispensers. All others must either order from the ship’s galley or go to the ship’s crew lounge.

Junior Officer/Non-commissioned Crew Quarters

The Independence’s Junior officer quarters are single billets arranged in the forward middle areas of decks 5 through 8. They are half the size of the department headquarters in layout and contain a single twin sized bed, shower/bathroom sink, and a work area. Non-commissioned officers are double billeted and are set up the same as a junior officer quarter but with a twin bunk.

Auxiliary Spacecraft Systems

The Independence’s shuttle bay is located along the underside of the ship’s forward middle section on deck 12. It is capable of launching one shuttle at a time. Through a pressurized double doored launch platform. During launching this area is sealed off to the bay area allowing safe work to continue for receiving or launching the ship’s second shuttle.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions and Structure

Length

150 meters

Beam (Width)

50 meters

Height

58 meters

Decks

12

Crew Complement

Officers and Crew

120

Visiting Personnel

10

Maximum Evacuation Limit

300

Computer Systems

Core

1x Duotronic computer core

User Interface

MAJEL

Warp Systems

Power Plant

1x 615+ Cochrane Type V Warp Core feeding 2x nacelles

Cruising Velocity

TOS Warp 5

Maximum Sustainable Velocity

TOS Warp 7

Maximum Velocity

TOS Warp 8 (12 hours)

Emergency Velocity

TOS Warp 8.5 (2 hours)

Impulse Systems

Full Impulse

.23c

Acceleration

35 seconds

Deceleration

35 seconds

Defensive Systems

Shield Maximum Graviton Load (Continuous)

403 MW

Shield Maximum Energy Dissipation Rate

109,500 KW

Hull Polarization System Maximum Energy Dissipation Rate

54,750 KW
Offensive Systems

Torpedoes

Torpedo Tubes

2x Type-2 (1 Forward, 1 Aft)

Standard Payload (total)

55x Mark-2 Photon Torpedoes
20x Class 1-9 Scientific Probes

Phasers

4x Type-5 tri-emitter banks
4x Type-5 dual-emitter banks

DECK LAYOUT

Deck 1

Bridge
Impulse Engine
Fusion Reactors
Deuterium Fuel Storage Tanks 1 and 2
Deuterium Fuel Fill Port

Deck 2

Forward/Aft Torpedo/Probe Launchers
Torpedo/Probe Fire Control Room
Torpedo/Probe Storage Room
Torpedo/Probe Maintenance Room
Tractor Beam Emitter 1
Escape Pods

Deck 3

Transporter Room 1 (6 Pad)
Conference Room
Commanding Officer Quarters
Executive Officer Quarters
Escape Pods

Deck 4

Department Head Quarters
VIP Quarters 1-10
Machine Shop

Deck 5

Junior Officer Quarters
Non-commissioned Officers Quarters
Upper Primary Cargo Bay
Armory
Armory Training Room
Brig
Chief Of Security Officer’s Office

Deck 6

Junior Officer Quarters
Non-commissioned Officers Quarters
Lower Primary Cargo Bay
Secondary Cargo Bay 1 and 2

Deck 7

Junior Officer Quarters
Non-commissioned Officers Quarters
Turbolift Service Room 1
Auxiliary Control
Escape Pods
Upper Deflector Dish
Forward Phaser Battery Control Room

Deck 8

Junior Officer Quarters
Non-commissioned Officers Quarters
Gymnasium
Emergency Transporter Room (10 Pad)
Escape Pods
Lower Deflector Dish
Aft Phaser Battery Control Room

Deck 9

Galley
Crew Lounge
Sickbay
Morgue
Chief Medical Officer’s Office
Chief Science Officer’s Office
Hydroponics Lab
Botany Lab
Agronomy Lab
Zoology LAb

Deck 10

Transporter Room 2 (6 Pad)
Turbolift Service Room 2
Geology Lab
Hydrology Lab
Volcanology Lab
Meteorology Lab

Deck 11

Chemistry Lab
General Physics Lab
Astrophysics Lab
Astronomy Lab
Cosmology Lab
Upper Stellar cartography Lab
Upper Warp Core

Deck 12

Shuttlebay Launch Door
Shuttlebay Storage Hanger 1 and 2
Shuttlebay Maintenance Room 1 and 2
Tractor Beam Emitter 2
Main Engineering
Chief Engineer’s Office
Lower Stellar cartography Lab and Access
Mechanical Science Lab
Computer Science Lab
Robotics Lab
Lower Warp Core
Matter/Antimatter Storage Pods
Warp Core and Storage Pod Emergency Blast Hatch

SHIPS OF THE CLASS

Ships of the Independence class are named, barring the first ship of the class, after Continental Navy naval frigates of the age of sail.

USS Independence - NCC 1600
USS Alliance - NCC 1601
USS Bonhomme Richard - NCC 1602
USS Boston - NCC 1603
USS Bourbon - NCC 1604

The following ships are NPC ships and can be reused as needed.

USS Bricole - NCC 1605
USS Confederacy - NCC 1605
USS Congress - NCC 1606

Conclusion

The Independence class are small, rugged, multi-role frigates capable of many duties of larger cruiser designs at half the cost and build time. Capable and functional, though not the prettiest, they will likely be in use for many years to come.

Submitted: 5/19/2020