AVENGER-CLASS
Category: Destroyer
Variant: Escort (Support)
Designer: Jared Kurz
Mark 2
Approved by Engineering Director Nicholas Villarreal November 25, 2020

HISTORY AND MISSION OVERVIEW

The failed Borg invasion of 2367 led Starfleet to rush the development of the first dedicated combat design in years. The result was the Defiant-class, which was considered a total flop when the prototype was found to be incapable of performing. Discouraged with the results, Starfleet turned its attention elsewhere. But the Defiant was far from buried. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes it rose to fame in the Dominion war of the 2370’s, and played a crucial role in halting the second Borg invasion of 2373. The little warship had previously been described as “a starship squeezed into the shell of a fighter.” The ship was overpowered and over-gunned for its size, but had proven itself to be more than equal to many challenges.

With the end of the Dominion war however, Defiant-class ships were beginning to return very little. They had been designed primarily for combat, but now found themselves relegated to border patrols, diplomatic courier missions, and convoy escort assignments in a Federation without a war to fight. Many of these assignments were quickly being allocated to more capable starships, and Starfleet soon found itself considering the retirement of the Defiant-class. Hoping to return to missions of discovery and exploration, Starfleet Command created the Enhanced Deterrence Frigate Project (EDFP) to hunt for a suitable successor. Phardos Shipyards responded with the Avenger-class in 2375.

Mission Overview

The EDFP required the Avenger be capable of the same patrol, escort, interception, and courier missions as its illustrious predecessor, but in addition carry the latest scientific instruments, and two very well furbished general-purpose laboratories. The ships also had to be capable of rapid deployment and response, as they would be primarily assigned to sector defence forces. When Starfleet Engineering reviewed the Avenger design they insisted that it would be reclassified as a destroyer. The Avenger entered Starfleet service in 2378 and has proven itself to be extremely adaptable. Avengers are currently produced at the Phardos Shipyards at a rate of eight vessels per year, which can be increased if required.

For the Mark 2 Project (M2P) the designers worked directly with Avenger crews throughout the fleet. After several years of study and modeling, they were finally ready to submit their plans to Starfleet. The M2P has succeeded in updating the equipment aboard the ships without requiring a complete rebuild of them. This has allowed Avengers that are already in service to receive the full range of upgrades at their midlife refits, increasing the capabilities of the fleet in a uniform fashion. In addition to the upgrades to their systems and equipment, Phardos has also managed to improve the habitability and flexibility of the original design. These changes will see that they continue to perform in support of frontline operations for many years to come.

STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION

The Avenger’s hull is sleek and streamlined with a roughly turtle-like appearance. The ship’s bulbous bow droops downward housing the navigational deflector and long-range sensor arrays. The Mk.2 sports a small secondary dome which projects from the bottom of the bow section, creating a pronounced chin. Aft of the bow the hull widens into the main body of the spacecraft. The hull curves gently downward to either side, ending in stubby wings that conceal the integral warp engines. The rear of the hull is rounded except for a blocky tail formed by the powerful impulse engines. The dorsal surface is smooth except for the raised bridge module, while the ventral surface sports a faired blister toward the rear that houses a rear-firing torpedo launcher.

The ship’s smooth lines and integral nacelles help to reduce the vessel’s cross-section, making it more difficult to target in battle. This also has the effect of increasing the efficiency of the energy transfer from the warp core to the engine nacelles. As a combat vessel it was decided to provide the maximum level of protection for the ship and its fittings. All of the internal systems that require access to the vessel’s exterior are equipped with articulated or jettisonable hull plates. This means that most of the familiar structures are hidden from view including docking ports, lifeboats, impulse vents, deuterium/anti-deuterium refill ports, mooring beam, and tractor beam emitters.

The double hull is built around a core structure of W-frames that form a geodetic lattice. This allows flight stresses and loads to be distributed over wider areas of the supporting structure, reducing the strain on individual frame components. The structure has proven to be amazingly resilient, and Avengers have returned to base with damage that would have caused regular ships to disintegrate. The outer hull is protected by 3.5 cm of DynaTech’s ArmoPlast™ advanced ablative composite armour, giving the hulls a dull, granular appearance. Underneath is 1.5 cm of high density rodinium armour plating. Sandwiched between the outer hull and the framework are sheets of DynaTech’s TetraPlast™ Polyalloy [link]. The inner hull’s layers contain sheets of DynaTech’s LiquiPlast™ Coagulating Material [link], and a composite spall liner which prevents fragments from penetrating into the vessel’s interior. The completed hulls are reinforced by a high-level structural integrity field (SIF).

The ship’s interior is composed of modular sections which helps to reduce the overall construction time. Each module is arranged as a rectangular cuboid, with the external area serving as the ships’ internal bulkheads. When the vessel’s framework has been completed these prefabricated modules are loaded into the hull by transporter. Once inside they slide into slots, the module’s flexible supports are anchored to the internal frames, and the main utility conduits are connected. This method of rafting reduces the transfer of mechanical shocks to the ship’s interior, providing additional protection for the crew and internal components. The few windows that dot the hull’s surface are equipped with armoured blast shutters that close automatically during action.

The Avenger Mk.2 have been equipped with dual-mode thrusters capable of operating in a planetary atmosphere. A series of landing struts are located in the hull to facilitate surface landings in environments up to but not exceeding 1.9 g’s. A special turbolift runs through the central landing strut, providing the crew with direct access to planetary surfaces.

The ships have a standard endurance of 9 months at FTL speeds, but can operate for up to 18 months without resupply. The longer duration is primarily due to the new multi-inlet bussard collectors [link], which provide en-route replenishment of raw material for the ship’s replicator systems. However it is also assumed that the crew use standard TKL rations and that all non-essential secondary systems are not used.

The Avenger’s hull lifetime is expected to be fifty years. The classes refit schedule is as follows: Minor - two years, Standard - ten years, Major - twenty-five years.

SCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS

Sensor Systems

The Avenger Mk.2 has been fitted with an improved type-VII full spectrum subspace sensor system. High-resolution scans are effective to a range of 3.11 lightyears, with effective low resolution scanning to a range of 11.0 lightyears. Sensors are adapted from the standard sensor pallets used on other Federation vessels. Each pallet is set behind hull plating that is selectively opaque to the specific electromagnetic and subspace frequencies which are used by the sensors. To protect the sensors from sustaining damage during action they can be withdrawn into reinforced wells. This reduces their effectiveness until they are returned to closer contact with the hull plating.

The SPS-1200B navigation and long-range search sensor is a spherical array embedded in the Avenger’s bow. These instruments provide a wider scanning field than traditional long-range arrays, and look forward along the vessels’ flight path. They are steerable within a forward cone allowing for off-axis flight manoeuvres. The SQS-5010 search and attack sensors are conformal arrays embedded into the lateral edges of the hull. They consist of dozens of palletized sensor assemblies which can be removed or replaced as needed. Two ASTRA steerable encounter arrays are embedded into the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the hull, with each capable of independent operation over 360-degrees.

The Avenger Mk.2 has been fitted with the Anti-Proton Pulse Scanner (APPS) [link], which has been installed in the chin dome that projects from the forward tip of the Avenger’s bow. This allows the ships to counter cloaked vessels in the performance of their escort and sector defence missions.

Remote Sensor Probes

The Avenger Mk.2 carries a variety of sensor probes for the investigation of interstellar phenomena as well as other mission requirements. They are normally equipped with twenty-seven sensor probes, three of each configuration from class I to class IX. In the event additional probes are required torpedoes can be removed from the ships magazine and reconfigured as class VIII or class IX probes. The Avenger has been equipped with the Regulus casing [link] which provide additional utility to remote sensor probes.

Computer Systems

The Avenger Mk.2 is equipped with the new CCS-2800 Command and Control System, which provides increased survivability, reliability, flexibility, and ease of maintenance over earlier types of computers. A fully distributed system, the CCS-2800 is built around a series of independent computing nodes which each serves as a control or monitoring console. Each node contains its own processor, data storage unit, isolinear bank, and power regulator. They are interconnected to the other nodes by a triple redundant data bus. Each node is protected by automatic fault isolation devices that prevents a system or component failure in any node from affecting the other computer systems aboard the ship.

The CCS-2800 makes extensive use of biochemical data storage and bio-neural circuitry. This dramatically improves access speeds, allows for greatly reduced reliance on isolinear and optical data network (ODN) redundancies, and provides considerable space savings. Through the powerful data bus the independent nodes are able to share their processing power and storage capacity throughout the entire shipboard computing network, creating a single main computer through all of their constituent parts.

Isolinear optical chips are still employed throughout the computer system, as much Starfleet equipment such as tricorders still rely on these components. All shipboard interface terminals contain an isolinear bank which allows computing data to be transferred to the chips for ease of transportation. The central memory core on deck three also contains isolinear storage grids, complete with protected file storage areas where backup copies of vital control software are kept if needed. In normal operation all primary systems direct their inputs through the ship’s bio-neural circuitry. Critical command and control inputs are also linked through a dedicated ODN and isolinear backup system.

SHipboard INtegraded Processing And Display System (SHINPADS)

SHINPADS is an advanced operating system and user interface for starship computers. Controls include curved flat panel touch screens that have been optimized with clear sight lines and all controls within easy reach. Each console features an integrated holographic projector, allowing controls and data to be displayed and manipulated in 3D. In addition to the standard tactile, audio, and visual interfaces, SHINPADS allows the crew to explore and interact with space using all of their senses. The integrated holoemitters are not capable of altering the appearance of an entire room, but can display objects and are sufficient to operate the ship’s EMH.

SHINPADS includes updated personal digital assistants that are smaller than older models, and can easily fit inside a uniform pocket. They are made of a clear piece of polymer with a high resolution display, and can be customized to appear different colours when activated. Portable SHINPADS are fully integrated into the CCS-2800 computer system, and allow data to be “dragged” and “dropped” between the devices and the fixed consoles and terminals. Data can also be shared between users in the same manner. These smaller devices are often the only part of the system referred to by its users as SHINPADS.

“Priya” Artificial Intelligence

Priya is an artificial intelligence program that uses an adaptive neural network. Her name means “dear, beloved,” and she provides the main crew interface with the ship’s computer. Priya feels a strong sense of responsibility for the crews’ wellbeing, and has been charged with their care and protection. Her voice patterns were provided by a young woman from Brighton, which is south of London in the United Kingdom on Earth. Priya’s demeanour can best be described as matronly, though she occasionally demonstrates a playful and mischievous side. When someone interacts with the computer she appears on displays and as a hologram. While the designers had intended her to be humanoid, Priya decided that she preferred to be a cat. She usually appears as a tuxedo coloured european shorthair with piercing blue eyes. She sometimes drools when she purrs.

MARS Battlespace Artificial Intelligence

Named for the Roman God of War, MARS is an advanced battlespace artificial intelligence system. Incorporating the standard Threat Assessment/Tracking/Targeting System (TA/T/TS) employed aboard all Federation vessels, MARS has been programmed with every space, air, surface, and subsurface combat tactic used by every known species encountered to date. The system also has an integrated neural network which allows it to analyze and adapt to new situations, effectively learning on the job.

MARS works in both combat and non-combat situations to provide the Captain and crew with instantaneous tactical information, including recommended strategies and thorough analysis of potential weaknesses in enemy space, air, surface and subsurface forces. MARS uses a series of distributed processing units which interface directly with all tactical, mission planning and intelligence systems aboard the ship, allowing a complete tactical picture to be developed from all of these individual sources.

When shipboard weaponry is to be employed, MARS can automatically adjust aim points to ensure that each weapon will achieve its maximum effectiveness. Conversely as enemy weapons are used against the ship, MARS can automatically adjust the shields to provide the maximum level of protection. The system can simultaneously track and compute firing and evasive-fire solutions on over a dozen targets. This allows the Avenger to engage multiple targets at once, while allowing the crew to anticipate the likely direction a hostile attack will come from. MARS presents recommended postures to present the smallest possible target for hostile vessels. These help ensure the Avenger is a very difficult target for hostile fire-control computers to lock onto.

The system has four modes of operation which range from manual to fully automatic. In manual mode the operator must initiate the tracking, identification, and engagement of all contacts. The semi-auto and auto-assign modes allow for a mix of crew and computer operations, with the operator retaining the control of all engagements. In the highest mode, auto-engage, MARS will automatically detect, track, identify, and engage hostile targets once pre-set criteria have been met. These include the availability of suitable weapons, the ship’s current defensive posture, and the defined rules of engagement.

Pegasus Artificial Intelligence (PAI)

The Pegasus Artificial Intelligence helps reduce the workload of the engineering crew by automating many of the routine maintenance and diagnostic tasks, as well as handling simple adjustments to maximize the efficiency of the ship’s systems. This includes maintaining the phase separation of the MEPS and managing the continuously variable geometry warp field of the new TR5 engines. Where PAI really shines is in damage control. The Avengers have an extensive damage control system with forward and aft section bases capable of independent action. However, both sections are normally co-ordinated from the damage control headquarters (DCHQ) in main engineering. PAI allows this process to be fully automated, directing damage control parties efficiently and providing them with detailed information via their portable SHINPADS.

Emergency Hologram Crew Supplements

The integration of holographic emitters throughout the ship allows the full use of holographic crew supplements. These programs include the Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH) Mark IV and Emergency Engineering Hologram (EEH) Mark I. Due to the networked architecture of the computer system it is possible for both of the programs to be run in the same location at once. Though occasional conflicts with their personality subroutines can sometimes make this a less than desirable occurrence. The EMH and EEH are both short-term supplements intended to provide assistance to the ship’s crew under emergency conditions.

WARP PROPULSION SYSTEM

Primary power generation is provided by the ship’s class-VIII Dual Articulation Linear Intermix Matter/Antimatter Reactor Assembly. Rated at 1900+ Cochranes it was designed to power a ship over three and a half times larger than the Avenger. To accommodate this oversized unit the core has been installed horizontally in the ship on deck four. Slush deuterium is supplied from a storage tank at the front of the unit, with anti-deuterium being trunked to the injectors at the rear from storage pods on deck six. The dilithium chamber is located in the centre of the unit. The dual articulation frames are accessed from above the chamber on deck three, and below the chamber on deck five.

Power transfer conduits branch out from the dilithium chamber, directing warp plasma to the twin TR5 Linear Field Induction warp engines that are integrated into the wings. Designed to generate a continuously variable geometry warp field, the TR5 provides maximum efficiency throughout the vessel’s flight regime and is non-polluting to subspace. Each warp field coil contains two field geometry sensors and a subspace phase manipulator, allowing PAI to remodulate the generated warp field as it forms. Each nacelle contains an off-axis field controller and a symmetrical warp field generator which increases the stability of the warp field at high speeds.

The TR5 engines provide a cruising speed of warp 6.0, which can be maintained until fuel exhaustion. Maximum sustainable speed is warp 9.2. Maximum sustainable speed for twelve hours is warp 9.6. Emergency speed is warp 9.8. The ship’s fuel supply is replenished en-route by next generation multi-inlet bussard collectors [link] which provide greater scoop capacity over earlier types.

To utilize every watt of available power the Avenger has a unique Multiphasic EPS (MEPS, pronounced “MEEPS”) system. This has allowed the designers to increase the ship’s armament, deflector shield power, and sensor capabilities in order to put as much energy as possible to use. In catastrophic emergencies the M/ARA ejects aft, emerging underneath the ship’s tail.

IMPULSE PROPULSION SYSTEM

Secondary power generation is provided by four Merlin Subatomic Unified Energy Impulse Units. Installed in the tail at the rear of the hull, the Merlins are equipped with integrated thrust vectoring and anti-matter reheating to increase the vessel’s sublight maneuverability. Each Merlin is powered by six impulse fusion reactors. When using full reheat the available thrust can be increased by 25%. Full impulse is 0.30c and the maximum speed with full reheat is 0.35c. The impulse engines are supplemented by an above average complement of dual-mode thruster assemblies, which include micro-fusion auxiliary manoeuvring engines.

Auxiliary Power Generation

Tertiary power generation is provided by two sets of Titan twin fusion reactors which supply two separate switchboards. The fusion reactors are fitted inside protected enclosures on deck five, and each has a separate local control panel. One twin reactor unit is located in the forward auxiliary generator room and the other in the aft auxiliary generator room. This separation of the vital auxiliary generators helps to ensure that one will remain operational in the event of battle damage to a section of the ship.

TACTICAL SYSTEMS

Defensive Shields

FSRM-1 Full-Spectrum Regenerative Metaphasic Primary Force Field and Deflector Control System
The Avenger Mk.2 is protected by the FSRM-1 which was designed specifically for combat vessels. From uprated generators to emitters that are designed to run at higher peak efficiencies, every aspect has been optimized to provide the maximum level of protection. All of this is supported by easily accessible components which are designed to be field replaceable.

An up-rated cooling system has been combined with up-rated energy relays, taking advantage of the MEPS power taps, which allow the shields to be run for longer periods at maximum peak performance. A powerful subspace phase discriminator/amplifier coil has been included in the defensive suite, which is utilized by MARS to automatically adjust the shield nutation and modulation. The system employs full automatic regenerative and metaphasic capabilities, which increase the length of time the ship can stay in a firefight. The FSRM-1 is powered by eight shield generators which provide a maximum graviton load of 1444 megawatts, with a maximum energy dissipation rate of 4.00x10^5 kilowatts.

Phaser Systems

2x Type-VII Guardian Linear Phaser Arrays

For point defence the Avenger has come to depend on her two type-VII Guardian linear phaser arrays, which are integrated into the wing tips just outboard of the engine nacelles. They provide excellent all-around coverage and each contain 80 emitters. They are rated at 1.3 MW and have an effective range of 75,000 kilometers. An up-rated cooling system and a secondary phaser power coupling allow the Guardians to engage up to two targets at once, and provide continuous covering fire throughout even long battles.

2x Type-VIII Long Lance Collimated Phaser Banks

The M2P uncovered a weakness in the original design; the Avenger lacked mid-range phaser capability against hostiles. To rectify this two Long Lance collimated phaser banks have been added to the ship’s shoulders, outboard of the torpedo launchers. Each bank contains a single emitter, and can engage targets in a 90° forward arc. Developed from the standard type-VIII phaser, the Long Lance uses quantum optical focussing to collimate the beam output to increase the effective range. This allows them to engage targets at up to 187,500 kilometres, but at a reduced output of only 2.2 MW.

4x Type-VIII Damocles Multiphasic Pulse Phaser Cannons

The Avenger’s main armament are her four Damocles multiphasic pulse phaser cannons. Concentrated in the ship’s nose they have a 45-degree forward arc and contain three emitters per cannon. Based on the type-VIII phaser, these emitters have been optimized for engagements at close range. Tapping into the power of the ships’ MEPS system they are rated at an incredible 3.25 MW. The phased plasma loses cohesion faster than traditional phasers however, which limits their effective range to only 112,500 km.

Torpedo Systems

The original Avenger’s twin torpedo launchers proved to be too light in actual combat, and the M2P was tasked with increasing the ship’s armament. The design team looked at replacing the original launchers with more powerful burst-fire models, but they encountered serious difficulties with the new autoloaders jamming in simulated combat. This was due to the original launchers having been installed horizontally so that they could share a central magazine. The new autoloaders were simply not compatible with this, and there was insufficient room to install them vertically. An elegant and unconventional solution was found, and a third torpedo launcher has successfully been added to the Avenger Mk.2.

Avengers are equipped with the Regulus casing [link] and the Firefly MIWS [link]. These munitions are stored in the ship’s central magazine, which provides protected storage for all heavy shipboard munitions. The standard load-out is forty-eight torpedoes but the magazine can store up to seventy-five when all of the sensor probes have been removed. The ship carries a combination of photon and quantum warheads, and has provision to carry tri-cobalt and transphasic warheads when their release has been authorized.

2x Type-3 Standard-Fire Torpedo Launchers (forward)

There are two type-3 standard-fire torpedo launchers located to port and starboard of the ship’s bow, where the hull widens at its shoulders. They fire forward and are each capable of launching two torpedoes every four seconds.

1x Type-4 Burst-Fire Torpedo Launcher (aft)

A type-4 burst-fire torpedo launcher has been installed in a blister that has been slung underneath, and faired into the ventral hull. This solved the problems encountered with the autoloader, but because of the pronounced droop of the Avenger’s bow the launcher was required to face aft. It is capable of launching a burst of five torpedoes every ten seconds.

COMMAND AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Seat Restraint System (SRS)

All operator chairs are equipped with position sensors that are embedded in the seating surface. Data from these sensors is combined with biometric data from the occupants communicator to determine the most ergonomically efficient position. The seating surface adjusts automatically, helping to reduce operator fatigue and preventing repetitive strain injuries. In the event of a violent impact which would throw the occupant out of the chair, a series of restraining fields activate to pull them back into the proper seating position. This reduces the chance of receiving common acceleration or deceleration injuries, such as whiplash. To accommodate operators who prefer to stand, or whose anatomy prevents the use of a chair, all chairs are designed to fold and stow underneath their consoles.

Main Bridge

The new bridge module is slightly larger than the old one. It has a more circular configuration, and projects slightly above the rest of deck one. It has been designed to provide the ultimate in crew interaction and to maximize situational awareness. The peripheral stations all face in toward the centre of the bridge with a clear line-of-sight to the holoscreen. Each operator’s console is circular, completing an arc of 270-degrees that wraps around them. They have been specially optimized to allow the operator to perform complex tasks quickly, with all controls easily accessible. The peripheral stations are all open on the left to provide access for the operator. These stations blend into the bulkheads behind them, providing additional workspace and displays.

The bridge is divided into four quadrants which are separated by access corridors or turbolifts. The forward quadrant is dominated by the panoramic wrap-around holoscreen, which is capable of displaying three-dimensional holographic projections of the surrounding space. The holoscreen rises from below the bridge level and curves onto the ceiling above. A shallow maintenance area is located directly in front of the holoscreen, which is accessed by a pair of short step-ladders on either side and guarded by a narrow rail. A pair of SHINPADS general status displays are located to the left and right of the holoscreen, which provide a general overview of the ship’s current condition.

A turbolift separates the forward and starboard quadrants. The starboard quadrant has the science, mission operations, and ship’s status stations. A short corridor separates the starboard and aft quadrants. This provides access to the ready room, the starboard side of the conference room, and the deck one corridor leading aft. The aft quadrant has the command intelligence, tactical, and security stations. A short corridor separates the aft and port quadrants, providing access to the port side of the conference room and the second bridge turbolift. The port quadrant has the engineering, damage control, and environmental stations. A corridor separates the port and forward quadrants, and provides access to the officer’s lounge, a lavatory with a single sink and water closet, and the deck one corridor leading forward.

In the centre of the bridge is the command module, which faces forward. The CO’s chair is directly centered, with seats for the XO and 2O in a line to port and starboard. Each chair has a console to the right that wraps 90-degrees around. Directly in front of the CO’s chair a hologrid is integrated into the floor, permitting holographic communications between compatible vessels. Ahead of the command staff are the operations management and conning stations. These consoles also wrap 270-degrees around their operators, but are open at the rear. They have a multifunction pedestal display positioned between them, which provides astrogation information or a master systems display for the ship’s command staff.

Bridge Conference Room

Behind the bridge on deck one, the conference room provides a private place for the senior staff to conduct briefings and situational analysis. Access is provided from the bridge’s aft port and starboard corridors. The room is an elongated octagon, with the longest wall being the forward bulkhead that it shares with the bridge. In the centre of this wall is a viewscreen, with two large SHINPADS displays on either side. The table is an isosceles trapezium, with four seats along the forward edge, one on each of the left and right sides, and three seats along the aft edge. Integrated controls are provided at each seating position controlling the viewscreen and displays. Several windows look aft over the ship’s hull and are equipped with armoured blast shutters.

Bridge Officer’s Lounge

Accessed from the bridge’s forward port side corridor, the officer’s lounge is located behind the port bridge quadrant. It provides a place for officers to take a quick break and for relief personnel to standby until they are needed. Two half-hexagonal tables are located on the port and starboard sides of the room, with three cushioned chairs at each, and a SHINPADS general status display on the bulkhead above. A single small replicator is embedded in the bulkhead at the rear of the room, providing refreshments and snacks.

Bridge Ready Room

Accessed from the bridge’s aft starboard corridor, the ready room is located behind the starboard bridge quadrant. It provides the ship’s CO with a place for quiet contemplation or private meetings. A rounded L-shaped workstation with integrated computer terminal and three chairs are provided, as is a private lavatory with sink and water closet. The rear bulkhead has a large SHINPADS general status display. A single small replicator is embedded in the wall, providing refreshments and snacks.

Engineering Sections

Main Engineering Control Room (ECR)

This is a remote control and monitoring centre with direct linkages to all of the engineering systems aboard the Avenger. The ECR is located in the centre of deck three, just aft of the M/ARA’s central core which is one deck below. From this key location engineers can be easily dispatched to any area throughout the ship. The port and starboard bulkheads are covered with duplicate control and monitoring equipment for all of the ship’s systems. A large master systems display dominates the rear bulkhead, showing real time engineering status. In the centre of the room is a tabletop workstation/status display, which serves as a briefing and troubleshooting area for the engineering staff. The forward bulkhead is open to the central engineering core, which contains the warp propulsion section. In emergencies it can be isolated from the core by an armoured blast door.

Warp Propulsion Section

Forward of the ECR on deck four is the centre of the warp propulsion section, the dilithium chamber. It is housed in a large octagonal room which is open to deck three above, and deck five below. Two one-person lifts and two vertical ladders provide quick access between the three engineering levels. Deck three contains monitors and the access gangways for the upper articulation frame. Deck four contains direct control and monitoring of the warp propulsion system and its associated equipment. Deck five contains the access gangway for the lower articulation frame, dedicated storage areas for tools and replacement components, workshops for the warp engine mechanics, and a large component replicator that allows the fabrication of replacement parts.

Impulse Propulsion Section

The rear of decks two and three contain the Merlin impulse engines, which extend aft into the ship’s tail assembly. Deck two provides direct control and monitoring of the impulse propulsion system and their associated components. Deck three provides maintenance access to the impulse fusion reactors, storage of tools and replacement parts, a large component replicator, and workshops for the impulse engine mechanics.

Security Section

The ship’s security section is located on deck three, starboard of transporter rooms 1 and 2. It contains a briefing room, the armoury, and two detention cells which can detain two prisoners each. The security section is accessed through a single entrance from the main corridor. The central hub is the watch station, where a single security officer is on duty at all times. From their station they can monitor the ship’s security status. Three doorways lead into the rest of the security section, with two protected by force fields. To the left is the doorway to the security briefing room. Behind the watch station is the protected blast door that leads to the armoury. To the right is the protected doorway that leads to the detention centre. The security briefing room contains theatre style seating that faces a large SHINPADS display. A small lavatory with two sinks and water closets are provided off of the briefing room.

The armoury force field and blast door can typically only be released from the quartermaster’s station that is located inside. Four access protected racks for standard weapons, two access protected racks for special weapons, a weapons repair and maintenance shop, and a weapons analysis office are located inside the armoury.

The detention centre force field and doorway must be released from the security watch station. Through the doorway is the shared exercise corridor, with one detention cell located on either side. Each cell is isolated by it’s own force field with independent controls. They contain a double bunk that is embedded into the wall, and have a water closet and sink behind a privacy screen. The detention cells are remotely monitored from the security watch station.

Science Laboratories

The Avenger was originally designed as a light exploration ship. To fulfill this role there are two general-purpose laboratories on deck two, which can handle most studies that may be necessary. These labs are unfinished, with extra ODN and MEPS taps throughout. This makes them easy to modify should the crew need more specialized laboratories, and facilitates the addition of extra equipment. The Avenger Mk.2 includes a stellar cartographic section, which provides real-time navigation processing to ensure the Avenger arrives quickly where it is needed.

UTILITY SYSTEMS

Cargo Bays

Designed to operate away from bases and supply stations for extended periods of up to eighteen months, the Avenger can carry a total of 4,500 metric tonnes of cargo divided into two cargo bays which are accessed from deck three. Employing advanced, automated cargo handling systems, the ship’s cargo bays can each store 2,250 metric tonnes. Each bay is equipped with its own exterior door located in the dorsal hull. These provide fly-through access for cargo haulers and allow for the repair and servicing of the various sensor arrays located in pallets along the hull. Each cargo bay has a dedicated cargo transporter room, which provides one large and one small cargo transporter.

Storage is built around the standard cargo unit (SCU) which are rectangular containers 2.5 meters wide by 2.5 meters high by six meters in length. Each SCU can store seventy-five metric tonnes worth of cargo, and has integrated antigravity sleds in its base. Each cargo bay can store thirty of these containers. A large automated gantry manipulator is installed into the ceiling of each bay allowing rapid movement of containers around the bays or to their transporter facility. Each cargo bay is outfitted with MEPS and ODN connections for quick modifications in the event the crew needs additional work space, a larger sickbay, or an additional science lab. Each cargo bay also includes a protected storage area which is isolated by a force field controlled from the security section.

Tractor Beam Systems

There are several tractor beam emitters located around the ship to provide direct manipulation of relatively large objects in the immediate vicinity. The primary emitter is located on the ships’ ventral hull behind the planetary sensor array. With a nominal delta-v of 5 m/sec squared this emitter is capable of holding a 250,000 metric tonne object at a range of less than 1,000 meters. Performance in other situations depends on local relativistic conditions and the delta-v between the emitter and the targeted payload. This is the only emitter that is rated for extended towing operations.

There are four secondary emitters dispersed across the hull. One is located on the bow above the navigational deflector, one on each of the port and starboard sides of the hull, and there is one dorsal emitter located behind the planetary sensor platform. Four tertiary emitters are installed, with one at each cargo and landing bay. Additionally each RCS assembly has an integrated mooring beam emitter which is used when the ship is in dock.

Transporter Systems

There are seven transporter systems aboard the Avenger-class. Transporter rooms 1 and 2 are located on deck three, between the security and medical sections. They are standard 7-person personnel transporters which have a range of 45,000 kilometres due to ultra-high resolution pattern buffers. Each room contains a storage space for hazard gear. Transporter rooms 3 and 4 serve cargo bays A and B respectively. They each contain a small and large cargo transporter which have a range of 40,000 kilometres. A large cargo transporter can handle one SCU while the small cargo transporters are provided for the movement of small numbers of storage containers and cartons. Transporter room 5 is located on deck five and contains a 12-person emergency transporter for shipboard evacuation. Capable of outbound transport only the unit has a maximum range of 16,865 kilometres.

Replicator Systems

Shipboard replicators are based on the standard pattern and follow all normal operating procedures. Due to the Federation/Romulan/Klingon alliance in effect at the time the replicator programming was written, a full range of Federation, Romulan and Klingon cuisine can be selected. The Klingons have found that the new synthetic war nog tastes as good as the real thing but without any of the deleterious after effects. This has made it a very popular item aboard ships with Klingon officers. The Romulan Ambassador to Earth had commented that the new program was excellent in its presentation of Romulan food, including his mother’s recipes for Ossoul twist and Viinerine. A synthahol version of “Romulan Ale” is also available, though like most synthaholic products it does not have the same impact as the original.

There are also two large component and fabrication replicators aboard. These allow for the creation of spare parts, supplies, and equipment that would be too large for the standard replicators to produce. They are located in the workshops on decks three and five.

CREW SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Sickbay

The medical section is located on deck three, to port of transporter rooms 1 and 2. Entry is through an aseptic lobby, which provides detection and screening for biological agents including viruses and bacteria. There is a reception/waiting area with the duty nurse’s station. Sickbay itself is divided into two sections at the top of the “T.” To the left, is the main examination/emergency room with four biobeds. Making up a single operating/main diagnostic area each bed is equipped with a full surgical support frame. The second area, to the right, provides areas for the ship’s medical storage and a small bio-lab.

Located beside sickbay is the counselor’s office. A small reception area leads to a larger office for the counsellor. All areas are finished in cool shades of green and blue with sandalwood trim. The lighting throughout the counselling area is specially treated with several micro-particle coatings which create a tranquil, warm, and cozy feeling. The chairs are unusually comfortable, and have a built in heating and massaging system to assist in reducing patient tension.

Variable Environmental Systems

Each compartment can be individually isolated from the main life support system, which allows for selective atmospheric venting. Each room aboard ship can be independently adjusted in terms of pressure, humidity and temperature, though most areas are only capable of providing a class M atmosphere. Ten percent of the junior officer’s and senior officer’s quarters support environments of class H, K, L, and M. The transporter rooms, guest quarters, officer’s wardroom, and adjoining corridors have fully independent environmental systems. They can support class H, K, L, M, N, and N(2) environments with up to four times normal gravity. This flexibility allows the Avenger to serve as a diplomatic courier or as a host to conferences. The ultimate environmental flexibility is provided to the cargo bays, which support class H, K, L, M, N, N(2), O, and P environments with up to eight times normal gravity.

Crew Quarters

Crew quarters are located on decks three, four, and five. Due to space constraints they are fairly small and cramped at only thirty square meters. Two persons of grades Junior-Lieutenant and below share a single room. A single washroom is shared between two quarters (four persons) containing a sonic shower/tub with Jacuzzi unit, two water closets, and two sinks. Quarters are sparsely furnished featuring two standard twin size beds in a two tier bunk configuration that is embedded into the wall. Each bunk is equipped with a foam mattress, pillow, individual reading lamps, and a privacy screen. Each person has an aluminum clothes locker and additional drawer space for personal belongings. A single table/desk slides out from the wall, and two chairs with foam cushions provide some living space. The table can be stowed to create an area for stretching and light exercise. All crew quarters have access to ship’s services such as intercoms, and a SHINPADS terminal is built into the wall providing library computer access for information and entertainment. There are no replicators due to the small size, instead mess rooms on the crew levels provide replicators for the crew.

Officers Quarters

Officers quarters are located on deck two. They are similar to crew quarters except they are slightly larger, as they include some office space. They contain only a single standard twin size bed that is embedded into the wall. The bed has a foam mattress, pillow, and a reading lamp. Two lounge chairs and a desk with a cushioned work chair are provided. SHINPADS terminals are built into the wall and the desk, providing library computer access as well as system monitoring. This allows officers to check their department status at a glance. A single washroom is shared between two quarters (two persons) and includes a sonic shower/tub with Jacuzzi unit, a single water closet, and a single sink. The ship’s CO and XO have larger quarters with private washroom facilities and a divider separating the office from the living spaces. All officers quarters have access to ship’s services such as intercoms, but there are no replicators due to the small size. Instead an officers wardroom has a dining room and lounge, which provide replicators and relaxation space for officers.

Guest Quarters

Located on deck two are four guest quarters which are arranged similarly to the CO and XO’s cabins. They are equipped with private washroom facilities, and have separated office and living space. Guest quarters are located back-to-back and can easily be linked to form two large ambassadorial quarters. When not in use the guest quarters can be used as storage rooms, or can be reconfigured to house additional crew members. Like all crew and officers quarters, there are no replicators present in the guest quarters. Instead guests are usually served in the officers wardroom and dine with the ship’s command staff.

All of these quarters have an “inlaw” feature, which causes the intercoms to randomly route to various voice mail boxes around the ship after playing “on hold” music for extended periods. Extra layers of soundproof insulation help ensure the comfort of these visitors, while guaranteeing ship’s personnel an uninterrupted sleep. A “child safety” feature can be activated that prevents the door from being opened from the inside of the room. The sharp edges of all furnishings have been fitted with softened edge guards, while a durable rubberized finish has been applied to all the wall and flooring surfaces.

Crew’s Mess

The crew’s mess rooms on decks three, four, and five provide food replicators and also provides a place to meet for a friendly game of three dimensional chess. Four replicator terminals are built into the mess room’s forward bulkheads. There are two entrances located on the port and starboard sides. Each mess room contains two hexagonal tables with six cushioned chairs arranged around each. Due to the positioning of the mess rooms in the hull there are no windows, though several SHINPADS displays provide a means of entertainment.

Officers Wardroom

The officers wardroom is located on deck two, and accessed through an anteroom that serves as an off-duty lounge. The central feature of the room is the large table which can seat up to eighteen persons. The wardroom is often used as a conference room for larger meetings or diplomatic functions where the smaller conference area located off the bridge is not sufficient. A larger SHINPADS display dominates the aft bulkhead and can be configured to display a variety of images. The anteroom is designed to serve as a medical triage station during action, with flip panels that reveal medical displays and surgical lights.

Observation Lounge

Located in the forward part of deck one is the ship’s observation lounge. Most shipboard ceremonies occur here, but it is also a place for quiet reflection. This location features floor to ceiling windows that follow the contour of the Avenger’s hull, providing a breathtaking view of the stars. Aligned with the centre is a raised pedestal where the ship’s bell and wheel are installed. The wheel has eight points and is handcrafted using the finest tropical hardwoods. It is finished by hand with a high gloss varnish, and built around a highly polished chrome hub. The ship’s motto has been engraved into the hub in cursive.

Next to the wheel is the ship’s bell. Made of solid brass cast into a precision machined mold, the bell has the ship’s name embossed around its rim. The date the ship was launched and the yard where it was constructed are engraved into the polished surface. With a sturdy bell rope and balanced striker, the tone generated by the bell is crystal clear. Though the passage of time is no longer marked by the ringing of the bell, it still has several ceremonial uses.

The centre of the room has marble and granite tiles forming a compass rose with “North,” oriented to the front of the ship. The walls have polished wooden trim and are a combination museum and memorial, commemorating the history of each vessel. The walls are adorned with scale models and photographs, depicting the history of the battles and of the other ships for which these proud vessels are named. A plaque with all the ship’s battle honours is set into the wheel’s pedestal.

Multipurpose Room

The ship’s multipurpose room is located on deck five, and features a FIBA basketball court that is surrounded by a two-lane running track. Equipment rooms store various fitness and sports equipment, along with tables and chairs. A series of large SHINPADS displays line the walls and can be configured to provide a variety of entertainment. This includes 3D holographic projections, but the emitters are not powerful enough to alter the appearance of the entire room. The room can be divided into two smaller spaces by a sliding wall that folds into storage pockets. One half is typically configured as a gymnasium, and the other half serves as a recreation room.

AUXILIARY SPACECRAFT SYSTEMS

The Avengers are equipped with two landing bays which are accessed through exterior doors in the dorsal hull. Each landing bay can support a single craft, and is served by an elevating platform. The platform is painted with the landing “target” and moves from the launch and retrieval position, into the landing bay, or to the maintenance and repair bay below. Each landing bay is capable of operating a single craft up to ten meters in length and six meters in width. Below is a list of small-craft that could be employed on Avenger-class starships. Only those craft meeting the size restrictions of the Avenger’s landing bay are listed. Small-craft exceeding these restrictions are not listed, even if they could be carried externally beneath the hull.

Shuttlecraft

Type 1 shuttle
Type 3 shuttle
Type 6 shuttle
Type 7 shuttle
Type 8 shuttle
Type 9 shuttle
Type 10 shuttle
Armadillo shuttle

Shuttlepods

Type 15 shuttlepod
Type 15A shuttlepod
Type 16 shuttlepod
Type 18 shuttlepod

Fighter craft

Compsognathus interceptor

The Avenger is equipped with a generic docking collar that extends down from airlock 5, located forward of the planetary sensor array on the ventral hull. The docking clamps can be used to carry small craft at speeds up to warp 6, providing the docked vessel does not exceed the size of a runabout. This allows the Avenger to carry additional equipment and engage in forced boarding operations. The Avenger can also dock with larger vessels for high warp flight provided both vessels are equipped with docking ports and their engines are slaved together.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions and Structure
Length: 180.2 meters
Beam: 140.6 meters
Height: 38.0 meters
Decks: 6
Complement
Officers and Crew: 60
Visiting Personnel: 8
Maximum Evacuation Limit: 204

Computer Systems
System Architecture: CCS-2800
Operating System: SHINPADS
User Interface: Priya
Software: MARS, PAI, EMH (Mk.IV), EEH (Mk.I)

Warp Propulsion System
1x Class-8 Linear Intermix Chamber M/ARA rated at 1900+ Cochranes
2x TR-5 Linear Field Induction Spacewarp Engines (port and starboard)
Cruising Velocity: Warp 6.0
Maximum Sustainable Velocity: Warp 9.2
Maximum Sustainable Velocity (12-hours): Warp 9.6
Emergency Speed: Warp 9.8

Impulse Propulsion System
4x Merlin Subatomic Unified Energy Impulse Engines
Full Impulse: 0.30c
Full Reheat: 0.35c
Accelerate: 3.254 seconds
Decelerate: 6.671 seconds

Defensive Systems
FSRM-1 Full-Spectrum Regenerative Metaphasic Primary Force Field and Deflector Control System
Shield Maximum Graviton Load (Continuous): 1444 MW
Shield Maximum Energy Dissipation Rate: 4.00x10^5 kW

Offensive Systems
Torpedoes
2x Type-3 Standard-Fire launchers (forward)
1x Type-4 Burst-Fire launcher (aft)
Standard Payload: 48 torpedoes
Maximum Payload: 75 torpedoes

Phasers
2x Type-VII Guardian Linear Phaser Arrays (port/starboard 180°)
2x Type VIII Long Lance Phaser Emitters (forward 90°)
4x Type-VIII Damocles Pulse Phased Phaser Cannons (forward 45°)

DECK LAYOUT

Deck 1
Airlock 1 and Docking Port (dorsal)
Bridge
Bridge Conference Room (9 seats)
Bridge Officer’s Lounge
Bridge Ready Room
Observation Lounge
Shuttle Landing Bays (port and starboard)

Deck 2
Cargo Bays A and B (upper)
Impulse Propulsion Control and Monitoring
Guest Quarters
Lifeboat Stations 1-20
Officers Quarters
Officers Wardroom (triage station)
Science Laboratories
Shuttle Repair Bays (port and starboard)
Stellar Cartography

Deck 3
Auxiliary Control
Cargo Bays A and B (lower)
Central Computer Core
Crew Mess
Crew Quarters
Engineering Control Room (main engineering)
Impulse Propulsion Repair and Maintenance
Transporter Rooms 1 and 2 (standard 7-person)
Transporters Rooms 3 and 4 (small and large cargo)
Sickbay
Security Section (armoury and detention cells)

Deck 4
Airlock 2 and Docking Port (port)
Airlock 3 and Docking Port (starboard)
Airlock 4 and Docking Port (forward)
Crew Mess
Crew Quarters
Deuterium Storage Tanks
M/ARA
M/ARA Ejection Systems
Warp Propulsion Control and Monitoring

Deck 5
Auxiliary Generator Rooms (forward and aft)
Crew Mess
Crew Quarters
Forward Torpedo Launchers
Lifeboat Stations 21-40
Magazine
Multipurpose Room (aft)
Transporter Room 5 (emergency 22-person)
Warp Propulsion Repair and Maintenance

Deck 6
Access to Aft Torpedo Launcher
Airlock 5 and Docking Port (ventral)
Anti-Deuterium Storage Pods
Anti-Deuterium Storage Pod Ejection Systems
Deuterium/Anti-Deuterium Refill Ports
Docking Clamps
Landing Struts

SHIPS OF CLASS

USS Avenger NCC-79500
USS Defender NCC-79501
USS Sentry NCC-79502
USS Centurion NCC-79503
USS Guardian NCC-79504
USS Devastator NCC-79505
USS Patriot NCC-79506
USS Scout NCC-79507
USS Pioneer NCC-79508
USS Warrior NCC-79509
USS Cavalier NCC-79510
USS Ardent NCC-79511
USS Dextrous NCC-79512
USS Chief NCC-79513
USS Champion NCC-79514

CONCLUSION

The Avenger Mk.2 is part of Starfleet’s efforts to return to missions of exploration and discovery, while retaining a heightened state of military readiness. As a rapid-reaction unit their high speed and agility will allow them to decide the time and place for an engagement. The changes brought to the design by the M2P will see the ships remain competitive with the latest designs by potential aggressors. These upgrades should allow Avengers to continue to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the finest traditions of Starfleet.