The Galaxy (II) Class Large Exploratory Cruiser

Starfleet's Best Just Got Better

By:

            Rear Admiral Chris Wallace

            Director - Starfleet Department of Technical Services

            Chairman – Advanced Starship Design Bureau

            Executive Director - Galaxy and Galaxy (II) Class Starship Development Projects

Commanding Officer – U.S.S. Bright Star • NCC-71875

            Captain Madoka Ayukawa

            Chief of Staff - U.S.S. Bright Star • NCC-71875

            Galaxy (II) Class Starship Development Project

With six vessels in service and six more on the way, the Galaxy class is rapidly taking the position in the modern fleet that the Constitution / Enterprise classes did over a century ago. And as the Constitution spawned various updates and designs, so has the Galaxy. The first was the Olympus class dreadnought, as the procedure is a tried-and-true one having been done on the Constitution and Enterprise hulls to produce the Federation classes.

As had happened with the Federation class before it, the cost of conversion was astronomical, amounting to almost 35% of a new vessel. The largest part of the conversion cost is the third warp nacelle and the necessary structural reinforcement and power-transfer equipment. Proponents of the dreadnought program have always sited the enhanced weaponry and performance to justify the cost of the conversion. And opponents have always said that the money saved could be used to buy a smaller starship (in this case, an Akira class heavy cruiser) that would offer greater flexibility to Starfleet at a much lower maintenance cost.

Recent events between the U.S.S. Enterprise (1701-D) and various Romulan, Klingon, and Ferengi vessels have shown a definite, and some say serious, weakness in the offensive and defensive systems of the Galaxy class. Proponents of the dreadnought program have used this to attempt to justify their construction. The Advanced Starship Design Board was commissioned by the Military Staff Committee to prepare a proposal to improve the Galaxy class at a much lower cost then the Olympus series. The Advanced Starship Design Bureau decided to concentrate on three major areas: propulsion, weapons, and shields.

PROPULSION AND POWER SYSTEMS UPGRADES

Due to size and structural considerations, the initial plan to use the Leeding LF-42 engine from the Griffon class battleship was dropped. Instead, the existing Leeding LF-41 drive system was modified to provide an additional 20% in peak power. This raises the cruising speed to Warp 7 and the top speed to Warp 9.9. Most importantly, it also provides additional power to the ship's systems. The new system has been designated the LF-43. The impulse drive units were left unchanged, being deemed quite adequate. The secondary fusion reactors were uprated 10% and tied to the weapons system to enhance performance.

TACTICAL SYSTEMS UPGRADES

A plan to install Type X+ megaphasers was shelved when suitable mounting points could not be engineered. Instead, the standard Type X collimator phaser arrays were greatly improved. The energy-release capabilities of the fushigi-no-umi crystals have been increased, delivering almost 50% more power than the standard Type X phasers installed on the Galaxy class. These new arrays are referred to as Type XII. An additional phaser strip was added along the top of each nacelle to correct a gunnery blindspot. The Mk 95 photon torpedo system has replaced the standard Mk 80. More powerful and with a faster loading system, the Mk 95 is an excellent long-range weapon. The Mk 95 is also the first torpedo system designed to fire the new quantum torpedoes.

A Combat Information Center has been fitted, along with the Aegis Fleet Fire-Control system. This allows the Bright Star to command ships at the Task Force level via a Link 35 Communications Core. CETIS MK III with Type 225 TACAR II (Target Acquisition Center Accelerated Response) remain standard equipment, though the 42/ADA Countermeasures Support System has been added.

Two flights of Peregrine fightercraft were added to help provide a multi-role capability. A flight of SWACS (Spaceborne Warning and Control System) shuttles provide extended-range sensor capability and command and control functions. Provisions were made for the ship to carry up to a company of Marines, though they are normally not carried as they are not part of the ship's general mission.

The uprated power system allowed the installation of the FSS experimental shield system. Designed originally for the Griffon class SCS-X, the FSS incorporates three shield layers to allow the ship to withstand more punishment. As the outer layer is breached, the inner layers take up the slack while the breached layer is replenished underneath. All total, shield strength is doubled. Though a marvel of technological innovation, the incredible complexity of the system and shield grid required extensive modification to be fitted to the Galaxy class spaceframe and prevent it from being retrofitted to other vessels. As the FSS system costs twice as much as the FSQ/2, and due to the complexity, future Galaxy (II) vessels may not incorporate it.

A controversial addition is the FCE-2 cloaking device. As part of the FSS system, it will effectively cloak the vessel from sensors. Unfortunately, shield effectiveness is reduced by 60%, weapons cannot be fired without disrupting the field, and the energy costs, even with the second reactor, are excessive and a serious drain on the ship's power grid. The main hanger bay has undergone the necessary modifications needed to launch and retrieve the fighters. Shuttlebays Two and Three remain unchanged.

COMPUTER SYSTEM UPDATES

The new M-16 Isolinear III computer has been installed to test its performance. A partially cybernetic system utilizing “bio-neural gel pack” processors in addition to standard isolinear ones, it is both faster and more powerful than the current M-15 used in the Griffon, Galaxy, and Olympus classes. In addition, a highly advanced artificial-personality program called E.V.E. (Enhanced Visual interfacE) has been installed on top of the standard LCARS software, providing enhanced computer-human interactions. 

DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION HISTORY

These changes were submitted to the Military Staff Committee on Stardate 3/6703. It was reviewed and approved within the month. The U.S.S. Bright Star (CKE 71875), tasked to become the eighth Galaxy class ship, had yet to have her propulsion, weapons, and shields systems installed. It was decided that this ship would receive the updates and the necessary changes were made in the construction plans. The ship was finished in 2369 and PSA, shakedown, and trials were all completed and passed with excellent marks. The ship was commissioned on Stardate 3/7005.

OPERATIONAL DISPOSITION

The Bright Star has been in general service for not quite two months. She encountered and fought off a Ferengi D'Kora class Marauder attempting to purchase stolen cultural artifacts. Captain Aya Nakajima has taken over temporary command of the vessel as part of a one-month training program while Rear Admiral Wallace and the other Galaxy class C.O.'s attend a symposium at Starfleet Headquarters.

CONCLUSION

At this time, the Military Staff Committee is considering conversion of the current Galaxy class vessels under construction to this specification. The cost-control attempts were partially successful, the Bright Star running some 20% more than a standard Galaxy class. Future variants will probably lack the Aegis system, and the FSS shield system has been returned to “experimental development” status. The deletion of Aegis and the substitution of the FSQ/2 system should cut the conversion price by half. A 10% premium seems to be a small price to pay for the enhancements brought to the platform.

Admiral Wallace is the Director of the Starfleet Department of Technical Services and Chairman of the Advanced Starship Design Bureau. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Galaxy and Galaxy (II) Class Starship Development Projects and is the Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Bright Star.

In addition to her work on the Galaxy (II) Class Starship Development Project, Captain Ayukawa serves as the Chief of Staff of the U.S.S. Bright Star.

Last Updated — Monday, August 29, 2005