Vision Class

Vision-class stations are some of the most numerous small bases in Starfleet's inventory. Based on the Regula-class design, this station shares many components with the larger Anchorage-class stations as well. It is intended to serve as a research base or the orbital presence of a minor shore facility. Though compact, this design is substantially larger and more capable than its predecessor.

History

By the first quarter of the 24th century, it was clear that Starfleet's existing small station classes, namely the K-class were insufficient to keep up with the demands of supporting the fleet. The Regula-class design was great as a small research lab, but it was far too small to be able to handle general logistical functions or support a crew of any real size. At the same time, Starfleet's medium-sized stations such as the Watchtower-class station were also falling behind. In 2330, Starfleet ordered the Starfleet Corps of Engineers to develop two new station types that could fill this niche. In the end, the Regula-class design was used as a starting point to create the slightly larger Vision-class and the substantially larger Anchorage-class, giving Starfleet three station designs at three size points that used common components and design language, and so which could be built quickly and supported efficiently.

The first Vision-class station was built to replace the aging K-class station that served as the orbital facility for Starbase 17 for almost 75 years. Since the 2330s, the Vision-class has been in service in large numbers in a number of different applications across the Federation, its longevity ensured because of its ability to attach multiple mission modules and easily swap out core systems when new advancements are made.

Vision-class Stations In-Play

• This is a small station--not so small that it would have a crew of only a dozen like a Regula-class station, but it's no Deep Space 9, either. With a crew of a hundred or so, this base is ideal for providing the spaceborne component of very minor starbases, which might also have a few drydock frames to service starships. It could keep watch on a system and has just enough defenses to hold out until help arrives, but it's not able to handle the vast amounts of traffic of a spacedock or to really pose much of a threat to most attackers.
• Like their smaller cousins, the Vision class can also used as a research base, especially for projects that require a larger crew than a Regula-can support. The Federation has both civilian-run and Starfleet-run research bases, and most of them would tend to have a mixed crew drawn from both Starfleet science officers and civilian scientists.