User:CrimsonTacit/Sandbox/Miranda Class Refit

The Miranda-class refit frigate was one of the most widely-produced starship designs of the 23rd and 24th century, serving as a light cruiser, frigate, science vessel, and supply vessel at various points during its long career. Prized for its balance of capabilities across all of Starfleet's main mission parameters, this class of ship was built en masse and served as the backbone of the fleet from the 2290s through the 2370s. Originally designated as a light cruiser, this class was redesignated as a frigate in the 2350s during the Federation-Cardassian War. Their numbers were decimated during the Borg and Dominion conflicts, but the spirit behind the design and her aesthetic signature lives on in the Reliant-class frigate. While the class is no longer in mainline Starfleet service, a handful of these vessels consider in Starfleet Auxiliary service.

Exploration and Science

For decades, Miranda-class ships were considered front-line explorers, serving alongside Excelsior-class and Constellation-class heavy cruisers. By the 2330s and 2340s, there were a sufficient number of these other classes in addition to the even larger Ambassador-class heavy cruisers to push the Miranda to second-line surveys and scientific missions, but they remained a valuable part of the exploratory fleet into the 2360s. As a fully-equipped light cruiser, they carry comprehensive science labs and a full science department, with specialized labs for most fields found aboard. The planetary sensor dome they share with other ships of their era is a powerful tool for examining planets closely.