Guardian Class

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Guardian-class
Information
Affiliation	Starfleet
Role	Spacedock
Date Entered Service	2384
Expected Design Duration	150 years
Expected Refit Cycle	25 years
Population
Standard Complement	60,000
Civilian Residents	40,000
Maximum Population	200,000
Dimensions
Diameter	4925 meters
Height	4910 meters (5845 meters with antennae)
Decks	700
Propulsion
Propulsion System	32 Impulse Engines 128 Manuvering Thrusters
Armaments
Energy Weapons	66 Type-XIV Phaser Arrays Upper Docking Bay: 8 dorsal, 8 ventral Habitat Module: 4 dorsal, 4 ventral Docking Modules: 16 dorsal, 16 ventral Lower Docking Bay: 10 ventral
Torpedo Launchers	28 Burst-Fire Torpedo Turrets Upper Docking Bay: 8 dorsal Tactical Modules: 8 dorsal, 8 ventral Lower Docking Bay: 4 ventral
Torpedo Payload	5,000 Photon Torpedoes 4,000 Quantum Torpedoes
Shields	Regenerative Shields
Docking Facilities
Docking Facilities	Upper Docking Bay 16 Starship Berths 8 Shuttlebays 4 Runabout Pads 12 Docking Ports 2 Medium Docking Modules 2 Large Starship Bays 24 Shuttlebays 8 Docking Ports 2 Small Docking Modules 6 Medium Starship Bays 4 Runabout Pads 4 Docking Ports 4 Science Modules 12 Docking Ports Lower Docking Bay 8 Starship Berths 6 Small Starship Bays 6 Docking Ports 2 Freight Bays
Shuttles	100
Runabouts	32
Fighters	64
Template:StationSpecifications

The Guardian-class spacedock is currently the largest class of space station in operation by the United Federation of Planets. Combining successful design features from both the Spacedock-class family and the Regula-class family, this massive station has multiple large docking facilities, the capability to handle modular additions, and some of the most potent defensive armaments in Starfleet service. These stations are still rare, with the first one not coming online until 2396.

Mission Parameters

Like all spacedock-type stations, the Guardian-class is a large, multi-purpose station with the ability to manage the logistics needs of an entire sector. They are equipped for starship construction, repair, and resupply, large scale trade and cargo operations, scientific inquiry command and control functions, and are potent defensive platforms, all while serving as a home to tens of thousands of residents.

This class's most distinguishing feature is the presence of a large docking bay on the top of the station, drawn from the Spacedock-class, as well as a smaller secondary docking bay on the bottom of the station, drawn from the Regula family. The upper docking bay has large space doors and is capable of admitting even the largest of starships, while the lower docking bay is open to space to allow for quick turn-arounds of visiting cargo vessels. This split's the station's docking operations much more effectively than the single large docking bay present on the Spacedock class, and allows the upper docking bay to devote more space to construction and maintenance facilities.

Docking Facilities

Spacedock-type stations are designed to be able to service an entire fleet at the same time, and as such the Guardian-class can comfortably accommodate 40 starships of mixed sizes in internal bays, with a further 42 external docking ports for shorter visits. Compared to a Spacedock-class station, the Guardian-class improves efficiency dramatically with the use of external docking ports and many bays without cumbersome space doors.

While the largest dock on the station, it is intended that the upper dock only be used for long-term stays for maintenance and the construction of new starships, where the radiation shielding properties of the space doors are most useful. This bay contains berths around the central tower for sixteen explorer-type starships or a larger number of smaller ones, with four massive space doors that give even the Odyssey-class more than enough clearance. At the floor of the bay, there are a further four construction bays which can each build or refit two cruiser-type starships simultaneously. The bay is ringed by twelve cargo bays which have their own smaller space doors, each one above an extendable docking port. Above the bay are four runabout pads, and beneath it are eight large shuttle bays.

Civilian and mercantile traffic largely uses a set of docking modules near the center of the station, as they are closest to the station's commercial, recreation, and living areas. The two medium docking modules, marked by large communications spires above and beneath them, can accommodate several starships or a handful of freighters. They also contain six shuttle bays and four docking ports each, handling a mix of civilian and Starfleet traffic. The two smaller docking modules have three docking bays for freighters or small starships, as well as two docking ports and two over-sized landing pads that are mainly used for runabouts, but can also handle small starships with landing capabilities.

Turnaround Starfleet traffic is handled in the lower docking bay, with enough space in the central open dock to handle eight explorer-type starships or a much larger number of smaller ones, with ships stopping here to exchange crew, refuel, or other tasks that only require a few hours to accomplish. The smallest starships can also be accommodated in six docking bays that ring the exterior of this module, while cargo traffic is routed to two massive freight bays above it.

Between all of these facilities, a Guardian-class station supports its own fleet of thirty-two runabouts and a hundred shuttles. In addition to these standard craft, this class of base can also support four squadrons of sixteen fighters.

Defensive Systems

Guardian-class stations, as their name suggests, are potently defensive installations. They will guard the most strategically important locations in the Federation, as more units come online. 66 specially-designed Type-XIV phaser arrays dot the surface of the station, providing comprehensive phaser coverage. These arrays are among the largest weapons in current service, with substantially increased firepower over the Type-XII arrays found on most front-line starships. In addition to these phaser arrays, 28 burst-fire torpedo turrets are located in strategic areas: protecting both of the main docking modules and the shield generators. The shields themselves are projected from four tactical modules near the center of the station, with secondary generators located in every module, which gives the station's shield profile an incredibly complex interlocking pattern of bubbles. This increases redundancy and makes it more difficult for enemies to weaken them.

One of this station's most effective defensive assets has nothing to do with its firepower: a combination sensor and communications system that can provide real-time scans of their whole solar system at once, which allows them to keep tabs on every single vessel under their influence. It's just as hard to sneak up on one of these fortresses as it is to assault one.