Intrepid Class (22nd Century)
The NV-class starship, later referred to as the Intrepid-class, is a type of a starship that was created and operated under the command and control of United Earth’s Starfleet. In the mid-22nd century, the age of deep space exploration was well on its way and Starfleet knew that once its front-line ships had explored a certain region, follow-up missions would be required. The plan had been that once an NX-class had explored a NV-class, possible with other ships depending on the area, would move in to take further actions in surveying the area.
Exploration & Science
Primarily designed as a short-term follow up explorer, the Intrepid-class was given the benefit of having the most advanced technology available to the fleet from the NX Project. As a result almost every technology and resource that can be found on an NX-class can be found on its smaller cousin, just in a more compact style. There are a number of laboratories on board, with several being modular in nature so the crew can adapt these for a particular mission.
Being able to explore most areas, one unique feature of the Intrepid-class is its ability to enter planetary atmospheres to carry out up close surveys. Access to the same sophisticated sensor technology, means that ships of this class can conduct detailed and multiple scans of a planet. Though the NX-class is able to do this, the Intrepid-class can last longer in harsher atmospheres.
Access to a smaller complement of sophisticated probes provides further outreach for the ship to undertake its detailed exploration efforts.
Diplomacy
Carrying out second contact missions is another primary aspect for the Intrepid-class, thus the ship has room for visitors to be hosted for a small range of functions, including suitable and decent guest quarters. A singular conference room can host up to ten people to meet to discuss a range of issues, this also doubles up as an area for the captain to brief their senior staff and other crew when required.
Engineering
Using a modified version of the Warp 5 engine, the Intrepid-class’ primary source of propulsion is not as powerful but allows for the ship to reach a maximum speed of warp 4 for a short amount of time. Nevertheless the ship is pretty quick when at sublight speeds and can be just as agile as Ganges-class ships during a combat situation.
The computer installed on the Intrepid-class is the same three deck high core installed on its bigger cousin, thus allowing the crew to undertake multiple work without any technical issues.
The Intrepid-class is outfitted with a transporter that can beam cargo and resources between locations and only in 2154, was the system upgraded to allow for two people to use it safely.
Tactical
Though smaller, the ship still has teeth. Originally built with pulse plasma cannons and spatial torpedoes, by 2153 the weapons array had been replaced with phase cannons and photonic torpedoes launchers instead.
Defended by a strong hull polarisation system, this combined with its sublight manoeuvrability and weapons array, gives the ship the opportunity to remain in a fight longer than some other older Earth classes.
Shipboard Life
With approximately half the number of crew on board in comparison to its bigger cousin, the Intrepid-class offers similar support for its crew. A mess hall where the crew use not just to eat meals but to enjoy one another’s company is available, but this is complimented by a smaller games room which houses a pool table, a dart board and a couple of tables for other games (e.g. cards, board games, etc.) to be played out. A gymnasium with areas for fitness training is also available to the crew.
Everyone, besides the captain and first officer, share quarters. Though this creates an intimate atmosphere it does lead to the crew fostering a strong sense of community.
The ship's sickbay is the same size as its NX-class counterpart, but the ship has no additional wards and when the ship is dealing with mass trauma, only one cargo bay is truly able to be used. The ship is only supported by three medical staff too.
Class History
After Zefram Cochrane’s successful warp drive flight in 2063, the United Earth Space Probe Agency (UESPA) started to launch a series of deep space probes to explore the galaxy. This started in 2067 with the launch of Friendship One. The probe, which used a similar warp drive to Cochrane’s warp ship, was humanity’s attempt in contacting other races and to begin exploring the galaxy beyond their own star system. As their new Vulcan allies were not being forthcoming with technological support, at the time the New United Nations had decided to seek help from other more open races that could be out there. As a result, the Friendship Deep Space Probe Program was successful in sending data back to Earth about what lay beyond the Sol system, but the UESPA had no way of undertaking further follow-up missions.
In the 2110s, the NX Project had started and it was Earth’s attempt to develop a warp five engine to support Earth’s aims in launching long term deep space exploration missions. Three designs were submitted for this class of ship. Designers at the time joked that they had given the Starfleet Command Council the “Goldilocks conundrum” when picking the final class for the new warp drive. All three classes were different in sizes. One was a compact concept (later known as the NV-class), a larger ship that was almost as big as some of the Vulcan ships and one that was a mid-sized ship. The Command Council picked the latter, as they were concerned the smaller design would not cut it for deep space exploration assignments and scientists assigned to the NX Project felt the engine would not be able to fully power the larger class. They feared that they would have to make changes to the engine for it to work. As a result of this, the adage of “just right” for the middle choice was coined at the time. The new NX-class ship was picked.
However, Starfleet were still interested in the other two classes and their potential in subsidising the fleet with other matters. The Command Council issued a review for both classes to be undertaken to see if the new warp four engine could be used with this class, like it was being used on the NF-class.
While the larger class was being considered for defence purposes, the smaller class was considered to be used from the lessons that the UESPA had learnt at the end of the previous century. This class, named the NV-class, would pick-up where the NX-class had left from and carry out detailed surveys and other similar missions. Unlike some of the other classes already in the fleet, like the Daedalus and Ganges, who were more suited to missions closer to home, the NV would support and enhance Earth’s deep space exploration efforts further. In 2136, the plans for this class of ship were approved after they were re-developed and slightly adjusted for its new mission parameters.
The vessel would be equipped with the same sophisticated technology being used on the NX-class ship, except for its warp engine, and the only other difference would be its need to re-supply more than the NX-class. Along with using similar technologies, the design of the class made it look like a compressed version of the NX-class, with a smaller saucer section attached to an even smaller engineering compartment. Where the NX was designed more for comfort so its crew could perform deep space missions, the NV’s living quarters were a little more cramped. Taking on board similar methods from the Ganges class, the ship itself had a majority of the crew sharing quarters – except for the captain, first officer and VIP quarters for visiting dignitaries. By taking this approach, it meant the ship could have more scientific facilities used for exploration and research.
Construction on the ship eventually started in 2138, Starfleet had focussed a majority of its efforts on the NX-class and other ships. However, this time had not been wasted as the project lead, Captain Carlos Ramirez, used the team to work hard in ensuring the design was fully tested in countless simulations. He had also used the time to ensure that once Starfleet had given the green light for the building to start, the resources were ready. The first ship was to be called Intrepid and was planned to be launched by mid-2139. Ramirez was given command and the ship began its shakedown cruise. Starfleet wanted the ship to work well before the first NX-class ship was launched. The first three months were successful for the ship and eventually Starfleet began construction on the second ship. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Traité d'Unification, the treaty that established the United Earth government, Starfleet named the second ship Republic and the ship was launched on 21st June 2140. Command of it was given to Ramirez’s former project deputy: Leo Jennings. Starfleet extended its contracts on building this class, now named the Intrepid-class, to the Proxima Shipyards. By the time Enterprise (the first NX-class) was launched the Intrepid and her sister ships were consistently proving how worthwhile they were and were ready to begin their mission to follow in the footsteps of their bigger cousins within the deep space exploration fleet.
After the success of the Intrepid and Republic, in 2144 Starfleet issued for an additional eight more ships to be built. This batch of ships would take their names after spacecraft that were either manned or unmanned missions from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
In Play
- Being posted to an Intrepid-class during the 22nd century is seen just as a prestigious role as being on an NX-class.
- These ships are seen as the smaller cousin of the NX-class ship (just like the Miranda-class is to the Constitution-class and the Nebula-class is to the Galaxy-class).
- Captains of these ships are experienced and have served on other classes in the fleet prior to this posting. Some senior officers from these classes may go on to be posted to command their own ships or go on to more senior roles on an NX-class (like first or second officers).