Difference between pages "Steamrunner Class" and "Nova Class"

From Bravo Fleet
(Difference between pages)
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{{icons|bfc}}{{Specification
+
{{icons|bfc}}
| image = [[Image:Steamrunner.png]]
+
{{Specification
| displayName = '''''Steamrunner'' Class'''
+
| image = [[Image:Novaclass.png]]
| name = Steamrunner
+
| displayName = '''''Nova'' Class'''
 +
| name = Nova
 
| affiliation = [[United Federation of Planets]]
 
| affiliation = [[United Federation of Planets]]
 
| operator = [[Starfleet]]
 
| operator = [[Starfleet]]
 
| status =  
 
| status =  
| role = Light Cruiser
+
| role = Surveyor
 
| type =  
 
| type =  
 
| precedingClass =  
 
| precedingClass =  
 
| succeedingClass =  
 
| succeedingClass =  
| dateEntered = 2369
+
| dateEntered = 2370
 
| productionEnd =  
 
| productionEnd =  
 
| retired =  
 
| retired =  
| expectedDuration = 80 Years
+
| expectedDuration = 60 Years
| expectedRefit = 5 Years
+
| expectedRefit = 10 Years
 
| timeResupply = 1 Year
 
| timeResupply = 1 Year
| crewComplement = 120
+
| crewComplement = 80
| emergencyCap = 250
+
| emergencyCap = 200
 
| civilians =  
 
| civilians =  
 
| populationCap =  
 
| populationCap =  
 
| flightCrew =  
 
| flightCrew =  
 
| passengers =  
 
| passengers =  
| length = 243 meters
+
| length = 165 meters
| width = 160 meters
+
| width = 62 meters
 
| diameter =  
 
| diameter =  
| height = 40 meters
+
| height = 34 meters
| decks = 10
+
| decks = 8
 
| propulsionSystem = Matter/Antimatter powered warp drive
 
| propulsionSystem = Matter/Antimatter powered warp drive
 
| cruiseSpeed = Warp 6
 
| cruiseSpeed = Warp 6
| maxSpeed = Warp 9
+
| maxSpeed = Warp 8
| emergencySpeed = Warp 9.5 (12 hours)
+
| emergencySpeed = Warp 8.5 (12 hours)
| energyWeapons = *5x Type-X Phaser Arrays
+
| energyWeapons = *11x Type-X Phaser Arrays
 
| torpLaunchers = *2 forward
 
| torpLaunchers = *2 forward
*1 aft
+
| torpPayload = *50 Photon Torpedoes
| torpPayload = *60 Photon Torpedoes
 
 
| shields = Multi-Layered Shielding System
 
| shields = Multi-Layered Shielding System
 
| dockingfacilities =  
 
| dockingfacilities =  
| shuttleBays = 2
+
| shuttleBays = 1
| shuttles = 4
+
| shuttles = 2
| runabouts =  
+
| runabouts = 1
 
| fighters =  
 
| fighters =  
 
| aux =  
 
| aux =  
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| playable = yes
 
| playable = yes
 
}}
 
}}
By the mid-2350s, Starfleet Command began to focus on developing a replacement for the venerable ''Miranda''-class space frame which had successfully served the Federation in a broad variety of roles since the 2260s. The ''Steamrunner-''class proposal was eventually confirmed based on the design’s ability to undertake non-specialised diplomatic, scientific and exploration mission profiles from a relatively small, self-sufficient, and efficiently resourced and operated platform.  
+
The '''''Nova''-class surveyor''' is one of the most common science vessels in Starfleet, with several hundred having been built since the class was introduced in the 2370s. Efficient and well-equipped, her primary purpose is to perform in-depth surveys of planetary systems and especially of M-class planets for possible colonization.
  
=== Exploration and Science ===
+
==== Exploration and Science ====
Whilst lacking the depth and breadth of the science facilities found on the outgoing ''Oberth-''class and incoming ''Nova-''class survey vessels, ''Steamrunner'' was intended from the outset to be able to successfully complete general exploration and scientific missions as part of its multi-role brief. The class includes four configurable science laboratories and a dedicated astrometrics laboratory on Deck 4. These laboratories are serviced by a full suite of scientific sensors, supplemented by data inputs from enhanced navigational and long-range sensor arrays located in both the primary hull and aft-mounted deflector pod.    
+
The ''Nova''-class is one of the most capable scientific platforms in Starfleet for short-duration exploratory missions. The ''Nova''’s primary mission profile is in-depth surveys of star systems and planetary bodies. While larger ships might visit dozens if not hundreds of star systems in years-long indefinite missions, ships of this class are often sent to a single star system where they will linger for six months or more and perform a comprehensive assessment based on initial scans by an explorer-type vessel. The ''Nova''-class has scientific facilities specifically geared towards exploring M-class planets and evaluating them for colonization and resource exploitation, including eleven science labs of varying types, an extensive set of sensor arrays, and a large complement of probes. One key feature of this class is a project control center located forward of the main bridge which allows the science department to coordinate its effort across all of its labs and any away teams.  
  
=== Diplomacy ===
+
==== Diplomacy ====
In line with the original design brief of ''Steamrunner'' being able to fulfill multi-role mission profiles, limited diplomatic facilities are provided on Deck 3 which include a number of well-appointed staterooms, two small conference rooms and a private dining / reception suite.
+
While this class does have one set of VIP quarters and two briefing rooms that could be used for negotiations, it is not suited for diplomatic duties. Its low top speed also limits its utility as a diplomatic courier.  
  
=== Engineering ===
+
==== Engineering ====
The ''Steamrunner-''class spaceframe has a unique design consisting of a broad primary hull which contains the majority of the vessel’s systems and a separate navigational deflector pod situated aft of the primary hull and connected via the port and starboard warp nacelles. The nacelles themselves are angled to both minimise the tactical profile of the vessel during combat and to benefit from the significantly improved engine efficiencies experienced by this configuration during extended warp 8+ flight. The separate navigational deflector pod is accessed by a heavily shielded single-width companionway which runs the length of both nacelle cowlings.
+
Based on one of the rejected designs for the ''Defiant''-class, the ''Nova''-class has a compact, angular hull that is in a clear design lineage with her larger sister: the ''Intrepid''. Spanning just eight decks, ''Nova'' has a roughly-triangular primary hull with a cut-out in the bow for an over-sized secondary deflector, which is also part of the ship’s long-range sensors systems. A single impulse engine at the aft end of the saucer provides sublight power, above a door connected to one of the cargo holds. The engineering hull is small and roughly cylindrical, and the small warp nacelles are mounted on angled pylons.
  
The class-7 warp drive is maintained from Main Engineering on Deck 6 with direct connections to both warp nacelles and the paired impulse engines positioned on the trailing edge of the primary hull. Deuterium is stored in twin tanks which occupy space between Decks 6 and 7, whilst antimatter is stored under magnetic locks on the lower-most Deck 8 to allow forcible ejection away from the vessel in case of catastrophic failure of containment. Likewise, the entire matter/antimatter reaction assembly has the ability to be ejected from the ventral axis in case of a warp core breach.  
+
While the design was initially intended to be a tactical vessel capable of extremely high warp speeds, the modified ''Nova-''class design replaced her powerplant with something much more mainstream that is both incredibly reliable and easy to maintain, but which limits the ship’s top speed to Warp 8. This is more than sufficient for the majority of her missions.
  
The ''Steamrunner''-class light cruiser is rated to Warp 6 for standard cruising, with a maximum velocity of Warp 9. Emergency velocity of Warp 9.5 is achievable for approximately 12 hours, with associated engineering repairs required at the earliest opportunity.
+
The ''Nova''-class is capable of landing on planetary surfaces with a set of four landing legs. There is a ramp in the stern that extends to allow the crew direct access to a planet’s surface. This feature is often used to study planets with difficult atmospheres or to serve as a temporary research base near especially interesting objects.
  
=== Tactical ===
+
Computer systems aboard the ''Nova'' are state-of-the-art to handle the vast amounts of data coming from her oversized sensor arrays. While not initially designed with bioneural circuitry, it was later installed once the technology had been proven aboard ''Intrepid''. Later units include full-ship holographic projectors.
Whilst not expected to perform as an out-and-out combat vessel, the multi-role nature of ''Steamrunner’s'' mission brief requires it to be able to defend itself and any accompanied vessels. Threat simulations conducted during the class development stages indicated that due to the ''Steamrunner’s'' minimal profile, three Type-IX dorsal phaser arrays mounted on the primary hull, supplemented by a single forward mounted photon torpedo launcher would be required. From the experience gathered during early operations, this load-out was increased and the existing arrays upgraded.  
 
  
The vessel’s low profile also allowed designers to maximise the protection of several key systems. The main bridge module nestles in the centre of the broad primary hull and is afforded significant protection by the raised aft superstructure of the saucer section and the large Bussard collector cowlings to port and starboard. Similarly, the main navigational deflector mounted at the stern of the vessel is screened from attack by the angled warp nacelles
+
==== Tactical ====
 +
One of the major flaws of the ''Oberth''-class design was that it was entirely unsuited to combat. This led to many ships of the class being picked off by raiders or pirates during their long service history. Thanks to having been based on a warship design, the ''Nova''-class is much more capable of defending itself with two torpedo launchers on the bow and numerous Type-X phaser arrays providing 360-degree coverage around the ship. In addition, the bridge is more shielded than other starship designs, thanks to being located in the center of a larger-than-usual deck one.
  
=== Auxiliary Class Facilities ===
+
Though slow for a Starfleet ship in terms of absolute top warp speed, the ''Nova'' is nonetheless highly maneuverable and speedy at sublight and is significantly faster than most civilian or pirate vessels at warp. Typical tactics for ships of this class are to literally fly circles around threat vessels, lob a few torpedoes at them, and then jump to warp. When that is not possible, they are capable of dogfighting in the hands of a talented helmsman.  
Two separate shuttle bays are located at the trailing edge of the primary hull, across Decks 6 and 7. Each shuttlebay is equipped with a single Type-9 shuttlecraft, two Type-18 shuttlepods and one workbee, with both shuttlebays supported by a shared repair and maintenance facility.
 
  
=== Shipboard Life ===
+
The Nova is not fitted with aft-firing torpedo launchers due to size constraints, but the crew of the starship ''Equinox'' was able to jerry-rig a launcher system in the lower cargo hold during their exile in the Delta Quadrant.
With a standard crew complement of 120, the ''Steamrunner''-class vessel is equipped with substantial recreational and communal spaces including a large mess hall, gymnasium, two holodecks, an aft observation lounge and an expansive forward recreation & observation lounge which is large enough to accommodate the entire crew for all-crew briefings or celebrations.
 
  
Quarters assigned to the Commanding and Executive Officers are located on Deck 3 due to the proximity to the bridge, whilst department heads and those officers of lieutenant-grade and above enjoy the privacy of individual quarters across Decks 4 and 5. Junior officers occupy shared quarters with a colleague, as do all enlisted crewmembers. The quarters assigned to engineering officers and crew are located on Deck 6 to provide convenient access to main engineering and its support functions.
+
==== Auxiliary Craft Facilities ====
 +
Located on the stern, the main shuttle bay is capable of carrying two small shuttlecraft, typically Type-8 or Type-9. It is not suited for runabouts except on a visiting basis. The ''Nova''-class is, however, equipped with a docking cradle for a ''Waverider''-class atmospheric shuttle, which is one of the fastest atmospheric craft in Starfleet. There are two variants of this craft built on a similar chassis, one with sublight-only capabilities and another with warp drive. Roughly similar to a Type-11 shuttle, this craft is capable of extended operations away from the mothership and is typically used to scout out planets.
  
All crew members have access to a well-equipped medical suite operated under the aegis of the Chief Medical Officer and the Ship’s Counselor.
+
==== Shipboard Life ====
 +
With a crew of only eighty, life on board a ''Nova''-class ship means knowing everyone on the ship. There is often less of a divide between officers and enlisted personnel than on larger ships, simply because there are fewer communal spaces to allow for such a separation. This is also due to mission parameters that often require extensive collaboration between departments and laboratories–when they spend up to a year studying a planet, the crew often starts to develop an attachment to it and they take great pride in talking about the day’s discoveries.
 +
 
 +
Senior officers have individual quarters with a combination living area and bedroom along with a private head. The captain and the executive officer have slightly larger quarters on Deck 1, giving them easy access to the bridge, but these are roughly the same as other officers’ quarters due to the size of the ship. Other officers share quarters with private bedrooms, and enlisted crewmembers have bunk beds in suites housing up to eight people.
 +
 
 +
There are two observation lounges, two mess halls, a gymnasium, and a recreation area, along with two small holodecks.
 +
 
 +
There is a modest three-bed sickbay located on Deck 2, with an attached medlab. There is an additional biobed in a secondary medlab which can also be used for surgery or as an isolation room.  
  
 
== Class History ==
 
== Class History ==
By the mid-2350s, the ''Miranda''-class multi-role light cruiser which had become so prolific across all fleets was rapidly starting to fall behind in terms of capability when compared to contemporary Starfleet designs, as well as those of known threat and potential-threat forces across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. Development of the ''Steamrunner''-class replacement was first begun in late 2358, with the hull NX-52135 laid-down at Utopia Planitia fleet yards in 2362 to provide the basis for a new multi-role platform intended to fulfill the general diplomatic, scientific and exploration mission profiles previously conducted by the ''Miranda-''class.
+
By the 2360’s, the ''Oberth''-class had been Starfleet’s primary surveyor design for nearly a century and was beginning to reach the end of its useful lifespan due to a number of factors, chief among them being its low overall top speed, fragility, and cramped quarters. Starfleet charged the ADSB to develop a new class of surveyor that would improve upon these flaws and be better suited towards exploration in the increasingly dangerous galaxy. The ''Springfield'' which had come online in the 2340s ostensibly to replace the ''Oberth'' never saw production in large numbers and never struck the right balance between cost, speed, and capability that Starfleet was looking for, and the smaller ''Raven''-class surveyors launched in the 2350s were simply not large enough to replace the ''Oberth'' as a fully-staffed research vessel for in-depth planetary surveys.
 +
 
 +
Several design studies were completed during the mid-2360s, but the project was not given a high priority, given the sheer number of ''Oberth''-class ships still in service and other shipbuilding needs across the fleet, especially after first contact with the Borg in 2365 triggered a massive building project involving a host of new starship classes optimized to fight them. This fleet modernization unexpectedly benefited the Nova-class project, however, when a rejected design study for the ''Defiant''-class escort was made available. Initially billed as a high-warp torpedo boat, the design was stripped of all but two of its torpedo launchers and fitted with powerful sensor arrays and science laboratories in their place.
 +
 
 +
Final design work and construction on the two prototypes, ''Nova'' and ''Equinox'' continued through 2370, when they were launched for their space trials and final fitting out. The project suffered a significant setback when Equinox was lost in 2370, pulled into the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker. Construction on the remaining 8 ships in the initial order was suspended until an inquiry proved that the loss was not a fault of the design itself, but the outbreak of the Dominion War in 2373 put a hold on those units until the cessation of hostilities. This left the USS Nova herself in the unique position of being the only operational ship of her class–at least until it was revealed in 2376 that the Equinox had not been destroyed in 2370, but had managed to survive for 6 years alone in the Delta Quadrant in the harshest of conditions–for over seven years.
  
Spaceframe trials commenced in 2367 but development was halted that year following the loss of almost all Federation vessels involved in Starfleet’s engagement with the Borg at Wolf 359. All of the ships currently in development at that time – ''Steamrunner, Akira, Norway'' and ''Saber'' – were reviewed and updated with a view to hardening the designs and creating toughened, more protective hulls to improve the survival of this new generation of ships in combat. With these new designs in place, development once again continued, with the NX-52135 shakedown cruise completed during 2370. In early 2371 this lead vessel was commissioned as USS ''Steamrunner'' NCC-52135 and production of the class commenced.
+
Once construction resumed, the class quickly proved to be popular among both the admiralty and the officers manning them, due to their modern facilities and reliable nature. Construction was increased to ten units per year starting in 2379, and then fifteen a year in 2383.
  
During the earliest skirmishes with Dominion vessels; ahead of the Dominion War proper; it became evident that three dorsal mounted phaser arrays were not sufficient. Existing vessels were hurriedly retro-fitted with an additional two Type-X phaser arrays. The existing arrays were upgraded to Type-X and a second forward torpedo launcher was installed directly above the first. These untried and untested modifications were deployed ahead of schedule when USS ''Appalachia and'' USS ''Hiroshima'' were hurriedly dispatched from Utopia Planitia in 2373 to take part in the Battle of Sector 001. Following the successful performance of these two ''Steamrunner''-class ships, the modifications were included in all future construction plans.
+
Following the return of ''Voyager'' in 2378 and after extensive analysis of her logs and the logs of the ''Equinox'' a companion class was developed that would be designed for long-distance exploration and patrol missions, rather than short-duration survey missions, but the Nova-class continued to be constructed as designed in parallel with this new class.
  
Although the objective of the ''Steamrunner'' design being the successor to the ''Miranda-''class light cruiser was eventually superseded by the larger ''Reliant-''class light cruiser which entered service in 2385, ''Steamrunners'' still see service wherever Starfleet operates due to their smaller size and thus reduced construction costs and operating requirements.
+
Because of her enhanced tactical systems, the ''Nova'' remains Starfleet’s first choice for performing surveys in areas of space that are not completely secure both within and outside of Federation space, but she has been supplemented for missions in safer areas of space by the cheaper, less well-defended ''Dumont''-class surveyor since the late 2380s.
  
 
== In Play ==
 
== In Play ==
  
* A Steamrunner-class ship is best thought of as a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ within Starfleet. It doesn’t have the tactical capabilities of a Manticore or a Defiant, the speed of an Intrepid or the scientific facilities of a Nova, but is more than capable of operating in all of those fields
+
* To differentiate between this ship and the Rhode Island, think of this as an economy car or a minivan and the Rhode Island as a sports car; the Nova is meant to linger in planetary systems and perform all of the scientific experiments it can think of, while a Rhode Island is meant to go out and explore on its own.
* Although no longer a ‘new’ ship, Steamrunner vessels are still found at the forefront of Starfleet operations across the galaxy and their relatively low cost and resource requirements mean that there are plenty of them out there undergoing various different types of missions.
+
* Ever wonder what happens when the Enterprise completes its first pass through a new system? A ship like this is sent in to study every rock, tree, and being there to catalog it for the Federation’s records. Planetary surveyors are looking for places for new colonies, for archaeological artifacts, and for interesting new things about the universe.
* This is a good choice of ship for a first appointment commanding officer of commander or captain grade. The crew would likely be a mixture of newly-graduated junior officers, established officers in their first department head or assistant department head position and; due to the variety of missions open to the Steamrunner; grizzled, experienced Starfleet veterans in both commissioned and senior NCO billets.
+
* Nova-class ships are very common, and due to their small crews they often have relatively junior captains. Commanding a science vessel like this is often a stepping stone to a large explorer for science officers who have moved into the command track.
  
 
{{clear}}
 
{{clear}}
 
[[Category:Federation Starship Classes (2368-2375)]]
 
[[Category:Federation Starship Classes (2368-2375)]]

Revision as of 23:37, 22 April 2023

This article is official Bravo Fleet canon.









Novaclass.png
Nova Class
Information
Affiliation

United Federation of Planets

Role

Surveyor

Service
Operator

Starfleet

Entered Service

2370

Endurance
Expected Design Life

60 Years

Expected Refit Cycle

10 Years

Expected Resupply Cycle

1 Year

Crew Capacity
Standard Complement

80

Emergency Capacity

200

Dimensions
Length

165 meters

Width

62 meters

Height

34 meters

Decks

8

Propulsion
Propulsion Systems

Matter/Antimatter powered warp drive

Cruise Speed

Warp 6

Maximum Speed

Warp 8

Emergency Speed

Warp 8.5 (12 hours)

Armaments
Energy Weapons
  • 11x Type-X Phaser Arrays
Torpedo Launchers
  • 2 forward
Torpedo Payload
  • 50 Photon Torpedoes
Shields

Multi-Layered Shielding System

Small Craft
Shuttlebays

1

Shuttles

2

Runabouts

1

Template:Specification

The Nova-class surveyor is one of the most common science vessels in Starfleet, with several hundred having been built since the class was introduced in the 2370s. Efficient and well-equipped, her primary purpose is to perform in-depth surveys of planetary systems and especially of M-class planets for possible colonization.

Exploration and Science

The Nova-class is one of the most capable scientific platforms in Starfleet for short-duration exploratory missions. The Nova’s primary mission profile is in-depth surveys of star systems and planetary bodies. While larger ships might visit dozens if not hundreds of star systems in years-long indefinite missions, ships of this class are often sent to a single star system where they will linger for six months or more and perform a comprehensive assessment based on initial scans by an explorer-type vessel. The Nova-class has scientific facilities specifically geared towards exploring M-class planets and evaluating them for colonization and resource exploitation, including eleven science labs of varying types, an extensive set of sensor arrays, and a large complement of probes. One key feature of this class is a project control center located forward of the main bridge which allows the science department to coordinate its effort across all of its labs and any away teams.

Diplomacy

While this class does have one set of VIP quarters and two briefing rooms that could be used for negotiations, it is not suited for diplomatic duties. Its low top speed also limits its utility as a diplomatic courier.

Engineering

Based on one of the rejected designs for the Defiant-class, the Nova-class has a compact, angular hull that is in a clear design lineage with her larger sister: the Intrepid. Spanning just eight decks, Nova has a roughly-triangular primary hull with a cut-out in the bow for an over-sized secondary deflector, which is also part of the ship’s long-range sensors systems. A single impulse engine at the aft end of the saucer provides sublight power, above a door connected to one of the cargo holds. The engineering hull is small and roughly cylindrical, and the small warp nacelles are mounted on angled pylons.

While the design was initially intended to be a tactical vessel capable of extremely high warp speeds, the modified Nova-class design replaced her powerplant with something much more mainstream that is both incredibly reliable and easy to maintain, but which limits the ship’s top speed to Warp 8. This is more than sufficient for the majority of her missions.

The Nova-class is capable of landing on planetary surfaces with a set of four landing legs. There is a ramp in the stern that extends to allow the crew direct access to a planet’s surface. This feature is often used to study planets with difficult atmospheres or to serve as a temporary research base near especially interesting objects.

Computer systems aboard the Nova are state-of-the-art to handle the vast amounts of data coming from her oversized sensor arrays. While not initially designed with bioneural circuitry, it was later installed once the technology had been proven aboard Intrepid. Later units include full-ship holographic projectors.

Tactical

One of the major flaws of the Oberth-class design was that it was entirely unsuited to combat. This led to many ships of the class being picked off by raiders or pirates during their long service history. Thanks to having been based on a warship design, the Nova-class is much more capable of defending itself with two torpedo launchers on the bow and numerous Type-X phaser arrays providing 360-degree coverage around the ship. In addition, the bridge is more shielded than other starship designs, thanks to being located in the center of a larger-than-usual deck one.

Though slow for a Starfleet ship in terms of absolute top warp speed, the Nova is nonetheless highly maneuverable and speedy at sublight and is significantly faster than most civilian or pirate vessels at warp. Typical tactics for ships of this class are to literally fly circles around threat vessels, lob a few torpedoes at them, and then jump to warp. When that is not possible, they are capable of dogfighting in the hands of a talented helmsman.

The Nova is not fitted with aft-firing torpedo launchers due to size constraints, but the crew of the starship Equinox was able to jerry-rig a launcher system in the lower cargo hold during their exile in the Delta Quadrant.

Auxiliary Craft Facilities

Located on the stern, the main shuttle bay is capable of carrying two small shuttlecraft, typically Type-8 or Type-9. It is not suited for runabouts except on a visiting basis. The Nova-class is, however, equipped with a docking cradle for a Waverider-class atmospheric shuttle, which is one of the fastest atmospheric craft in Starfleet. There are two variants of this craft built on a similar chassis, one with sublight-only capabilities and another with warp drive. Roughly similar to a Type-11 shuttle, this craft is capable of extended operations away from the mothership and is typically used to scout out planets.

Shipboard Life

With a crew of only eighty, life on board a Nova-class ship means knowing everyone on the ship. There is often less of a divide between officers and enlisted personnel than on larger ships, simply because there are fewer communal spaces to allow for such a separation. This is also due to mission parameters that often require extensive collaboration between departments and laboratories–when they spend up to a year studying a planet, the crew often starts to develop an attachment to it and they take great pride in talking about the day’s discoveries.

Senior officers have individual quarters with a combination living area and bedroom along with a private head. The captain and the executive officer have slightly larger quarters on Deck 1, giving them easy access to the bridge, but these are roughly the same as other officers’ quarters due to the size of the ship. Other officers share quarters with private bedrooms, and enlisted crewmembers have bunk beds in suites housing up to eight people.

There are two observation lounges, two mess halls, a gymnasium, and a recreation area, along with two small holodecks.

There is a modest three-bed sickbay located on Deck 2, with an attached medlab. There is an additional biobed in a secondary medlab which can also be used for surgery or as an isolation room.

Class History

By the 2360’s, the Oberth-class had been Starfleet’s primary surveyor design for nearly a century and was beginning to reach the end of its useful lifespan due to a number of factors, chief among them being its low overall top speed, fragility, and cramped quarters. Starfleet charged the ADSB to develop a new class of surveyor that would improve upon these flaws and be better suited towards exploration in the increasingly dangerous galaxy. The Springfield which had come online in the 2340s ostensibly to replace the Oberth never saw production in large numbers and never struck the right balance between cost, speed, and capability that Starfleet was looking for, and the smaller Raven-class surveyors launched in the 2350s were simply not large enough to replace the Oberth as a fully-staffed research vessel for in-depth planetary surveys.

Several design studies were completed during the mid-2360s, but the project was not given a high priority, given the sheer number of Oberth-class ships still in service and other shipbuilding needs across the fleet, especially after first contact with the Borg in 2365 triggered a massive building project involving a host of new starship classes optimized to fight them. This fleet modernization unexpectedly benefited the Nova-class project, however, when a rejected design study for the Defiant-class escort was made available. Initially billed as a high-warp torpedo boat, the design was stripped of all but two of its torpedo launchers and fitted with powerful sensor arrays and science laboratories in their place.

Final design work and construction on the two prototypes, Nova and Equinox continued through 2370, when they were launched for their space trials and final fitting out. The project suffered a significant setback when Equinox was lost in 2370, pulled into the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker. Construction on the remaining 8 ships in the initial order was suspended until an inquiry proved that the loss was not a fault of the design itself, but the outbreak of the Dominion War in 2373 put a hold on those units until the cessation of hostilities. This left the USS Nova herself in the unique position of being the only operational ship of her class–at least until it was revealed in 2376 that the Equinox had not been destroyed in 2370, but had managed to survive for 6 years alone in the Delta Quadrant in the harshest of conditions–for over seven years.

Once construction resumed, the class quickly proved to be popular among both the admiralty and the officers manning them, due to their modern facilities and reliable nature. Construction was increased to ten units per year starting in 2379, and then fifteen a year in 2383.

Following the return of Voyager in 2378 and after extensive analysis of her logs and the logs of the Equinox a companion class was developed that would be designed for long-distance exploration and patrol missions, rather than short-duration survey missions, but the Nova-class continued to be constructed as designed in parallel with this new class.

Because of her enhanced tactical systems, the Nova remains Starfleet’s first choice for performing surveys in areas of space that are not completely secure both within and outside of Federation space, but she has been supplemented for missions in safer areas of space by the cheaper, less well-defended Dumont-class surveyor since the late 2380s.

In Play

  • To differentiate between this ship and the Rhode Island, think of this as an economy car or a minivan and the Rhode Island as a sports car; the Nova is meant to linger in planetary systems and perform all of the scientific experiments it can think of, while a Rhode Island is meant to go out and explore on its own.
  • Ever wonder what happens when the Enterprise completes its first pass through a new system? A ship like this is sent in to study every rock, tree, and being there to catalog it for the Federation’s records. Planetary surveyors are looking for places for new colonies, for archaeological artifacts, and for interesting new things about the universe.
  • Nova-class ships are very common, and due to their small crews they often have relatively junior captains. Commanding a science vessel like this is often a stepping stone to a large explorer for science officers who have moved into the command track.