Keltoi Class

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Keltoi Class, USS Boudicca

Basic Overview

Accommodation: 300 - 500 Classification: Tactical/Enhanced Deterrence Explorer [Battleship] Funding for Keltoi Class Development Project Provided by: Advanced Starship Design Bureau; United Advanced Starship Design Bureau, Utopia Planitia Advanced Theoretical Warp Propulsion Division & Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems, LTD. Development Project Started: 2389 Production Start Date: 2402 Production End Date: Still in Production Current Status: In Service

Locations of Keltoi-Class Construction: Antares Fleet Yards, Antares IV New Aberdeen Fleet Yard, Aldebaran Utopia Planitia Fleet Yard, Mars * Current Starship Identification and Registration Numbers: USS Keltoi, NCC 43231 USS Boudicca, NCC 49901 USS Night's Watch, NCC 49550 USS Thermopylae, NCC 49903 USS Hellsbane, NCC 49904 USS Gallipoli, NCC 49905 USS Iceni, NCC 49906

Basic Overview & Design History

Mission Objectives

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Keltoi Class Development Project

Pursuant to Starfleet Exploration Directives 902.3 & 914.5, Starfleet Defense Directives 138.6, 141.1 & 154.7, and Federation Security Council General Policy, the following objectives have been established for an Keltoi Class Starship:

• Replace the Akira, Ambassador, Galaxy, Intrepid, Nebula, New Orleans, and Saber class Starships as the primary instrument of Federation deep-space defense.
• Provide autonomous capability for full execution of Federation defensive, cultural, scientific, and explorative policy in deep space or border territory.
• Serve as a frontline vehicle during times of war and emergencies.
• Provide a mobile platform for testing and implementation of mission-specific or new technology of any kind.

Design Statistics

Length: 515.6 meters (1691.60 Feet)

Width: 151.4 meters (496.71 Feet)

Height: 85.3 meters (279.85 Feet)

Weight: 4,162,597 metric tons

Cargo capacity: 42,650 metric tons

Hull: Black Duranium-Tritanium composite with micro-fiber reinforced ablative armor over critical compartments.

Number of Decks: 22 Total

General Overview

The Keltoi Class starship entered service in 2403 and has quickly become the proposed tactical backbone of Starfleet’s next generation of starships. Keltoi Class Vessels are part of the growing ideal that the Federation and Starfleet require quick, fast ships that deliver a powerful punch and can survive heavy damage, while still being able to fulfill adequate scientific needs during patrol and peacetime.

Initial design and production of the Keltoi Class began at the Advanced Starship Design Bureau (ASDB), Utopia Planitia Shipyards, Mars, and her plans were finalized there after six years of intense R&D. Head of the Keltoi Class Development Team was Admiral Jopek. Some of her prefabricated hull plates were designed and made at the Fleet Yards of New Aberdeen and Antares, as overseen by various members of the Keltoi Class Development Team.

Unlike the design theory of the past one hundred years, the saucer section of the Keltoi Class cannot separate into a separate ship without first destroying the boom between the Stardrive and Saucer sections. Reattachment is only possible at a major Starbase or Dry-dock facility. As a result, the entire ship's structure has been radically strengthened to promote strength of spaceframe in theoretical Combat situations. This design, built along a long-axis rather then a split-hull of prior designs such as the Galaxy and Ambassador classes, allows for an easier entry and exit from subspace warp fields. Also as a result, the warp-fields of the ship can be refined to an even greater level of detail, allowing the Warp Drive to operate more efficiently and at higher speeds with such equipment as a Cloaking Device in operation. The design of the Keltoi class can be readily traced to her roots as a Defiant Class vessel, with the Warp Nacelles parallel to the hull and no major hull-pieces making a clear target. Her horizontal profile, therefore the amount of hull she offers in target to an enemy, is only 1/3rd that of an Ambassador Class ship, 1/2 that of a Sovereign Class ship, and 1/6th that of a Galaxy Class ship. Also do to this minimal profile; it is possible to configure both primary and secondary shields to provide full cover with more efficiency and less energy.

The armaments and final design of the weapons systems were finalized during the end of the primary development phase, and built into the systems during the first production of the test vehicle, the USS Keltoi, by the ASDB development team. As she was a battle-ship, designed for tactical operations, weapons and sufficient power were a primary concern during the development stage and many design changes were made by a Secondary development phaser over the first two years of construction. The result was powerful Type XII phaser strips in key locations over the hull that cover a full 100% of altitude and azimuth without maneuvers, two photon launchers fore and aft that cover 65% altitude and azimuth without guided torpedoes and maneuvering, and three quantum torpedo launchers situated two at the bow and one at the stern that cover 90% altitude and azimuth without guided torpedoes and maneuvering.

Heavily armed, the design philosophy for the Keltoi Class took it's lessons from the Enhanced Deterrence status of the Sovereign class, and most heavily from the maneuverability and low-profile of the Defiant Class. The idea that she would be a gunboat was rapidly scrapped, opting for less deck-storage space for torpedoes and more output power for enhancedpower phaser strips, with triple backups of all control and power systems to ensure their continued functionality during combat. In terms of raw phaser and torpedo power, the Keltoi Class can easily match the much vaunted Sovereign Class, with her maneuverability and increased size she provides a nice step-up in firepower and flexibility from the smaller Defiant Class.

With the design and production of the Sovereign, Galaxy and Nebula class, it was deemed a waste of effort to devote the same amount of space to sensors as the typical explorer, opting rather for an enhanced Tactical Sensor package and state-ofthe-art Guidance programs. The Keltoi Class carries a minimum standard scientific package for those times the ship is on a standard non-defensive patrol, and can fulfill the duty adequately in the absence of a fully staffed and geared Science or Exploration Vessel. The Keltoi Class's primary duties, however, are to stand on patrol in sensitive areas where combat is possible, or likely. Keltoi Class ships are also outfitted with full facilities for a Marine Company, including weapons storage and enough shuttlebay space to hold a small compliment of Marine landing shuttles, in addition to a minimal/standard compliment of shuttles and work-craft. Her weaponry, defenses and maneuverability enable her to stand face-to-face with New Generation battle-craft by any known sector power; with plenty of room for later upgrades and enhancements that will increase her effectiveness for years to come.

Construction History

Starfleet Command issued a request to the major Fleet Yards in 2389 for a draft design and engineering specifications for a new Battleship, to replace the Akira and Galaxy Class Starships as the primary instrument in Federation Defense, thus releasing those Starship Classes into more scientific-based duties. The production contract was awarded to the Utopia Planitia Fleetyards in the Sol System, around Mars, with the Advanced Starship Design Bureau as the primary engineering firm and the Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems as the primary consultation firm. Starfleet Command's specifications were for a mid-sized Battle-ship, at least as heavily armed in terms of strength as the current Enhanced Deterrence Sovereign, yet more maneuverable and with less resources (including time) used in full-stage construction, without sacrificing space-frame strength or defensive capabilities.

These stipulations were no small request, as the Sovereign Class was the single most powerful ship the Fleet had designed at the time, though she was closely followed by the much smaller Defiant Class. She was stipulated to be a middle-ground vessel between the heavy-hitting capabilities of a Sovereign Class, and the maneuvering capabilities of the Defiant Class.

The first test hull, dubbed the USS Keltoi by the ASDB after the project secrecy name, was laid out in 2396 and basic compartmentalization was completed two years later when Yoyodyne and the ASDB installed her prototype M/ARA core and installed the equipment for the nacelles. Her experimental weapons systems, by this point, had already been installed and dry-tested for six months. Due to the unique configuration of the hull and the previous experience of Starfleet Design teams with the Defiant Project, her core was left un-activated until further safety backups could be installed. Due to her unique design based around weapons location and strength, an entirely new set of Impulse Drives and Fusion backup reactors needed to be designed and installed before further work could be done on her frame or hull. The Keltoi hull, given the registry NX 49901 was launched from the Utopia Planitia Fleetyards in 2400 for further outfitting and Warp-Core testing.

At the time of her Warp Core and Warp Engine pre-testing, she was fully armed and a very nominal part of the Mars Defense Perimeter (MDP), though she was listed as a Torpedo Boat with no movement capabilities. The USS Johann (NCC 4752) escorted the Keltoi Hull at low impulse for three months into deep-space beyond the Sol System for her Warp Core initialization and other trials. She reached Warp 4 in her first mid-range warp test, though her frame shook at unacceptable levels and it was deemed she would require an engine rebalance and retuned Structural Integrity Fields (SIF). She was escorted back under her own power by the same Miranda class vessel, the USS Johann, to begin engine and Structural Field redesign.

After six months of in-depth analysis and redesign, the ASDB in conjunction with Utopia's Advanced Theoretical Warp Technologies Unit (AWTU) finished and installed a slightly different Nacelle structure, and utterly redesigned her SIF configuration. Milli-second warp tests were preformed in-system, and the points of stress were analyzed to give a pinpoint to any possible areas of instability. After minor readjustments, no weak spots were found and the ship was again towed into deep-space for Warp trials. This time, she hit her designed cruising speed of Warp 8, though there were some difficulties as the Warp Fields and SIF were designed for more mass then she was currently carrying in her unfinished state. After successful tests at speeds reaching Warp 9.1, she returned home for further outfitting and fine-tuning of her Warp Systems.

The AWTU, in a materials and physics breakthrough unprecedented in fifty years, redesigned her M/AMR core to produce 20% more nominal power, and then proceeded to install the theoretical new power-system into the rapidly finishing USS Keltoi. After a mild accident in-system during a routine power up, and some temporary redesign to prevent such overloads in the future, this new core was accepted as the primary power source of the ship and placed into the permanent plans for her class. This power increase also allowed for the design to include a modest Cloaking Device that was theoretically able to operate at 95% efficiency at her cruising Warp Speed of Warp 8. The Cloak was tested briefly for three days at various warp speeds, and its deficiencies noted for future design consideration after the Keltoi's other primary systems had been brought up to 100% efficiency.

To increase the tactical efficiency of the Keltoi Class, the ASDB in conjunction with Tactical Operations and the Advanced Science Technologies units of Utopia Planitia added storage space for twenty more forward, and twenty-five aft, torpedoes. It was argued intensely by Tactical Command and Operations for two more phaser strips, or two set gun ports of Phaser Cannons, to be added to the design, but the ASDB successfully negated that planning change, citing power shortages in combat situations should all weapons be fired for a sustained time of more then eight minutes. At the time of her christening, the Keltoi Class held the record for the most phaser firepower on a single mobile ship that was not already classified as a Battleship or Mobile Starbase, such as the Meredith Class. Her dozen Type 12 phasers outshoot every single other ship currently in the fleet.

The NX 49901 left the Utopia Planitia Fleetyards in 2402 for final Impulse and Warp Engine stress testing in an outer orbit near Vulcan, flanked by the Excelsior Class vessel USS Chattahoochee, NCC 7913. Stress tolerance tests, SIF emergency tests and all backup systems tested to well within safe and expected levels. Due to the tactical nature of her mission, she was run through two months of intense maneuvers to test the stress on SIF and Spaceframe, both of which also tested well within safety margins and acceptability. She returned, escorted, to Utopia Planitia for the final stretch of interior compartment completion, as well as weapons testing and final alignment at the Utopia Planitia weapons testing range. The ship, permanently dubbed the USS Keltoi NCC 49901, finished its internal compartmentalization on June 7th, 2003 and was immediately sent to the quiet Romulan Border for final shakedown and systems checks. By this time, the USS Boudicca and the USS Night's Watch had been started and both had neared completion by 2404 when the USS Keltoi was sent to the Cardassian border and held off two waves of Cardassian ships in a mission to protect a Subspace Relay. The ship was damaged beyond repair and ordered scrapped, but her service was noted as truly excellent... both by the Crew of the Keltoi and by Starfleet Command. Very small design changes were added to the USS Boudicca and USS Night's Watch before their final completion due to the debriefing and study of the Combat Logs, and both ships were launched two months after the Keltoi herself was retired. The Keltoi project was given full authorization, and a full four dozen ships have been scheduled for construction over the next seven years, with options to build more should the need arise.

The construction of these four dozen ships has been split between the Utopia Planitia Fleetyards, the Antares Fleetyards, and the New Aberdeen Fleet Yard. Full Construction Time for a Keltoi class ship, at full production, runs just over a years time. The USS Boudicca was built as a full Tactical Explorer, and the USS Night's Watch was given to Strategic Operations as an armed and mobile command ship. Both were immediately sent to the most unstable frontiers of the Federation for patrol duty and light scientific missions. The Keltoi class was favored by many a Captain for being a durable and dependable vessel, thanks in part to the impressive durability and redundancy built into all her systems. With the discovery of the Xenolithe, the increased presence of the Cardassians and the Borg, and the Tension between the Dominion and the Federation, the Keltois have rapidly begun replacing aging Nebulas and Galaxy class ships on the front-lines.

With the Xenolithe and Cardassian Wars, along with increased tensions with the Romulans, many older classes of ship were falling pray to enemy advanced weaponry. Orders for the Keltoi Class were quadrupled, and Captains trained in Tactical maneuvers were reassigned and relocated to captain these Tactical ships. Small modifications have been made to the Keltoi in the years she has been serving, though none staggering or time-consuming considering how heavily over-engineered she was made to suit her purpose. Advanced EMH and Medical facilities were included in plans for later generation Keltoi Class ships, as well as better access to Engineering when all radiation doors have been shut.

Further Information

Please read This Documentfor further information about the Keltoi Class Battleship.

(Written by J)