Sovereign Class

SOVEREIGN CLASS STARSHIP

Sovereign Class Starship

Locations of Galaxy Class Construction:

Utopia Planitia Fleet Yard, Mars and San Francisco Fleet Yards, Earth.

Sovereign Class Mission Profile

The Sovereign Class Starship design was intended to provide a multi-mission mobile platform for a wide range of scientific and explorative research projects. Replace Excelsior, Ambassador, and New Orleans 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 support 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 SPECIFICATIONS:

Length: 685 meters

Width: 224 meters

Height: 88 meters

Weight: 3,255,000 metric tons

Cargo capacity: 58,299 metric tons.

Hull Composition: Duranium-tritanium composite with micro-fiber reinforced ablative armor.

Number of Decks: 24 Total. 22 Habitable.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The Sovereign Project was one of three main forays into the field of new defensive technologies initially intended for use against the Borg. The prototype, U.S.S. Sovereign (NX-75000) was still in the design phase during the Battle of Wolf 359, and began its actual space-trials in 2369.

Initial production of the Sovereign class began at Utopia Planitia, Mars, with final compartmentalization at the San Francisco Fleet Yards, Earth, where it continues to this day. Long term production plans are estimated to include both the Antares Fleet Yards, Antares IV and the New Aberdeen Fleet Yard, Aldebarran, but as of yet, are not included in the Sovereign production plans.

Heavily armed, the design philosophy for the Sovereign class was shaped by the discovery of the Borg. The Sovereign Project attempted to push the envelope as far as possible when it came to computer power, shielding, armament and systems capabilities. The Sovereign Class vessel combines the creature comforts associated with the larger Galaxy-class vessels with the tactical power of the new Prometheus Class.

Two forward and two aft rapid fire torpedo launch systems are coupled with twelve type-XII advanced Phaser emitters. The type-XII Phaser arrays are the most powerful Phaser systems to be installed aboard a Federation Starship to date, capable of delivery crippling blows to enemy shields and armor. The only drawback to the Sovereign is its slightly slower warp drive engines, forcing the ship to struggle to keep up with other classes such as the Intrepid and Galaxy-class starships.

PHASER ARRAY

The Sovereign class currently employs fourteen Type-XII Phaser arrays at key locations throughout the ship's hull, although the U.S.S. Monarchy, Seleya and Nimitz originally launched with Type X flavor of array. Upgrades have been completed as time allows. This upgrade is rather simple to do, since the design of the Sovereign Phaser system took into account the anticipated completion of the then experimental Type-XII emitter).

Traditionally the choice defensive weapon onboard Starfleet vessels since close to the dawn of the Federation, the standard emitter makes use of a particular class of superconducting crystals known as fushigi-no-umi, which allow high-speed interactions within atomic nuclei that create a rapid nadion effect, which in turn is directed into a focused beam at a target.

The resulting beam is discharged at speeds approaching .986c, and as per standard tactical procedures, the frequencies of these beams are rotated to make it more difficult for a threat vehicle's shields to adjust to the beam. Through the use of ACB jacketed beams, Phaser arrays now have limited capabilities in warp environments, though the power output is greatly limited and is by no means as useful as a torpedo weapon in this environment. The Type-XII shipboard array is by far the most powerful Phaser to be fielded by a starship to date.

The Sovereign Class is fitted with five dorsal Phaser arrays on the primary hull, with one extending around the saucer section, which gives it an oval appearance. Four more arrays, roughly a quarter of the size of the original, cover the aft dorsal firing arcs and are located along the aft portion of the saucer section. Two ventral Phaser arrays on the primary hull, extending around in nearly a half circle on both the starboard and port ventral sides of the saucer section. A single Phaser array, harking back to the belly Phaser of the Galaxy Class engineering hull, is located along the ventral section of the engineering hull, running perpendicular to the hull.

The Sovereign class utilizes the latest in starship armament technology, the Type XII array system. Each array fires a steady beam of Phaser energy, and the forced-focus emitters discharge the Phasers at speeds approaching .986c (which works out to about 182,520 miles per second - nearly warp one). The Phaser array automatically rotates Phaser frequency and attempts to lock onto the frequency and phase of a threat vehicle's shields for shield penetration.

Each Phaser array takes its energy directly from the impulse drives and auxiliary fusion generators. Individually, each type XII -emitter can only discharge approximately 8.0 MW (megawatts) per second. However, several emitters (usually two) fire at once in the array during standard firing procedures, resulting in a discharge approximately 16 MW.

Maximum effective range is 300,000 kilometers.

TORPEDO LAUNCHERS

A swivel-mounted torpedo launcher, mounted on the ventral surface of the primary hull, is the latest development in launcher technology to better accommodate the usage of torpedo-based weapons on highly maneuverable starships. Capable of moving 15-degrees port or starboard off the vehicle's primary axis, this new launcher allows for easier tracking of targets at shorter ranges where torpedoes launched from traditional fixed-focus launchers where often unable to track due to the lack of space for course corrections. A custom assembly for the Sovereign class, it is a second-generation automated launcher located on Deck 13 and is capable of preloading six torpedoes for rapid fire.

Four traditional fixed-focus second generation launchers are located within the secondary hull, with the fore and aft covered by two launchers each. The forward launchers, originally developed for the Defiant Class Project, are located beneath the main deflector on Deck 20. Each of these launchers is capable of loading five torpedoes in one salvo, typically launched in an alternating interval to reduce the chance that two projectiles may collide in flight. The aft launchers, located on the underside of the secondary hull on Deck 19, are slightly smaller assemblies capable of loading only one torpedo at a time, each.

The Sovereign Class is armed with the Mark IV Photon Torpedo and the Mark Q-II Quantum Torpedo. Along with the Defiant class, a Sovereign is normally outfitted with both photon and quantum torpedoes capable of being fired from any launcher on the ship. All torpedoes are capable of pattern firing as well as independent launch. Once in-flight, torpedoes are capable of individual targeting through use of onboard sensors and encrypted feeds from the ship's targeting arrays. Should a threat vessel outmaneuver an inbound torpedo, the weapons package can automatically detonate in an effort to impact the vessel with splash damage. Further, each launcher is capable of launching spreads, pattern firing (sierra, etc.) as well as independent launch.

With a standard payload of 175 Quantum Torpedoes and 325 Photon Torpedoes, the Sovereign is well armed. Due to the complexities involved with manufacture, the deployment of quantum torpedoes is rationed across a relatively small number of fixed and mobile platforms within Starfleet. Should supplies be unavailable for optimum load out, the ship is capable of carrying a maximum of 500 torpedoes of either type. Shipboard materials in the form of replicated and off-the-shelf components allow for the construction of photon torpedo warheads locally, while quantum torpedoes are only manufactured at secure, undisclosed locations.

Range: Maximum effective range for both the Mark Q-II Quantum Torpedo and Mark IV Photon Torpedo is 4,050,000 kilometers.

DEFLECTOR SHIELDS

Perhaps one of the most significant upgrades created by the Sovereign Project is the advent of Regenerative Shield Technology. Originally field tested aboard the prototype U.S.S. Sovereign, these shields make use of redundant shield generators which alternate coverage on a specific area when integrity drops below a predetermined percentage. In practice, this allows the active shield generator to bear the brunt of incoming fire while the redundant generator remains on hot standby. As the primary generator drops in integrity, power is then increased to the redundant generator which seamlessly takes over the burden of shielding that portion of the ship, allowing the other generator to once again recharge on standby.

The original Type-6 warp reactor installed on the Sovereign Class was unable to handle the intense power requirements of this new system, and the Regenerative Shielding was almost scrapped before being successfully implemented in the Prometheus-class prototype. With the installation of General Electric's Type-8 warp reactor, the power demands of the new system were eventually met, allowing for the already-launched U.S.S. Enterprise-E and U.S.S. Monarchy to be refitted while the Sovereign remained in dock at Utopia Planitia.

The shielding itself is a redundant symmetrical subspace graviton field. While made up of standard 450 MW graviton polarity generators, the shield system aboard Sovereign-class vessels is somewhat different then those aboard most Federation starships. Compared to other ships of similar mass and hull rating, the Sovereign is equipped with twice as many shield generators that make up a Regenerative Shield system that would allow a ship to withstand weapons fire from a Borg vessel for a significantly longer period of time while the vessel attempted to maneuver out of the weapons lock.

Another ability learned as a result of the first Borg encounter at System J-25 and incorporated into all Starfleet ships, is the automatic shifting of shield nutation frequencies. During combat, information from the shields is sent to the main computer for analysis where, with the assistance of the tactical officer, the frequency and phase of the incoming weapon is determined. Afterwards, the shields can be reconfigured to match frequency with the weapons fire, but alter its nutation to greatly increase shield efficiency.

There are twenty six shield generators on the Sovereign class, each one generating 450 MW of output. All together, this results in a total shield strength of 11,700 MW, but only little over half of that is in actual use at one time due to the nature of regenerative shielding. The power for the shields is taken directly from the warp reactor and impulse fusion generators and transferred by means of high-capacity EPS conduits to the shield generators. If desired, the shields can be augmented by power from the impulse propulsion power plants as well.

The shields can protect against approximately 36% of the total EM spectrum whereas the Galaxy-class starship is equipped to protect against only about 23%. This is made possible by the multi-phase graviton polarity flux technology incorporated into the improved regenerative shielding.

The shields, when raised, stay extremely close to the hull to conserve energy, the average range of which is ten meters away from the hull. This can be extended at great energy expenditure to envelope another starship or object within a kilometer of the starship.

ABLATIVE ARMOR

Originally developed in 2367 during the Defiant Class Development Project, ablative armor is still considered to be a significant breakthrough in starship defense by effectively creating a beam-retardant layer that greatly increases a ship's life expectancy in battle. Originally deployed only on ships of the Defiant class, ablative armor showed remarkable dispersion properties against various beam-type energy weapons, including the various types of Phaser, disruptor, Polaron, and focused-plasma beams employed by nearly all threat races. The armor works by first dispersing incoming beam energy across the hull of the ship where, after reaching an undisclosed threshold causes part of the armor to boil away, taking with it a large fraction of that energy. The effect also creates a modest vapor cloud, which effectively disperses the incoming beam further, causing it to do less direct damage to the hull. It should be noted, however, that the armor is not a hull replacement, but a supplement and must be replaced over time due to the boiling away process.

Because of the tactical nature of the Sovereign class, Starfleet Command requested that the ablative armor be used to supplement the defenses of its new flagship class. Initially considered to supplement the majority of starship classes, production complications and long fabrication time makes the usage of the armor limited to warships and high-risk classes, resulting in only limited usage around vulnerable areas of Galaxy and Akira-class starships and almost-total body coverage of the Defiant and Sovereign. Encounters with the Borg had already proven their ability to penetrate Federation shielding on, at that point, two occasions - the U.S.S. Enterprise-D's encounter at system J-25 and again at Wolf 359. It was then only natural that the design team saw the need to outfit the Sovereign with this additional layer of defense should the Borg or other threat races find a means of penetrating the regenerative shielding.

Each Sovereign-class vessel is equipped with an average depth of 10 centimeters of armor hull-wide, which can be replaced as wear permits at select fleet yards. Due to the supply demands, repairs made to the hull of a starship in the field will lack the extra layer of armor until the vessel is able to dock at a facility with spare plating.

A Sovereign Class doing what it does best!

COMPUTER CORE

Number of computer cores: Two; The primary core one occupies space on decks 6, 7, 8 and 9 directly below the main bridge. The secondary, engineering section core is smaller in size to the first and is located adjacent to Environmental Control on decks 15 - 17.

Type: The AC-16 Bio-Neural Super-series computer core is built under contract for the Sovereign-class vessel by Krayne Systems, an independent contractor based on Bynar. The structure of the computer is similar to that of most other supercomputing systems in use by Federation vessels with stack segments extending through the ship forming trillions of trillions of connections through the processing and storage abilities of modern Isolinear chips. The core essentially consists of two independent processing systems that work in concert for maximum performance. Bio-neural-based processors throughout the core are utilized for complex calculations while an Isolinear-based system is used for the storage and cataloging of core information.

For most missions, requirements on the computer core rarely exceed 45-50% of a single core's processing and storage capacity. The rest of the core is utilized for various scientific, tactical, or intelligence gathering missions - or to backup data in the event of a damaged core.

Bio-Neural Gel Packs: Referred to typically as BNGs, Bio-Neural Gel Packs are a new innovation in shipboard data processing and routing. Mounted at strategic locations along the ODN pathways, each BNG consists of an artificial bio-fluid that allows transmission of neural signals. The heart of the BNG is a packet of neural clusters, grown copies of strands similar to those found in the brains of sentient beings. These clusters give the ship’s computer ‘instinctive’ data processing and routing ability as well as allowing the ship’s computer to utilize ‘fuzzy logic’ to speed up probability calculations much as a living, breathing entity would. The system is not a replacement for existing Isolinear computer systems currently in use Federation-wide, but is rather an upgrade to its existing processing powers. By distributing gel packs throughout a starship's computer system information can be organized more efficiently, therefore processed more quickly and speeding up response time. Developed for the Intrepid class, this type of computer system did not see full deployment until the launch of that class. Aboard these starships, the new system proved successful, although the biological nature of the packs has led to problems such as infection and subsequent slowdown of the computer processing powers. Despite this short-coming, Starfleet Command is determining the viability of using the packs fleet wide. So impressed is the ASDB with the BNGPs that they are now being used as the standard computer system aboard all new starship designs, pending approval of Starfleet Command.

WARP PROPULSION SYSTEM

Designed specifically for the Sovereign-class starship, the General Electric Class 8 M/ARA drives and power system was a first for Starfleet. Compared to other starships of similar size and mass, the Class 8 would at first appear to be quite over-powered for the Sovereign, but this is not so. Originally equipped with a more standard Class 6, the inability of the reactor to produce sufficient power was perhaps the primary reason for the initial failing of the prototype Sovereign during trial runs. High-power devices, such as the enhanced deflector system, sensor pallets, Type-XII Phaser arrays and Regenerative Shielding were subsequently removed from the U.S.S. Monarchy's construction plans and replaced with less power-intensive units. In comparison, however, the U.S.S. Ark Royal (later Enterprise-E) never left spacedock without the Class 8 power plant.

A breakthrough design came about with the advent of the Class 7 warp reactor during the Defiant Class Project, which makes use of four-lobed magnetic constriction segment columns that allow for additional reactant streams to surround the primary stream that travels down the center of the magnetic constrictor columns. Advances in pressure vessel construction and compact reactor injector nozzles made the Class 8 reactor a reality, with a six-lobed design that allowed for a total of seven reactant streams of both matter and antimatter to collide in the Dilithium articulation chamber, resulting in the most powerful starship-grade reactor output to date. The matter/antimatter reactor assembly spans 14 decks with the Dilithium chamber and plasma transfer conduits located on the second level of Main Engineering.

Another large advancement utilized in the development of the warp propulsion system was the utilization of a rotating Dilithium articulation chamber within the warp core, where the matter and antimatter reactants are combined to create the high-energy warp plasma needed to power the engine nacelles, as well as shipboard systems through the use of EPS power taps. Computer-controlled rotation of the frame allows for manipulation of the manner in which the reactants meet, allowing for further control of the warp plasma into a "cleaner" power source. Redesigned verterium cortenide components within each pair of warp field coils is then able to use the warp plasma to generate a more energy-efficient subspace field with less particle waste products and stresses that were found in older propulsion systems to damage subspace.

After the fleet-wide installation of this new variable warp geometry system, Starfleet was able to remove the so-called "Warp Speed Limit" of Warp 5, established in 2370 after the discovery of pollution by Dr. Serova in the Hekaras Corridor. Pursuant to Starfleet Command Directive 12856.A, all starships traveling within Federation space are required to receive engine upgrades that prevent the further pollution of subspace by 2380.

The successful testing of the new warp propulsion system on the re-launched U.S.S. Sovereign has allowed for these upgrades to be made to her sister ships, allowing for the class to finally meet its full potential in 2373. Unfortunately, due to the intense power requirements of the enhanced sensor and navigation deflector systems, the Sovereign is unable to reach a higher maximum 12-hour speed than Warp 9.7.

Type: General Electric Class 8 Standard Matter/Anti-Matter Reaction Drive, developed by General Electric Propulsion Laboratories. Information on this Warp Drive can be found in any Starfleet Library or Omnipedia.

Normal Cruising Speed: Warp 7

Maximum Cruising Speed: Warp 9.7 for 12 hours

IMPULSE PROPULSION SYSTEM

On any other Starship, the standard Sovereign class Impulse Engines would be rated ‘excessive’, providing thrust far in excess of the highest estimated needs. So great is the thrust provided by each individual engine that the Sovereign class has 0% loss of performance with the loss or destruction of one of her Impulse engines. Like other ships before her, Sovereign-class vessels utilizes space-time driver coils within its impulse engines to create a non-propulsive symmetrical subspace field that effectively lowers the ship's mass, making it capable of pushing the entire spacecraft using less fuel. There are two impulse engines on the ship, each operating at 25% rating for standard operations, but can boost their output to 50% for combat operations.

Type: Two standard Sovereign class mass drivers developed and built by Terminal Velocity Propulsion.

Output: Each engine (there are two impulse engines) can propel a Sovereign-class vessel at speeds just under .25c at ‘Full Impulse’ and an upper ceiling of .75c at three quarters the speed of light. Generally, Starfleet Vessels are restricted to .25c speeds to avoid the more dramatic time dilation effects of higher relativistic speeds. However, such restrictions can be overridden at the behest of the ship’s captain.

Due to the size of the Impulse Engines found on the Sovereign class, a single engine can propel the vessel at standard operating speeds without a loss in performance or combat maneuverability.

NAVIGATION DEFLECTOR

Another advancement developed for the Sovereign class was a new breed of navigational deflectors. Unique, at this point, to the Sovereign class, the navigational array has a much higher stress tolerance to High-Warp and High-Energy discharges than any navigational array before it. This is, in part, to the increased number of graviton polarity generators, but also due to the amount of power provided to the assembly itself.

Without some sort of deflector system, space travel at high velocities, let alone warp speeds, would be impossible due to collisions with objects ranging from stray hydrogen atoms to large planetary fragments. Vessels of the Sovereign class make use of a single, large, main navigation deflector is located at the forward-most part of the engineering hull and spreads across Decks 15-18, with quad subspace field distortion amplifiers located on Decks 16 and 17. Composed of molybdenum/duranium mesh panels over a duranium framework, the dish can be manually moved 8.5 degrees in any direction off the ship's Z-axis. The main deflector dish's subspace field and sensor power comes from six high-generating graviton polarity generators located on Decks 16 and 17, each capable of generating two hundred megawatts which feed into the four 650 millicochrane subspace field distortion amplifiers.

A backup deflector is located on the ventral side of the primary hull, on deck 12, and in addition to its role as a backup, the secondary deflector serves to reinforce the ship's warp field at speeds exceeding Warp 8.5. Originally seen as a means to augment the warp field due to technological limitations in graviton field generation during the development of the pathfinder vehicle, the saucer deflector is actually identical to the primary deflector of the Defiant class and is more or less a carry-over in the design process.

TRACTOR BEAM

The Sovereign Class is equipped with a Multiphase subspace graviton beam, used for direct manipulation of objects from a submicron to a macroscopic level at any relative bearing to the Sovereign class. Each emitter is directly mounted to the primary members of the ship's framework, to lessen the effects of isopiestic subspace shearing, inertial potential imbalance, and mechanical stress.

Each tractor beam emitter is built around three multiphase 15 MW graviton polarity sources, each feeding two 475 millicochrane subspace field amplifiers. Phase accuracy is within 1.3 arc-seconds per microsecond, which gives superior interference pattern control. Each emitter can gain extra power from the SIF by means of molybdenum-jacketed waveguides. The subspace fields generated around the beam (when the beam is used) can envelop objects up to 920 meters, lowering the local gravitational constant of the universe for the region inside the field and making the object much easier to manipulate.

Effective tractor beam range varies with payload mass and desired delta-v (change in relative velocity). Assuming a nominal 15 m/sec-squared delta-v, the multiphase tractor emitters can be used with a payload approaching 116,380,000,000 metric tons at less than 2,000 meters. Conversely, the same delta-v can be imparted to an object massing about one metric ton at ranges approaching 30,000 kilometers.

TRANSPORTER SYSTEMS

The Sovereign Class is equipped with a total of six personnel transporters capable of a maximum payload mass of 900kg (1,763 lbs) at a maximum range: 40,000 km. The maximum beam Up/Out Rate is approximately one hundred persons per hour per Transporter

The Vessel also has a total of four cargo transporters capable of a maximum payload Mass of 800 metric tons.

Finally a total of six emergency transporters which are capable of a maximum range of only 15,000 km (send only) [range depends on available power] with a maximum beam out rate of two hundred persons per hour.

COMMUNICATIONS

Standard Communications Range: 20 light years with a Standard Data Transmission Speed: 18.5 kiloquads per second. The Subspace Communications Speed: Warp 9.9997

SENSOR SYSTEMS

The primary long range and navigation sensor system is located behind the main deflector dish, primarily to avoid sensor "ghosts" and other detrimental effects consistent with deflector dish millicochrane static field output, as well as provide a safe haven for the system within the engineering hull. An additional suite is located behind the saucer deflector dish, and although more limited, can be used in emergency situations should the primary system become damaged or fail. The two systems are not designed to work in concert, due to the complexities involved in maintaining a subspace field capable of allowing two independent deflector beams to pass through.

Lateral sensor pallets are located around the rim of the entire starship, providing full coverage in all standard scientific fields, but with emphasis in the following areas: Astronomical phenomena, planetary analysis, remote life-form analysis, EM scanning, passive neutrino scanning, parametric subspace field stress (a scan to search for cloaked ships), thermal variances and quasi-stellar material.

Each sensor pallet (fifty in all) can be interchanged and re-calibrated with any other pallet on the ship. The storage of additional pallets is handled in the secondary shuttlebay, where adjustments and repairs can be made. Modified shuttlepods are used to remove and attach sensor pallets throughout the ship's hull. Additional sensor pallets are located on both the dorsal and ventral portions of the ship, allowing for greater coverage in the Z+ and Z- ranges.

Warp Current sensor: This is an independent subspace graviton field-current scanner, allowing Sovereign-class vessels to track ships at high warp by locking onto the eddy currents from another ship's warp field. The main computer can then extrapolate from a database the probable size and class of the ship by comparing warp field output to known archetypes.

TACTICAL SENSORS

There are fifty independent tactical sensors on Sovereign class. Each sensor automatically tracks and locks onto incoming hostile vessels and reports bearing, aspect, distance, and vulnerability percentage to the tactical station on the main bridge. Each tactical sensor is approximately 92% efficient against ECM, and can operate fairly well in particle flux nebulae (which has been hitherto impossible).

The suite of tactical sensors aboard the Sovereign class is the most technically advanced suite of tactical sensors found on a Starfleet vessel. With over fifty independent sensor arrays, backed by the processing power of her computer network, a Sovereign class can not only wage battle, but conduct and lead other Starfleet and Allied vessels in tactical engagements. A Sovereign-class vessel can track and maintain sensor locks on over 1000 threat and friendly vessels within its sensor envelopes. Further, the Sovereign class can process and collect tactical data at much greater ranges than any starship before her, thanks in part to the redundancy of the arrays, but also the computing power and efficiency of her sensor systems.

STELLAR CARTOGRAPHY

One stellar cartography bay is located on deck 11, with direct EPS power feed from engineering. All information is directed to the bridge and can be displayed on any console or the main viewscreen. The Chief Science Officer's office is located next to the Stellar Cartography bay. While not as impressive or large as the Galaxy-class Stellar Cartography Bay, the emphasis on the design was one of function over form. The bay more closely resembles the new Intrepid-class Stellar Cartography bay.

SCIENCE LABS

Even though the emphasis on the Sovereign class is tactical engagements, the vessel is equipped with a modest amount of scientific research space - in keeping with the mandate of the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet. There are twenty-five science labs on the Sovereign class; five labs are on deck 7 - adjacent to Sickbay along with 5 multifunction labs , 10 labs are on deck 16, 5 microlabs on deck 14. The 5 labs on deck 8 are bio-chem-physics labs that can also be reconfigured for Medical labs. The 10 labs on deck 7 are a mixed batch; three are bio-chem-physics, one is an XT (extra-terrestrial) analysis labs, and one eugenic lab. There are five smaller labs on deck 17, which can be configured for astrophysics/astrometrics and stellar cartography studies.

MEDICAL SYSTEMS:

There is one large Sickbay facility, located on Deck 7, serves as the primary care facility on Sovereign-class starships. Equipped with six standard and one advanced bio-bed, Sickbay is also home to the Chief Medical Officer's office and a small lab used for routine analysis of patients. The room itself is considered to be general-purpose, often the location of regular crew physicals, appointments, and various medical emergencies, it can effectively handle the majority of situations that a starship crew will face.

Surrounding Sickbay are more specialized areas, including two intensive-care wards, various medical laboratory, a nursery, three surgical suites, a null-grav therapy ward, a morgue, a biohazard isolation unit, and a dental care office. Also pursuant to new Medical Protocols, all Medical Facilities are equipped with holo-emitters for the usage of the Emergency Medical Holograph System.

Counselor's Office: This office tends to be located near the main sickbay facilities. A modest room approximately the size of a standard living room compartment, it can easily be placed somewhere within the residential areas of the ship at the Counselor's discretion. While decorated to the tastes of the staff using it, the office tends to be equipped with comfortable seating and colors to better relax its visitors.

CREW QUARTERS

The arrangement of living quarters is designed to be modular, so that at any time, a particular area could be reconfigured to create larger or smaller residential areas. Individual areas make up what has come to be known as a "bay," which is equal to the size of the smallest available module. These modules are connected together to create all available standard living accommodations on a Sovereign-class starship, with the overall design and color scheme similar to the tones used on the Intrepid-class starship.

Most living areas are located on the upper and lower surfaces of the saucer section, offering residents a remarkable view of the starscape outside their windows. Areas on Decks 5-15 and 18-19 have been set aside for crew use, with VIP quarters located in relative seclusion on Deck 4.

Standard Living Quarters are located on Decks 6-9, 13-15 and 18-19, these quarters are where the majority of the crew lives. Standard Living Quarters are provided for both Starfleet Non-Commissioned Officers, attached civilian personnel and officers holding the rank of Ensign. These persons are expected to share their room with another crewmate due to space restrictions aboard the starship, and after serving aboard the ship for six months, are eligible to bring family aboard and be relocated to Family Quarters.

Two NCOs or two Ensigns are assigned to a suite. A large living area spreads across two bays at the center of the dwelling. Furnished for comfort, it typically holds a personal holographic viewer, couch, two chairs and a work station as well as a standard replicator. This room is flanked on both sides with identical bedrooms, which each take up one bay in length and house room for a double-sized bed and room for personal belongings. A half-bathroom is located on the opposite side from the bedroom's entrance, and has a sonic shower, wash basin, mirror and several drawers. Provisions for small pets can be made available.

Enlisted crewmembers share quarters with up to four other people of the same gender. A large living area spreads across two bays at the center of the dwelling. Furnished for comfort, it typically holds a personal holographic viewer, couch, two chairs and a work station as well as a standard replicator. This room is flanked on both sides with identical bedrooms, which each take up one bay in length and houses a bunk for two occupants, as well as space for their belongings. A half-bathroom is located on the opposite side from the bedroom's entrance, and has a sonic shower, wash basin, mirror and several drawers. Pets are not allowed for enlisted crewmen.

Crewmen can request that their living quarters be combined to create a single larger dwelling.

Residential Apartments: Located on Deck 6 and 8-14, these quarters offer more privacy and flexibility for officers, as well as those crew with family onboard. Unlike the standard living quarters, these apartments can be configured to suit the needs of those living in them. Listed below is the base configuration for these living spaces, which can then be tailored by the resident for his needs.

Officers' Quarters: Starfleet personnel from the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade up to Commander are given one set of quarters to themselves. In addition, department heads and their first assistant are granted such privileges as well, in an effort to provide a private environment to perform off-duty work. After six months, officers are permitted to bring family aboard the ship and a slightly larger room can be allocated to them. Members of the Senior Staff can have these restrictions waived with the Captain's permission.

These accommodations typically include a two-bay living area at the center of the dwelling, which usually holds a personal holographic viewer, personal workstation, couch, replicator and a small dining area. Connected to this is a bedroom that occupies one bay and features a double-sized bed and room for personal belongings. Normally, the bedroom is connected by a half-bathroom with wash basin, mirror, several drawers and a sonic shower. This can be upgraded to a full-sized bathroom with a bathtub with permission from the Operations officer as space permits. Provisions can also be made available for pets. Officers may request that their living quarters be combined to form one larger dwelling.

Family Quarters: The specifications for this type of living area mirrors that of an Officer's Quarters, however, more features are added to it depending on the size of the family. For wedded couples, the only differences made to the base specifications is the addition of a one-bay extension to the living area.

For the first child, and every pair following the first, another bedroom module is added with space available for up to four children and two parents. Special permission is needed from the commanding officer for families larger than two parents and four children to be stationed or remain aboard the ship.

Executive Quarters: Executive quarters are specially designed to give both the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer added comfort and privacy to perform their duties. The accommodations are similar to that of the Officer's Quarters; however, they feature a longer three-bay living area and a full bathroom by default. Slightly more luxurious furniture is also provided, since the Captain often uses this room as an informal meeting area for both private conferencing and reception of guests.

VIP/Diplomatic Guest Quarters: Located on Deck 4 near the conference lounges, diplomatic quarters are the same as Executive Quarters, but feature private communications terminals for secure conferencing and an additional living area(s) for diplomatic aides. Such facilities on Deck 4 are limited, and in cases involving transport of large numbers of diplomats, VIPs and ambassadors, several areas on Deck 9 can be converted to these standards. In addition, these quarters can be immediately converted to class H, K, L, N, and N2 environments within a few hours notice.

Understandably, only a limited number of residential apartments exist aboard a starship. Allocation of available rooms falls under the authority of the Operations Chief, who is then responsible to make arrangements with Engineering and the ship's Counselor concerning assignment of personnel.

RECREATIONAL

The Sovereign class is a medium sized starship and its design has been maximized for tactical usage. However, it is realized that the stress of operating at 99% efficiency on a ship that is built for deep-space exploration can be dangerous, so there are some recreational facilities on Sovereign class starships.

There are four standard holodeck facilities on a Sovereign class, located on deck 9.

Additionally there are eight Holosuites on the Sovereign Class, these are smaller versions of standard Federation Holodecks, designed for individual usage (the four Holodecks themselves are to be used by groups or individual officers; enlisted crewmen and cadets are not allowed to use the Holodecks under normal circumstances). They do everything that their larger siblings do, only these Holosuites can't handle as many variables and are less detailed. They are equivalent to the Holodecks on an Intrepid-class starship. There are eight Holosuites on the Sovereign class, all of them located on deck 4.

THE LOUNGE (Eight Aft)

This large lounge, located on decks 8 and 9 aft, serves as the social center for the starship and is often used for large gatherings and functions. It has a very relaxed and congenial air about it; the Ship's Lounge is the only place on the ship where rank means nothing - "sir" need not be uttered when a person of lower rank addresses an officer, and everyone enjoys equal footing. Opinions can be voiced in complete safety amongst fellow crewmates, offering a place where people can let loose after a long day. Large bay windows offer a stunning view out the aft of the ship, where the warp nacelles hang prominently amidst the stars.

The most notable accessory to the lounge is a modest-sized bar area, offering a wide selection of synthetic and alcoholic beverages, such as chech'tluth, Aldebaran whiskey, Saurian brandy, Tzartak aperitif, Tamarian Frost, C&E Warp Lager, Warnog, Antarean brandy, and countless others. The replicators, feeding off the memory of the new computers, have nearly twice the food and drink options of any ship-bound replicator system in Starfleet creating a more authentic replication.

Overall, the lounge is the most often used recreational area of the ship.

SHUTTLEBAYS

Located at the dorsal stern of the primary hull, the Main Shuttlebay takes up a significant portion of the aft section of Decks Six through Nine on the Sovereign class. Due to the mission profile of the Sovereign class, the shuttlebay extends larger than normal for a vessel its size to accommodate runabouts and ships smaller than Courier-grade that may be the primary mode of transport by entities the vessel’s crew encounter.

The Main Shuttlebay is managed by a team of Helmsmen/Pilots, Engineers and Technicians, and Operations personnel that are based on the Flight Operations office under the supervision of the Flight Control Officer.

The Secondary Shuttlebay is located at the very aft portion of the Engineering hull, homage to the Constitution-class shuttlebay. This bay, while smaller than the main shuttlebay, is just as capable of handling flight operations as the main shuttlebay.

SHUTTLECRAFT

The Sovereign-class Main Shuttlebay is equipped with: Four Type-8 Medium Short-Range Shuttlecraft, Four Type-9 Medium Long-Range Shuttlecraft, Three Type-11 Heavy Long-Range Shuttlecraft, Four Work Bee-Type Maintenance Pods, Ordnance and Fuel.

The Sovereign-class Secondary Shuttlebay is equipped with: Two Type-8 Medium Short-Range Shuttlecraft, Two Type-9 Medium Long-Range Shuttlecraft, One Type-11 Heavy Long-Range Shuttlecraft, Four Work Bee-Type Maintenance Pods, Ordnance and Fuel.

CAPTAIN’S YACHT

Type: Sovereign Class Integrated Craft

Accommodation: 4 flight crew, 20 passengers.

Power Plant: One 5,220-millicochrane warp engine, two 750-millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.

Dimensions: Length: 50m; Width: 22.5m; Height:12m

Performance: Cruise: Warp 4.5; Max Cruise: Warp 5; Max Warp: Warp 5.5/12hrs

Armament: 5 Type-V Phaser Strips, Pulse Emitter, Micro-Torpedo Launcher

Mounted in a recessed docking port in the underside of the primary hull, the Sovereign-class Captain’s Yacht serves dual purposes. A situation to be dealt with by the captain of a starship does not always require the entire ship to accompany him or her, or the ship may have a more important mission to accomplish. In these cases, the Captain’s Yacht provides a long-range craft that is capable enough to function without its primary vessel. Be it a simple excursion to get away from the stresses of command, or a run to retrieve or deliver VIPs, the yacht serves as an extendable arm of the Sovereign class.

Facilities include six sleeping bunks and a comfortable passenger cabin. A replicator and flight couches provide for the needs of the passengers and a two-person transporter allows for beaming of personnel or cargo when needed. Atmospheric flight capabilities allow this shuttle type to land on planetary surfaces.

OPERATIONS

Despite the fact that the Sovereign class design philosophy leaned heavily toward Tactical and Defensive Missions, she is still classified as a multi-role starship, in keeping with Federation Council Policy. This offers the Federation, and Starfleet, flexibility in assigning nearly any objective within the realm of Starfleet's assigned duties. Missions for a Sovereign class starship may fall into one of the following categories, in order of her strongest capable mission parameter to her weakest mission parameter.

Tactical/Defensive Operations: Typical Missions include patrolling the Gorn Border, Cardassian Occupation zones, Borg interdiction missions, or protecting any Federation interest from hostile intent in planetary or interstellar conflicts.

Emergency/Search and Rescue: Typical Missions include answering standard Federation emergency beacons, extraction of Federation or Non-Federation citizens in distress, retrieval of Federation or Non-Federation spacecraft in distress, small-scale planetary evacuation - medium or large scale planetary evacuation is not feasible.

Federation Policy and Diplomacy: A Sovereign-class starship can be used as an envoy during deep-space operations. Deep-space Exploration: The Sovereign class is equipped for long-range interstellar survey and mapping missions, as well as the ability to explore a wide variety of planetary classifications.

Contact with Alien Lifeforms: Pursuant to Starfleet Policy regarding the discovery of new life, facilities aboard the Sovereign class include a variety of exobiology and xenobiological suites, and a small cultural anthropology staff, allowing for limited deep-space life form study and interaction.

Ongoing Scientific Investigation: A Sovereign-class starship is equipped with scientific laboratories and a wide variety of sensor probes and sensor arrays, giving her the ability to perform a wide variety of ongoing scientific investigations.

LIFEBOATS

Aside from the escape options of shuttlecraft or transporters, the primary survival craft of the Sovereign class is the escape pod or lifeboat. Each Sovereign carries a total of 120 of the 8-person variants, which measures 5.6 meters tall and 6.2 meters along the edge of the triangle. Each Lifeboat can support a full compliment for 6 months, longer if the lifeboats connect together. All are equipped with navigational sensors, microthrusters, plus emergency subspace communication equipment.

DECK CONFIGURATION

Deck 1: Captain’s Ready Room, Main Bridge, and Briefing Room/Observation Lounge

Deck 2: Junior and Senior Officers Quarters

Deck 3: Docking Ports 1-3 (Port/Starboard/Aft), Officers Quarters, VIP/Guest Quarters

Deck 4: Junior and Senior Officers Quarters, Holosuites

Deck 5: Junior and Senior Officers Quarters, Primary Computer Core, Gymnasium

Deck 6: Primary Computer Core Control, Cargo Bay 1 & 2, Upper Primary Computer Cores 1-2, Upper Main Shuttlebay, Impulse Engines (P/S)

Deck 7: Sickbay, Chief Medical Officer's Office, Counselor's Office, Primary Science Labs, Primary Computer Core, Impulse Engines (P/S), Main Shuttlebay

Deck 8: Primary Computer Core, Junior Officers and Crew Quarters, Secondary Science Labs, Firing Range, Main Impulse Engines, Phaser Range, Chief Tactical Officer's Office, Main Brig, Secondary Weapons Control, Secondary Armory, Upper Shuttlebay Maintenance and Support, Upper Aft Lounge, Transporter Rooms 1-2

Deck 9: Recreation Deck, Living Quarters, Holodecks, Dorsal Docking Port, Environmental Support, Transporter Rooms 3-4, Lower Shuttlebay Maintenance and Support, M/ARA Deuterium Injector Assembly, Aft Lounge

Deck 10: Upper Engineering Support Area, Secondary Deflector Control, Living Quarters, Deuterium Injector Assembly

Deck 11: Main Engineering, Primary Maintenance Support Center, Fore Torpedo Bay Control, Living Quarters, Hydroponics, Stellar Cartography, Deflector Control, Secondary Navigational Deflector

Deck 12: Lower Engineering, Primary Systems Support Compartment, Environmental Support, Living Quarters, Forward Torpedo Magazine

Deck 13: Living Quarters, Deuterium Storage, Power Distribution, Operations Department Office, Forward Torpedo Launcher (1)

Deck 14: Living Quarters, Cargo Bay 3 - Primary Cargo Bay, Lower Forward Torpedo Bay Control, Deuterium Storage, Captain's Yacht Docking Station, Upper Shuttlebay 2

Deck 15: Secondary Computer Core Control, Living Quarters, Transporter Rooms 5 and 6, Secondary/Aft Tractor Beam Control and Emitter, Shuttle Bay, Navigational Deflector, Main Engineering Upper Level, Shuttlebay Maintenance and Support, Upper Secondary Computer Core, Plasma Transfer Conduits

Deck 16: Secondary Computer Core, Primary Shuttle Maintenance Hangar, Tertiary Science Labs, Navigational Deflector, Main Engineering Lower Level

Deck 17: Secondary Computer Core, Primary Machine Shop, Stellar Cartography, Chief Science Officer's Office, Microlabs, Navigational Deflector, Aft Tractor Emitter

Deck 18: Main Tractor Beam Control and Emitter, Environmental Control, Aft Torpedo Control, Navigational Deflector

Deck 19: Transporter Rooms 5 and 6, Waste Management, Environmental Support, Aft Torpedo Launchers (2), Torpedo Magazine

Deck 20: Brig, Armory, Power Transfer Conduit Control Center, Environmental Support, Forward Torpedo Launchers (2), Torpedo Magazine

Deck 21: Tertiary Maintenance Support Center, Secondary Systems Support, Gravimetric Polaron Generators, Antimatter Storage Pods, Forward Tractor Emitter

Deck 22: Anti-matter Storage Pods, Antimatter Generator

Deck 23: Antimatter Injector Assembly, Anti-matter Storage Pods, Anti-matter Injection Reactors

Deck 24: Antimatter Injector Assembly, Anti-matter Storage Pods

SHIPS IN THE 52’ND

Currently there is one Sovereign Class Starship in the 52nd Exploratory Fleet. The USS Nimitz NCC 75878-E, which is currently active.

COMMENTS

In several interviews that I’ve read saucer separation was supposed to be something that the Sovereign is capable of doing. Since I’ve yet to see, read or hear about it from more definitive sources I have not included this rumored characteristic.

What does Ken think?

I’ve always had mixed feelings about the Sovereign class. I mean tactically it’s an awesome weapons platform made to kick some serious Borg buttocks but I think it’s a little light in the science department myself which leads me to question it’s designation as an explorer.

Sovereign Class Starship