Excelsior Class

Excelsior-class
Accommodation:	450 (150 Officers - 300 Enlisted Crew) {Evacuation Limit 4800}
Classification:	Explorer [Exploration/Diplomatic/Defensive]
Development Project Started:	2252
Production Start Date:	2283
Production End Date:	2335
Length:	511.25 meters
Width:	195.64 meters
Height:	86.76 meters
Weight:	2,350,000 metric tons
Cargo Capacity:	35,200 metric tons
Hull Composition:	Duranium hull plating over duranium-tritanium structural members
Number of Decks:	17 Total, 15 Habitable.

Locations of Excelsior Class Construction:

Antares Fleet Yard, Antares IV; New Aberdeen Fleet Yard, Aldebarran; Utopia Planitia Fleet Yard, Mars; Copernicus Fleet Yard, Luna; Atlas V Fleet Yard, Deneb V; San Francisco Fleet Yard, Earth.

Excelsior Class Mission Profile

The Excelsior class was intended to provide a multi-mission mobile platform for a wide range of scientific and explorative research projects. Replace Constitution and Constitution-Refit 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. And finally to provide a mobile platform for testing and implementation of Trans-Warp Technology (repealed in 2290).

GENERAL INFORMATION:

One of the oldest classes still in service in the active fleet, only the recently decommissioned Miranda class has logged more vessels constructed and more active duty cycles than the Excelsior class. Even though the great experiment was, in the end, a failure, the vessel proved to be a highly durable and reliable design. The Excelsior Class has transcended generations and, while no longer the glory posting it once was, still represents a significant portion of Starfleet and is one of her most enduring symbols.

PHASER ARRAY

The Phaser Array arrangement of the Excelsior class is as follows. Three dorsal turrets on the saucer section, one for the forward, starboard and port sides. These turrets are duplicated on the ventral side of the primary saucer. One ventral turret on the primary hull, dead aft covers the aft firing arc. The turret itself is located beneath the aft engineering hull Shuttlebay.

The Excelsior Class starship is now considered a medium sized vessel, and utilizes the Type VIII turret system. The seven arrays are all type VIII turret emitters. Each array fires a pulsed beam of Phaser energy, discharging 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 drive and auxiliary fusion generators. Individually, each type VIII turret can discharge approximately 2.75 MW (megawatts).

The maximum affective range is 300,000 kilometers.

TORPEDO LAUNCHERS

The Excelsior Class utilizes two fixed-focus torpedo launchers, located just above the main deflector dish in the neck of the vessel. A third launcher is set to fire dead aft and is located on the rear of the engineering hull just below the aft shuttlebay. These launchers are the second generation of automated, high-speed launcher originally found on the Constitution-Refit Class starships.

Since the launch of the Excelsior Class, however, the vessel has had continuous upgrades to keep the vessel up to date with modern Torpedo Weapon technology. The last upgrade for the Excelsior Class saw the installation of torpedo launchers designed and deployed for use with the Akira class. These launchers are highly automated and can fire a maximum salvo of 5 torpedoes per launcher from the forward launchers and 3 torpedoes from the aft launcher.

Typically armed with the Mark XXV photon torpedo, capable of pattern firing (sierra, etc.) as well as independent launch. Independent targeting once launched from the ship, detonation on contact unless otherwise directed by the Chief Tactical Officer.

Payload: The ship can carry a maximum of 120 torpedoes.

Range: Maximum effective range is 3,000,000 kilometers.

DEFLECTOR SHIELDS

The Excelsior Class is equipped with a symmetrical subspace graviton field. This type of shield is fairly similar to those of most other Starships. However, besides incorporating the now mandatory nutation shift in frequency, the shields alter their graviton polarity to better deal with more powerful weapons, such as the neutron-carbide beams of Tamarian vessels. During combat, the shield sends data on what type of weapon is being used on it, and what frequency and phase the weapon uses. Once this is analyzed by the tactical officer, the shield can be configured to have the same frequency as the incoming weapon - but different nutation. This tactic dramatically increases shield efficiency.

There are twelve shield grids on the Excelsior Class starship, and each one generates 137.5 MW, resulting in total shield strength of approximately 1650 MW. The power for the shields is taken directly from the warp engines and impulse fusion generators. If desired, the shields can be augmented by power from the impulse power plants. The shields can protect against approximately 12% of the total EM spectrum (whereas the Galaxy Class Starship's standard shields can protect against about 23%), This improvement was made possible by the multi-phase graviton polarity flux technology incorporated into the shields, which is now standard issue on Federation starships.

The shields, when raised, stay extremely close to the hull to conserve energy - average range is ten meters away from the hull.

COMPUTER CORE

Number of computer cores: Two: The primary core occupies space on decks 6, 7 and 8 - located centrally in the main saucer section. The secondary, emergency core is much smaller than the first and is located adjacent to Environmental Control on Deck 17.

The updated Computer cores found on the Excelsior class are larger versions of the New Orleans Class Isolinear Processing cores, spread out to take three rather than four decks. The system is powered by a smaller, regulated EPS conduit directly from the warp core. For missions, requirements on the computer core rarely exceed 75-80% of total core 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.

WARP PROPULSION SYSTEM

The Excelsior Class is equipped with a NNEC Mark 4.5 Standard Matter/Anti-Matter Reaction Drive, developed by Newport News Engineering Consortium. Information on this Warp Drive can be found in any Starfleet Library or Omnipedia.

Normal Cruising Speed: Warp 7

Maximum Speed: Warp 9.4 for 12 hours

Cruising Speed as pursuant to Warp Limitations, as a cause of subspace pollution: Warp 6.6

IMPULSE PROPULSION SYSTEM

Standard Scarbak VI Excelsior Class mass drivers, developed specifically for the Excelsior Class. Each engine (there are two impulse engines) can propel the Excelsior Class at speeds just under .75c, or "three-quarters maximum impulse". Maximum impulse is .994c (one tenth away from 186,282 miles per second, which is warp one), and requires both engines working at approximately half strength. Standard impulse operations are limited to a maximum speed of .25c, with each engine working at .125c, due to time dilation problems.

NAVIGATION DEFLECTOR

A standard Excelsior Class main deflector dish is located along the fore portion of the Excelsior Class's secondary hull, and is located just forward of the primary engineering spaces. Composed of molybdenum/duranium mesh panels over a tritanium framework (beneath the Duranium-Tritanium hull), the dish can be manually moved four degrees in any direction off the ship's Z-axis. The main deflector dish's shield and sensor power comes from two graviton polarity generators located on deck 17, each capable of generating 128 MW, which can be fed into two 550 millicochrane subspace field distortion generators.

TRACTOR BEAM

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 Excelsior 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 Excelsior Class is equipped with a total of six personnel transporters capable of a maximum payload mass of 800kg (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 Excelsior also has a total of three cargo transporters capable of a maximum payload Mass of 500 metric tons.

Finally a total of three 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 one hundred sixty persons per hour.

COMMUNICATIONS

Standard Communications Range: 42,000 - 100,000 kilometers. Standard Data Transmission Speed: 18.5 kiloquads per second. Subspace Communications Speed: Warp 9.9997.

SENSOR SYSTEMS

Long range and navigation sensors are located behind the main deflector dish, to avoid sensor "ghosts" and other detrimental effects consistent with main deflector dish millicochrane static field output. 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, Quasi-stellar material. Each sensor pallet (twenty in all) can be interchanged and re-calibrated with any other pallet on the ship.

The Excelsior Class is also equipped with a Warp Current Sensor. This is an independent subspace graviton field-current scanner, allowing the starship to track ships at high warp by locking onto the eddy currents from the threat ship's warp field, and then follow the currents by using multi-model image mapping.

TACTICAL SENSORS

There are twenty independent tactical sensors on Excelsior Class Starships. 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 50% efficient against ECM, and operates modestly in particle flux nebulae - measuring somewhere between 40-50% accuracy on primary and secondary scans.

STELLAR CARTOGRAPHY

One small stellar cartography bay is located on deck 14, 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.

SCIENCE LABS

There are fifteen science labs on an Excelsior Class starship; five labs are on deck seven - adjacent to Sickbay, 5 labs are on deck eight, and 5 multifunction labs on deck sixteen. The 5 labs on deck five are bio-chem-physics labs that can also be reconfigured for Medical labs and used primary by the Medical staff. The 5 labs on deck seven are a mixed batch; two are bio-chem-physics, two are XT (extra-terrestrial) analysis labs, and one eugenics lab. The final 5 on deck sixteen are multi-functional labs that can be equipped for various experiments.

MEDICAL SYSTEMS

There is one large sickbay facility located on deck seven, equipped with an intensive-care ward, a laboratory, a nursery, the CMO's office, four 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 emergency usage of the Emergency Medical Holographic System.

The Ship's Counselor has his office located on Deck 7, near the Medical section. It consists of a private office, with standard furnishings (decorated to the Counselors preference), personal viewscreen, a computer display, and replicator. An individual therapy room furnished with chairs and couch for one on one sessions, as well as a large, group therapy room, consisting of several couches and chairs, are located adjacent to the Counselor's office.

In the event of a crewmember suffering a psychotic episode, and needing to be isolated from the crew, the ill crewman is kept in sickbay, in the isolation unit, or in the intensive care units, as determined by bed availability.

CREW QUARTERS

All crew and officers' (except for the Commanding officer's and Executive Officer's, which are located on deck 2) crew quarters are located on decks 3, 4, 8 and decks 13-15.

Individuals assigned to the Excelsior Class starships for periods over six months are permitted to reconfigure their quarters within hardware, volume, and mass limits. Individuals assigned for shorter periods are generally restricted to standard quarter’s configuration.

Standard Living Quarters are provided for both Starfleet Non-Commissioned Officers and Ensigns. These persons are expected to share their room with another crewmate due to space restrictions aboard the starship. After six months, crewmembers are permitted to bring family aboard the ship and a slightly larger room is allocated to them.

Two NCO's or two Ensigns are assigned to a suite. Accommodations include 2 bedrooms with standard beds, connected by a living/work area. A washroom with ultrasonic shower is located off of each bedroom. A food replicator and a personal holographic viewer are located in the living area. Small pets are allowed to NCO's.

Enlisted crewmembers share quarters with up to 4 others. Accommodations include 2 bedrooms with twin beds, connected by a living/work area. A washroom with ultrasonic shower is located off of each bedroom. A food replicator and a personal holographic viewer are located in the living area. Pets are not allowed to enlisted crew.

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

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 assistants 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 is allocated to them. Members of the Captain's Senior Staff can have these restrictions waved with the Captain's permission.

These accommodations typically include a small bathroom, a bedroom (with standard bed), a living/work area, a food replicator, an ultrasonic shower, personal holographic viewer, and provisions for pets.

Officers may request that their living quarters be combined to form one large dwelling.

The Captain and Executive Officer of the Excelsior Class starship both have special quarters, located on Deck 2. They are located on a higher deck because these two people must be closer to the bridge in the event of an Alert situation.

These quarters are much more luxurious than any others on the ship, with the exception of the VIP/Diplomatic Guest quarters. Both the Executive Officer's and the Captain's quarters are larger than standard Officers Quarters, and this space generally has the following accommodations: a bedroom (with a luxurious bed), living/work area, bathroom, food replicator, ultrasonic shower, old-fashioned water shower, personal holographic viewer, provisions for pets, and even a null grav sleeping chamber. These quarters are nearly identical in "comfort" to those of a high-ranking officer's quarters on a Galaxy Class Starship.

The Excelsior Class has long been a symbol of UFP authority, a tool in dealing with other races. Starfleet still makes use of the Excelsior Class in diplomacy so the need to transport or accommodate Very Important Persons, diplomats, or ambassadors may arise.

These quarters are located on Deck 3. These quarters include a bedroom, spacious living/work area, personal viewscreen, ultrasonic shower, bathtub/water shower, provisions for pets, food replicator, and a null-grav sleeping chamber. These quarters can be immediately converted to class H, K, L, N, and N2 environments.

RECREATIONAL

The Excelsior Class design has been maximized for diplomatic and scientific usage. However, it is realized that the stress of operating at 99% efficiency on a ship that is built for deep-space exploration and diplomatic missions can be dangerous, so there are some recreational facilities on the Excelsior Class.

There are two standard holodeck facilities on the Excelsior Class, both located on deck 6.

There is also a total of eight Holosuites on the Excelsior class. These are smaller versions of standard Federation Holodecks, designed for individual usage (the two 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 aboard an Excelsior Class, all of them located on deck 3 of the saucer section.

THE LOUNGE

There is a large lounge, located on deck 15, starboard. (Commonly referred to as Fifteen-Starboard) It has a very relaxed and congenial air about it; and 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 is on an equal footing. Opinions can be voiced in complete safety. This lounge is the social center of the ship.

The Lounge has a battery of recreational games and assorted "stuff". 3-D chess, pool tables, poker tables (complete with holographic dealer and chips), windows that look out into space, heavily cushioned seats, and numerous other games. There is also a bar (with holographic bartender), and it stores various potent alcoholic beverages, such as chech'tluth, Aldebaran whiskey, Saurian brandy, Tzartak aperitif, Tamarian Frost, C&E Warp Lager, Warnog, Antarean brandy, and countless others.

SHUTTLEBAY

Located at the dorsal bow of the ship, the Flight bay module has replaced the shuttlebay module that is in previous Starship Classes. This Flight bay contains the latest in Starfleet shuttle and runabout designs. The Flight bay is controlled by a space/air-traffic control room, known as "Flight Ops". This is located against the forward wall of the Flight bay, next to the exit for the turbolift.

The Flight bay typically contains the following, though this can change on a mission-to-mission basis. Six Type 15 Shuttlespods, Four Type 6 Shuttles, Two Type 9 Shuttles, and Four Work Bees.

OPERATIONS

Operations aboard an Excelsior class starship fall under one of three categories: flight operations, primary mission operations, and secondary mission operations.

Flight Operations are all operations that relate directly to the function of the starship itself, which include power generation, starship upkeep, environmental systems, and any other system that is maintained and used to keep the vessel spaceworthy.

Primary Mission Operations entail all tasks assigned and directed from the Main Bridge, and typically require full control and discretion over ship navigation and ship's resources.

Secondary Mission operations are those operations that are not under the direct control of the Main Bridge, but do not impact Primary Mission Operations. Some examples of secondary mission operations include long-range cultural, diplomatic or scientific programs run by independent or semi-autonomous groups aboard the starship.

SEPARATED FLIGHT MODE

During catastrophic systems failure aboard an Excelsior class starship, the Primary Saucer section can detach from the engineering hull and flee via emergency thrusters and the retained forward momentum from emergency separation. This is considered a permanent measure, as reattaching the engineering hull to the saucer section requires a Starbase facility or Repair Depot to completely integrate the two vessels again. Typically, situations that require abandoning the engineering hull result in the destruction of the engineering hull, and upon rescue of the saucer section crew, the vessel is decommissioned.

LIFEBOATS

Aside from the escape options of shuttlecraft or transporters, the primary survival craft of the Excelsior class is the escape pod or lifeboat. Each Excelsior Class carries a total of 100 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 8 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, Briefing Room

Deck 2: Junior and Senior Officers Quarters, VIP/Guest Quarters

Deck 3: Officers Quarters, Holosuites, VIP/Officer's Mess

Deck 4: NCO Quarters, Enlisted Crew Mess, Galley

Deck 5: Main Phaser and Fire Control, Auxiliary Control Room and Support, Impulse Engines and Engineering Support

Deck 6: Primary Life Support Systems, Primary Computer Core Control, Cargo Bay 1 & 2, Holodeck 1 and 2

Deck 7: Computer Core, Sickbay, Chief Medical Officer's Office, Primary Science Labs, Counselor's Office

Deck 8: Computer Core, Junior Officers and Crew Quarters, Main Lounge, Secondary Science Labs, Fusion Power Generators 1 and 2

Deck 9: Interconnecting Dorsal/Intermix Shaft/Turbolifts, Forward Torpedo Bay Control, Forward Torpedo Bay Magazine, Armory, Holding Cells, Chief Tactical Officer's Office

Deck 10: Transporter Room 1, Interconnecting Dorsal/Intermix Shaft/Turbolifts, Forward Torpedo Launchers, Shuttlebay Hangar and Maintenance Section

Deck 11: Upper Engineering Support Area, Machine Shop, Primary Maintenance Support Center, Shuttlebay, Warp Core - M/ARA Reaction Assembly, Deuterium Storage Tanks

Deck 12: Main Engineering, Primary Systems Support Compartment, Living Quarters, Shuttle Bay, Warp Core - M/ARA Reaction Assembly, Fusion Power Generators 3 and 4

Deck 13: Living Quarters, Primary Shuttle Maintenance Hangar, Main Deflector Auxiliary Systems, Emergency Batteries / Fusion Power Generators 4-6, Aft Phaser and Torpedo Weapon Control, Warp Core - M/ARA Reaction Assembly, Emergency Transporter Rooms 1 and 2

Deck 14: Secondary Deflector Control, Living Quarters, Stellar Cartography, Cargo Bay 1,Warp Core - M/ARA Reaction Assembly, Engineering Section Impulse Engine Control and Support Center, Engineering Section Impulse Engines, Enlisted Personnel Living Quarters

Deck 15: Recreation Deck/Zero-G Gymnasium, Crew Lounge, Deuterium Storage, Warp Core - M/ARA Reaction Assembly, Engineering Section Impulse Engines, Nacelle Power Transfer Assembly, Nacelle Personnel Transfer Conduit, Primary and Emergency Deflector Dish Graviton Polarity Generators, Subspace field distortion generators, Enlisted Personnel Living Quarters

Deck 16: Tertiary Multipurpose Laboratories, Transporter Room 2, Emergency Transporter Room 3-4, Warp Core - M/ARA Reaction Assembly, Cargo Bay 3 - Primary Cargo Bay, Cargo Bay 2, Cargo Bay 4, Cargo Transporters 2, 3 and 4.

Deck 17: Waste Recycling, Environmental Control, Emergency Batteries, Brig, Secondary Computer Core, Anti-matter Generators, Gravimetric Polaron Generators, Secondary Shield Generators, Warp Core - M/ARA Reaction Assembly

Deck 18: Anti-matter Injectors, Warp Core - M/ARA Reaction Assembly, Emergency Gravimetric Polaron Generators, Tractor Beam Generator, fore and aft Tractor Beam assemblies

Excelsior Class Starship