Nebula Class Information

NEBULA-CLASS INTRODUCTION

MISSION OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to Starfleet Exploration Directive 902.3, the following objectives have been established for an Nebula Class Starship:

Provide a mobile platform for a wide range of ongoing scientific and cultural research projects.

Replace aging Ambassador, Oberth and Excelsior class Starships as primary instruments of Starfleet’s exploration programs.

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 STATISTICS

Length: 442.23 meters Width: 318.11 meters Height: 130.43 meters Weight: 3,309,000 metric tonnes Cargo capacity: Dependant upon mission type Hull: Duranium-Tritanium composite Number of Decks: 30

GENERAL OVERVIEW

The Nebula-class was developed along-side the Galaxy-class in the 2340s and ‘50s. While Starfleet firmly believed in the feasibility of the Galaxy-class, they wanted a more cost-effective ship that would be able to perform much of the same missions as the larger, more expensive capital ships under construction.

Part of the design that was approved by Starfleet included a multi-mission module that could easily be exchanged within days at a certified facility. The first of which consisted of a sensor dome attached to the rear of the ship. Designed to aid in long-range reconnaissance and search-and-rescue operations, the sensor pod quickly proved its usefulness, so much so that several Nebula-class vessels were allocated to border patrols.

With the flexibility given to it by the replaceable pod-module, the Nebula-class has quickly become one of the most produced and utilized starships of the 24th century.

CONSTRUCTION HISTORY

Shortly after the Galaxy Class Project was approved in 2343, it was realized that the expense of building such a large capital ship, both in resources and time, would limit the number of ships being constructed. Starfleet, however, was impressed with the design of the Galaxy-class, and wished to adapt it for use in a smaller, less expensive class of starships. In 2345, the Nebula Class Project was officially approved after designers worked for nearly seven months side-by-side with the Galaxy Class Project team at the ASDB.

The Nebula-class proposal used the same basic design as the Galaxy, with two major differences: the stardrive section was approximately 12 decks shorter than the Galaxy’s, and the warp nacelles were situated facing “downward” as opposed to the “upward” placement on the Galaxy.

Another design incorporated into the Nebula Class Project was the “rollpod” used in previous classes, such as the Miranda. In fact, as the prototype USS Nebula was being built, one of the chief designers referred to it as a “24th Century Miranda,” a nickname that would later be transferred to the Akira Class Project.

By leaving seventy-percent of the interior unfinished, the USS Nebula was able to leave the Utopia Planitia construction yards – minus the roll-pod – under her own power in late 2353. Around that time the Akira Class Project was approved, and some of the design team members were transferred to that Project.

Starfleet did not feel the need to have two starships with “rollpods”, and wished to try something different with the Nebula Class. The multi-mission modules used on the New Orleans class vessels had proven useful, and a variant was designed for the Nebula. The original module was ellipitcally-shaped and connected to the stardrive section by the use of two support pylons. The design proved sound, and when equipped with specialized sensor pallets it greatly increased the range of the Nebula’s sensors.

The original module design, however, would not last more than a decade. Years after the debut of the ellipitical pod, reports were received claiming that micro-fractures had developed in the support pylons connecting the pod to the ship while at high-warp for durations longer than 48 hours. All Nebula-class ships were restricted to a speed of warp factor five, or warp seven under extreme emergencies, until the problem could be resolved.

The replacement pod came in the form of a triangular module, connected to the stardrive section by a single pylon. This design, however, partially blocked the main shuttlebay, making docking and launching of shuttles difficult. The second shuttlebay, located on deck 22, was expanded to carry more auxiliary craft and act as the primary launchpad for shuttle craft.

COMMAND SYSTEMS

MAIN BRIDGE

General Overview: Primary operational control of the Nebula-class is provided by the Main Bridge, located at the top of the primary hull on Deck 1. The Main Bridge directly supervises all primary mission operations and coordinates all departmental activities. Designated as an emergency environmental support shelter, Deck 1 receives priority life support from two protected utilities trunks.

The Main Bridge is an ejectable module, allowing for a wider variety in mission parameters.

Layout: The standard Bridge is normally configured to match that of Galaxy-class bridges, with the central area providing seating and information displays for the Captain and two other officers. The Captain’s Chair includes consoles which can be used to control almost any aspect of the ship. The two Officer seats are equipped with fully programmable consoles for a variety of uses.

Directly ahead of the command area are the consoles for flight control and operations.

The Flight Control console, often referred to as Conn, is responsible for the actual piloting and navigation of the spacecraft. Although these are heavily automated functions, an officer is responsible for overseeing these operations at all times. The conn officer also works as the bridge liasion to engineering.

The Operations console (OPS) is used to continually track and coordinate resources aboard the ship. During alert situations, OPS is responsible for supervision of power allocation in coordination with the Engineering department. For example, shutting down holodecks to conserve power during alert situations. The Operations Officer is also in charge of assigning gear to Away Team members.

At the very front of the bridge chamber is a large viewscreen. This main viewer performs all the standard duties expected of it. New ships being constructed are having their viewscreens replaced with a holographic viewer system, as debuted on the Sovereign-class. Older ships are being refitted as time and resources allow. The holographic viewer system is normally deactivated, displaying the bulkhead, but can be activated at a moment’s notice to display one of several things: From a subspace message to the results of a sensor scan.

The Main Bridge station dedicated to defensive/offense systems control and starship internal security is Tactical, which is located directly behind the command chairs. The physical layout of the raised tactical station console describes a sweeping curve affording an unobstructed view of the main viewer, and an equally clear view of the command stations below. This allows for an uninterrupted exchange between the Tactical Officer and other bridge officers during critical operations. The console lacks a seat and is therefore a standup position, deemed ergonomically necessary for efficient security functions. While the length of the control/display panel can accommodate two officers, most scenarios will see a single tactical officer conducting operations alone.

Science stations I and II are the first two aft stations located directly behind the Tactical station on the upper level of the Main Bridge. They are used by bridge personnel to provide real-time scientific data to command personnel.

Science II has access to all science, navigational, sensor, and communications systems. Science II can be configured to operate in tandem with Science I, although security links and all other non-science data is withheld from Science II. Science II usually works independently of Science I.

Next to the two science stations is the engineering console. This console has a small cutaway diagram of the ship, which displays all engineering-relevant data and shows warp fields and engine output. This console also has priority links to the computers, the WPS (Warp Propulsion System), the IPS (Impulse Propulsion System), navigation, Structural Integrity Field (SIF), and Inertial Dampening Field (IDF). Although usually unattended, the Chief Engineer can bring this console to full Enable mode by entering voice codes and undergoing a retinal scan. Directly aft of this console is the Engineering II console, which is fully programmable to run any Secondary Console function, including Sciences, Medical, Operations, Limited Helm control, or Security.

This console, as does every console on the bridge, also has the hand-input sub-console for use in setting the auto-destruct of the ship. The auto-destruct sequence follows Standard Starfleet security procedures which can be accessed via any secured Memory Alpha ODN connection.

There are two main turbolifts on the bridge that can handle normal transit around the ship. There is an emergency ladder that can be used to evacuate the Bridge. Also accessible from the Bridge is the Observation Lounge, Crew Head and the Captain’s Ready Room. A third turbolift, used to ferry crew to the Battle Bridge on Galaxy-class ships, is normally programmed to transport bridge officers to Main Engineering in an emergency. As such, all other turbolifts are cleared from its path, and the turbolift operates at a highly increased speed. It can be a nauseating experience for crew members who are not accustomed to it.

MAIN ENGINEERING

Main Engineering is located on Deck 24, and serves as the master control for the ship’s warp propulsion system, as well as the impulse propulsion system and other engineering systems.

During emergencies Main Engineering can be turned into a command and control center by converting a number of consoles to duplicate the stations on the Bridge. The software is already preloaded onto these consoles and each vessel has specific procedures in place should a situation present itself.

There are three main consoles in Engineering, the Master Systems Monitor, Warp Propulsion System (WPS) console, and Impulse Propulsion System (IPS) console. In between the WPS & IPS console is the Master Systems Display. Heading towards the warp core from the main entrance one will find the Chief Engineer's Office on the left and the Assistant Chief Engineer's console on the right. A little more forward is the isolation door. Access to the upper level of Engineering can be found by a ladder on the left of the Matter/Antimatter Reaction Chamber (M/ARC) or an elevator on the right. The upper level has access to many auxiliary systems as well as egress points.

TACTICAL SYSTEMS

PHASERS

Phaser array arrangement: Primary hull: Three dorsal phaser arrays on the primary hull, one primary dorsal array extending 340 degrees and two point defense arrays to either side of the Shuttlebay. The arrays cover the entire semi-sphere above the ship, except for a few blind spots close to the hull and Shuttlebay. One ventral phaser array located on the primary hull extends approximately 320 degrees and covers the forward and lateral portions of the semi-sphere below the ship, except for those blind spots close to the hull. Total of 4 phaser arrays on primary hull.

Secondary hull: One phaser array on each nacelle pylon provides coverage on either side of the ship. A single point defense array near the aft torpedo launcher provides defense to the aft of the ship. A phaser array on the ventral side of the ship provides coverage to areas below the ship. Total of 4 phaser arrays on secondary hull.

When the weapons pod is installed, there are three phaser arrays located on the module itself to provide additional protection.

Phaser Array Type: The Nebula-class vessel utilizes the Type X phaser array system. The eight arrays are all type X, the new standard emitter. 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). Current Tactical policy has phaser arrays automatically rotate phaser frequency and attempt to lock onto the frequency and phase of a threat vehicle's shields for shield penetration.

Phaser Array Output: Groups of emitters are supplied by redundant sets of energy feeds from the primary trunks of the electro plasma system (EPS). Individually, each type X-emitter can only discharge approximately 5.1 MW (megawatts). However, several emitters can direct their fire onto one target area to increase damage throughput.

Phaser Array Range: Maximum effective range is 300,000 kilometers.

Primary purpose: Assault

Secondary purpose: Defense/anti-spacecraft/anti-fighter/p>

TORPEDO LAUNCHERS

Arrangement: Two torpedo launchers, one located just above the main deflector dish and another at the rear of the ship above the impulse engine, provide the Nebula-class with additional defense and offense capabilities. These launchers are identical to the launchers found in such capital ships as the Galaxy-class, and hence have the capability of firing up to ten torpedoes at one time, with a reload time of six seconds.

Type: Mark XXV photon torpedo, capable of pattern firing (sierra, etc.) as well as independent launch. Standard explosive yield is rated at 18.5 isotons. Some ships also carry a small complement of quantum torpedoes, each with an explosive yield of approximately 50 isotons. Quantum torpedoes are not standard equipment on Federation starships. Tri-cobalt devices are also not standard equipment.

Payload: A Nebula-class vessel can carry a maximum of 250 torpedo casings, with approximately 25% of those casings (63) dedicated to sensor probes. When outfitted with the weapons pod, the number of torpedo casings carried increases to 450 in number.

Range: Maximum effective range is 3,000,000 kilometers. Maximum range before fuel exhaustion is 3,500,000 kilometers.

Primary purpose: Assault

Secondary purpose: Anti-spacecraft

DEFLECTOR SHIELDS

Type: Symmetrical subspace graviton field. This type of shield is fairly similar to those of most other starships. Under Starfleet Directives all vessels incorporate the nutation shift in frequency. 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.

Output: There are ten shield generators on a Nebula-class starship, each generating a field of 384 MW in amplitude. During alert situations, up to six shield generators can operate in parallel phase-lock, providing a continuous output of approximately 2,304 MW. Peak momentary load of a single generator has been rated at 473,000 MW for periods approaching 170 milliseconds.

Range: The shields, when raised, operate at two distances. One is a uniform distance from the hull, averaging about 10 to 12 meters. The other is a bubble field, which varies in distance from any single point on the hull but has a common center within the ship.

Primary purpose: Defense from enemy threat forces, hazardous radiation and micro-meteoroid particles.

Secondary purpose: Ramming threat vehicles.

COMPUTER SYSTEMS

COMPUTER CORE

Number of computer cores: Three; Any of these three cores is able to handle the primary operational computing load of the entire vessel. Two of the cores are located near the center of the Primary Hull between Decks 5 and 14 (one on the port side, one on the starboard), while the third is located in the Engineering Hull between Decks 18 and 25.

Type: The computer cores on Nebula-Class starships are isolinear storage devices utilizing faster than light processing drives with isolinear temporary storage. Cooling of the isolinear core is accomplished by a regenerative liquid nitrogen loop.

SECURITY LEVELS

Access to all Starfleet data is highly regulated. A standard set of access levels have been programmed into the computer cores of all ships in order to stop any undesired access to confidential data.

Security levels are also variable, and task-specific. Certain areas of the ship are restricted to unauthorized personnel, regardless of security level. Security levels can also be raised, lowered, or revoked by Command personnel.

Security levels normally in use aboard a Federation starship are:

Level 10 – Captain and Above

Level 9 – First Officer

Level 8 - Commander

Level 7 – Lt. Commander

Level 6 – Lieutenant

Level 5 – Lt. Junior Grade

Level 4 - Ensign

Level 3 – Non-Commissioned Crew

Level 2 – Civilian Personnel

Level 1 – Open Access (Read Only)

Note: Security Levels beyond current rank can and are bestowed where, when and to whom they are necessary.

The main computer grants access based on a battery of checks to the individual user, including face and voice recognition in conjunction with a vocal code as an added level of security.

UNIVERSAL TRANSLATOR

All Starfleet vessels make use of a computer program called a Universal Translator that is employed for communication among persons who speak different languages. It performs a pattern analysis of an unknown language based on a variety of criteria to create a translation matrix. The translator is built in the Starfleet badge and small receivers are implanted in the ear canal.

The Universal Translator matrix aboard Federation starships is updated periodically as new dialects are encountered.

PROPULSION SYSTEMS

WARP PROPULSION SYSTEM

Type: TPG Matter/Anti-Matter Reaction Drive, developed by Theoretical Propulsion Group in conjunction with the Advanced Starship Design Bureau - Utopia Planitia Division. Information on this Warp Drive is classified [repealed: 2371; now available in standard Starfleet Omnipedia Databases].

Normal Cruising Speed: Warp 6

Cruising Speed as pursuant to Warp Limitations, as a cause of subspace pollution: Warp 5

Maximum Speed: Warp 9.6 for 12 hours

Note: Vessels equipped with the TPG M/ARA Drive System no longer have the maximum cruising speed limit of Warp 5, thanks to innovations discovered and utilized in the General Electric Type 8 M/ARA Warp Drive outfitted in the new Sovereign Class Starship. Pursuant to Starfleet Command Directive 12856.A, all Starships will receive upgrades to their Warp Core system to prevent further pollution of Subspace.

IMPULSE PROPULSION SYSTEM

Type: Nebula-class starships use slightly modified impulse engines of the type found on Galaxy-class ships. The main impulse engine is located on deck 16 on the rear of the connection pylon, just above the secondary shuttle bay. There are also two smaller secondary engines located on the saucer section, located on deck 10.

Output: The main engine can propel the ship at speeds just under .75c. Full impulse is 0.25c, with half-impulse being 0.125c and one-quarter impulse being 0.0625c. Maximum impulse is .994c (one tenth away from 186,282 miles per second, which is warp one), and requires the saucer engines providing additional power. Standard impulse operations are limited to .25c, due to time dilation problems.

REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

Type: Standard magnetohydrodynamic gas-fusion thrusters, identical to those found on Galaxy-class starships. There are 14 reaction control thrusters on a Nebula-class starship.

Output: Each thruster quad can produce 5.5 million Newtons of exhaust.

UTILITIES AND AUXILIARY SYSTEMS

NAVIGATION DEFLECTOR

The main deflector dish is located along the forward portion of the secondary hull, and is located just forward of the primary engineering spaces. Composed of molybdenum/duranium mesh panels over a duranium framework, the dish can be manually moved 7.2 degrees in any direction off the ship's Z-axis. The main deflector dish's shield and sensor power comes from three graviton polarity generators located on deck 24, each capable of generating 128 MW which fed into a pair of 550 millicochrane subspace field distortion amplifiers.

TRACTOR BEAM

Type: Multiphase subspace graviton beam, used for direct manipulation of objects from a submicron to a macroscopic level at any relative bearing to the ship. 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.

Output: 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.

Range: 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.

Primary purpose: Towing or manipulation of objects

Secondary purpose: Tactical; pushing enemy ships into each other.

TRANSPORTER SYSTEMS

Number of Systems: 12

Personnel Transporters: 4 (Transporter Rooms 1-4)

Cargo Transporters: 4

Emergency Transporters (Beam-Out only): 4

Range: 40,000 kilometers

Personnel Transporters:

Max Payload Mass: 800kg (1,763 lbs)

Max Range: 40,000 km

Max Beam Up/Out Rate: Approximately 100 persons per hour per Transporter

Cargo Transporters:

Max Payload Mass: 500 metric tons. Standard operation is molecular resolution (Non-Lifeform).

Set for quantum (lifeform) resolution: 1 metric ton

Max Beam Up/Out Rate (Quantum Setting): Approximately 100 persons per hour per Transporter

Emergency Transporters:

Max Range: 15,000 km (send only) Note: range depends on available power

Max Beam Out Rate: 160 persons per hour per Transporter (560 persons per hour with 4 Emergency Transporters)

Further information regarding the theory and operation of transporters is available from any Starfleet Omnipedia Database.

COMMUNICATIONS

Standard Communications Range: 42,000 - 100,000 kilometers

Standard Data Transmission Speed: 18.5 kiloquads per second

Subspace Communications Speed: Warp 9.9997

SCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS

SENSOR SYSTEMS

Long range and navigational 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 materia

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Each sensor pallet can be interchanged and re-calibrated with any other pallet on the ship.

WARP CURRENT SENSOR

This is an independent subspace graviton field-current scanner, allowing the ship to track vessels at high warp by locking onto the eddy currents from the threat ship's warp field, then follow the currents by using multi-model image mapping.

TACTICAL SENSORS

There are twenty-four independent tactical sensors installed on Nebula-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 84