Ship of the Week: D'Deridex

[Teaos]

We don't hit civilians if we can avoid it. There is really no point.

[Granitehewer]

because the federation, thinks long term and likes to build coalitions of the willing and try to promote lasting peace

[Sionnach Glic]

We don't hit civilians if we can avoid it. There is really no point.

Of course not. But the Federation would never even order an attack on enemy infrastructure if it was in the middle of a city. That's my point.
Sometimes, its nesasary to hit civilians acidently.

[Teaos]

The Federation always made raids on ship building during the war. For all we know civilias worked there.

[Sionnach Glic]

True, but if it was necassary to hit a military target in the middle of a civilian city, I'd bet they'd be unwilling to do it. They'd launch some sort of half-assed ground assault.

[Thorin]

They'd launch some sort of half-assed ground assault.

Don't they do that who ever/where ever they're attacking?

[Sionnach Glic]

That's the point.

[Mikey]

They'd launch some sort of half-assed ground assault.

Isn't that the only kind they know of?

[Sionnach Glic]

Er, Thorin said pretty much the same thing.
So I'll just repeat what I said to him:

That's the point.

[Captain Seafort]

They'd launch some sort of half-assed ground assault.

Isn't that the only kind they know of?

Nah, "half-assed assaults" are only launched by those particularly skilled in ground combat. Most of them just hide behind random packing crates taking potshots - no "assaulting" involved.

[Teaos]

Yeah some half assed plan involving Kira trying to help her mortal enemies sounds about the normal plan.

[Duskofdead]

That may be due to the fact that not as many Rom ships were included in the actions which we saw.

I agree with some of the others here that the design of the D'deridexis a little counterproductive; all that empty space leads to stretching the shields, etc. However, that empty space does add to the overall perceived size of the ship - and Romulans certainly appreciate gaining a psychological edge.

As far as using the D'dereidex for tasks requiring a ship with 1/4 of its size or abilities: it's been said before (mostly by G.K.) - and I agree 100% - it has constantly been ridiculous how many new and one-off Fed designs we see, and how relatively few ship design we see for other races.

Just to play devil's advocate I do not believe there is any particularly canon reason to believe that all shields of all designs are stronger covering a smaller ship. Especially since the Romulans use a power source which is entirely outside the traditional Starfleet matter/antimatter warp core. (I could be wrong but I seem to even recall that it was implied the power output of harnessing an artificial singularity was impressive.)

[Mikey]

The artifical singularity is a method of power generation, not application. I don't believe that it was expressed anywhere that Romulan power generation methods were superior or more effective than M/AM reactors; indeed, before the artificial singularity, Scotty implied that Romulan power generation was inferior to Fed tech.

And you are correct, it was never stated that local shield strength was dependent on overall shield size; it seems to me, however, to be common sense that a given amount of power over "x" amount of area yields a greater quotient as "x" decreases.

[Tholian_Avenger]

- The D'deridex is normally deployed in multiples.

- Pre-Nemesis, the D'deridex is the main Romulan warship.

- The D'deridex is rarely used outside a combat role.

- The D'deridex is supported by common hull frigate series of medium range: Scoutships and Scienceships.

- The Star Empire borders no less than two major states and possibly four; thus the Romulans are more oriented towards military than exploration being likely hemmed in.

- The D'deridex is larger looking from the front angle than a diagnle.

The head appears more voluminous than a Galaxy but is a small part compared to the rest of the ship. I believe the huge loop wings are integral components to native Romulan Warp Field design. We never have seen the rumored massive firepower either. I suspect the Romulans know they are behind the UFP/KE curve and know the only way to compete is through building huge fleet pieces (they do not seem to have the resource problems the Klingons did prior to TNG).

I believe the D'deridex was used in the Narenda-Khitomer Offensive and likely confirmed the concerns of the Romulans. The D'deridex was still a considerable threat until the Dominion War and that is a worthy credit to its designers. I believe the D'deridex was designed to be used in fleet actions against worlds, stations, and logistics. I wouldn't be suprised if it carried enough Marines to act as a troop transport for planetary assault either.

Thoughts?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J. vom Land der Ostern Blumen
Thol'yuns, hear your 'ssembly call you! ~ Up, lest worse than frost befall you! ~ To Webs! To Webs! To Webs, in Thol'ya! ~ Lo! All the tach'yun guards are lighted, let all hearts be now united! ~ To Webs ! To Webs! To Webs, in Thol'ya!

Advance the silk of Thol'ya Hurrah! Hurrah! ~ For Thol-i-a we take our stand, and live or die for Thol'ya! ~ To Webs! To Webs! and conquer peace for Thol'ya. ~ To Webs! To Webs and conquer peace for Thol'ya.

[stitch626]

I suspect the Romulans know they are behind the UFP/KE curve and know the only way to compete is through building huge fleet pieces

Sounds about right. Though this may have changed with their new ships.