I just thought I'd put this here so I wont have people complaining it doesn't fit with Trek.
United Earth Combat Carrier, Maelstrom class
Type: Battlecruiser/carrier hybrid
Unit Run: 2,459 ships currently in service.
49 have been lost in total
This class remains in production.
Commissioned: 2179 - present
Dimensions: Length: 1,231 metres long (not including forward sensor antennae)
Diameter: 431 metres
Decks: 407
Crew: 1,578
Armament: 12 Heavy pulse cannons (four located in fixed positions in prow)
24 Medium pulse cannons
30 flak cannons
20 missile launchers
20 point defence chain guns
Defence Systems: Four shield generators, located at different points throughout the ship.
19 cm armoured hull
Power generation: 1 Sotalon fusion reactor
4 backup nuclear fusion generators
32 power cells
Propulsion: 4 Sublight engines
20 manoeuvring thrusters
4 rift generators
Onboard craft: 48 Perseus fighters
24 Peregrine bombers
12 PZf-1 shuttles
Description: The Maelstrom class combat carrier is quickly becoming a favourite of the United Earth Stellar Navy. Its combination of hard-hitting firepower and attack craft complement allow it a flexibility unseen in the UESN until now, though some doubt the cost-effectiveness of this ship and believe it to be a perfect case of 'putting all your eggs in one basket'.
The ship itself is cylindrical in shape, with a rounded prow and four large sublight engines at the back. Two hanger pods are positioned on either side of main body of the ship. These pods are more rectangular in shape, and contain the ship's complement of fighters, bombers and shuttles as well as pilot barracks and repair bays. The pods are connected to the main ship by three large pylons, allowing the transfer of personnel and equipment.
Four of the ships heavy turrets are in fixed positions in the prow of the ship, presenting a formidable amount of firepower to anyone approaching head-on to the ship. The other eight turrets are positioned strategically around the ship, each one protected by four flack turrets to prevent hostile bombers picking the turrets off.
The ships medium weapons are deployed in six batteries of four, each battery protected by four flack guns. Each heavy turret, and each battery of medium turrets can be operated in several ways.
Each gun can be controlled independently via a computer from the bridge, CIC, or fire control.
The ship's computer can also take control of these weapons to allow for pin-point targeting, and faster than human reflexes. All flack turrets and chain guns are controlled by the computer as standard due to its faster reflexes, though each turret has a human operator.
Alternatively, the turrets can be manned by a crew, operating in batteries commanded by a Gunnery Captain.
Each heavy turret and each battery of medium turrets also has their own power cell, to allow them to continue functioning in the event of a total failure of the main reactor and the backup generators.
As with most UE ships the ship flies 'up' from the point of view of the crew, this design has been compared to 'a flying skyscraper' and mostly fits with that description. That is, the prow of the ship would be 'above' the heads of the crew, similar to the roof of a building. The engines would therefore be located 'below' the crew. Other races often find this design ridiculous, and disorientating when they first set foot on such a vessel. The Dacin in particular seem to find such a design a source of amusement, and are the creators of the 'flying skyscraper' analogy.
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Someone (can't remember who) asked me whether I had specs of the Intrepid, a ship of this class, and whether I was planning on posting them. Since this ship will be the main vessel seen throughout the story, I decided I might as well throw the design out there to see what people think.
Hopefully, I got the basic design idea across. I'd have done a rough sketch, but I simply ended up reminding myself how badly I suck at drawing. So you'll just have to use your imagination. Basicaly, think of an airship for the general shape....with guns, armour, engines, hangers, etc.
