Background
The Somerville-class Intel Science Vessel is a design for the core of Starfleet's values. This vessel is equipped for exploration, scientific missions, and information gathering. However, the realities of a dangerous galaxy also require this vessel to be a combat capable vessel, and as such this vessel features powerful defensive shielding, a standard Starfleet compliment of ship weaponry, and powerful deflector dishes to literally manipulate the battlefield as needed.
This ship, like several other classes in the early 25th century, harken back to an earlier time for the Federation being based on the old Hernandez Class Science Vessel of the early to mid 23rd century.
Affiliation: Federation of Planets
Ship Type: Long Range Scientific Explorer
Class: Somerville
Manufacturer: San Francisco Fleet Yards
Crew: 165 plus anywhere from 100-300 Mission Specialists depending on mission module fitting.
Passengers: maximum of 2,500 in emergencies
Notable Ships of Class:
USS Somerville (NCC-93200)
MDC BY LOCATION:
(1) Main Hull - 70,000
(1B) Bridge - 2,400
(2) Main Sensor/Communications Array - 3,800
Lateral Sensor Arrays (316) - 400 ea
(3) Hanger - 7,500
(4) Warp Nacelles (2) - 24,000 ea
(4) Impulse Engines (2) - 4,000 ea
Small Guidance thrusters (many) - 250 ea
Small Airlocks/Access Hatches(many) - 175 ea
Large Airlocks (8) - 400 ea
Outer Hull (per 40 ft area) - 300
Interior walls (per 20 ft area) - 35
Type XII/100 Phaser Array (4) - 1,200
Type XII/50 Phaser Array (10) - 450 ea
Variable Torpedo Launchers (6) - 1,000 ea
(5) Shields - 15,000 per side (90,000 total)
AR: 15
Armour: Stops up to and including the equivalent of Type V Phasers.
NOTES:
1 - Depleting the MDC of the Main Hull will put the ship out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity.
1B - Destroying the Bridge will automatically switch control to main engineering. Once control is established in engineering the efficiency of the vessel will only be affected as follows: -5 to all combat rolls and attacks per melee are halved.
2 - Destroying the main sensors will deprive the ship of all forms of long range communications, radar and targeting. The range and targeting capabilities of the secondary systems are equal to that of a shuttlecraft at best. The ship can still operate, but is at -3 on initiative, -3 to strike, and number of attacks per melee of the weapon systems are reduced by half.
3 - Destroying the hanger, the ship will not be able to deploy any craft until it is repaired. Under normal operations the carrier can launch or recover up to 3 shuttles per melee.
4 - Depleting the MDC of one of the warp nacelles will force the ship to rely on its Impulse engines. Depleting the MDC of the Impulse engines will leave the ship adrift in space with very minimal movement allowed by its guidance thrusters. If in an atmosphere, the ship will crash.
5 - Shields regenerate at 500 mdc per melee. Only if a generator is damaged will the ability for shields to regenerate be hampered
PROPULSION:
Combat Speed Factor (CSF) - 12
Impulse Drives: Full Impulse is 0.25c (approximately 270 million kph). Maximum Impulse is 0.92c (approximately 993 million kph). Maximum impulse is only used in case of emergencies due to the problems with time dilation between those on board the ship and everyone else outside the ship.
Warpdrive: Cruise Warp 8.5 (0.143 Light years per hour), Maximum Cruise Warp 9.985 (0.779 Light years per hour), Maximum Warp 9.995 (1.224 Light years per hour) for 24 hours.
Quantum Slipstream Drive: Transwarp 34+. Transwarp has theoretical upper "speed" limits of 100s of Lightyears per second but due to navigational difficulties, anomalies and dangers, travel velocities are typically limited to approximately 1000 light years per hour when used.
Maximum Range: 5 years of constant deployment
STATISTICAL DATA:
ventral view
Length: 350m
Height: 68m
Width: 347m
Weight: 1,800,000 tons
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
WEAPON: Type XII/100 Phaser Arrays (4, 2 dorsal hull forward, 2 ventral hull forward)
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Ship
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Assault
RANGE - 330,000km maximum
DAMAGE: 2d6x100+200 per blast
RATE OF FIRE: single blast or use gatling burst rules
PAYLOAD: Unlimited
BONUSES: +3 to strike
WEAPON: TypeXII/50 Phaser Array (10, 4 dorsal warp nacelles, 2 ventral warp nacelles, 2 dorsal hull rear, 2 ventrl hull rear)
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Ship
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Assault
RANGE - 330,000km maximum
DAMAGE: 1d6x100+100 per blast
RATE OF FIRE: single blast or use gatling gun burst rules
PAYLOAD: Unlimited
BONUSES: +3 to strike
WEAPON: Variable Torpedo Launchers (6, 3 dorsal hull forward, 3 ventral hull forward)
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Ship
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Assault
RANGE : 800,000km maximum (Unless fired at warp speeds then range is much greater, being upwards of 3,700,000km maximum)
DAMAGE: 3d6x1000 per quantum torpedo, 9d6x100 per photon torpedo
RATE OF FIRE: 3 bursts of 4 per melee (each torpedo in a burst can be targeted at a different target)
PAYLOAD: 120 Photon torpedoes, and 40 quantum torpedoes on board in total
BONUSES: +4 to strike in single fire mode, +2 to strike in burst fire mode
SYSTEMS OF NOTE:
COMMUNICATIONS: Subspace communications network has a direct range of 40 light years but can be boosted to near unlimited via subspace network booster relay stations.
LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: Can support full complement for five years.
LONG RANGE SENSOR SYSTEMS: Calibrated for use while travelling in interstellar space. High Resolution setting has a range of 10 light years. Low to Mid Resolution has a range of 25 light years . Systems included; Wide angle active EM scanner, Narrow angle active EM scanner, 2.0m diameter gamma ray telescope, Variable frequency EM flux sensor, Life-form analysis instrument cluster, Parametric subspace field stress sensor, Gravimetric distortion scanner, Passive neutrino imaging scanner and Thermal imaging array. Gives a +20% bonus to Sensor Skill Rolls in High Resolution mode and a +10% bonus to sensor skill rolls in Low to Mid Resolution mode.
SHORT RANGE SENSOR SYSTEMS: Calibrated for use while in a star system. Range is about one billion kilometers. Systems included are the same as those used by the Long Range Sensor Systems. Gives same bonuses as the Long Range Sensor Systems.
NAVIGATIONAL SENSOR SYSTEMS: Focused through the Long or Short Range Sensor Systems depending on the ships current location and mission. Systems included; Quasar telescope, Wide angle IR source tracker, narrow angle IR/UV/Gamma Ray imager, Passive subspace multibeacon receiver, Stellar graviton detectors, High energy charged particle detectors, Galactic plasma wave cartographic processor, Federation timebase beacon receiver and Stellar pair coordinate imager. Gives a +15% bonus to sensor skill rolls.
LATERAL SENSOR ARRAYS: Have a range of several hundred thousand kilometers. Systems included ; Wide angle EM radiation imaging scanner, Quark population analysis counter, Z-range particulate spectrometry sensor, High energy proton spectrometry cluster, Gravimetric distortion mapping scanner, Steerable lifeform analysis instrument cluster, Active magnetic interferometry scanner, Low frequency EM flux sensor, Localized subspace fields stress sensor, Parametric subspace field stress sensor, Hydrogen filter subspace flux sensor, Linear calibration subspace flux sensor, Variable band optical imaging cluster, Virtual aperture graviton flux spectrometer, High resolution graviton flux spectrometer, Very low energy graviton spin polarimeter, Passive imaging gamma interferometry sensor, Low level thermal imaging sensor, Fixed angle gamma frequency counter and Virtual particle mapping camera. Gives a bonus of +20% to sensor skill rolls.
SCIENTIFIC LABORATORY MISSION MODULES: These labs are typically installed as permanent fixtures on larger ships like the Galaxy or Sovereign Classes but on smaller ships they are made to be modular or removable and interchangeable. Each module is designed and created to focus on specific areas of scientific study including but not limited to astrophysics, bio-genetics, botanical, geology, theoretical physics, exo/xenobiology, chemistry, archaeology, engineering, and more. Each Mission Module typically has a team of anywhere from 10 to 30 personnel assigned to it depending on the mission and area of study being undertaken. Along with the dedicated team of specialists the module itself is equipped with extensive and cutting edge equipment dedicated to the scientific pursuit that the module is designed around. This equipment ranges from survey packs for the crew to take with them on away missions, to all manner of scientific testing, and survey equipment. Holoprojectors, and many types of hyper advanced scanners of every kind could be found among Starfleet's tools of the trade in each dedicated laboratory. Use of such a facility grants a bonus of +20% to any skills pertinent to what the laboratory is focused on. The Somerville class has 16 "slots" for these modules on the "inner ring" of the main hull that extend the full height of the ship in those locations. These can be relatively quickly swapped out at a proper starbase facility equipped to do so as necessary. (Approximately two weeks for a full swap of a 16 modules)
HOLODECK (or "Suite" on Star-bases and Space Stations): This facility creates an artificial yet fully interactive and immersive holographic environment for those inside to take part in. A vastly wide variety of places and locations can be duplicated or programmed into the computer. The system is advanced enough so items or "beings" that are to be physically interacted with are imparted with a force-field contoured to their outer shell to allow physical contact between living participant and holographic representation. Replicators are also employed to further enhance the immersion of the facility so that if a liquid is thrown or fallen into, or food spilled and so on, those involved will end up wet, stained, slimed, etc. Any matter resources used in this manner are immediately recycled back into the matter storage units for reuse. The facility has safety protocols set at default to avoid grievous injuries or unauthorized creation of sentient programs and weapons/items. This can be overridden of course but takes a high level command authorization to do so. The Somerville class has 8 holodecks on board, two large (225 square meters), two medium (100 square meters), and 4 small (25 square meters).
MULTI-ENVIRONMENT CREW QUARTERS: These are highly adaptable life support systems in place throughout the ship, including unprecedented customization of crew quarters. This allowed the crew roster to include a far greater diversity than most Starfleet vessels, whose life support systems usually mean ships were crewed dominantly by one race only. IE if a crew member is from a predominately aquatic world, thus typically resides underwater, or if a crew member is from world with a different atmosphere, say methane, their personal quarters can be altered to accommodate that though they may still require some form of equipment likely to function normally outside of their quarters.
SICK BAY FACILITIES: Equivalent to an advanced medical facility on most ships, and at minimum an average medical facility on others, that have them. This allows the crew to be treated or any number of maladies, injuries, an diseases/viruses. Such a facility on board a ship grants a bonus to the medial personnel working in it (including Emergency Medical Programs) of +25% (advanced) or +15% (average) to any skills related to medical services and performance. The Somerville class had advanced sick bay facilities, 1 main medical facility and 2 secondary facilities, that could be further enhanced dependent on just how it was outfitted via Scientific Laboratory Mission Modules.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL HOLOGRAM: The Emergency Medical Holographic program or Emergency Medical Holographic system, also known as the Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH) or Emergency Holographic Doctor, is an adaptive holoprogram. It is designed to provide short-term advanced assistance during emergencies in sickbay to the extent of literally replacing a starship's medical officer and staff as necessary. As such the program has access to all the latest medical information of the time and performs with a skill level equal to a highly accomplished physician (skill levels of 98% in all relevant areas). It is also adaptive and a learning program so that it's database of knowledge can be expanded greatly through it's “experience” and that of the encounters of the ship and it's crew that also adds to the ships own databases of knowledge in medical and the medical science fields. The Mk I, deployed in the late 2360s, had a poor “bedside manner” but was very capable in the duties it was to perform. The Mk II while just as capable, and had a much improved bedside manner, was quite “passive” in it's behaviour but nevertheless saw extensive use and replaced the Mk I on most vessels in the 2370s. Unlike the Mk I, it was also capable of deploying anywhere on board a vessel that was equipped with holo emitters throughout, which most newer vessels had and many older vessels were being retrofitted with. The Mk III was designed to be a long term EMH system where facilities didn't have the crew space necessary or the high need for a medical staff and the system would be confined to the sick bay area. By the early 25th century the EMH systems saw further upgrade and deployment in the Mk IV. This saw a good balance of the elements from all previous versions and replaced all three on all vessels and facilities by 2410. The Somerville class was equipped with a Mk IV EMH.
REPLIMATS: These are self serve “cafeterias” where multiple replicators are present to furnish the crew and passengers with the foods they desire for meals or snacks. These areas are typically also used as common gathering areas for social interactions of various types (“Dates”, “Movie Nights”, etc). The SOmeville class has 3 of these facilities on board.
COMBAT BONUSES:
+4 to dodge vs other capital ships
-5 dodge attacks from starfighters etc
Craft COMPLEMENT (STANDARD):
Shuttlecraft - 2 Talon class scout vessels, 2 Danube class runabouts, 2 shuttlecraft, 6 shuttlepods. The uncommon carrying of so many such independent craft is to facilitate the scientific and exploratory nature of the ship's primary purpose.
Auxiliary Craft - Several Workpods and Large EVA Suits
REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN:
Star Trek Encyclopedia
DITL - Daystrom Institute Technical Library
Spacedock Starship Recognition Manual Volume 1 The Ships of Starfleet Star Trek The Expanded Universe
Star Trek Shipyards book series
Memory Alpha
Memory Beta
Memory Gamma
Memory Omega
STO Gaming Online
Ex Astris Scientia
Advanced Starship Design Bureau
Starbase 400