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Category: Ship-of-the-Line
![Image](http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/5265/vestainflight.jpg)
Expected Duration: 120 years
Time Between Resupply: 5 years
Time Between Refit: 10 years
Personnel
Officers: 160
Enlisted Crew: 500
Marines: 0
Maximum (Evacuation) Capacity: 7500
Speed
Cruising Velocity: Warp 9.2
Maximum Velocity: Warp 9.99
Emergency Velocity: Warp 9.995 (for 12 hours)
Prototype Velocity: Quantum Slipstream Velocities (unstable)
Dimensions
Length: 672 meters
Width: 195 meters
Height: 88 meters
Decks: 22
Auxiliary Craft
Shuttlebays: 2
Captain's Yachts
Mark 2 Captain's Yacht: 1
Runabouts
Danube Runabout: 1
Delta Flyer Runabout: 1
Shuttles
Hunley Shuttlecraft: 1
Type 11 Shuttlecraft: 2
Type 8 Shuttlecraft: 2
Type 9 Shuttlecraft: 4
Transports
Argo Transport: 1
Armament
Defensive Systems
Ablative Hull Armor
Structural Integrity Field
Phasers
Type X Array: 4
Type XI Array: 8
Type XII Array: 2
Shielding Systems
Auto-Modulating Shielding System
Metaphasic Shielding System
Regenerative Shielding System
Torpedoes
Burst-Fire Torpedo Launcher: 4
Photon Torpedoes: 320
Quantum Torpedoes: 140
Rapid-Fire Torpedo Turret: 2
Photon Torpedoes: 240
Quantum Torpedoes: 100
Tri-Cobalt Device: 3
Description:
Following the end of the Dominion War, devastating ship losses required Starfleet to recuperate. Instead of rebuilding the fleet with aging designs, Starfleet R&D instead focused on the introduction of new designs, expanding on the existing technology. But the new design push also spread to development of new technology. The return of the USS Voyager in 2377 brought a treasure trove of new technology, most of it barely tested. The quantum slipstream drive, discovered by the Voyager in 2374 and tested early the next year proved to be unstable. Starfleet engineers studied the slipstream data and attempted to improve on the design. While early trials and simulations seemed promising, the only way to prove the design worked was to incorporate it into a complete test bed vessel.
This led to the development of the Vesta-class starship. The first of her class, the USS Vesta, was herald as the Next Great Experiment, similar to the Excelsior from a century before. Similar in size to the Sovereign-class, the Vesta was a ship-of-the-line, capable of performing a multitude of different missions. Following initial shakedowns, the Vesta was assigned to the Eleventh Fleet. There she resupplied at Starbase 332, and under the supervision of Commodore Emily Quinn began slipstream trials away from civilized areas. Unfortunately, the tests proved to be a failure as the quantum slipstreams still shown to be highly unstable. The tests did prove that the technology was viable, but further refinements would need to be made before the drive could see widespread use. Commodore Quinn submitted her findings to Starfleet R&D for further study.
Although the slipstream testing failed, other aspects of the ship design were proven successful, including the highly efficient conventional warp drive. The high efficiency warp field generated by the Vesta’s engines coupled with the hull geometry gave it an incredible speed advantage against nearly every other ship in the fleet. The slipstream drive was too heavily incorporated in the ship’s systems on the prototype to be easily removed, but due to the unstable nature of the propulsion, it was to only be used in emergency situations. Until Starfleet could maintain a stable slipstream, future versions of the Vesta-class would be built with only the conventional warp drive. Following the failed test and brief refit at Starbase 332, the Vesta was given full operational status with the Eleventh Fleet in 2387.
Deck Listing:
1 Bridge, Captain's Ready Room, Observation/Conference Lounge
2 CO's Quarters, XO's Quarters and Office, Enlisted Affairs Office, Emergency Batteries, Weapons Locker
3 Main Lounge, Senior Officer Quarters, Aft Viewing Lounge, Communications Array, Officers' Quarters, Gymnasium
4 Officer Quarters, Crew Quarters, VIP Quarters, Transporter Rooms 1 & 2, Emergency Batteries, Chief Operations Officer's Office
5 Security Offices, Brig, Armoury 1, Security Training Facilities, CIO's Office, Aft Tactical Sensors, Crew Quarters, Holodecks 1 & 2, Cargo Bay 1
6 Main Computer Core (Level 1), Main Computer Core Control, Flight Control Room 1, Science Labs, Arboretum, Diplomatic Facilities, Civilian Quarters, Crew Quarters, Holodecks 3 & 4
7 Main Computer Core (Level 2), Main Shuttlebay (Lower), Astrometrics/Stellar Cartography, Main Science Lab, CSO's Office, Counsellor's Office, Hydroponics Bay, Ship's Library, Civilian Quarters, School, Officer's Mess, Main Sickbay and Supports, CMO's Office
8 Main Computer Core (Level 3), Impulse Assembly, Weapons Locker, Engineering Lab, Shuttlebay Elevators, Upper Shuttle Maintenance & Storage, Forward Tactical Sensors
9 Main Computer Core (Level 4), Impulse Engines, Warp Core Subsystems, Lower Shuttle Maintenance & Storage, Dorsal Docking Port, Emergency Transporters, Crew Quarters
10 Impulse Assembly, Deuterium Injectors, Shuttle Repair & Machine Shop, Engineering Support Area, Industrial Replicators, Armoury 2, Crew Quarters, Holodecks 5 & 6, Primary Environmental Control, Cargo Bays 2-5
11 Auxiliary Deflector Controls, Shuttle Elevator Assembly, Airlock, Crew Quarters, Transporter Rooms 3 & 4, Airlocks, RCS Thrusters, Secondary Stores, Main shuttlebay (upper)
12 Auxiliary Deflector Array, Primary SIF/IDF/Shield Generators, Systems Support Compartment, Maintenance Bay 1, Main Shuttlebay Flight Deck
13 Torpedo Turrets Access, Torpedo Storage, Main Sensor Array, Deuterium Tanks, Science Labs, Crew Mess Hall (Aft), Maintenance Bay 2, Shuttle Storage
14 Deuterium Tanks, Flight Control Room 2, Turbolift Maintenance, Shuttlebay 2
15 Captain's Yacht Access, Secondary Computer Core (Level 1)Weapons Locker, Transporter Room 5, Cargo Bays 6 & 7, Tertiary Stores
16 Secondary Computer Core (Level 2), Reserve Antimatter Storage, Main Navigational Deflector, Deflector Control, Main Engineering, Chief Engineer's Office, Weapons Locker, Warp Nacelle Access, Cargo Bays 8 & 9, Emergency Transporters, Auxiliary Sickbay
17 Secondary Computer Core (Level 3), Aft Sensor Array, Deflector Assembly, Secondary Plasma Vent, Emergency Transporters
18 Deflector Assembly, Auxiliary SIF/IDF/Shield Generators, Multi-purpose Chamber (Upper), Crew Quarters, Auxiliary Bridge, Lateral Sensors
19 Secondary Communications Array, Emergency Batteries, Complementary Deflector Assembly, Multi-purpose Chamber (Lower), Primary Stores
20 Forward Torpedo Launchers (2), Torpedo Magazine, Probe Storage, Primary Communications Array, Tractor Beam Assembly, Turbolift Maintenance. Primary Waste Recyclamation
21 Antimatter Storage Pods, Forward Tractor Beam Emitter, Secondary SIF/IDF/Shield Generators, Cargo Bay 10 (Upper), Secondary Stores Antimatter Generator, Torpedo Magazine, Maintenance Bay 3, Cargo Bay 10 (Lower), Secondary Waste Reclamation, Secondary Environmental Control
22 Tractor Beam Assembly, Antimatter Generator, Antimatter Injectors, Secondary Sensor Array, Sensor Analysis Suite, Aft Tractor Beam Emitter, Aft Torpedo Launchers (2), Torpedo Magazine, Warp Core Jettison Hatch