United Federation of Interstellar Planets - Factbook

by **Interstellar Planets** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:17 am

The United Federation of Interstellar Planets

CONTENTS
Stellar Cartography | History | Economy | Demographics | Government | Starfleet | Starbases | Colonial Peacekeepers

The United Federation of Interstellar Planets (more commonly known as simply the Federation; sometimes abbreviated as UFIP) was founded several centuries ago by four founding member worlds: New Eden, Novus Romulus, Elaria, and Andoriana. Combining several smaller colony worlds and other outposts with these four member worlds, the Federation encompasses an area of the Milky Way some four hundred lightyears across and is home to billions of citizens. Primarily thanks to the widespread proliferation of matter replication technology, the Federation operates a moneyless, post-capitalist, post-scarcity libertarian economy, with education, health, scientific discovery, and culture being the primary driving forces in the lives of most of its citizens.

Stellar Cartography

Much of Federation space is centred around the capital world New Eden, also known as New Earth colloquially, with the other founding member worlds all being located within sixty or seventy lightyears of this politically important system. The bulk of Federation space is located on the trailing end Perseus arm of the Milky way, roughly thirty thousand lightyears away from the edge of the galactic core, in the Beta Quadrant.

New Eden system

Planet New Eden

As the capital system of the Federation, the New Eden system is the most important of all the member worlds, politically, strategically and economically. The capital world of the Federation is the second planet in orbit of a main sequence G2V type yellow dwarf star, named Eden, estimated to be six and a half billion years old, which has a temperature of 5,700 K and whose mass consists of 82% hydrogen and 17% helium, with trace amounts of other gasses. The star orbits the centre of the galaxy at a distance of thirty thousand lightyears, and completes one orbit in two hundred and seventy-five million years at a speed of 250km/s.

Eden I is a small, rocky, K-class planet with a single D-class moon located about 0.6 astronomical units away from the Eden star. Consisting of mostly heavy metals and having a thin atmosphere, the planet is currently being considered for terraforming, though controlled-atmosphere colonies are already home to hundreds of millions of people. It is also the subject of extensive mining expeditions. This planet is home to several important starbases and the Viridis Ager Shipyard facilities, and as such is heavily defended.

Eden II, officially named New Eden and colloquially named New Earth, is a lush M-class world much like Earth, with the exception that over 80% of its surface is covered by water, and it is located precisely 1.0 astronomical units from the main star. New Eden is home to millions of native animal species and has a diverse ecosystem, with all of the common climates being found across its three continents. Humans are the predominant sentient race living on the planet, with almost nine billion inhabitants as of writing, although they are not native to the world. Several million aliens also reside on the world, mostly member species of the Federation. As the capital world of the Federation, dozens of orbital spacedocks, weapons platforms and shipyards – including the sprawling New Eden Shipyards facility – can be found in orbit, and two large fleets of starships are always stationed nearby.

Eden III is a rocky Class-L planet located 1.8 astronomical units from the main star, and is roughly 12% smaller than New Eden, with a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere. Although naturally inhospitable, Eden III is roughly half-way through an intensive terraforming program, which is expected to be completed in ten years. Numerous colonies already exist in enclosed environments, home to a population of almost a billion, and mining is quite intensive.

Eden IV is a large Class-J gas giant located some 12 astronomical units away from the Eden star. It is 150,000km in diameter, and its massive gravity well has successfully trapped nine moons, one of which is Class-L and inhabited by a human terraforming expedition. With an atmosphere mostly consisting of hydrogen, other gasses such as helium, ammonia and silicon-based compounds can also be found, although as one delves deeper into the lower atmosphere these gasses become liquid. Due to its high hydrogen composition the planet is harvested extensively for deuterium, as well as other important elements and compounds, by specialised gas harvesting craft with shields designed to resist the intense gravity of the planet and its turbulent atmosphere. Eden IV Space Station is located in a high orbit of the world, and is tasked with a large variety of duties. Eden IV has over a dozen moons, two of which are home to limited-size colonies which host about 10 million people between them.

Novus Romulus system

Planet Novus Romulus

One of the founding worlds of the Federation, Novus Romulus was settled at roughly the same time as New Eden by a group of Romulan refugees. In orbit around an F4V white dwarf, with a temperature of some 6,200 K, Novus Romulus is almost 1.4 astronomical units away and it is the only terrestrial planet in the system. With a high carbon dioxide content in its atmosphere it is a surprisingly warm world considering its distance from the Novus Romulus star, although it is still quite cool compared to some more hospitable worlds, with an average temperature of twenty degrees celcius.

The climate of Novus Romulus is primarily tundra, with some mildly temperate regions at the equator. The dominant species are the Romulans, with almost eight billion residents as of writing, although a few million aliens also live on the cool world. Many of their cities have been demolished and rebuilt over the years, at the behest of their populations, with the result meaning that Novus Romulus' settlements are all modern and high tech. Romulan cities are designed in a circular fashion, with core regions housing governmental organisations and other zones radiating outwards like spokes on a wheel.

The other two planets in the system are gas giants, unsuitable for life but extensively mined for gases and trace elements of value. Though there are no other terrestrial planets in the system, several moons of these two gas giants are home to extensive sub-surface colonies, with almost four billion Romulans living across six different moons.

Elaria

Planet Elaria

Elaria is the third planet in a system of five, orbiting a large K9III red giant star after which the planet is named, and is home to over five billion, primarily Vulcans. It is a dense world, slightly larger in diameter than New Eden, and as such has a thick atmosphere and a high gravitational field. Being as it was settled by Vulcans, who arrived some ten years after New Eden was first inhabited, the heat and the gravity turned out to be quite pleasant for them, and their society flourished. It is primarily a desert world, with high temperatures, little vegetation and only a small percentage of its surface holds water. Most water reserves come from underground, where there are extensive underground rivers and lakes.

Elaria is unusual in that, due to its proximity to the sun, most of its power is extracted by solar satellites, which beam their energy down to collectors on the surface via microwaves. This microwave power generation system is sufficient to power all of their technology, and thus the Vulcans who predominantly inhabit the planet require no fusion or anti-matter generators for their cities. Many of the buildings on Elaria are carved into the rock, where it is cooler and therefore air conditioning is not required.

The second planet of the system is a Venusian hotworld, completely inhospitable to most sapient life. Despite this, thousands of aerostat colonies have been placed into the upper atmosphere where conditions are more tolerable, on which almost a billion Vulcans reside.

By request of the Vulcans, Starfleet maintains no military presence within the system itself, but a fleet of starships is always within range of this important member world.

Andoriana

Moon of Andoriana

Andoriana was the last of the founding member worlds to be settled. Orbiting a Jovian-type gas giant, which itself orbits a small K2VI red dwarf star at a distance of 1.1 astronomical units, it is a cold and harsh moon. The atmosphere is thin and gravity is lower than usual, and virtually all settlements are constructed beneath the ground. Primarily inhabited by over three billion Andorians, several hundred million Trill also live there.

Most of the surface of Andoriana is frozen; glaciers sweep their way across the surface and only a small belt along the equator is unfrozen, where dense patches of algae occupy the land and produce most of the oxygen required for life.

The Andorians themselves predominantly live underground, in cities carved into the ice and rock. The only surface habitation is in the form of shielded space ports, which receive visitors from orbit and also from elevators that lead beneath the surface. As a result of the close-knit communities that result from such claustrophobic living conditions, Andorians are known throughout the Federation as being amongst the more social of species; they have spent their entire lives learning to deal with a lack of privacy.

Brahms system

Planet Brahms

One of the first colonies settled after the formation of the Federation, Planet Brahms itself is a lush, tropical world home to four billion people of varying species, and remains one of the most populous and prosperous colonies in Federation Space. It orbits a G2V type yellow dwarf star much like New Eden, and the planet is largely similar to New Eden both in composition and size, though it is slightly closer to its parent star which gives it a slightly warmer global climate.

Something of a success story, Brahms is held up as an example of what the Federation can achieve as a united 'force for good'. Its population lives in modern cities which are economically prosperous, and quality of life is little different than on New Eden. It is a centre for scientific research, and is the home of numerous shipyards.

Brahms is the fastest-growing world in the Federation. The planet has little available landmass, however, with settlements being spread across small chains of islands. Proposals for ocean-going 'floating cities', to cope with future population growth, have been approved and are in planning stages.

The world is strategically significant to the Federation, thus it is heavily defended by Starfleet and is the only non-founding world to be home to a Spacedock facility.

New Arcturus system

The New Arcturus system was granted to the small number of Arcturians who were among the original colonists, to be their new homeworld, after it was found that they had struggled to integrate with the Romulan colonists they'd originally arrived with. An unusual, tribal species that reproduces entirely by cloning, the Arcturians maintain a steady population of around 500 million on their temperate planet.

Though other species within the Federation struggle to interact with them, and the Arcturians themselves are few in number and prone to political instability, they are a full member of the Federation, and their planet is such an industrial powerhouse that it is being considered as a site for the next Spacedock.

History

Almost six hundred years ago, a large fleet of colony ships set off from known space on a mission to settle in the farthest reaches of the galaxy, in an effort dubbed the 'Utopia Project'. The goal was to create a new civilisation, free of war and suffering, in which all species could coexist. There were over five million colonists in all, consisting of a mixture of humans from Old Terra and a variety of species from that region of the galaxy.

The original mission was to settle some four hundred lightyears away, however after passing through an ion storm the colony ships' computers were corrupted and ultimately suffered from severe chronological errors, and as such the entire fleet continued on at high warp for fifty years. After running out of fuel, the fleet drifted at high speeds through the cosmos before the ship chronometers finally caught up and awoke the crew from stasis. Now tens of thousands of lightyears from home, the colonists faced a significant challenge as they were forced to settle without any support from their respective homeworlds.

Having been separated along the way, the colonists were broken up into groups. The ships primarily containing humans crash-landed on New Eden, and set up temporary settlements from the wreckage before ultimately becoming self-sufficient and building a society. The Romulan colonists became stranded in interstellar space, before finally identifying a nearby M-class world and used a series of nuclear blasts to propel their crippled ships into range. Of all the colonists, the Vulcans were in the best shape and were able to effect a controlled landing under impulse power on what is now known as Elaria. Due to their particular state of disarray, the Andorians and Trill had no choice but to put most of their personnel back into stasis while the long-lived Trill attempted to guide the colony ships to the nearest star system using shuttlecraft, a process which took almost ten years.

New Eden flourished in its formative years, establishing small cities quite quickly. Elaria was not far behind, although in typical Vulcan style they were not so keen on building sprawling metropolises. The Romulans and Andorians suffered quite badly for the first fifty years before becoming self-sufficient. Two hundred years later, all of the colonies began to construct starships once again and were able to re-establish contact with the descendants of their fellow colonists. It was not long before New Eden and Novus Romulus began to render assistance to the ailing Andorian colony, bringing it out of its depression.

Ten years later, all four of the colonies signed the Charter of the United Federation of Interstellar Planets. Their goal was to establish a bond of mutual aid and defence between the four worlds as per their original mission, as well as pool their resources into more rapid development and exploration, and its charter included terms from various institutions of their homeworlds, such as the United Nations of Old Terra. Shortly thereafter, they merged their respective fleets of starships together to form their own version of Starfleet, a unified scientific and defensive force that was supplied and manned by all four member worlds.

With the United Federation of Interstellar Planets now a unified sovereign state, all of the colonies began to equalise and rapidly increased their progress. New Eden became known as the jewel of the Federation, partially thanks to its fortuitous climate, and due to the increased importance it garnered as the capital world of the Federation. With both Starfleet Command and the Federation Council located in its main city, New Eden quickly found itself the hub of the Federation, and most of the progress subsequently made by the Federation radiated out from it – to the point where New Eden has essentially become the geographical centre of Federation space.

As the founding worlds grew to be heavily populated and well-established, dozens of small colonies were formed on habitable worlds across a large region of space, considerably stretching Federation influence and requiring the construction of a larger fleet to defend and aid the new territory it now faced administrating. As new ships were built, more mines were opened up to fuel them, and more shipyards were built all around the Federation to construct them. By the present day, Federation territory covers some four hundred lightyears of space, containing dozens of small colonies in addition to the founding worlds. In response, Starfleet now fields thousands of starships, ranging from powerful Excelsior-class starships to more practical Miranda-class starships. Some particularly important worlds, especially the founding worlds, are protected by numerous starbases and static defence systems, with fleets permanently garrisoned there.

Economy

While the United Federation of Interstellar Planets has a large, advanced economy, it is not driven by typical market forces. With the widespread proliferation of replicator technology, and stable infrastructures set up on most member worlds, poverty is not considered an issue in most of the Federation and a state of abundance has rendered greed and, by extension, money, obsolete. Most consumer goods, and even some less complex industrial materials, can be replicated fairly easily and have largely removed the need for manual labour as well. Ostensibly, citizens of the Federation are now motivated by the drive to ‘better themselves and the rest of society’, and are encouraged to engage in projects which will help achieve these ends. Advanced education is open to all and as such, many citizens end up in scientific or other professional disciplines.

The largest industrial bases of the Federation are Novus Romulus, and Eden I, both of which output significant quantities of raw materials and manufactured goods that cannot be produced by replicators. New Eden itself is home to the largest shipyards in the Federation, although all of the founder worlds and some of the smaller colonies also house several smaller shipbuilding facilities. Overall the Federation economy is comparable to most advanced economies in the galaxy, though with an exceptionally high level of income equality. Most essential services - such as healthcare and transportation - are state-owned and free to all.

Although a post-scarcity economy in most aspects, some services still have limited capacity - interstellar transit, matter transporters, - and some products are not easily replicated, such as some exotic goods and advanced technologies. For this reason the Federation has a unit of currency known as the credit, awarded in exchange for work to enable citizens to access non-essential luxuries and amenities. The Federation credit also facilitates interstellar trade and tourism.

However, while citizens of the Federation core worlds believe that they live in a veritable utopia, an assertion that Federation officials are not keen to dispel, some of the smaller, outlying colonies are still underdeveloped and suffer from resource shortages. Regular shipments of food and supplies delivered to these colonies do little to meet demand, and many of the citizens of these small worlds feel somewhat alienated from the rest of the Federation. On some of the least developed colonies, small black markets have even developed in the vacuum of resource shortages, which the Federation Police Authority has frequently attempted to stamp out with minimal success. These colonies need extensive infrastructural development before their populations can enjoy the same quality of life as the bulk of the Federation, and though the government has promised such development it is still yet to occur.

Demographics

The Federation Council Census Department currently estimates the country's population to number in the hundreds of billions across all of its colonies and space-based habitats, with an estimated growth rate of 0.4% per year. Centuries of unprecedented prosperity and expansion have seen the nation's population swell from its original, colonial, figure of mere millions. The Federation has an extremely diverse population that consists of multiple species.

Terran humans represent the largest group, comprising almost 33% of the entire population, and most Old Terran ethnicities can be found in some capacity, representing hundreds of ancestries. Humans can be found on all of the founding worlds of the Federation in various quantities, and are typically the most numerous residents of the colonies, though the bulk of their numbers still reside on New Eden. Roughly 35% of humans are of European descent, 30% are of Asian descent, 20% are of African descent, and 10% are of Middle-Eastern descent, with the rest divided between hundreds of ethnicities. Religion is limited among humans, with only 7% claiming to hold any spiritual beliefs – of these, roughly 30% are Christian, 30% are Muslim, 20% are Hindu, 10% are Buddist, and the remainder are of a variety of other minor faiths.

Romulans are the next largest species in the Federation, comprising almost 28% of the Federation's population. Romulans, like humans, took representatives of most ethnicities from Old Romulus with them, and are the most ubiquitous species in the Federation besides humans. Conversely, Romulan enlistment in Starfleet is quite low; this is thought to be due to the fact that the original Romulan colonists were a group of pacifists, a trait which has been passed down through the generations.

Their distant cousins, the Vulcans, are the third largest, comprising some 17% of the population. Unlike Romulans, Vulcans enlist in Starfleet frequently, and like humans and Romulans they can be found on most worlds of the Federation in various capacities.

The fourth founding member of the Federation, the Andorians, comprise 8% of the population. Though a founding species of the Federation, they are not commonly found away from their homeworld. This is well-documented in the Federation, and is known as the 'Andorian anti-diaspora', but there are no clear reasons for their reluctance to live on worlds besides Andoriana.

The bulk of the remainder consists of:

Trill (6%) - The Trill in the Federation migrated along with humans and Bajorans, though since the Federation was established they have spread out to all of the other member worlds. Only 10% of Trill in the Federation are joined with symbionts; few joined Trill were part of the original group of colonists, and Trill symbionts breed very slowly.
Bajorans, (4%) - Bajorans, despite being a minority species in the Federation, have an unusually high enlistment rate in Starfleet, making them over-represented so far as foreigners are concerned. They originally migrated to the Federation with the humans and Trill, and the bulk of them remain on New Eden.
Klingons (1%) - Klingon 'traditionalists' joined the original colonists in an effort to start a new, pure, Klingon culture. They migrated with the Romulan pacifists, though almost all of them left Novus Romulus to create their own colony as soon as they had access to ships again. They presently live on a colony known as 'New Qo'Nos', which is an undeveloped world where they live off the land, eschewing technology. New Qo'Nos is not technically a 'member world' of the Federation, nor technically a 'colony', having little to do with the Federation that surrounds it; the Federation has assumed the role of protector, but otherwise leaves the Klingons to their lifestyle.
Tellarites (1%) - Tellarite 'intellectuals' migrated to the Federation with the original Vulcan colonists, and remain predominantly on Elaria. Their ancestors sought to create a technocratic society, but due to the complications with the colony efforts and a simple lack of numbers, they integrated with the Vulcans of Elaria.
Caitian (<1%) - A small number of this felinoid species obtained passage with the human colonists, though unlike many of the other species they quickly spread out and formed settlements on the other member worlds. Independent and inquisitive, they have enlisted in Starfleet at a comparatively much higher rate than all of the other species, even humans, though their small numbers means they are still rarely seen.

The remainder of the population consists of a wide variety of other species.

Over eight billion Federation citizens reside on New Eden, the capital world and the most populous planet in the entire nation, with each of the other founding worlds having populations between three and six billion each. The rest of the population is spread across the various colonies and space stations that exist in the Federation.

In terms of gender ratios, of all the species in the Federation the ratio is biased to females, who make up roughly fifty-one percent of the population. This ratio is somewhat inaccurate due to the quadruple genders of the Andorians, however; they have been roughly assigned to either male or female roles for this statistic.

Literacy and numeracy are considered to be 100% officially, although there are believed to be a handful of stragglers in outlying colonies. Persons with mental disabilities are cared for by the state until they are cured, or indefinitely if a cure is not possible, and they are exempt from statistics of this nature.

A variety of languages are spoken, with English being the most widespread – 95% of all Federation citizens are able to speak it fluently, and it is the de facto official language of the Federation. Romulan and Vulcan are the next most widespread languages, with each being spoken by roughly 40% of citizens. Due to the prevalence of Universal Translators, however, multilingual capabilities are less highly sought after than they were in the early days of the Federation - most species keep their languages alive despite this.

In regards to expected lifespans, figures vary from species to species. Humans and Trill hosts can be expected to live to 150 - 200 years of age on average, while Trill symbionts typically live for over a millennia. Andorians tend to live slightly shorter lives than most, with the average lifespan presently being 120 years. Vulcans and Romulans are by far the most long-lived humanoid residents of the Federation, with both having an average estimated lifespan of well over 300 years. Bajorans, who represent a significant minority of the population, are also fairly long-lived at 170 years.

There is no recognised demonym for a Federation citizen, though 'Federationer' is colloquially acceptable. More often, citizens will use the demonyn from whichever member planet they hail from (e.g. New Edenites, Novus Romulans, etc).

Government

The United Federation of Interstellar Planets is a federal republic, allowing for a certain degree of autonomy on its member worlds – primarily, each of the founding worlds and several of the larger colonies have local governments with wide powers, all of which are democratic, unicameral councils of some kind or another.

Executive powers are vested in the Federation President, who is the head of state of the Federation and the commander-in-chief of Starfleet. Elected every five years, by law each president must originate from alternating founding worlds, to prevent one species achieving political dominance. In the last general election, President Robert McKinley of the Progressive Party was re-elected for a second term, with 62% of the vote.

The Federation Council is the unicameral legislature of the Federation, headed by the head of government, the Federation Chancellor. As the legislative body, the Federation Council is responsible for ratifying new resolutions and amending or repealing older ones. Each year, the Federation Council debates and passes into law an annual budget, which determines resource allocations for all public services in that year. To maintain accountability, all Council decisions are approved or vetoed by the President. Each member world elects Federation Councillors every five years to represent them on the Federation Council. The number of Councillors a member world can elect is based on the size of their population – for example, a small autonomous colony of a few million will be able to elect a single Councillor, whilst New Eden, the largest of the member worlds, can elect dozens. Most of these Councillors are members of several Federation-wide political parties, the largest of which at present is the Progressive Party.

The Federation Supreme Court is the judicial branch of government. Operating under common law principles, the Federation legal system decides law based on precedent, and must be free from political interference.

The government is bound by the terms of the Charter of the United Federation of Interstellar Planets, which functions as a constitution and is not easily altered. This document ensures the rights, freedoms and equalities of all Federation citizens, disallowing discrimination based on race or ability, as well as establishing a fair and unbiased legal process which must be followed by all courts. Moreover, the document states the exact responsibilities of all member worlds, ensuring peace and clarifying the level of autonomy member worlds are allowed and the exact jurisdictions of the Federation Council. The latter sections of the Charter establish various national agencies, such as Starfleet Command, Starfleet Security, the Science Bureau and others, and establishes the amount of power the Federation Council has over them.

by **Interstellar Planets** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:18 am

Reservation for Mr. Post!

by **Interstellar Planets** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:19 am

Starfleet Command represents the naval department of the Federation's combined armed forces. Tasked with maintaining fleets of starships for the purposes of exploration, diplomacy, internal policing and defending the Federation against all domestic and foreign threats, Starfleet Command represents the first line of defence for the entire nation. As such it frequently gets large shares of the defence budget, and it is granted the use of an extensive fleet of advanced starships, heavily armed starbases, highly trained and mobile infantry forces, and a secretive intelligence force. It also operates support ships ranging from science vessels to shuttlecraft, and takes over law enforcement from the Federation Police Authority when criminals are found operating in space.

Established shortly after the signing of the Articles of Federation, Starfleet was initially formed as a collection of disparate ship classes united by common purpose, as each constituent member of the Federation had, until this point, been developing their own starship designs according to their specific needs. New Eden colony contributed by far the largest share of the starships, as well as the most significant share of the funding, and their design ethos and technical standards quickly became the blueprint for all future starship classes. Their ranking system and operational procedures also became standard across Starfleet, and the organisational headquarters were built in the city of San Angeles, on Planet New Eden.

Starfleet Headquarters is an enormous, high security complex of buildings located several streets away from the Federation Council building in San Angeles, and much like the Federation Council most of its organisational structure comes from that pioneered by New Eden colony. Starfleet Academy is also headquartered in this complex, although the Academy operates campuses on numerous member worlds. Although technically a military organisation, many of its officers operate under purely scientific roles, and higher ranking officers often serve as representatives of Federation interests when no 'official' civilian ambassador is available. Its powers, therefore, are fairly wide-ranging and it is amongst the most politically powerful organisations in the Federation, second only to the Federation Council itself.

Ranks

As a hierarchical organisation, Starfleet Command organises its officers and enlisted personnel into ranks based on their level of experience and training. Officers and crewmen are awarded rank insignia that allow others to identify their position, which are easily visible on the right fastening shoulder strap and left wrist bands on their uniforms. Most personnel are also grouped into one of six departments, such as command or engineering, which can be identified by the colour-coded undershirts, shoulder straps, and wrist bands fitted on jackets and jumpsuits. Flag officers have additional gold banding on their uniforms, both on their jackets and trousers.

Expand the 'Starfleet Uniform Guide' above for more information.

Flag officers

Flag officers are Starfleet officers who have proven their competence and ability in the field, and are rewarded with considerably more responsibility than field officers; they command Starfleet's assets from a macroscopic, strategic perspective, moving entire fleets of starships and securing sectors of Federation space.

Field officers

Field officers command Starfleet assets on the front lines. They are vital to the smooth running of starships and their crews.

	Captain - The highest rank of field officer obtainable, Captains command starships and small installations. They are the highest authority on a starship and often the only representation the Federation has in remote areas. When out of contact with Starfleet Command, Captains have the capability to conduct diplomacy on behalf of the Federation, and have great leeway in decision-making.
	Commander - Typically serving as the first officer of a starship, Commanders are responsible for organising the different department heads aboard a vessel and generally ensuring smooth operations. They keep their Captains apprised of situations aboard the vessel that might need their attention, and can assume control of the ship should the Captain become incapacitated. In some cases, Commanders are given control of their own starships, often with a view to promoting them one day.
	Lieutenant Commander - Lieutenant Commanders (often abbreviated to Lt. Cmdr, though usually referred to verbally as simply 'Commander') are most commonly found serving as department heads aboard starships - chief of engineering, etc. They command the crew in their department, and have regular meetings with the other department heads and the first officer, to receive priorities and highlight concerns.
	Lieutenant - Expected to be technical experts and adept small-section leaders, Lieutenants are intermediate between the two-tier Commander rank and the Ensign rank. Lieutenants often command small teams within their departments, or are go-to authorities on specific subjects.
	Lieutenant, Junior Grade - The Junior Grade Lieutenant rank is offered to Ensigns who are worthy of promotion, but not yet experienced or skilled enough for the full Lieutenant grade. They are often tasked with supporting and mentoring Ensigns, as well as being tested themselves.
	Ensign - The initial rank afforded to field officers, often when they first emerge from Starfleet Academy, Ensigns are primarily tasked with professional growth as leaders and specialists, and are often mentored by senior officers to prepare them for higher ranks. They will often shift departments, with a view to give them a broader understanding of starship operations.

Enlisted and non-commissioned officers

Subordinate to all commissioned officers, enlisted personnel form the bulk of Starfleet staff. They perform a wide variety of technical jobs, ranging from repairing starship systems to completing paperwork.

Starships

Starfleet Command maintains a fleet of technologically-advanced, interstellar-capable, heavily-armed starships, both for the purposes of defence and exploration. Several different classes exist which serve different functions within the fleet, and some - such as the Excelsior and Constitution-classes - are designed with long-term, long-range, solitary expeditions in mind.

Excelsior-class Starship
Classification: Battlecruiser
Dimensions:
Length: 467 meters
Beam: 185 meters
Draft: 100 meters
Mass: 2,150,000 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium double-hull plating
Crew complement: 705 (8,500 evacuation limit)
Velocity:
Cruising: Warp Factor 9
Maximum: Warp Factor 15
Duration:
Standard mission: 7 years
Yard overhall: 30 years
Hull: 120 years
Propulsion:
Warp: ASDB series Mark 1.1 Mod 1 non-linear M/ARA Drive
Impulse: RSM Grade 2 impulse units (x2)
Armaments:
12x Type VIII twin-mount phaser banks
4x Mk 6 Mod 2 direct-fire photon torpedo launch units
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-2 heavy regenerative deflector shield grid and force field control system
Defence screens: Type III emergency defence field emitters (bridge, neck, engineering, nacelles)
Navigational deflector: Adv. 'Celestial'-model forward deflector
Auxilliary craft: 8x Type 2 medium-range personnel shuttlecraft

The Excelsior-class battlecruiser is the largest, fastest, most powerful, and most technologically sophisticated starship currently in service with Starfleet.

Designed both as a replacement for the ageing Constitution-class and a test-bed for experimental 'transwarp' drive technology, the development of the Excelsior was fraught with difficulties, and it took nearly 15 years before the current design was settled upon. Dubbed the 'Great Experiment' by Starfleet Command, Excelsior development took place at the New Eden Spacedock, under the auspices of the Advanced Starship Design Bureau, with the assistance of the Cochrane Research Institute.

The intention was for the Excelsior to usher in a next-generation warp drive, married with a hardy, powerful spaceframe that could replace the ageing Constitution-class as a premier front-line exploration and defensive platform. As such its hull layout was rigorously designed according to the latest warp field principles and tactical considerations, resulting in its present sleek appearance.

After several failed test flights and redesigns, Starfleet began to lose confidence in transwarp research, and it almost looked as though the Great Experiment had failed. During a particularly notorious test flight using the transwarp prototype, the project lead - Rear Admiral David McCarthy - expected the Excelsior to break all previous speed records, previously held by the Constitution-class USS Calcutta. To the Admiral's embarrassment, and the test flight crew's peril, Excelsior suffered a catastrophic engine failure and lost all power midway along its journey. Ironically it was the Calcutta which rescued the ship, towing it back to New Eden Spacedock. Admiral McCarthy, humiliated, stood down from the project. But the transwarp research was handed to a new team, and after five years, the Excelsior broke all previous speed records on a run between New Eden and Novus Romulus. So significant was the improved performance of her uprated warp drive that the entire warp factor scale had to be redeveloped to account for Excelsior's top speed. And although the advancements made during this project were applied to the rest of the fleet retroactively over the next few years, the Excelsior still remained the fastest ship in the fleet by a considerable margin.

USS Vincennes, one of Starfleet's most famous
Excelsior-class starships, on its first deep space assignment.
While only intended to be a test-bed for next-generation warp drive systems, the Excelsior herself was an extremely capable conventional design, and Starfleet didn't want to see the spaceframe go to waste, particularly not after the amount of resources invested. She was fitted with a final model warp core, developed specifically for the Excelsior by the ASDB, and equipped with all mission systems she required for active duty.

The resultant starship is the most heavily-armed, well-defended vessel in the fleet. She is the first starship to wield the new Type VIII phaser bank, in which each emitter develops 50% more yield than the previous phaser banks used on the Constitution line. Her photon torpedo tubes are the same 'Mk 6 Mod 2 direct-fire photon torpedo launch units' as her predecessor, but she is equipped with twice as many launchers, giving her the ability to deliver a constant volley of torpedoes without needing to pause to reload. Her powerful shields, rated at nearly 170% of the strength of the Constitution-class, and her robust hull plating (augmented with structural integrity fields and defence fields) give the class excellent survival abilities. She is fully capable of solo engagements as well as fleet operations.

Thanks to her unique design and powerful, next-generation warp drive, she is also the fastest starship in the fleet by a considerable margin. She is capable of a maximum sustained speed of Warp Factor 15 (more than twice as fast as the maximum speed of her predecessor, the Constitution-class), with a cruising speed of Warp Factor 9, according to the new warp factor scale. The latter is the maximum attainable speed many starships are capable of, making her a supremely mobile and long-range platform, capable of deep-space exploration missions and rapid deployment. Her impulse drive units are also new and built specially for the class, affording her excellent sublight acceleration and top speed.

As with the Constitution, the Excelsior-class is designed for long-duration solo exploratory missions, and is capable of deep-space missions almost seven years in duration without support. She is equipped with the most varied and powerful array of sensor pallets ever installed on a starship, with vast scanning range at great resolution. Within her hull reside a number of science labs, and her science teams have great computational power available from the most powerful computer core ever deployed on a mobile platform. Her communications equipment is also top-of-the-line, and in fleet operations will often serve as a command and control vessel.

The Excelsior-class has only been in service for ten years, but has already distinguished itself in the line of duty. Some of the most famous Federation starships - such as the USS Vincennes - are of the class, and they have been invaluable in both exploratory and military operations. Over 200 of the class have been commissioned to date, and Starfleet intends to continue construction at pace for the foreseeable future. The class recently received a 'Mod 2' major overhaul, which has improved the ship's capabilities and rectified a number of flaws that have been identified during extended service.

Lexington-class Starship
Classification: Command Cruiser
Dimensions:
Length: 397 meters
Beam: 165 meters
Draft: 98 meters
Mass: 1,650,000 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium double-hull plating
Crew complement: 550 (6,500 evacuation limit)
Velocity:
Cruising: Warp Factor 9
Maximum: Warp Factor 15
Duration:
Standard mission: 6 years
Yard overhall: 30 years
Hull: 110 years
Propulsion:
Warp: ASDB series Mark 1.2 Mod 1 non-linear M/ARA Drive
Impulse: RSM Grade 2 impulse units (x2)
Armaments:
10x Type VIII twin-mount phaser banks
2x Mk 6 Mod 2 direct-fire photon torpedo launch units
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-2 heavy regenerative deflector shield grid and force field control system
Defence screens: Type IV emergency defence field emitters (bridge, neck, engineering, nacelles)
Navigational deflector: Adv. 'Celestial 2.0'-model HiCap forward deflector
Auxilliary craft: 8x Type 2 medium-range personnel shuttlecraft

The first new class of starship produced by the Federation since the Excelsior, the Lexington-class represents the most advanced starship design ever produced by Starfleet. Though smaller than the Excelsior, she incorporates the same sophisticated technologies as her predecessor, integrated into her systems from scratch using that predecessor's field experience.

As the Excelsior-class received its first major overhaul, many lessons learnt from operating the vessel in open space for a prolonged period had to be incorporated into the package of updates. Her powerful Type VIII phaser banks, for instance, were found to have higher than expected power draw during combat, frequently drawing too much power through the EPS systems and causing momentary brown-outs in other systems as a result. This necessitated the installation of power amplifiers and capacitors. Similarly, while her warp drive was theoretically capable of sustained flight at Warp Factor 15, her power distribution systems often proved insufficient when operating at load, and her navigational deflector could be overloaded when travelling at such velocities through particularly particle-dense areas of open space. The latter issue had to be solved by 'overpowering' the navigational deflector; reinforcing it against energy spikes so that it could accommodate a higher load. These and many other practical lessons needed to be rectified as much as possible during the refit process.

While the refit has mostly been considered a success, and the Mod 2 Excelsior refit has been rolled out to most ships of the class, Starfleet sought to apply those lessons to an entirely new class of starship, one built from the ground up to take full, learned advantage of those lessons. The result was the Lexington-class.

Though smaller than Excelsior, she is also much more compact. Intended to one day replace the Constitution-class in her new role as Heavy Cruiser, Lexington has a greater focus on combat efficacy than either of her older cousins. She mounts the same powerful Type VIII phaser banks as the Excelsior, but has a more advanced EPS system to ensure consistent power without brown-outs. Her navigational deflector is also the same, however it is much larger than that of the Excelsior, allowing her to achieve her top speed without needing to 'overpower' it. And her shields, too, are of the same type, but as they protect a smaller hull, which is itself more compact and durable, she is estimated to have a slightly higher survivability rating in real combat.

She is not anticipated to be a replacement for the Excelsior, however, but rather a supplement. Though equipped with the same weapons and shields, improved by field experience, she is not as heavily-armed as the battlecruiser. It is hoped that it will be possible to send Lexington-class starships on tactical missions for which the slightly heavier firepower of the Excelsior would be wasted, but which might prove too dangerous for older, less capable starships like the Constitution.

Even though Lexington is considered primarily to be 'evolutionary' rather than 'revolutionary', one area that has seen a significant advance is in her computer core. Lexington is the first starship to feature an experimental 'isolinear' computer core. This significant improvement over existing duotronic computing technology is theoretically capable of upwards of twice the processing power while only being half the size. The pathfinder vessel features an experimental isolinear primary computer core that is 10% faster than that of the Excelsior, while only being two-thirds the size. Due to the experimental nature of the technology, however, the class pathfinder carries a more conventional duotronic secondary core in case of failure. Should the technology prove to be reliable, this secondary core is scheduled to be eliminated from subsequent vessels of the class, with the space planned to be used for additional antimatter storage pods.

Lexington features reduced scientific and exploratory capabilities than her larger cousin, with only essential science departments and reduced sensor range, but she is still capable of such if necessary and utilises the same modernised sensor pallets. She has been designated a 'Command Cruiser', as her more advanced communications arrays and increased computing power allow her to serve in this fleet role to a far greater capacity than any other class of ship. While slightly reduced, her tactical capabilities are thought to be more than sufficient for a Lexington to take control of any battlefield to which an Excelsior might have otherwise been dispatched.

The Lexington-class is smaller and easier to construct than the Excelsior, yet larger, more modern, and more powerful in combat than the ageing Constitution-class, whose current 'heavy workhorse' role in the fleet she is expected to one day replace when those venerable starships are finally decommissioned. While only one example of the class exists at the moment, the pathfinder USS Lexington which is currently undergoing open space trials, Starfleet Command anticipates having hundreds of vessels of the class in service within a couple of decades.

Constitution-class Starship
Classification: Heavy Cruiser
Dimensions:
Length: 305 meters
Beam: 140 meters
Draft: 71 meters
Mass: 930,500 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium double-hull plating
Crew complement: 400 (4,000 evacuation limit)
Velocity:
Cruising: Warp Factor 8
Maximum: Warp Factor 12
Duration:
Standard mission: 5 years
Yard overhall: 22 years
Hull: 60 years
Propulsion:
Warp: LH-64 Mod 3 linear M/ARA drive
Impulse: RSM Grade 1 impulse units (x2)
Armaments:
9x Type VII twin-mount phaser banks
2x Mk 6 Mod 2 direct-fire photon torpedo launch units
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-1 heavy deflector shield grid and force field control system
Defence screens: Type II emergency defence field emitters (bridge, neck, engineering, nacelles)
Navigational deflector: Standard 'Celestial'-model forward deflector
Auxilliary craft: 4x Type 2 medium-range personnel shuttlecraft

Once the premier starship of the fleet, the ageing Constitution-class has been supplanted in both size and power by the newer Excelsior-class. Nevertheless, the Constitution is a significant asset to Starfleet and a formidable vessel in its own right.

The Constitution-class is the longest-serving starship in Starfleet history, with the USS Constitution having been commissioned over 50 years ago. The type is renowned for its reliability and durability, and has become known as the 'Dependable-class' by those who crew them. They have a reputation for surviving encounters against all odds, and for beating opponents who outclass and outsize them - and while Starfleet officially credits these successes to their crews, many unofficially, superstitiously, subscribe them to the 'spirit' of the class.

After nearly 35 years of service, technology began to pass the vessel by. Due to the elegant simplicity of the effective design, and the successes it had enjoyed, Starfleet was unwilling to decommission the Constitution-class, however, and so 15 years ago she was subject to the most extensive refit programme ever conducted. The refit was unprecedented in scope - modifications were made to the deflector dish, warp and impulse nacelles, she underwent a radical restructuring of her engineering hull, as well as being equipped with an entirely new set of armaments, and most of her hull plating was replaced with more modern materials. She was fitted with the latest linear M/AM reactor core, boosting her warp speed considerably, her sensor pallets were replaced, and even the internal layout of the crew spaces was redesigned. All of her science labs were uprated to the latest specification, drastically improving her exploratory capabilities.

A Constitution-class starship patrolling at impulse speeds.
Effectively, Starfleet built a brand new ship on the bones of the old one, in a process which saw each vessel laid up in drydocks for upwards of 18 months each. The results, however, were well worth it - the Constitution-class was transformed from an ageing, soon-to-be-decommissioned line to a brand new, formidable vessel that would remain in service as a front-line cruiser for at least another six decades.

The Constitution-class, designed to operate for extended periods without support, is understandably well-armed, with a number of powerful Type VII dual-emitter phaser banks and two forward torpedo launchers, each capable of firing three torpedoes rapidly before requiring a reload. Her shields, though only rated as 'moderate' since the launch of the Excelsior, are powerful and durable, capable of with standing considerable fire before breaching. Constitution-class starships have been successfully operating independently for almost half a century now, and with upgrades have continued to do with with a high survival rate.

She is also the second-fastest starship class in service, only bested by the much newer Excelsior. Perhaps unsurprisingly for a vessel capable of extended voyages, she can maintain a reasonably high warp velocity, and her impulse drive affords her with great sublight performance. It is well-known that Constitution-class starships can take a significant beating before losing power, and this is thanks to their highly decentralised power grids - auxiliary batteries and secondary generators can be found in several areas of the ship.

Designed for long-haul missions, she incorporates 14 science labs and a comprehensive sensor suite. Though she is only rated for five-year missions, throughout their service history individual ships have beaten this figure by two or three years on occasion, due to unforeseen circumstances. These lessons have been factored in to the construction of the Excelsior-class. She also incorporates diplomatic facilities such as well-appointed dining areas and guest quarters, due to the likelihood of her mission bringing her into contact with previously unknown alien races.

Despite the arrival of the Excelsior line, the Constitution remains a front-line starship, undertaking a variety of solo and fleet operations. With the major refit long-since completed, all 600 Constitution-class starships are available for service, and while there are no plans to build new ships of the class, there are no plans to decommission them either.

Miranda-class Starship
Classification: Light Cruiser
Dimensions:
Length: 243 meters
Beam: 140 meters
Draft: 63 meters
Mass: 925,000 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium double-hull plating
Crew complement: 280 (2,500 evacuation limit)
Velocity:
Cruising: Warp Factor 7
Maximum: Warp Factor 9
Duration:
Standard mission: 5 years
Yard overhall: 19 years
Hull: 50 years
Propulsion:
Warp: LH-64 Mod 3 linear M/ARA drive
Impulse: RSM Grade 1 impulse units (x2)
Armaments:
6x Type VII twin-mount phaser banks
2x Type 1 multi-directional 'Pulsephaser' pulse cannons
4x Mk 22 Mod 1 direct-fire photon torpedo launch units
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-1 medium deflector shield grid and force field control system
Defence screens: Type II emergency defence field emitters (bridge, engineering, nacelles)
Navigational deflector: Compact 'Sweeper'-model integrated deflector
Auxilliary craft: 2x Type 2 medium-range personnel shuttlecraft

Built largely from the same components as the highly successful Constitution-class, the Miranda-class starship is a success story all its own, having spawned two derivative classes and gaining a reputation as being the 'workhorse' of the fleet.

A versatile class, the Miranda is a capable combatant and a decent explorer, with range and speed comparable to the Constitution. During construction it was hoped that the Miranda could be a quick-to-build, flexible vessel that could fill the gaps in the fleet, as it was unlikely that enough of the larger Constitution-class starships could be built to take on smaller roles. As a result the two ships were developed in tandem, and have considerable parts commonality.

The Miranda-class starship features a compact
design, borrowing many of the technologies
employed by her bigger cousin. Note the rollbar,
which greatly amplifies her tactical capabilities.
Where the Constitution-class was built as a premier front-line vessel with a 'no expense spared' mentality, the Miranda was built on a comparative shoestring budget. She borrows her saucer layout from her bigger cousin, a decision which saved on manufacturing and design costs, and she forgoes an engineering section in favour of a more compact design. Her designers realised that this would severely hamper her combat efficacy, however, due to the exclusion of photon launchers and several phaser banks, and so an innovative, modular 'rollbar' was added to the design. This rollbar includes multiple photon torpedo launch units of the same type as the Constitution, along with two 'pulse phaser cannons' developed specifically for the ship. This decision has dramatically increased an otherwise-unremarkable offensive capability, making the Miranda a formidable vessel for her size.

Due to the extraordinarily compact warp drive system she operates, and her lack of a proper navigational deflector (she is instead fitted with an 'integrated' deflector system), she is unable to match the superluminal speeds of her bigger cousin, however her impulse engines are of the same design and yet propel less mass, making her faster and more agile at sublight speeds.

Once commissioned, the Miranda-class exceeded all expectations. The systems incorporated on her rollbar were modular, allowing them to be swapped out for different missions, and her overall firepower was impressive for a ship of her size. As they were much faster and easier to build, Miranda-class starships found themselves picking up the slack left by gaps in the Constitution fleet, and they performed admirably. They were found to be highly flexible vessels, and quickly became integral to Starfleet's operations.

When the Constitution-class received her refit to prolong her lifespan, Starfleet wasted no time in applying the same refit to their now-indispensable fleet of Mirandas as well.

At present, Starfleet operates over 2,200 vessels of the Miranda line.

Saratoga-class Starship
Classification: Destroyer / Troop Carrier / Armed Cargo Carrier et al (see below)
Dimensions:
Length: 243 meters
Beam: 140 meters
Draft: 55 meters
Mass: 895,000 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium double-hull plating
Crew complement: 280 (2,500 evacuation limit)
Velocity:
Cruising: Warp Factor 7
Maximum: Warp Factor 9
Duration:
Standard mission: 2 years
Yard overhall: 19 years
Hull: 50 years
Propulsion:
Warp: LH-64 Mod 3 linear M/ARA drive
Impulse: RSM Grade 1 impulse units (x2)
Armaments:
6x Type VII twin-mount phaser banks
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-1 medium deflector shield grid and force field control system
Defence screens: Type II emergency defence field emitters (bridge, engineering, nacelles)
Navigational deflector: Compact 'Sweeper'-model integrated deflector

The Saratoga-class starship is based upon the Miranda-class starship heavily; is defining features are an absence of the rollbar, and a different aft hull configuration. This multi-purpose class serves various functions within the fleet.

Almost two decades after they were first commissioned, Starfleet realised that the robust spaceframe of the Miranda-class - being cheap to construct and proving highly effective in service - could be cheaply re-purposed for several other roles in the fleet, and began experimenting with the layout. The result was the Saratoga, the first of which entered service as an 'armed military cargo transport', which much of her internal volume dedicated to cargo storage.

Since then, other members of the class have variously been commissioned as troop carriers (which have most of their internal volume dedicated to crew quarters and transporter systems, designed to land soldiers en masse), gunboats (their phasers stripped out entirely and replaced with torpedo launchers), and shuttle carriers (which have vast hangars designed to carry and deploy shuttles and fighters), to name but a few. Others still have been commissioned as 'border patrol vessels' in a basic 'Miranda lite' configuration (officially classified as a 'destroyer' by Starfleet), designed entirely to handle pirates and other low-level threats that her reduced armaments are more than capable of dealing with.

This ability to quickly produce cheap starships tailored to a specific role, without necessitating a completely new design, proved popular for many years, and over 700 Saratoga-class starships (various configurations) have been commissioned to date. The notion went out of fashion almost as quickly as it began, however, and none have been produced since, with Starfleet simply making more innovative use of the Miranda-class starship's modular rollbar to accomplish the same goal - so much so, in fact, that some Saratoga-class starships have been retrofit back to Miranda-class configurations when ships of the latter class have been lost in action.

Soyuz-class Starship
Classification: Science Vessel
Dimensions:
Length: 243 meters
Beam: 140 meters
Draft: 63 meters
Mass: 925,000 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium double-hull plating
Crew complement: 130 (1,500 evacuation limit)
Velocity:
Cruising: Warp Factor 6
Maximum: Warp Factor 8
Duration:
Standard mission: 5 years
Yard overhall: 19 years
Hull: 50 years
Propulsion:
Warp: LH-64 Mod 3 linear M/ARA drive
Impulse: RSM Grade 1 impulse units (x2)
Armaments:
4x Type VI twin-mount phaser banks
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-1 medium deflector shield grid and force field control system
Defence screens: Type II emergency defence field emitters (bridge, engineering, nacelles)
Navigational deflector: Compact 'Sweeper'-model integrated deflector

The second starship class to emerge from the basic Miranda-class spaceframe, the Soyuz-class starship is a heavily modified version that serves as a dedicated, long-range science vessel.

Realising shortly after she was commissioned that the diminutive Oberth-class was ill-suited to science-orientated missions that occurred beyond the borders of the Federation, due to her inability to operate without support or effectively defend herself, Starfleet Command released the USS Soyuz from her duties and set about re-designing her.

The goal of the Soyuz project, much like the multi-purpose Saratoga, was to develop a dedicated science vessel from the spaceframe of the Miranda-class, allowing Starfleet to quickly commission new science vessels without needing to produce an entirely new design. To accomplish this, the Miranda configuration was heavily modified - her rollbar and shuttlebay was stripped out, and the aft section of the vessel heavily modified to accommodate a much larger computer core and numerous science labs. Where the rollbar used to be, an array of sensor pallets and probe launching units was installed, designed so that specialised pallets could be swapped in as needed.

Her armaments were significantly downgraded too. The photon torpedo launchers and pulse phasers were, of course, removed along with the rollbar, while two phaser banks were removed from the saucer section - in favour of a greatly-expanded sensor array. The remaining four phaser banks were replaced with older, less powerful Type VI banks, and her deflector shield systems were similarly downgraded.

Despite these downgrades to her offensive systems, the Soyuz was still much more capable in a firefight than the tiny Oberth-class, while the other modifications gave her a greatly expanded scientific capability. In concert with the Miranda-class spaceframe's greater range and endurance, the results made the Soyuz-class supremely capable of long-range scientific expeditions.

The Soyuz-class design, having met Starfleet's expectations, was put into production. As hoped, the emergence of this class immediately freed up valuable Constitution- and Excelsior-class starships from more mundane scientific missions that were too hazardous to be undertaken by Oberth-class vessels and too in-depth to be handled by conventional Mirandas, and the Soyuz-class was hailed as a success.

While they are best suited to scientific missions, their powerful sensors and communications systems often see them serving as command and control units in fleet operations, particularly smaller operations where larger ships such as the Excelsior-class may be unavailable. They are also employed as scouts on occasion; being as they are faster and more durable than the Oberth-class starships which ostensibly fill the role.

Starfleet operates 300 Soyuz-class starships at present.

Constellation-class Starship
Classification: Frigate
Dimensions:
Length: 231 meters
Beam: 135 meters
Draft: 65 meters
Mass: 650,000 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium double-hull plating
Crew complement: 260 (1,000 evacuation limit)
Velocity:
Cruising: Warp Factor 6
Maximum: Warp Factor 8
Duration:
Standard mission: 3 years
Yard overhall: 10 years
Hull: 50 years
Propulsion:
Warp: LH-62 Mod 4 pulse M/ARA drive
Impulse: NRSY Type IV impulse units (x2)
Armaments:
6x Type VI twin-mount phaser banks
2x Mk 20 Mod 5 direct-fire photon torpedo launch units
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-1 medium deflector shield grid and force field control system
Defence screens: Type II emergency defence field emitters (bridge, engineering, nacelles)
Navigational deflector: Gen 1 'Sweeper'-model integrated deflector

Developed not long before the refit of the Constitution-class starship, the Constellation-class was meant to be her replacement, and much like the Excelsior-class was intended to usher in a new generation of propulsion technology.

The Constellation was built after it was theorised that four parallel warp nacelles could produce more stable warp fields, that would in turn allow much higher velocities. Development proceeded at pace, and entirely new (at the time) warp nacelle designs were produced for the vessel. Unlike the Excelsior-class, however, it took little experimentation to learn that this theory was in error. While the warp field generated by the Constellation is indeed more stable, and therefore not susceptible to interstellar interference (for example, it is more difficult to constrain the ship with an FTLi field, though not impossible), for reasons that remain unknown the geometry of the field generated by her four nacelles actually causes the craft to suffer from a slower-than-expected maximum speed.

Despite a number of efforts to uprate her power systems to offset this, no amount of changes could budge Constellation's maximum speed above Warp Factor 8 - slower than the ship she was meant to replace. And due to the extra systems and power required to support the added nacelles, the vessel lacks living space, storage space, and suffers from poor power efficiency.

The project was not a complete waste, even if its goals were not met. The technologies developed during the Constellation project were used in the Constitution refit programme. The Constellation herself, however, was equipped with basic armaments and pressed into service as a frigate.

Since being commissioned the class has proved itself to be dependable and sturdy. Her resilient warp field allows her to fly at superluminal velocities through areas of space that other starships could not traverse - with one vessel of the class, USS Oceanos, having made history for successfully travelling past a black hole at warp speed during an emergency - and her spaceframe is remarkably durable. Her weapons are in need of upgrades, as are her shields, but she is more than capable when operating in 'wolf packs' - three Constellation-class starships working together as a unit - and finds use both as a border patrol ship, where her poor range is of no consideration, and in fleet support roles.

Almost 700 Constellation-class starships are in service with the fleet. While there are no plans to decommission them, nor commission new units, there is talk of placing them in the queue for a major refit programme which would, it is hoped, considerably uprate her capabilities and extend her lifespan.

Oberth-class Starship
Classification: Scout / Science Vessel
Dimensions:
Length: 150 meters
Beam: 87 meters
Draft: 41 meters
Mass: 94,000 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium double-hull plating
Crew complement: 80 (500 evacuation limit)
Velocity:
Cruising: Warp Factor 4
Maximum: Warp Factor 6
Duration:
Standard mission: <1 years
Yard overhall: 20 years
Hull: 60 years
Propulsion:
Warp: BSI Type I compact M/ARA drive
Impulse: RSM Grade 1 impulse units (x2)
Armaments:
2x Type IV phaser emitters
1x Mk 20 Mod 5 direct-fire photon torpedo/probe launch unit
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-2 light regenerative deflector shield grid and force field control system
Defence screens: Type I emergency defence field emitters (bridge)
Navigational deflector: Compact 'Sweeper'-model integrated deflector

The Oberth-class starship is the smallest vessel currently in service with Starfleet, and is designed primarily as a science vessel. It is unsuited to combat roles.

Starfleet placed an order for a small, lightly armed scout vessel, originally intended to follow in the wake of larger explorers like the Constitution-class and study the various star systems it found in greater detail, once it was certain to be safe. As the design brief changed, the Oberth became a much smaller, short-range platform incapable of the speeds necessary to keep up with large starships.

As such the Oberth became more of a general research vessel, largely meant to remain nearby Federation borders or allied states. Its extraordinarily compact warp drive, developed specially by the Brahms Science Institute, is incredibly reliable and efficient, but incapable of delivering a great deal of power. The spaceframe lacks a traditional navigational deflector; engineers worked around this problem by using the space between the saucer and secondary sections as a sort of 'virtual' deflector, essentially turning the hull itself into a wide-angle deflector coil. Though innovative, this solution is less than ideal compared to a true deflector array. This, combined with her small warp nacelles, limits the speed of the vessel considerably. Her range is similarly reduced, as her small size and lack of storage space precludes extended missions. Her sensor suites are dedicated entirely to scientific pursuits, with only basic combat scanners, and most of her internal space - that not taken up by essential systems - is devoted to research.

Her armament is accordingly light, too. Capable of defending itself against small raiders, perhaps, the Oberth is massively outclassed by anything else. Her Type IV phasers (similar in power to those used on shuttlecraft) are incapable of effective shield penetration, and her photon torpedo complement is usually insufficient to accomplish anything other than making potential threats think twice about attacking. Indeed, the launcher exists mostly to enable the launch of probes, and it is common for Oberths to fly without a torpedo complement at all. Her light shields are intended more to resist cosmic phenomena than repel weapons fire, and her small, lightly armoured hull cannot take much punishment before succumbing.

As a result of this pure devotion to science, the Oberth-class starship is ill-suited to combat and rarely found beyond Federation borders, unless close by to a friendly port. When travelling between Federation space and their destination, Oberth captains are discouraged from dropping out of warp for any reason. In the rare instances where ships of the class have been forced to engage enemy vessels, usually when ambushed or otherwise surprised, they have invariably been destroyed without much effort.

Nevertheless, Starfleet maintains a fleet of nearly 900 of these specialised craft, with most of them being assigned to reasonably safe research programmes or testing experimental technology. Starfleet is known to 'lend' Oberth-class starships to civilian research projects, though they always retain a Starfleet command crew. When used in fleet operations, the Oberth-class functions as a moderately effective scout vessel - their small size and low energy emissions make them reasonably difficult to detect at range, while their advanced sensors and communications equipment allow them to easily scan the battlefield beyond the enemy's sensor range and report their findings back to a more capable combat vessel.

Type 2 ('Galileo'-type) Shuttlecraft
Classification: Shuttlecraft
Dimensions:
Length: 8.93 meters
Beam: 3.4 meters
Draft: 2.96 meters
Mass: 48 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium mono-hull plating
Crew complement: 1 (8 passengers)
Velocity: Impulse speeds
Duration:
Standard mission: Interplanetary range only
Yard overhall: 5 years
Hull: 10 years
Propulsion:
Impulse: L- 21 Type I micro-impulse units (x2)
Armaments:
1x Type IV phaser emitter
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-1 micro deflector shield grid and force field control system

The Type 2, or Galileo-type, shuttlecraft is ubiquitous across the Federation, and is also used (in an unarmed version) in the civilian sector. Tens of thousands of these craft have been produced over the last twenty years since they were first introduced.

Carried in various quantities aboard all but the smallest of starships (and the Constellation-class, which lacks a shuttlebay), Galileo shuttlecraft typically find use where transporters are unavailable, whether that be due to mechanical or environmental reasons. Requiring a single pilot, these robust craft can carry up to eight passengers and associated gear, and have an interplanetary range. They feature side doors for normal dis/embarkation, though their entire aft plating doubles as a large rear hatch, which can be dropped down to form a ramp for rapid disembarkation of the entire complement.

For this reason they are often used to deploy special operations teams, usually marines, to planets beyond the reach of a starship's transporter systems, particularly in instances where stealth is a consideration - Galileo-class shuttles are considerably more difficult to detect than an enormous starship. The Excelsior-class starship USS Indomitable (Captain Elizabeth Clark commanding) in particular is well-known in the fleet for repeatedly - and successfully - using this method during her anti-piracy operations along the frontier. And in some instances, usually when transporter denial technology of some type has been employed, they are used to land ground forces en masse during conflicts, and specific variations of Saratoga-class starships exist to carry them in great numbers for this reason.

Though not intended for combat, Galileo shuttles are highly agile and accelerate quickly. They are equipped with extremely light (compared to a starship, at any rate) shielding and equipped with a single, forward-facing Type IV phaser, which makes them capable of successfully engaging similarly-sized craft. Against a larger vessel, of course, shuttles are hopelessly outmatched, and their phasers cannot penetrate even the lightest of capital ship grade deflector shields.

Federation Warp Factor Scale

With the advances in the fields of warp theory and next-generation warp drives brought about by the development of the Excelsior-class, advances that were later applied to the rest of the fleet, Starfleet was forced to recalculate the Warp Factor Scale to accommodate the greatly improved speeds available to its vessels. Rather than calculating the velocity of a warp factor to the third power (e.g. in the previous scale, Warp 7 could be calculated by cubing the number 7, meaning it was 343 x c), warp factors are now calculated to the fourth power.

Warp factor #	Average speed (*c)
1	1
2	16
3	81
4	256
5	625
6	1,296
7	2,401
8	4,096
9	6,561
10	10,000
11	14,641
12	20,736
13	28,561
14	38,416
15	50,625

by **Interstellar Planets** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:19 am

Starbases and installations

Starfleet has commissioned a number of different types of space installations across Federation space to support their operations; ranging in size from the enormous Spacedock to the smaller 'Regula' type starbase. These facilities are typically placed in strategically significant locations, and will coordinate military operations across entire sectors of space, as well as being economic hubs and layover locations for travellers. In worst-case scenarios, the heavily armed facilities are expected to act as a last line of defence for an area.

Ournal-class Spacedock
Classification: Spacedock
Dimensions:
Height: 5,795 meters
Diameter: 3,810 meters
Mass: 116,000,000 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium quad-hull plating
Crew complement: 15,000 (plus 100,000 - 150,000 civilians)
Duration:
Standard refit: 20 years
Major overhall: 50 years
Hull: 420 years
Powerplant: 20x Gen 4 fusion power plants
Armaments:
370x Type IX quad-mount phaser banks
48x Type I burst-fire photon torpedo launch units
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-4 superheavy regenerative deflector shield grid and force field control system
Defence screens: Type VI emergency defence field emitters (outer rim, upper array, lower array, lower core)

The largest space platforms ever constructed by the Federation, Spacedocks are colossal installations that are responsible for the coordination of fleet movements across all surrounding sectors. Capable of constructing, repairing, and refitting up to 24 starships within its cavernous hangars, Spacedock is a floating city.

The concept that would become the Spacedock was first considered a little over 50 years after the formation of Starfleet, as their ship production and refit programmes began to grow beyond the confines of their existing drydock facilities. At the time, Starfleet wanted nothing more than a large, expandable 'hanger', designed to do nothing more than build ships. Cargo vessels would arrive with raw materials at one side, and completed starships would fly out of the other side like a production line. The idea was put to rest when a then-diminutive Starfleet realised the scale of construction that would be required.

A more recognisable concept resurfaced almost 200 years later. This proposal was even grander; a cavernous hangar was to be built in orbit of New Eden as before,but additionally it was to be married to a sector-wide command and control centre that could coordinate fleet movements for lightyears around. It was to double as the 'first port of call' for all visitors to New Eden. To the surprise of many, the proposal was approved; the Federation Council by that point was enjoying great levels of prosperity, and such a structure became entirely feasible.

It took nearly 50 years to complete New Eden Spacedock. What was supposed to be a project localised in the New Eden system became a Federation-wide affair, as entirely new materials science branches were required to build the colossal base. Citizens of New Eden could clearly see the progress of construction with a simple telescope, and it has since come to be a defining feature of the New Eden sky.

As a result of the resource and knowledge contributions of the other founding worlds, the Federation Council agreed to construct a similar base at each of them; Novus Romulus Spacedock took only 30 years to construct, as the tools and knowledge were now readily available, and Elaria Spacedock and Andoriana Spacedock took even less time. The latest Spacedock to be completed is in orbit of Brahms, the first (and to date, only) colony to receive one.

Up to 24 starships of Excelsior-class size can be accommodated in the Spacedock's main hangar; hundreds of additional docking points can be found on the underside of the main ring, which have 'slots' to accommodate makeshift drydocks during emergencies. Sufficient manpower and resources exist aboard a Spacedock at any given time to perform any manner of repairs or refit that might be necessary, and they are equipped with all of the necessary machinery to construct entirely new vessels (this function of the Spacedock has fallen out of favour in more recent years, though experimental vessels - such as the Excelsior - are still built within them).

These monolithic constructs are heavily defended, with hundreds of the most powerful phaser banks currently in service with the Federation, and dozens of rapid-fire photon torpedo turrets. Their primary deflector shields, thanks to the extensive power reserves available, are triple-layered and more powerful than anything else Starfleet has deployed, and they are further augmented with a number of powerful emergency defence fields. Their sensors can see with great detail into all surrounding sectors, and they can communicate effortlessly with thousands of ships across Federation space.

Given their strategic significance, they are typically the 'home base' of all fleets operating in the area, and they must coordinate fleet movements across vast regions. These fleets are also assigned to their defence during times of war, which, in addition to their own considerable armaments, makes attacking a Spacedock a difficult proposition. They are ultimately the last line of defence for the planets they orbit.

In addition to their military responsibilities, Spacedocks must also monitor and control civilian traffic in the region, and they are often the first port of call for travellers and cargo trains. Their numerous transporter facilities allow them to transport entire loads of cargo to the surface of the planet they orbit reasonably quickly, reducing the need for transport vessels to make planetfall. As such, they are often economic hubs, and large retail and recreational areas can be found within.

There are five Spacedocks in Federation space at present, and no plans to construct more.

Defender-class Battlestation
Classification: Battlestation
Dimensions:
Height: 2,200 meters
Diameter: 2,900 meters
Mass: 20,000,000 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium quad-hull plating
Crew complement: 5,000 (plus 5,000 - 10,000 civilians)
Duration:
Standard refit: 20 years
Major overhall: 40 years
Hull: 240 years
Powerplant: 10x Gen 4 fusion power plants
Armaments:
220x type IX dual-mount phaser banks
40x Type I burst-fire photon torpedo launch units
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-4 heavy regenerative deflector shield grid and force field control system
Defence screens: Type VI emergency defence field emitters (outer rim, upper array, lower array)

The Defender-class starbase is categorised as a battlestation by Starfleet, and its scientific, diplomatic and industrial roles have been played down considerably when compared to the Ournal-class Spacedock. As such it is smaller, but deployed in somewhat greater numbers, even though it lacks the same civilian roles.

Conceived by a team of experts on Novus Romulus in 253 A.F. in response to claims that there was no intermediary starbase between the massive Spacedock and the comparatively diminutive Regula-class outpost, the design brief called for a large station, focussed more on fleet operations and support and less on science and industry, designed specifically to be deployed to strategically valuable locations within Federation space for the purposes of defence and local strategic command and control. Initially, designers put forward a refit version of the Regula-class, but Starfleet declined as it was too small and under-powered. Instead, a much larger station was designed, borrowing many cues from the Regula, with a large complement of heavy weapons and the ability to support several starships within its mass. This design was accepted, and five such stations were commissioned for production - one in each founding system, and one in the vicinity of Brahms III. After several years of trouble-free operations, production continued on several more.

As of today there are thirty-two Defender-class starbases in operation at key points all across the Federation. Armed with a smaller number of the same high-yield phaser emitters as the Spacedock, and with slightly less powerful shielding, the Defender is no less difficult to assault. She can host fifteen starships within her mass for emergency repairs, and many more starships may dock on her external hull, allowing her to maintain fleets of starships if dedicated facilities are not available. Like Spacedocks, Defender-class starbases are not given names but rather numbers, and unlike Spacedocks most people refer to them by their numerical designation rather than the system they are located in.

Regula-class Outpost
Classification: Outpost
Dimensions:
Height: 242 meters
Diameter: 201 meters
Mass: 200,000 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium dual-hull plating
Crew complement: 30 (plus 100 - 200 civilians) (standard configuration)
Duration:
Standard refit: 15 years
Major overhall: 30 years
Hull: 110 years
Powerplant: 2x Version 1a laser-induced fusion reactors (standard configuration)
Armaments:
20x type VII dual-mount phaser banks (standard configuration)
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-1 heavy deflector shield grid and force field control systems (standard configuration)
Defence screens: Type V emergency defence field emitters (outer rim, upper array, lower array)

The Regula-class outpost is of an older design than any other, beating even the Constitution-class starship as the longest serving piece of equipment in Starfleet. Originally built as a scientific research facility for deep space missions, the Regula-class was subsequently adopted as a general-purpose outpost. Highly modular, different Regula-class outposts can be outfitted for completely different missions - meaning that some may have different specifications than others.

Previously, starships were being deployed on long-term science missions because the resources to develop a static facility were not in place. However, for particularly long-term missions, such as transforming a planet or monitoring stellar phenomenon, permanently stationing a starship in the area was viewed as highly wasteful, as well as being inconvenient for their crews. Starfleet petitioned the Advanced Starship Design Bureau to design a small, flexible class of outpost that could be easily deployed and easily modified to serve different purposes, while being self-sufficient enough to remain unsupported for weeks at a time. As static facilities have fewer variables to consider, the first design was immediately accepted in 73 A.F.

By 100 A.F. Regula outposts could be found all across the Federation. Such was their modular nature that they were fitted with extra weapons and deployed as border control outposts, supplementing the reliance on deep space satellites that the Federation had previously used for such purposes. As well as having the sensor range to scan well outside of Federation space, the Regula-class outpost could be fitted with more weapons than a starship of comparable size, making it able to act as a preliminary line of defence in the event of an incursion. Others had their weapons stripped down and their crew habitation areas reduced to make room for comprehensive sensor pallets and laboratory space, making them better suited to scientific missions. And some were virtually empty, with their innards replaced by hangars and fabrication units, allowing for their use as long-range starship resupply and maintenance depots. As the years passed the design proved timeless and durable, and so rather than develop a replacement design, the Regula-class found itself subjected to upgrades whenever the resources became available.

Present estimates suggest that there are over one thousand five hundred Regula-class outposts in operation, at least three hundred of which are civilian-operated. Such a high number comes from their frequent use as border monitoring outposts as well as control facilities for networks of deep space satellites and subspace amplifiers.

by **Interstellar Planets** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:19 am

((THIS POST IS A DRAFT THAT NEEDS FORMATTING AND SUCH - managed to retrieve this from the darkest corners of the Internet archive, from my original factbook.))

Federation Colonial Peacekeepers

The Federation Colonial Peacekeepers (FCP), sometimes called simply the Colonial Peacekeepers, is the surface warfare branch of the Federation's combined armed forces. Tasked with the defence of planetary surfaces, humanitarian concerns, and expeditionary missions abroad, the FCP is a highly trained, well equipped and highly adaptable force which relies heavily on Starfleet for interstellar mobility. It has access to light arms, ground armour and some small-scale spacefaring vessels such as troop carriers.

The FCP headquarters is located in San Angeles, located some fifteen miles away from Starfleet Command. Its headquarters comprises numerous administrative buildings and office blocks, along with a variety of advanced training facilities and large barracks, where a significant number of personnel are based. Unlike Starfleet, scientific personnel are not common in the FCP, and laboratories tend to be limited in function to weapons development and computer technologies. Also unlike Starfleet Command, FCP officers do not tend to act as diplomats or representatives of the Federation in uncharted regions of the galaxy, and are exclusively tasked with military and emergency relief duties. The FCP does not have the same level of political sway nor as significant funding as Starfleet Command, often being seen as a 'secondary branch' by many, which has caused some friction in the past.

The FCP was originally formed in the early days of the Federation, when newer colonies were being settled and the Federation Council saw a need to have a force that could be rapidly deployed to any member world to enforce law and order, or to provide relief in the event of an emergency. During these times it was more of a militia than an organised military force, and was mainly tasked with subduing rising crime levels on distant border worlds. Eventually, the Federation Council saw the need to form a dedicated army, appropriately trained and supplied to allow them to defend Federation worlds from foreign aggression and to be deployed abroad where necessary to advance Federation interests. It was only then that the FCP became organised into a form more recognisable as an army. Further funding has since allowed the FCP to develop and deploy advanced ground armour, light air and spacecraft support, and more sophisticated body armour and light arms systems.

In terms of command structure, the Federation President is the commander-in-chief, with the General of the Peacekeepers being the highest-ranked officer, who is appointed by and reports directed to the President. Beneath the General of the Peacekeepers are heads of department, and Generals or Lieutenant Generals assigned to specific agencies within the FCP such as Strategic Operations, Logistics or Infantry Forces.

FCP Rank Structure

General officers

General officers are the highest ranked commissioned officers in the FCP, typically given command of large swathes of personnel such as entire divisions or brigades. There are numerous paths to becoming a general officer, with the most common being the attendance of UFIP FCP Academy and many years of subsequent experience. Field officers may be given temporary promotion to general officer status if they are appointed to a role which requires such a rank.

General of the Peacekeepers

A five star general, the General of the Peacekeepers is the highest rank possible to achieve within the FCP, and is typically appointed by the Federation President from available four star generals. The General of the Peacekeepers is the overall commander of the entire FCP, and reports directly to the President. Only one officer can hold this rank at any one time.

General

Four star generals are high-ranking military officers, and it is often considered to be the highest achievable rank possible for most officers. Typically, an officer is only awarded four stars if he is appointed to a position that requires such a rank, and the tour of service is limited to only five years. At present, the Federation imposes a cap on the number of four star generals that may be in active service at any one time, with the present limit being 705. Generals are nominated for appointment by the President, although the final decision rests with the FCP.

Lieutenant General

Lieutenant generals are three star generals, typically given command of large brigades consisting of upwards of 50,000 personnel. Like four star generals, their tour of service as a lieutenant general is typically limited to five years, and a cap of 705 is imposed on the number of Lieutenant Generals that may be in service at any one time.

Major General

Subordinate to Lieutenant Generals and superior to Brigadier Generals, two star Major Generals are moderate ranking Generals who are usually given command of strategic facilities or divisions of soldiers.

Brigadier General

The lowest general officer rank available, single star Brigadier Generals are the most common of all general officers, and are often given command of entire regiments or small facilities.

Field Officers

Field officers are, as their name suggests, high ranking officers typically deployed to command positions in the field, often taking command of battalions.
Colonel

The highest ranking field officer, Colonels are subordinate to general officers and are often given command of infantry battalions. Colonels in special forces units sometimes lead small squads on strategically valuable missions.

Lieutenant Colonel

Directly responsible to Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels often serve as executive officers to regiments or battalions, with more experienced Lieutenant Colonels sometimes being given their own commands.

Major

Majors are often appointed executive officers in battalions, or given command of companies, being equivalent in rank to Lieutenant Commanders in Starfleet. They may also take command of small infantry platoon during particularly important missions.

Captain

Lower ranking field officers, Captains usually take command of company-sized units, when they are sometimes also referred to as Company Commanders. They may also undertake training duties at FCP academies, or serve as staff officers at a brigade level. Captain is the entry-level rank for doctors entering the services in medical units.

Lieutenant

Some fifty years ago the FCP merged the two ranks of 1st and 2nd Lieutenant into a single Lieutenant rank, which represents the lowest rank of all field officers. They often take command of platoons or even companies on rare occasions, dependant upon experience, and sometimes serve as the executive officer on a company level.

Warrant Officers

Warrant Officers are non-commissioned officers with a particular speciality in one or more field, such as field engineers. Although non-commissioned, they are higher-ranking than all other enlisted personnel and generally regarded as 'honorary officers' by most. There are five grades of Warrant Officer, each with increasing levels of responsibility. Warrant Officers with sufficient experience may be promoted to field officers eventually without the need to attend an academy.

Federation Ground Vehicles

While infantry are a significant portion of the Colonial Peacekeepers' resources, it also employs a large selection of ground vehicles to support it in its roles. Tasked with engaging enemy armour, transporting troops where transporters or shuttles are unavailable, protecting infantry or simply providing mobile command centres, Federation ground vehicles tend to be highly advanced, well defended, and flexible in nature.

Vanguard-class phaser tank
Classification: Main battle tank
Dimensions:
Length: 17.2 meters
Mass: 116 metric tons
Hull construction: Duranium/tritanium double-hull plating, ablative armour plating
Crew complement: 4
Velocity:
Maximum: 235 km/h
Duration:
Standard mission: 40 years
Hull: 120 years
Power plant:
Fusion reactor: V2a microfusion reactor
Propulsion:
Lift: 4x AVDB series Mark 1.1 anti-grav lift generators
Thrust: H-fuel rockets (2x fore, 2x, aft, 1x port, 1x starboard)
Armaments:
2x Type IV twin-mount phaser banks (turreted)
1x Mk 2 guided self-propelled micro-photon torpedo launcher
Deflector systems:
Primary shields: FSQ-2-Micro regenerative deflector shield grid and force field control system
Defence screens: Type I emergency defence field emitters (turret, crew compartment)

With the ageing Guardian-class phaser tank having been in active service for almost five decades, in 316 A.F. the Colonial Peacekeepers (FCP) petitioned the Federation Council for a procurement funding increase so that it might commission the design and production of a replacement. Dubbed the Vanguard Project, the design brief called for ground armour that was more heavily armed, more survivable, and faster than the previous Guardian-class, without losing out on its economical and reliable operations.

Numerous designs were submitted by the Advanced Vehicular Design Bureau (AVDB) before the FCP finally settled on the Vanguard, with only minor changes required to its initial design. Promptly, numerous testing prototypes were constructed so that the FCP could put them into field testing scenarios to gauge their effectiveness. While they were impressed, several systems showed signs of being somewhat unreliable when put to use - the new guided photon torpedo launcher, developed specifically for the Vanguard, had a habit of jamming. Additionally, the new miniaturised version of the sophisticated FSQ-2 regenerative deflector system (the main technology for which made its debut aboard the large Excelsior-class starship), appeared to be overpowered for its size, and repeatedly fried the main generator. The design team at AVDB immediately recommended a completely renovated deflector grid for the Vanguard, making it more efficient and reliable without compromising its strength, and redesigned the loading and firing mechanisms of the photon torpedo launcher. These changes, although adding to the overall cost of the project, saw the Vanguard achieve the level of reliability that the FCP desired, and the model was immediately put into production.

Designed to survive several times more firepower than it is capable of generating itself, the Vanguard-class is extremely durable, emphasising the high value that the Federation places on the lives of their personnel. A new micro deflector shield grid was developed for the Vanguard based off the successful FSQ-2 regenerative shields utilised by the Excelsior-class starship, which allow it to absorb significant enemy fire. Should the shields succumb, enemy fire will be met by a thick, hardened duranium hull plating layered over duranium-tritanium to create a Whipple shield effect, all of which is protected by a single layer of ablative armour to defend against directed energy weapons. Its life support system is completely self-contained, allowing it to protect its crew from chemical, biological and radioactive attacks even when main shields fail, and a portable replicator allows the crew to survive any siege attempt for as long as the vehicle has power.

Atop the hull is the Vanguard's main weapon - a large, 360-degree rotation turret, which sports two of the same type IV phaser emplacements as the Type 2 shuttlecraft, allowing it to deliver rapid phaser fire in all directions. This phaser turret can engage both ground and air targets. Along with this is a revolutionary multi-directional guided photon torpedo launcher, for which it carries a complement of 60 self-propelled photon torpedoes, allowing it to assault heavily fortified ground installations or inflict wide-area blast damage against clusters of enemy infantry. The launcher has also proven useful in trials against enemy armour possessed of an unusually high phaser resistance quotient, or against enemies entrenched behind barricades. Unlike conventional photon torpedoes, these are self-propelled by thrusters, and can either be guided en-route by the Vanguard's onboard computer, or set to a fire-and-forget mode in the event of enemy interference.

The Vanguard is powered by a newly-designed version 2a microfusion reactor, which has sufficient fuel to operate for an estimated twelve days of non-stop combat operations before resupply is required. This provides energy to all systems including four anti-gravity field generators, which in concert with H-fuel boosters can propel the heavy tank along most types of terrain at up to 235 kilometres per hour at a variable altitude of between thirty centimetres and seven metres, with a surprising degree of agility. These same anti-gravity field generators allow the tank to slow its descent from an orbital drop, allowing for the vehicle to be inserted into a planetary atmosphere from orbit should transporters or landing craft prove unavailable.

Although not equipped with conventional transporter technology, an emergency beam-out option is available to the crew in the event of critical damage. Its computers, running on the highly successful LCARS build 1.2 operating system, can store up to fifty kiloquads of data and have access to sensors with a 700 kilometre scanning radius. This computer allows the vehicle extensive battlefield awareness, and in concert with its communications systems it can serve as a mobile command centre.

Presently, the FCP operates some 24,000 Vanguard-class phaser tanks, and for the time being all production orders have been satisfied.

Federation Small Arms

Whether it is for personal defence, boarding operations or ground assaults, all Federation Colonial Peacekeepers are issued with a phaser rifle and sidearm as standard equipment. Both phaser rifles and pistols are also used by Starfleet personnel, though pistols tend to be preferred aboard starships owing to their compact size. Different phaser models are designated by types, ranging from the diminutive Type 1 'snub' phaser to the immensely destructive Type 8 phaser banks mounted aboard Excelsior-class starships.

Phasers are advanced particle weapons, emitting an exotic nadion particle stream at near-lightspeed. At low levels, handheld phasers can induce a stun effect on their target, overloading the central nervous system of the victim and rendering them unconscious for varying degrees of time. When set to medium power levels phasers become lethal weapons, capable of destroying rock, piercing shields and body armour, and inflicting lethal wounds on their targets. At their most powerful settings they are capable of inflicting a chain reaction which disrupts the sub-atomic bonds of their targets and physically displaces matter from this space-time continuum, commonly known as 'vapourisation' due to the visual appearance of the effect.

Due to their ability to penetrate even the densest metals at high power settings, the use of phasers above their stun setting without authorisation is restricted aboard starships, and attempting to do so will trigger an immediate security alarm.

Type 2, Mark 4 assault phaser
Classification: Pistol
Dimensions:
Length: 213mm
Weight: 767g
Power Pack: Rated for 150 one-second discharges at medium power
Settings: 3x (stun, kill, disintegrate)

The Type 2, Mark 4 Assault Phaser Pistol is the standard-issue sidearm to both Federation Colonial Peacekeepers and Starfleet personnel. Developed five years ago as a replacement for the Mark 3 pistol, the Mark 4 represents a step forwards in reliability, power conservation and destructive potential.

With a grip-mounted, magazine-format power cell capable of delivering roughly one hundred and fifty two-second discharges on the medium power setting, the Mark 4 allows officers and soldiers to engage enemies for greater periods of time without reloading than ever before. This saw the Mark 4 quickly becoming a firm favourite of personnel across all of the Federation's defensive and policing departments, and its proliferation was so rapid that the Mark 3 is now difficult to find. When fired at its highest setting, the Mark 4 needs only cool down for ten seconds, a significant reduction over the previous model. As with most phaser weapons, the pistol can be attenuated to fire either a narrow or a wide beam, giving the user the ability to fire upon multiple targets standing in close proximity. Although the weapon has a more limited range and power when fired in wide-beam mode, the tactical advantages it affords the wielder in close quarters are innumerable.

The pistol grip possesses rubberised protrusions to improve both the comfort and firm grasp of the user. On the top, a series of simple red lights indicates the charge present in the power pack and flashes when a reload is necessary, while behind that is a selector switch to alter the weapon's power setting. Mark 4 pistols are made from more resilient materials than previous pistols and the outer shell is more capable of protecting the internal systems of the weapon - the Mark 4 can be dropped in water, mud or sand and will still fire normally when retrieved, and can operate in extreme temperatures, with or without atmosphere. Despite this, technicians are afforded easy access to the phaser's components, allowing quick and efficient battlefield maintenance and repairs.

Aftermarket modifications include an optional tactical scope for increased accuracy, as well as a removable stock and barrel add-on to convert the pistol into a Type 3 rifle.

The pistol, like most phaser weapons produced by the Federation, possesses an overload option, which shunts all available power into the prefire chamber before exploding violently. This is designed as an emergency option, allowing the pistol to be used as a makeshift bomb or to simply ensure that its technology doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

Type 3 phaser rifle
Classification: Rifle
Dimensions:
Length: 806mm
Weight: 1,922g
Power Pack: Rated for 1,000 one-second discharges at medium power
Settings: 16x

Essentially, the Type 3, Mark 2 Phaser Rifle was built around the Type 2, Mark 4 Assault Phaser Pistol, and was released simultaneously with its smaller cousin. While sharing the same mechanisms as the Assault Pistol, the Mark 2 rifle has significant improvements which give it viability as a standard-issue assault rifle.

With its lengthened barrel containing a vastly superior emitter matrix, the Mark 2 is capable of producing more focused, more powerful phaser beams with greater accuracy. These more powerful discharges create moderate recoil, and for that reason a stock is fitted as standard. A removable tactical scope is mounted atop the rifle on standard Federation equipment rails, which incorporates automated targeting systems capable of identifying and then automatically eliminating multiple enemy targets with a rapid series of computer-guided shots. This scope provides some information to the user about local atmospheric conditions, as well as determine the composition of the matter being targeted and advice on the power setting that would be necessary to destroy it. It also serves more conventional functions, such as offering a 10x zoom and a traditional targeting reticule for manual firing.

The expanded power pack of the rifle has been modified to support its more potent shots and allows for one thousand, two-second discharges to be made before a replacement is required, giving the Mark 2 the ability to remain operational throughout lengthy engagements. As with the Mark 4 pistol, the rifle is exceptionally durable, easy to maintain and possesses a wide-beam mode and the option to overload the power pack.

Owing to its modular nature, the Type 3, Mark 2 phaser rifle can be dismantled for storage or transport. They are shipped in foam-packed cases as standard.

	Fleet Admiral - This five-star flag officer rank is considered to be the highest position attainable in Starfleet, only one officer can hold the post of Fleet Admiral. They report directly to the Federation Council, and are responsible for appointing Admirals to their posts. Commonly known simply as 'The Starfleet Commander'.
	Admiral - A four-star flag officer, only a limited number of people can hold this rank at any time. Appointed by the Fleet Admiral to specific offices of Starfleet - such as the Director of Warp Propulsion - Admirals only hold their rank for the duration of their term in office, and revert to Vice Admirals once it is complete.
	Vice Admiral - Three-star flag officers, Vice Admirals are given significant power over strategic sectors of the Federation, and will often be responsible for coordinating the operations of several fleets of starships at a time. Less commonly, they may be given command of individual fleets, particularly during war.
	Rear Admiral - Two-star flag officers, Rear Admirals are given command of fleets of starships. Strategically significant Starbases, such as New Eden Spacedock, have a significant economic and military impact on all surrounding space and are often key to a planet's defences, and thus are also commanded by Rear Admirals. They may also be placed in charge of important, resource-intensive projects, such as AI research.
	Commodore - The lowest grade of flag officer, Commodores are usually placed in command of starship taskforces or other subunits of fleets, or space installations less strategically significant than Spacedocks. Commodores are often considered to be 'Admirals in waiting' by both the post holder and their superiors, as they gather the experience necessary to take on a full flag officer role when a position becomes available. In rare cases, they will be given command of mission critical, individual starships.

	Master Chief Petty Officer - The highest rank obtainable in Starfleet without undertaking officer training, Master Chief Petty Officers often have decades of experience and a wealth of knowledge. Although subordinate to all commissioned officers, some junior officers are occasionally placed under their command for training purposes. MCPOs may have small teams of enlisted staff beneath them (transporter operators, for example).
	Senior Chief Petty Officer - Highly experienced and skilled, Senior Chief Petty Officers are often found in specialist roles aboard a starship or at a base.
	Chief Petty Officer - Chief Petty Officers are mission specialists, with great skill and experience in their fields. They are prolific throughout Starfleet, but most often found in engineering or technical roles.
	Petty Officer, 1st Class - The highest of two grades of Petty Officer, this is considered to be the highest rank of 'non-commissioned officer' in Starfleet. They are found in all manner of roles across the fleet, but usually they have demonstrated sufficient aptitude to rise above the basic 'Crewman' grade.
	Petty Officer, 2nd Class - See 'Petty Officer, 1st Class'.
	Crewman - The lowest rank in Starfleet, Crewmen have little experience, have received only basic training, and have not distinguished themselves in the line of duty. There are three grades of Crewman (1st, 2nd and 3rd class).

United Federation of Interstellar Planets - Factbook

United Federation of Interstellar Planets - Factbook

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