Nebula Class Starship

NOTE: THE USS DISCOVERY IS CURRENTLY FITTED WITH THE HANGER POD, LOOK BELOW FOR DETAILS

Expected Duration: 100 years
Time Between Resupply: 4 years
Time Between Refit: 7 years

Personnel
Officers: 155
Enlisted Crew: 625
Marines: 216 (Only 36 Assigned on the USS Discovery)
Passengers: 120

Speed
Cruising Velocity: Warp 6
Maximum Velocity: Warp 9.3
Emergency Velocity: Warp 9.9 (for 12 hours)

Dimensions
Length: 442.3 metres
Width: 470 metres
Height: 130 metres
Decks: 34

Auxiliary Craft
Shuttlebays: 2
Fighters
   Broadsword Multi-role Assault Fighter: 2
   Razor Interceptor: 6
Runabouts
   Danube Runabout: 2
   Delta Flyer Runabout: 1
Shuttles
   Type 11 Shuttle: 2
   Type 15 Shuttlepod: 6
   Type 8 Shuttle: 6
   Type 9 Shuttle: 4
Transports
   Wyvern Hopper Transport: 2

Armament
Defensive Systems
   Ablative Armour
   Cloaking Device
Phasers
   Type X Array: 8
Shielding Systems
   Auto-Modulating Shields
   Metaphasic Shielding
Torpedoes
   Burst-Fire Torpedo Launcher: 2
      Photon Torpedoes: 250
      Quantum Torpedoes: 125
   Tri-Cobalt Devices: 14

PLEASE NOTE: Nebula mission pods may only be swapped at a fleet starbase (Obsidian Command or a TF Starbase). While the saucer section can detach, it cannot be re-attached without the assistance of a starbase and would, in the interim, leave the engineering section propelled by manoeuvring thrusters and warp only. The deck listing below is that of a Nebula equipped with the tactical pod. As such, the first four "decks" are essentially sub-decks while the ship proper begins on what would customarily be deck 5 but is, in this instance, deck 1. The sub-decks comprise the pod.

Description
The Nebula-class was developed along-side the Galaxy-class in the 2340s and '50s. While Starfleet firmly believed in the feasibility of the Galaxy-class, they wanted a more cost-effective ship that would be able to perform much of the same missions as the larger, more expensive capital ships under construction.

Part of the design that was approved by Starfleet included a multi-mission module that could easily be exchanged within days at a suitably euipped starbase. The first pod consisted of a sensor dome attached to the rear of the ship. Designed to aid in long-range reconnaissance and search-and-rescue operations, the sensor pod quickly proved its usefulness, so much so that several Nebula-class vessels were allocated to border patrols.

Although the basic Nebula design has approximately 80% of the capability of a Galaxy class vessel in most areas, the addition of the mission pod brings that figure up to 95% or more in that specific area. This flexibility actually allows the Nebula design to accomplish almost identical missions despite its smaller size.

With the flexibility given to it by the replaceable pod-module, the Nebula-class has quickly become one of the most produced and utilized starships of the 24th century.

Pod Specifications

Between missions, Commanding Officers may dock at a starbase (Obsidian Command or a TF starbase) and swap their pods for one of the others. By default, new Nebula class vessels in Obsidian Fleet come equipped with the tactical pod.

Sensor pod: The majority of the first Nebula-class ships were outfitted with this pod, which greatly extended the ship's sensor range. With this pod the Nebula-class ship is virtually unmatched in regards to sensor capability. Ships with this pod module were routinely assigned to deep-space exploration, hostile border patrols or long-range reconnaissance.

Weapons pod: With the recent Borg invasions and Dominion War, Starfleet quickly mobilized to deploy the weapons pod, which contains 8 forward-facing "pulse" torpedo launchers, and 3 Type X point-defense phaser emitters. The launchers are fed by an additional 200 photon torpedoes stored in the pod itself. The weapons pod is also equipped with two shield generators (one main, one backup), since it was realized that the pod would be an easy target. The shield generators are the same type used through-out the rest of the ship, and draw power directly from the auxiliary energy reserves during Red Alert situations.

Tactical pod: This is a recent addition to the Nebula-class fleet, and is quickly becoming the default module for all new Nebulas being built. The design combines the scanning capabilities of the sensor pod and the offensive capabilities of the weapons pod into one module. There are disadvantages to this design. The tactical pod contains 75 fewer torpedoes (125) and only three torpedo launchers - two forward, one aft - in order to make room for the sensor pallets. Also, the scanners are primarily designed to aid in targeting for the torpedoes and phasers, and as such are not optimized for long-range usage.

Hospital pod: This specialty pod, while not found in wide-spread use, includes the same medical facilities found in large starbases and is equipped to handle several hundred casualties at once.

Habitation/Colony pod: This pod contains a large number of residential quarters, and is sometimes used on long-term missions, or on missions focusing on populating a colony. Depending on configuration, up to 6,000 people can be ferried in the habitation module. With slight modifications, this module can be configured to act as a troop transport, enabling the ship to carry several thousand troops. This module also contains a dozen dedicated transporters, allowing the roughly 5,000 troops to be beamed out within a relatively short amount of time.

Shuttlebay/Hangar pod: This experimental pod includes a large shuttle hangar with the space to hold a significant quantity of fighters and runabouts. A typical Hangar pod would contain the following:

• 12 Razor Class Interceptors
• 6 Broadsword Class Multi-role/Assault Fighters
• 12 Valkryie Space Superiority Fighters
• 3 Danube Class Runabouts
• 2 Talon Class Scout Ships