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New Orleans-Class Frigate
UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS:
STARFLEET DIVISION
Advanced Technical Specifications for
the New Orleans-Class Production Vehicle
2379 Second Refit Edition

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Accommodation:
290 Officers and Crew, 60-110 visiting personnel
Classification:
Frigate [Defensive/Explorer/Diplomatic]
Funding for New Orleans Class Development
Project Provided by: Advanced Starship Design Bureau,
Theoretical Propulsion Group, Jupiter Station Research and Development,
Daystrom Institute, United Federation of Planets Defense Council
Development Project Started:
2334
Production Start Date:
2339
Production End Date: 2359
Current Status: In Service
- Undergoing Second Design Refit
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Locations of New Orleans-Class
Construction:
- San Francisco Fleet Yards, Earth
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Copernicus Fleet Yards, Luna
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Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, Mars
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40 Eridani-A Starfleet Construction
Yards
- Starbase 134 Integration
Facility, Rigel VI
- Beta
Antares Fleet Yard, Antares B
Current Starship Identification and
Registration Numbers:
- U.S.S. Huron NCC-61245
- U.S.S. Cherokee NCC-61333
- U.S.S. Apache NCC-61491
- U.S.S. Don Johnson NCC-61701
- U.S.S. Mohawk NCC-61777
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Note: Information present in this
document should be assumed to be referring to the Second Refit of the New
Orleans-class spaceframe, unless otherwise specified. Previous advanced
technical specifications for this starship class are currently declassified and
available in the Starfleet Database.
CONTENTS
1.0 NEW ORLEANS-CLASS INTRODUCTION

1.1
MISSION OBJECTIVES
Pursuant to Starfleet Exploration Directives
902.3 & 913.6, Starfleet Defense Directives 137.2 & 154.2, Theoretical
Propulsion Group Mandate 317.2 and Federation Security Council General Policy,
the following objectives have been established for the New Orleans-Class Starship:
- Incorporate and improve upon propulsion
technologies created for the Springfield Class Development Project.
- Incorporate latest advancements in isolinear
computer core and subprocessor technologies.
- Serve as a platform for ongoing testing of
new technologies for projected ASDB interests.
- Provide a mobile platform for a wide range
of ongoing scientific, and defensive research projects.
- Replace aging Excelsior, Renaissance and
Miranda-class
starships as the primary instrument of Starfleet's defensive programs.
- Supplement Constellation, Nebula
and Ambassador-class starships in medium-sized multi-mission
applications [Added 2360].
- Provide autonomous capability for full
execution of Federation policy options in outlying border areas, Federation
territories, and shipping lines.
1.2
DESIGN STATISTICS

Length: 345 meters
Width: 246 meters
Height: 75 meters
Weight: 1,100,000 metric tonnes
Cargo capacity: Dependant upon mission type
Hull: Duranium/Tritanium Hull
Number of Decks: 18
1.3
GENERAL OVERVIEW

Editor's Note: History written by Robert Siwiak - based on information found in
Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek Encyclopedia, Star Trek:
The Next Generation Technical Manual, Star Trek: Deep Space 9 Technical Manual,
and Star Trek: The Magazine. Please keep in mind that this is
a history developed based on canon information presented in various sources and
filled in with logical conjecture.
The New Orleans Class Development Project began
in 2334 with the intent of expanding upon the successful Springfield-class
design and ushering in a new era of warp propulsion originally conceived for the Transwarp project. While falling far short of the expected speeds that the
Transwarp project promised, new advances in warp geometry allowed computer
simulations to postulate that speeds in excess of Warp 9.2 were possible,
greatly improving over the Warp 8.9 limit that the Springfield suffered.
While retaining the familiar saucer section of the Springfield, the most
noticeable addition to the New Orleans spaceframe is the engineering section and
redesigned warp nacelles. Coupled with a revolutionary isolinear computer
system and the unique ability to be equipped with mission-specific pods, the New
Orleans quickly became a favorite during the mid-24th Century.
Initial production of the New Orleans-class
began at Starfleet's San Francisco Fleet Yards before spreading to several other
production areas within the Federation, most notably the nearby Copernicus Fleet
Yards and the ship building facilities at Starbase 134, as well as other yards
specialized in the construction of frigates, light cruisers and medium cruisers.
Taking the Springfield design to the next
level, an engineering hull was attached to the lower saucer and, unlike the Ambassador and later
Galaxy-class, the absence of a connecting "neck" between
the primary and secondary hull produced a smaller profile that was more
difficult to hit. This design would see further development with the
Nebula and Intrepid-class designs, which also lack the vulnerable connecting
segment that was blamed for the loss of several Galaxy-class starships during
the Dominion War. With the launch of a hull capable of separating and
then reattaching some 20 years away, as well the New Orleans's relatively small
size, it was deemed unnecessary to develop the ability to separate the ship in a
manner similar to the Excelsior and Ambassador classes.
While conceived in an era of relative peace in
the United Federation of Planets, Starfleet Intelligence anticipated potential
flare-ups on the Federation border, most notably the Tholian, Cardassian and
Talarian frontiers, as well as the anticipated return of the Romulan Star Empire
to the galactic foreground. Running side-by-side in development with the
Steamrunner-class, Starfleet Command required that, like the Springfield,
the New Orleans would be superbly equipped to handle skirmishes and border
conflicts because of developing delays with the Steamrunner, which was intended
to become the choice defensive cruiser. The standard hull of the New
Orleans sports a total of six phaser array segments and two torpedo launchers,
quickly replacing both the Springfield and Merced-class as the premier frigate
in Starfleet's inventory.
When approached with the daunting task of upgrading the design to support
further armament midway through the project, a young researcher proposed the
idea of attaching pods to the outer hull. While opening the way for
further developments, it also meant that specialized torpedo pods could be
attached to further increase the fire power of the vessel.
These pods also saved the New Orleans from
early retirement when the class took heavy losses in the Dominion War during the
mid-2370's, for it allowed the surviving spaceframes to be equipped with various pods
types to perform specific tasks outside the ship's original border patrol
responsibilities, which has now been passed on to the completed Steamrunner line
of starships.
It should be noted that the class preformed
admirably during the Galen Border Conflicts of the 2350's, where the first
production line of New Orleans-class vessels, serving alongside the aging
Constellation-class, mounted a successful defensive
against Talarian forces encroaching on the disputed Galen System. While
the colony on Galen IV was destroyed in 2356, the heavy losses in the Talarian
fleet resulted in the successful peace accords later that year. The
Cardassian Wars of the 2350's and 60's was the result of the first large-scale
conflict between the Federation and the Cardassian Union in the Galactic
Northwestern most portion of the Federation's holdings in the Alpha Quadrant.
Several New Orleans-class starships represented the bulk of a mixed fleet that
included Miranda and newly produced Akira-class vessels responsible for defending established colonies in that region. The first disappointment in the New
Orleans's service record occurred in the Borg Incursion of 2366, where a
relatively small handful of ships were lost in the total of 39 at Wolf 359. That
handful, however, contained the U.S.S. Kyushu which acted as the pride of New
Orleans line. Her loss was somewhat dimmed by the overall scope of the
battle, where many more ships of the line were destroyed while intercepting the
Borg Cube on its way to Earth.
Many years prior to the engagement at Wolf 359,
the first production line of the New Orleans-class was entering their 20th year of
service and in 2359 the first of four scheduled refits in the spaceframe's
80-year expected lifetime began as the U.S.S. Salzburg entered Drydock 14 at
Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards. On March 28, 2359, after nearly three months
of overhauls, the Salzburg left the dock a practically new ship. The metal
decks that had been a signature design feature for the past 100 years were now
being replaced with carpeting and softer color tones throughout the ship, in
some respects reflecting the change in overall look aboard Starfleet ships as
Nebula and soon-to-be launched Galaxy-class starships did in promoting a family
environment, even while these ships were on the edge of known space.
No New Orleans-class ships were present when
the Borg attempted a second assimilation attempt of Earth in 2373, but the class
incurred its heaviest losses to date in the same year as minor skirmishes
erupted into a war on the Cardassian frontier. Forces of an alliance
between the Cardassian Union and the Dominion engaged Federation and Klingon
forces across the former demilitarized zone. Forced to take on larger
Galor-class ships on their own in some instances, the shortcomings of the
New
Orleans became apparent. Further losses occurred at the unsuccessful
defense in the Battle of Betazed while the Federation Tenth Fleet was caught out
of position on a training exercise, allowing the planet to be taken and putting
nearby Federation worlds at risk of invasion. Elements of the Fifth Fleet,
including several New Orleans-class vessels, did however help in the
rapid evacuation of key facilities in the area before the Dominion could secure
its hold on the planet.
Pulled away from hotspots along the Cardassian
border, the majority of the remaining New Orleans-class ships still in
service were assigned interior defense duties or attached to outposts and deep
space stations along the Federation's relatively quiet borders to the galactic
west. The remaining vessels were immediately put into drydock where components
originally destined for the class's second refit in 2379 were installed earlier to
increase the effectiveness of the ship. Now revamped with Type-X phaser
arrays and increased power output, as well as defense against Breen energy
dampening weapons, several ships made it back to the frontlines
to participate in Operation Return in 2374 when station Deep Space Nine was
taken back from its Cardassian captors. Seeing only limited participation
in the final Invasion of Cardassia Prime in 2375, the New Orleans remains a
member of the peace keeping force in that area to date.
Approximately one-third of the remaining New
Orleans-class vessels are presently equipped with their torpedo pods and on duty
around the Federation border, steadily being replaced by the Steamrunner-class.
The majority of the remaining two-thirds are presently assigned to various
mission-specific tasks throughout the Federation, ensuring that while their
numbers have fallen sharply, the class still stands as a proud symbol of the
Federation. The remaining ships are in drydocks throughout the Federation,
undergoing their second refit. Projections show that the class will most
likely be retired before the end of the century, twenty years short of its
original design lifetime. This early retirement is the result of current
predictions in overall fleet production. Several hulls that were
originally decommissioned or only partially completed prior to the end of the
class's production run in 2359 were brought back to full operational status
during and after the Dominion War in an effort to reinforce the falling numbers
in the Federation fleet.
With most of the New Orleans-class's original
mission objectives taken over by starships developed in the past half-century,
it is not surprising to see that the ship has been tailored for more
mission-specific applications. The use of the design's pods has allowed
for the starship to easily be reassigned for multi-mission applications, making
it one of the smallest designs capable of handling an endless amount of
customized applications in the medium-sized starship range. Still, design
shortcomings will no doubt eventually lead to the retirement of the class as
state-of-the-art ships launch from various drydocks. Until that day,
however, it will continue to be a lasting symbol of Federation ingenuity and
pride.
1.4 CONSTRUCTION HISTORY

Construction of the New Orleans pathfinder
vessel, designated NXP-1983NF, began in early 2336 - just one year after the project's
official start date. The primary research team, based at Starfleet's San
Francisco Fleet Yard, had already finished the overall hull structure and shape
of the eventual spaceframe through knowledge gained from the Springfield
Class Development Project. By the end of 2335, with the aide of computer
models, sufficient progress had been made to the point that a working 1500
cochrane warp reactor could be used to power a warp field capable of exceeding
its design specifications for limited amounts of time. While the reactant
injectors for the primary M/ARA were indeed capable of increased firing rates
before the project,
problems existed in the containment of the warp plasma through the transfer
conduits due to the higher rate of energy transfer.
The hulk of a partially-constructed Springfield-class
starship was towed into Drydock 12 of Starfleet's Copernicus Fleet Yards in
orbit above Earth's Moon while the primary research team transferred the final
exterior hull configuration for a full-scale mockup test. By late 2336,
the warp nacelles and coils had been completely redesigned three times as models
indicated flaws that would result in microfracturing within the coils when field
output crossed the Warp 9 threshold. Increased structural integrity field
output was proposed, but the eventual solution came about when Dr. Tobin
D'Strata proposed elongating the warp nacelles, allowing for the plasma output
to be better spread across more warp coils and reduce overall tension on
individual coils. Marginal improvements were also made to the
three impulse engines mounted on the saucer and aft spine of the ship, allowing
the starship to literally fly circles around larger vessels.
NXP-1983NF began warp flight tests within
Sector 001 during Spring of 2337 and made use of an experimental deflector dish
that preformed well in early test flights. The pathfinder vehicle, manned
by a crew of 25, managed to reach Warp 9.1 with marginal strain on the warp
propulsion system. Deemed a design breakthrough, the first full production
vessel, NX-57012, had its primary frame members gamma-welded at a brief ceremony at the San
Francisco Fleet Yard. Hull NX-57012, being built from the ground up, saw
further design improvements while the pathfinder continued to relay data from
the test site. Disaster came about in November of that year when a
redesigned structural integrity field failed while at high warp. In
addition to the shearing of the starboard warp nacelle, various sections on both
hulls gave way from subspace stress, concentrated mostly at the forward most portions of the
ship. Questioning of the 12 surviving test crewmembers, as well as
investigation into salvaged computer records found an error in the
computer-controlled regulation of the system. While some members of the
Federation Council demanded a halt to the project, the majority recognized the
need for the ship and pushed onward with NX-57012. The hulk of NXP-1983NF
was towed back to Utopia Planitia where it participated in full-scale early
weapons tests of the experimental Type-X phaser emitter and was subsequently
destroyed.
During the following year, NX-57012 saw rapid
construction and the spaceframe was ready for testing in late 2338. The
New Orleans-class was one of the first classes to integrate isolinear-based
computer systems, a system which is only recently being improved upon with
advances in bioneural circuitry. Further design modifications allowed for
the NX-57012 to reach Warp 9.2, and with all internal spaces and systems
installed, the ship was ready for its official launch. However, a new
mandate arrived late in the project from the ASDB as Starfleet Intelligence had
learned of a powerful warship in development by the Cardassians, later known as
the Galor-class. Concerns arose that the New Orleans-class
would not be able to adequately defend against such a target. Increased
firepower would be required, and the obvious choice was to install more torpedo
launchers. Advanced computer simulations indicated that mounting internal
launchers would require the removal of some 65-percent of the science labs in
the forward saucer section, as well as several residential areas since the
saucer was the only location to mount additional launchers, due mostly to the
fact that the main deflector occupied almost the entire forward-most section of
the secondary hull.
By April of 2339, two additional New Orleans
spaceframes rested in drydock at San Francisco and Copernicus as arguments
continued over the internal layout of the ship. It was obvious by this
point that they would not scrap the overall proven design of the ship, and many
on the team did not look forward to the ship being turned into the equivalent of
a torpedo boat (A concept that would only be revisited during the Akira
and Defiant class projects). The solution finally came later that
month when several members of the development team were being pulled away to
begin work on a new proposed Miranda-class refit, and after a heated
discussion, the idea of mounting an outboard roll bar came about. This
idea was quickly scrapped due to the instabilities that would result in creating
a warp field to take into account the roll bar, but the idea later blossomed
into the pod design that is in use on New Orleans-class ships to this
day. Nathan Thormer, a young researcher being transferred to the
Miranda team, was responsible for the idea after calculating locations
within the warp field that would allow for enough manipulation to mount exterior
pods without causing field degradation. Two areas on the dorsal surface of
the primary hull, as well as one area on the ventral surface of the engineering
hull, were chosen to be ideal places to handle exterior mission-specific pods. Originally designed to handle both a forward and aft launcher, as
well as torpedo stores, more ideas sprung about as to the possible uses of the
pod design. Ideas ranging from additional cargo spaces to sensor packages were discussed, and
more pod designs would spring up long after full production began on the class.
A ceremony was held at Earth's Spacedock 1 in
August of 2339 as hull NX-57012, christened the U.S.S. New Orleans, left
the space doors and warped out of the system to begin its shakedown cruise near
the Tholian border. In December and January, the U.S.S. Organia
NCC-57267 and the U.S.S. Rutledge NCC-57295 launched from their
respective drydocks, both bound for the Cardassian border. The class would
see production until 2369, and while it has taken heavy losses defending the
Federation during its many wars, the New Orleans is still a proud and familiar
symbol of Starfleet's power to this day.
The estimated lifetime of the New Orleans
spaceframe has been projected to be some 80 years, with scheduled refits and
major overhauls to take place at 20-year intervals. Unlike minor layovers,
repairs and restocking missions to major fleet yards and bases, these major
refits were intended to update the class with technologies that have since
emerged after production of the class began. While the class is no longer
in production, more then a hundred and fifty New Orleans frigates are still in
use by Starfleet as of this publication, and the spaceframe was designed to
allow for easy upgrades during its entire operational lifetime. To date,
the New Orleans-class starship has had two major refits after its initial
launch.
First Refit:
The first refit for the New Orleans-class took place in January of 2359 when the
U.S.S. Salzburg entered drydock 14 at Starfleet's Utopia Planitia Fleet
Yards in orbit around Mars. While the average time for the refit was
approximately 13 weeks, or roughly 3 months, the planning for the upgrades had
taken some four years to complete.
This upgrade included:
- Installation of second-generation isolinear
subprocessors throughout the vessel.
- Removal of both torpedo launchers and
related systems, followed by the installation of two fixed-focus rapid fire
torpedo launchers capable of firing eight torpedoes at one time for
simultaneous launch.
- Enhanced warp plasma transfer conduits.
- Installation of new Class-5 M/ARA.
- Refurbishment of Impulse Propulsion System (IPS)
and related systems.
- Carpeting to cover metal floors through most
high-traffic areas of the ship, most notably areas surround crew quarters and
support systems.
- Softer color palettes used on bulkheads and
interior designs to coincide with planned uniform change expected to take
place in the 2360's.
- Replacement of bridge module with upgraded
design.
- Upgraded living accommodations.
- Installation of three holographic simulation
chambers [later replaced with the standard holodeck after 2367].
- Redesign of mission-specific pod hard
connections and latches for easier replacement between missions.
Second Refit: Originally scheduled
to take place around 2379, key events in the local galactic theater prompted an
early review for the proposed second refit to the New Orleans class.
In 2371, shortly after the discovery of the Jem'Hadar, Founders and Vorta on the
Gamma Quadrant side of the Bajoran Wormhole, Starfleet Intelligence and the
Federation Council expressed major concerns over the status of Starfleet's
assets. This concern became a reality when all out war broke loose along
the Cardassian demilitarized zone when the Cardassian Empire joined the
Dominion, and declared its intent to take over the Alpha Quadrant.
Federation and ally ship production went into full sway, and efforts were made
to upgrade all existing spaceframes currently active in the fleet inventory.
In addition, a number of decommissioned and mothballed hulls were brought back
to operational status, among them were several retired or incomplete New Orleans spaceframes decommissioned for various reasons during the past two decades.
Rearmed with Type-X phaser emitters, improved M/ARA for increased power and
various other upgrades, the New Orleans played an active role in the defense of
the Federation. With many advances for the spaceframe already tested in
the field, several ships saw refits during and immediately after the war to help
maintain the capabilities of the fleet. The remainder of the ships are
seeing refits in the near future.
This upgrade includes:
- Installation of third-generation isolinear
subprocessors throughout the vessel.
- Replacement of both port and starboard main
computer cores with updated systems.
- Installation of Type-X phaser emitters.
- Installation of a Class-6 M/ARA.
- Refurbished warp nacelles with variable warp
field geometry capabilities.
- Updated Warp Propulsion System (WPS)
software to account for additional capabilities.
- Refurbishment of Impulse Propulsion System (IPS)
and related systems.
- Replacement of bridge module with upgraded
design.
- Replacement of primary and secondary
graviton field generators.
- Upgrade to Main Shuttlebay and service
facilities.
Notice: Not all upgrade information
has been made available in this document for various reasons, including security
concerns as well as length considerations.
2.0 COMMAND SYSTEMS

2.1 MAIN
BRIDGE
The primary command and control center aboard a
starship is its bridge, located on Deck 1 at the top of the primary hull.
Though the entire bridge module can be replaced at a starbase layover with a
variety of types, the most common found aboard New Orleans-class vessels
is a model originally conceived as an upgrade to the Galaxy-class
starship. Though only slightly different in terms of overall layout to the
original Galaxy-class bridge that premiered with the launch of the class's first
ship, and eventually found its way to use aboard Nebula, New Orleans
and a handful of other ship classes.
Just like the commanding position of the bridge
itself at the top of the saucer, the captain's chair is located at the center of
the bridge atop a raised platform where all bridge consoles can be viewed with a
simple rotation of one's chair. The captain's chair itself has built in
consoles on both armrests, allowing the seat's occupant to access either issue
commands, view data or even take control of ship functions with proper
authorization. To the captain's right is a seat used by the ship's first
officer, and while it lacks armrests, it does have a dedicated console with
various access functions. Another seat mirrors the first officer's and is
located to the captain's left, normally reserved for either a visiting
dignitary, mission specialist, or one of the ship's senior staff.
Down a small set of stairs and to the front of
the command area is the Ops and Conn stations, as well as the main viewscreen.
Dominating the bridge, the main viewer measures 4.8 x 2.5 meters and often
displays a feed from one of the forward optical scanners, though it can easily
be reconfigured for communications, as well as displaying various types of data
like any smaller console viewscreen. The display matrix includes
omni-holographic display elements, allowing for information to be displayed in
three dimensions. The flight control station, often simply referred to as
"Conn," is located to the captain's right and features controls that regulate
the actual physical movement of the starship, whether it be entering orbit of a
planet or plotting a course for another starsystem. Mirroring this station
in general appearance is the Ops station, responsible for helping to regulate
starship operations, from shuttlecraft clearance, allocation of sensor time,
communications and even power allocation.
To the left of the command area and raised on a
platform next to a ramp that leads to the bridge's aft section is a series of
consoles dedicated for scientific use. A forward console, reserved for the
Chief Science Officer, gives primary access to the sensor arrays and allows for
the seat's occupant to have full view of the main viewer. Three consoles
run along the wall and can easily be reconfigured to display other types of
data, such as information from the mission-specific pods. Mirroring the
science station is the engineering station, which too has three consoles running
along the wall which can be configured for various purposes, including damage
control, environmental support, etc.
A large Master Systems Display (MSD) runs
across the aft section of the bridge, flanked by a console on each side.
The MSD features a cutaway of the starship, and displays information pertaining
to the ship's status. The console to its left is typically configured as
an environmental station while its sister console is configured as a mission
operations center.
Between the command area and the MSD is the
tactical railing, which is made of sturdy redwood and wraps around the command
area. Three panels are built into the surface of the railing, allowing
access to the ship's tactical systems. Though normally operated by one
person, there is easily enough room for up to three crewmembers to work
side-by-side.
The port side of the front of the bridge
features access to a turbolift, as well as the Captain's Ready Room. A
replicator is located just next to this junction allowing on-duty officers to
take only a few steps to reach a refreshment. The port side provides
access to an emergency-use turbolift that allows direct access to Main
Engineering, should significant damage to the bridge force the crew to evacuate
the room.
The port side of the aft section of the bridge
features a standard turbolift, while the starboard side has access to the main
observation lounge, as well as the bridge head.
2.2
MAIN ENGINEERING

Main Engineering is located on Deck 15 and is
the central point for control of all engineering systems aboard the vessel,
especially those relating to propulsion and power generation. Main
Engineering also features the dilithium chamber housing for the Matter
Antimatter Reaction Chamber, also known as the Warp Core. The main entrance to
the room has a large monitor featuring a cutaway of the starship and is called
the master situation monitor. Warp and impulse propulsion systems status
displays on opposite walls allow for easy monitoring of starship propulsion,
while a Master Situation Display (MSD) rests on a table top and permits duty
engineers to gain an overall understanding of the "health" of the spacecraft.
Towards the warp core is a duty engineer's station on the right, and the Chief
Engineer's office on the left. The Chief Engineer's office is located
behind a transparent aluminum window and has repeater displays of most key
monitors in engineering. The workstation allows seating for the Chief
Engineer, as well as two assistants.
The warp core itself has a railing running
around it, permitting someone to view the entire six stories of the reactor by
looking in either direction. The entire room can be sealed off through the
use of isolation doors during emergency situations. Engineering also
features easy access to surrounding Jefferies tube junctions, and the room can
act as a command center should the main bridge be damaged.
3.0 TACTICAL SYSTEMS

3.1 PHASERS
The New Orleans class currently employs
six Type-X phaser arrays at key locations throughout the ship's hull, although
early versions made use of the older Type-IX phaser array. This upgrade
was rather relatively simple to do, since the design of the New Orleans
phaser system took into account the anticipated completion of the then
experimental Type-X emitter. Starships older then the New Orleans,
such as the Ambassador, Merced and Renaissance classes, had
been designed during a time when the Type-IX phaser emitter was still the
state-of-the-art phaser package. Traditionally
the choice defensive weapon onboard Starfleet vessels since close to the dawn of
the Federation, the standard emitter makes use of a particular class of
superconducting crystals known as fushigi-no-umi, which allow high-speed
interactions within atomic nuclei that create a rapid nadion effect, which in
turn is directed into a focused beam at a target. The resulting
beam is discharged at speeds approaching .986c, and as per standard tactical
procedures, the frequencies of these beams are rotated to make it more difficult
for a threat vehicle's shields to adjust to the beam. Through the use of
ACB jacketed beams, phaser arrays now have limited capabilities in warp
environments, though the power output is greatly limited and is by no means as
useful as a torpedo weapon in this environment.
Phaser array arrangement: Two
large phaser arrays located on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the saucer
section provide the largest firing arcs, and are thus equipped to handle the
most energy through EPS taps that supply the one hundred plus emitter segments
with the power needed to generate a sustained beam. Two additional arrays
are located on the ventral surface of the engineering hull, although both are
slightly blocked by the lower mission-specific pod - an oversight from the
rushed production designs. Two final arrays are mounted on the nacelle
pylons, just below the ejection assemblies for the warp nacelles and provide
sweeping coverage of targets laterally.
Phaser Array Range: Maximum effective
range is 300,000 kilometers.
3.2
TORPEDO LAUNCHERS

Even without torpedo pods mounted
to the ship's exterior, the New Orleans is equipped by default with both a
forward and aft launcher. Originally, these tubes were upgraded versions
of launchers designed for the Ambassador and Niagra-class. During the
class's first refit, these launchers were replaced with custom assemblies
designed specifically for the New Orleans, with the added benefit of being able
to fire weapons and probe packages that differ from the traditional photon
torpedo casing. Like more recent ships in the Federation fleet, this
allows for the New Orleans to handle quantum torpedoes and tri-cobalt devices -
although it should be stressed that the class is only equipped with such devices
for select special operations due to supply limits.
The forward torpedo launcher,
like the aft, is a fixed-focus system consisting of a standard gas pressure
chamber, elevator assembly, torpedo magazine and launcher, capable of holding
eight torpedoes for simultaneous launch. It is located just above the main
deflector on Deck 12, but due to the relatively short connecting neck between
the hulls, its firing arc during launch is limited with the primary hull only a few decks up.
Nonetheless, already-launched torpedoes have internal guidance systems that can
maneuver the weapon towards targets not directly in the launcher's arc. The aft launcher is the only defensive weapon aboard the ship capable of firing
directly to the aft of the starship, and is located on Deck 15.
Torpedo Pods: New
Orleans-class vessels benefit by the ability to be equipped with specialized
mission-specific torpedo pods, allowing for greater tactical flexibility in
combat operations. These pods are equipped with both a forward and aft
launcher that are both capable of tilting 12-degrees in all directions, allowing
for the launchers to better line up with targets not directly along the vehicle
centerline.
Type: All New
Orleans-class vessels are currently equipped with a total of 85 Mark XXV photon
torpedoes. Individual torpedo pods are capable of containing an additional
45 photon torpedoes each.
3.3
DEFLECTOR SHIELDS

Quite well defended for a ship of its size, the
New Orleans-class makes use of a total of seven symmetrical subspace
graviton generators feeding several strategically located deflector grids
embedded into the ship's hull. Upgraded since the class's initial launch,
these graviton field generators consist of a cluster of twelve 32 MW graviton
polarity sources feeding a pair of 625 millicochrane subspace field distortion
amplifiers. Three generators are located within the primary hull, two are
located in the engineering hull and there is one generator located on each of
the nacelle pylons, just below the nacelles themselves.
When compared to her precursor, the
Springfield-class, the potential shield output on the New Orleans is a great
improvement, thanks not only to the larger number of actual shield generators,
but the additional clustering of graviton polarity sources to the total of
twelve, up from the nine clustered sources on the Springfield. These same
generators would be used throughout the rest of the design lineage, spreading on
to the Cheyenne, Nebula and Galaxy classes. Shield
regulation software continues to see upgrades, most notably during the last two
Borg Incursions and the Dominion War. These relatively simple algorithms
automatically cycle through shield nutations when being fired upon by both
energy and projectile weapons. In the case of a particle beam or
projectile energy device (such as a torpedo), the incoming beam or torpedo's
energy signature is recorded, then analyzed by the ship's tactical officer.
The shields can then be adjusted to match the energy frequency of the incoming
energy signature, but switch to a different nutation to dramatically increase
efficiency.
Near full-spectrum shielding prevents onboard
sensors from gathering scientific and tactical information, so the operation of
shields at full output is deemed undesirable and unrealistic if a ship is to
make full use of its onboard sensors. Instead, Cruise Mode operating
procedures dictate that the system always operate at 5% output at specific
frequency bands necessary to protect the spacecraft's habitable volume to SFRA-standard
347.3(a) levels for EM and nuclear radiation.
Shields operate at two basic ranges when fully
activated. The first is a large bubble field that has a common center
within the ship and expands outward in the rough shape of the starship, allowing
for objects close to the hull, such as smaller vessels, to be protected.
The other is a mode that operates at a uniform distance from the hull, averaging
ten to twelve meters. Both modes make use of relatively new design
modifications that protect the spacecraft from new energy weapons, such as the
Breen dampening device.
4.0 COMPUTER SYSTEMS

4.1
COMPUTER CORE
Number of computer cores: Two. Two twin
computer cores rest near the center of the primary hull, each spreading across a
total of three decks. While a single core is capable of operating all
computer functions aboard the ship, a second core not only offers redundancy
should the first core fail, but gives the added benefits of increased storage
capacity and processing speeds. The upper third of each core is capable of
faster-then-light (FTL) processing speeds accomplished through the usage of
subspace fields. Additionally, a network of 160 quadritronic optical
subprocessors throughout the ship augment these processing abilities.
These subprocessors also operate as a redundant backup system in the event that
both cores are inoperable.
Currently, computer simulations indicate that
upgrading the entire computer system to make use of bioneural gelpack processors
is unfeasible and too costly in terms of labor and time. Like all other
ships, the New Orleans class will receive periodic upgrades to various
components and software through minor refits.
4.2 LCARS

Acronym for Library Computer Access and
Retrieval System, the common user interface of 24th century computer systems,
based on verbal and graphically enhanced keyboard/display input and output. The
graphical interface adapts to the task being performed,
allowing for maximum ease-of-use and efficiency. The New Orleans class operates on
the most up-to-date LCARS build
version to account for increases in processor speed and power. The operating version receives minor upgrades any time they are available when
contact with another Starfleet vessel or facility is made.
4.3
SECURITY LEVELS

Access to all Starfleet data is highly
regulated. A standard set of access levels have been programmed into the
computer cores of all ships in order to stop any undesired access to
confidential data.
Security levels are also variable, and
task-specific. Certain areas of the ship are restricted to unauthorized
personnel, regardless of security level. Security levels can also be raised,
lowered, or revoked by Command personnel.
Security levels in use aboard the New
Orleans class
are:
- Level 10 – Captain and Above
- Level 9 – First Officer
- Level 8 - Commander
- Level 7 – Lt. Commander
- Level 6 – Lieutenant
- Level 5 – Lt. Junior Grade
- Level 4 - Ensign
- Level 3 – Non-Commissioned Crew
- Level 2 – Civilian Personnel
- Level 1 – Open Access (Read Only)
Note: Security Levels beyond current rank can
and are bestowed where, when and to whom they are necessary. Often,
members of the ship's senior staff are granted higher levels of access due to
the their position. High-ranking staff in the tactical department, for
instance, have access to key data regarding the ship's defenses. Medical
staff have access to crew personnel reports and medical information. Aside
from the command crew, the Operations Manager and Chief Engineer perhaps have
the most unrestricted access to ship's files due to the responsibilities that
come with their positions. All levels, however, are by default not allowed
to access files marked private or files marked with specific eyes-only
designations, such as Top Secret and so forth. Access logs are maintained
by the main computer to monitor usage and possible abuse of access privileges.
The main computer grants access based on a
battery of checks to the individual user, including face and voice recognition
in conjunction with a vocal code as an added level of security for access to
certain files.
4.4 UNIVERSAL TRANSLATOR

All Starfleet vessels make use of a computer
program called a Universal Translator that is employed for communication among
persons who speak different languages. It performs a pattern analysis of an
unknown language based on a variety of criteria to create a translation matrix.
The translator is built into the Starfleet commbadge, as well as handheld devices
like PADDs and Tricorders.
The Universal Translator matrix aboard New
Orleans-class starships consists of well over 100,000 languages and increases with every
new encounter.
5.0 PROPULSION SYSTEMS

5.1
WARP PROPULSION SYSTEM
At the time of its launch, the New Orleans was
equipped with the most capable Warp Propulsion System (WPS) Starfleet had to
offer, breaking performance records with its revolutionary design. While
the Niagara-class had already tested the general shape and structure of these
new nacelles, they had not yet been fitted onto a starship with a similar shape
of the ultimate accomplishment of this research - the Galaxy-class starship.
While the New Orleans represented a scaled down version that appears to be most
closest with the Nebula-class starship, the components in both of these classes
would be the foundation upon which the Galaxy would be built. Many lessons
had been learned through the failed Transwarp Development Project, and Starfleet
made sure all of these advances were adequately tested. The most
noticeable difference between the nacelles of the New Orleans and her cousins of
larger size is the increased length. This was essentially a shortcut at
the time to better regulate warp plasma to produce more efficient warp fields,
though later advances would prove that procedure obsolete. Upgrades to the
New Orleans WPS now allow ships of this class to travel up to Warp 9.98 for
limited amounts of time.
The Matter/Antimatter Reaction Assembly (M/ARA)
spreads across Deck 12-17, with the reaction chamber itself being located within
Main Engineering on Deck 15. It is well protected within the engineering
hull, located just forward of the area where the warp nacelle pylons meet the
secondary hull, and just aft of the main deflector. The warp plasma
transfer conduits, after exiting the reaction chamber, run vertically through
Deck 10-15 before making 90-degree turns to travel through the nacelle pylons to
be injected into the warp coils. EPS power taps allow for the transfer of
produced energy to be used for ship functions at regular intervals throughout
this expanse.
Ejection of the entire M/ARA and the ship's
antimatter containment pods can be accomplished through a three-stage procedure.
Should a mission-specific pod be attached to the underside of the secondary
hull, explosive bolts blow the pod in a downward-aft direction to clear the way
for ejected systems. Antideuterium and deuterium feeds to the M/ARA are
cut off upstream, and the entire assembly is ejected from the ship.
Shortly after, the antimatter pods exit the ship and all ejected devices can be
programmed to detonate after reaching a safe distance, should the situation
allow such leeway. Alternately, individual components may be ejected
separately and/or recovered should scans show all components to be working
properly. Both warp nacelles are held to the nacelle pylons by a series of
explosive bolts that can also be detonated, should an undesirable overload or
other incident warrant the need to remove these components from the ship.
Type: Theoretical Propulsion Group [TPG]
Class-6 Matter/Anti-Matter Reaction Drive feeding two warp nacelles, developed by Theoretical Propulsion Group in
conjunction with the Advanced Starship Design Bureau - San Francisco Division.
Limited access to information about this drive is currently available on
Starfleet Omnipedia Databases.
Normal Cruising Speed: Warp 6
Maximum Speed: Warp 9.98 for twelve hours
Note: Vessels equipped with the TPG M/ARA
Drive System no longer have the maximum cruising speed limit of Warp 5, thanks
to innovations discovered and utilized in the development of the Intrepid-
and Sovereign-class starships. Pursuant to Starfleet
Command Directive 12856.A, all starships have received upgrades to their WPS to prevent further pollution of subspace.
5.2
IMPULSE PROPULSION SYSTEM

Like the Ambassador-class, the New
Orleans utilizes space-time driver coils within its impulse engines to
create a non-propulsive symmetrical subspace field that effectively lowers the
ship's mass, making it capable of pushing the entire spacecraft using less fuel.
There are three impulse engines on the ship, two at the aft section of the
saucer, and one along the main structural spine of the secondary hull.
While all three engines are capable of propelling the entire vehicle up to .25c,
or full impulse, alone, the main impulse engine in the secondary hull is
typically used to provide all impulse propulsion in cruise mode. During
combat situations, the saucer engines supplement the main impulse engine and,
together with the main impulse engine, allow the ship to reach speeds
approaching .75c, or maximum impulse. Due to time displacement concerns,
speeds greater then .25c are avoided except during emergency circumstances.
The saucer impulse units also provide additional thrust should the ship be
equipped with a tractor towing pod, allowing it to ferry ships much larger then
the New Orleans.
Type: Series 6 Mark-IV HighMPact
impulse units, developed in conjunction between HighMPact Propulsion and the
Theoretical Propulsion Group for usage by the Advanced Starship Design Bureau.
5.3
REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

The
Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters are adapted
from thruster packages from Ambassador-class vessels. A total
of fourteen thruster groups are installed; four on the primary hull, two on the
secondary hull and four at the aft of each nacelle. Deuterium is supplied by the
primary tankage on Decks 14 and 15, as well as immediate-use tanks within thruster
packages.
Output:
Each thruster quad is capable of producing 4.2 million Newtons of exhaust.
6.0 UTILITIES AND AUXILIARY
SYSTEMS

6.1
NAVIGATION DEFLECTOR
Without some sort of deflector system, space
travel at high velocities, let alone warp speeds, would be impossible due to
collisions with objects ranging from stray hydrogen atoms to large planetary
fragments. Vessels of the New Orleans class make use of two scaled down
deflectors systems of what was later developed to become the standard deflector
systems aboard Nebula and Galaxy-class starships. The main navigation
deflector is located at the forward-most part of the engineering hull and
spreads across Decks 14-18, with the dual subspace field distortion amplifiers
located on Deck 15. Composed of molybdenum/duranium mesh
panels over a duranium framework, the dish can be manually moved 7.2° in any direction off the ship's Z-axis. The main deflector dish's
subspace field and sensor power comes from three graviton polarity generators located on
Decks 14 and 17, each capable of generating one hundred twenty-eight megawatts which feed
into the two 550 millicochrane subspace field distortion
amplifiers.
A backup deflector is located on the ventral
side of the primary hull, and in addition to its role as a backup, the secondary
deflector serves to reinforce the ship's warp field at speeds exceeding Warp
8.5. Originally seen as a means to augment the warp field due to
technological limitations in graviton field generation during the development of the pathfinder vehicle, the
saucer deflector is actually identical to the primary deflector of the Springfield-class and is more or less a carry-over in the design process.
6.2 TRACTOR BEAM

Type: Multiphase subspace graviton beam,
used for direct manipulation of objects from a submicron to a macroscopic level
at any relative bearing. Each emitter is directly mounted to the primary members
of the ship's framework, to lessen the effects of isopiestic subspace shearing,
inertial potential imbalance, and mechanical stress. Large steerable
tractor emitters are located on the underside of the engineering hull at both
the front and aft, allowing for easy towing or pushing of objects. Smaller
mooring tractor emitters are located on each RCS thruster quad, which are
located throughout the ship. A series of emitters, located around the Main
Shuttlebay, allow for automated guiding of shuttles and small vessels into the
ship's bay.
Output: Each tractor beam emitter
is built around two variable phase sixteen megawatt graviton polarity sources,
each feeding two 475 millicochrane subspace field amplifiers.
Phase accuracy is within 2.7 arc-seconds per microsecond. Each
emitter can gain extra power from the Structural Integrity Field by means of
molybdenum-jacketed waveguides. The subspace fields generated around the beam
(when the beam is used) can envelop objects up to one thousand meters, lowering
the local gravitational constant of the universe for the region inside the field
and making the object much easier to manipulate.
Range: Effective tractor beam range
varies with payload mass and desired delta-v (change in relative velocity).
Assuming a nominal five m/sec-squared delta-v, the primary tractor emitters can
be used with a payload approaching 7'500'000 metric tons at less than one
thousand meters. Conversely, the same delta-v can be imparted to an object
massing about one metric ton at ranges approaching twenty thousand kilometers.
6.3
TRANSPORTER SYSTEMS

Number of Systems: 13
Personnel Transporters: 4 (Transporter Rooms
1-4)
Cargo Transporters: 4
Emergency Transporters: 5
6.4
COMMUNICATIONS

Standard Communications Ranges:
- RF: 5.2 AU
- Subspace: 22.65 LY
Standard Data Transmission Speed: 18.5
kiloquads per second
Subspace Communications Speed: Warp 9.9997
7.0 SCIENCE AND REMOTE
SENSING SYSTEMS

7.1 SENSOR
SYSTEMS
Long-range and navigational sensors are located
behind the main deflector dish to avoid sensor "ghosts" and other detrimental
effects consistent with the millicochrane static graviton field output of the
deflector system.
Lateral sensor pallets are located around the rim of the entire starship,
providing full coverage in all standard scientific fields, but with emphasis in
the following areas:
- Astronomical phenomena
- Planetary analysis
- Remote life-form analysis
- EM scanning
- Passive neutrino scanning
- Parametric subspace field stress
- Thermal variances
- Quasi-stellar material
Each sensor pallet, one hundred sixty in all,
can be interchanged and recalibrated with any other pallet on the ship,
including those in storage. In addition, the New Orleans class can
be equipped with mission-specific sensor pods of various types to increase range
and power.
7.2 TACTICAL
SENSORS

There are twelve independent tactical
sensors on the New Orleans Class. Each sensor automatically tracks and locks onto
incoming hostile vessels or hazardous objects and reports bearing, aspect, distance, and
vulnerability percentages to the tactical station on the main bridge. Each
tactical sensor is approximately seventy-nine percent efficient against
Electronic Counter Measures (ECMs).
7.3
STELLAR CARTOGRAPHY

The entrance to the main stellar cartography
bay is located on Deck 9, within the Stellar Sciences Division. This
dedicated bay has been recently upgraded with new holographic systems that are
capable of rendering stellar locations in three dimensions. Comparable in
ability to other medium-sized Federation vessels, the bay is only as good as the
information it is capable of receiving. When equipped with dedicated
sensor pods, the abilities of the bay are increased substantially thanks to the
additional sensor power.
7.4 SCIENCE LABS

There are typically some thirty-five scientific
research labs aboard a New Orleans-class vessel, though like almost all
medium to large-sized starships developed in the last century, the internal volume of the ship can be
rearranged to accommodate more labs for surveys, or less labs for other mission
types. Only a handful of labs will remain under the same discipline of
science during the ship's lifetime, and are typically in areas of basic sciences
vital to Starfleet's mandates of knowledge and exploration. Most labs
share the same basic design due to their modular nature, and can actually be
compacted to fit into storage if space is at a premium. This modular
design also creates a standard, which makes it relatively easy for mission
specialists with specialized equipment to quickly come aboard and setup.
All scientific experiments fall under the direct authority of the Chief Science
Officer, as well as the Chief Medical Officer depending on the nature of said
experiment or study. Sensor allocation time is still approved by the
Operations Manager.
7.5 PROBES

A probe is a device that contains a number of
general purpose or mission specific sensors and can be launched from a starship
for closer examination of objects in space.
There are nine different classes of probes,
which vary in sensor types, power, and performance ratings. The spacecraft frame
of a probe consists of molded duranium-tritanium and pressure-bonded lufium
boronate, with sensor windows of triple layered transparent aluminum. With a
warhead attached, a probe becomes a photon torpedo. The standard equipment of
all nine types of probes are instruments to detect and analyze all normal EM and
subspace bands, organic and inorganic chemical compounds, atmospheric
constituents, and mechanical force properties. All nine types are capable of
surviving a powered atmospheric entry, but only three are special designed for
aerial maneuvering and soft landing. These ones can also be used for spatial
burying. Many probes can be real-time controlled and piloted from a starship to
investigate an environment dangerous hostile or otherwise inaccessible for an
away-team.
The
nine standard classes are:
-
7.5.1 Class I Sensor
Probe:

- Range: 2 x 10^5
kilometers
- Delta-v limit: 0.5c
- Powerplant: Vectored
deuterium microfusion propulsion
- Sensors: Full EM/Subspace
and interstellar chemistry pallet for in-space applications.
- Telemetry: 12,500
channels at 12 megawatts.
-
-
7.5.2 Class II Sensor
Probe:
-

Range: 4 x 10^5
kilometers
- Delta-v limit: 0.65c
- Powerplant: Vectored
deuterium microfusion propulsion, extended deuterium fuel supply
- Sensors: Same
instrumentation as Class I with addition of enhanced long-range particle and
field detectors and imaging system
- Telemetry: 15,650
channels at 20 megawatts.
-
-
7.5.3 Class III Planetary
Probe:

- Range: 1.2 x 10^6
kilometers
- Delta-v limit: 0.65c
- Powerplant: Vectored
deuterium microfusion propulsion
- Sensors: Terrestrial
and gas giant sensor pallet with material sample and return capability;
onboard chemical analysis submodule
- Telemetry: 13,250
channels at ~15 megawatts.
- Additional data:
Limited SIF hull reinforcement. Full range of terrestrial soft landing to
subsurface penetration missions; gas giant atmosphere missions survivable to 450
bar pressure. Limited terrestrial loiter time.
-
-
7.5.4 Class IV Stellar
Encounter Probe:

- Range: 3.5 x 10^6
kilometers
- Delta-v limit: 0.6c
- Powerplant: Vectored
deuterium microfusion propulsion supplemented with continuum driver coil and
extended deuterium supply
- Sensors: Triply
redundant stellar fields and particle detectors, stellar atmosphere analysis
suite.
- Telemetry: 9,780
channels at 65 megawatts.
- Additional data: Six
ejectable/survivable radiation flux subprobes. Deployable for nonstellar
energy phenomena
-
-
7.5.5 Class V
Medium-Range Reconnaissance Probe:

- Range: 4.3 x 10^10
kilometers
- Delta-v limit: Warp 2
- Powerplant: Dual-mode
matter/antimatter engine; extended duration sublight plus limited duration at
warp
- Sensors: Extended
passive data-gathering and recording systems; full autonomous mission
execution and return system
- Telemetry: 6,320
channels at 2.5 megawatts.
- Additional data:
Planetary atmosphere entry and soft landing capability. Low observatory
coatings and hull materials. Can be modified for tactical applications with
addition of custom sensor countermeasure package.
-
7.5.6 Class VI Comm
Relay/Emergency Beacon:

- Range: 4.3 x 10^10
kilometers
- Delta-v limit: 0.8c
- Powerplant:
Microfusion engine with high-output MHD power tap
- Sensors: Standard
pallet
- Telemetry/Comm: 9,270
channel RF and subspace transceiver operating at 350 megawatts peak radiated
power. 360 degree omni antenna coverage, 0.0001 arc-second high-gain antenna
pointing resolution.
- Additional data:
Extended deuterium supply for transceiver power generation and planetary orbit
plane changes
-
7.5.7Class VII Remote
Culture Study Probe:

- Range: 4.5 x 10^8
kilometers
- Delta-v limit: Warp
1.5
- Powerplant: Dual-mode
matter/antimatter engine
- Sensors: Passive data
gathering system plus subspace transceiver
- Telemetry: 1,050
channels at 0.5 megawatts.
- Additional data:
Applicable to civilizations up to technology level III. Low observability
coatings and hull materials. Maximum loiter time: 3.5 months. Low-impact
molecular destruct package tied to antitamper detectors.
-
7.5.8 Class VIII
Medium-Range Multimission Warp Probe:

- Range: 1.2 x 10^2
light-years
- Delta-v limit: Warp 9
- Powerplant:
Matter/antimatter warp field sustainer engine; duration of 6.5 hours at warp
9; MHD power supply tap for sensors and subspace transceiver
- Sensors: Standard
pallet plus mission-specific modules
- Telemetry: 4,550
channels at 300 megawatts.
- Additional data:
Applications vary from galactic particles and fields research to early-warning
reconnaissance missions
-
7.5.9 Class IX Long-Range
Multimission Warp Probe:

- Range: 7.6 x 10^2
light-years
- Delta-v limit: Warp 9
- Powerplant:
Matter/antimatter warp field sustainer engine; duration of 12 hours at warp 9;
extended fuel supply for warp 8 maximum flight duration of 14 days
- Sensors: Standard
pallet plus mission-specific modules
- Telemetry: 6,500
channels at 230 megawatts.
- Additional data:
Limited payload capacity; isolinear memory storage of 3,400 kiloquads;
fifty-channel transponder echo. Typical application is emergency-log/message
capsule on homing trajectory to nearest starbase or known Starfleet vessel
position
8.0 CREW SUPPORT SYSTEMS

8.1 MEDICAL
SYSTEMS
Sickbay: Protected within the inner-hull on Deck 8, the
medical facilities actually consist of several separate areas surrounding
the main sickbay. The primary sickbay facility houses some of the finest
crew support technology available in Starfleet. A biobed at the center of
the room is located directly beneath an overhead sensor cluster, which feeds a
wall mounted display capable of showing vital statistics of a person or other
lifeform. Four other biobeds line one of the walls, providing for care
several individuals at one time. Attached to this area is the Chief
Medical Officer's office.
Directly attached to sickbay is a secondary
ward and the primary medical laboratory. Nearby also rests an
intensive-care ward, a nursery, two dedicated surgical suites, and a physical
therapy facility. All of these areas have recently been upgraded with
holographic emitters that allow for the latest version of the Emergency Medical
Holographic System to be used.
Counselor's Office:
Located near the Arboretum on Deck 9, this office is a medium sized room created
with comfort in mind to provide a relaxing environment for the ship's Counselor
to perform his or her duty. Away from the busy medical centers on Deck 8,
the Counselor's quarters are usually not far from the office.
8.2 CREW
QUARTERS SYSTEMS

General Overview: Between the
development of the Ambassador and Galaxy-class starships there was a major shift
in the overall look and feel of Starfleet ships, turning away from the more
militaristic bare-metal decks of a previous generation to the more
family-friendly designs of today. During the first major refit of the
class, the standard living quarters on Decks 2, 6, 7, and 9 were upgraded to
residential apartments that provide more appropriate facilities for ship's crew
with family aboard, as well as better accommodations for high-ranking officers
and senior staff.
The arrangement of living quarters was designed
to be modular, so that at any time, a particular area could be reconfigured to
create larger or smaller residential areas. Individual areas make up what
has come to be known as a "bay," which is equal to the size of the smallest
available module. These modules are connected together to create all
available standard living accommodations on the ship.
Standard Living Quarters: Located
on Decks 8, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 16, these quarters are where the majority of the crew
live.
Crew Quarters: Standard Living Quarters
are provided for both Starfleet Non-Commissioned Officers, attached civilian
personnel and officers holding the rank of Ensign.
These persons are expected to share their room with another crewmate due to
space restrictions aboard the starship, and after serving aboard the ship for
six months, are eligible to bring family aboard and be relocated to Family
Quarters.
Two
NCO's or two Ensigns are assigned to a suite. A large living area spreads
across two bays at the center of the dwelling. Furnished for comfort, it
typically holds a personal holographic viewer, couch, two chairs and a work
station as well as a standard replicator. This room is flanked on both
sides with identical bedrooms, which each take up one bay in length and house
room for a double-sized bed and room for personal belongings. A
half-bathroom is located on the opposite side from the bedroom's entrance, and
has a sonic shower, wash basin, mirror and several drawers. Provisions for
small pets can be made available.
Enlisted crewmembers share quarters with up to
four other people of the same gender.
A large living area spreads across two bays at the center of the dwelling.
Furnished for comfort, it typically holds a personal holographic viewer, couch,
two chairs and a work station as well as a standard replicator. This room
is flanked on both sides with identical bedrooms, which each take up one bay in
length and houses a bunk for two occupants, as well as space for their
belongings. A half-bathroom is located on the opposite side from the
bedroom's entrance, and has a sonic shower, wash basin, mirror and several
drawers. Pets are not allowed for enlisted crewmen.
Crewmen can request that their living quarters
be combined to create a single larger dwelling.
Residential Apartments:
Located on Decks 2, 6, 7, and 9, these quarters
offer more privacy and flexibility for officers, as well as those with family
onboard. Unlike the standard living quarters, these apartments can be
configured to suit the needs of those living in them. Listed below is the
base configuration for the living space, which can then be tailored by the
resident for his needs.
Officers' Quarters: Starfleet personnel
from the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade up to Commander are given one set of
quarters to themselves. In addition, department heads and their first assistant
are granted such privileges as well, in an effort to provide a private
environment to perform off-duty work. After six months, officers are
permitted to bring family aboard the ship and a slightly larger room is
allocated to them. Members of the Captain's Senior Staff can have these
restrictions waved with the Captain's permission.
These accommodations typically include a
two-bay living area at the center of the dwelling, which usually holds a
personal holographic viewer, personal workstation, couch, replicator and a small
dining area. Connected to this is a bedroom that occupies one bay and
features a double-sized bed and room for personal belongings. Normally,
the bedroom is connected by a half-bathroom with wash basin, mirror, several
drawers and a sonic shower. This can be upgraded to a full-sized bathroom
with a bathtub with permission from the Operations officer. Provisions can
also be made available for pets.
Officers may request that their living quarters
be combined to form one larger dwelling.
Family Quarters: The
specifications for this type of living area mirrors that of an Officer's
Quarters, however, more features are added to it depending on the size of the
family. For wedded couples, the only differences made to the base
specifications is the addition of a one-bay extension to the living area.
For the first child, and every pair following the first, another bedroom module
is added with space available for up to four children and two parents.
Special permission is needed from the commanding officer for families larger
then this to be stationed aboard a ship.
Executive Quarters: Executive
quarters are specially designed to give both the Commanding Officer and
Executive Officer added comfort and privacy to perform their duties.
The accommodations are similar to that of the
Officer's Quarters, however, they feature a longer three-bay living area and a
full bathroom by default. Slightly more luxurious furniture is also
provided, since the Captain often uses this room as an informal meeting area for
both private conferencing and reception of guests.
VIP/Diplomatic Guest Quarters:
Located on Deck 2 near the conference lounges, diplomatic quarters are the same
as Executive Quarters, but feature private communications terminals for secure
conferencing and an additional living area(s) for diplomatic aides. Such
facilities on Deck 2 are limited, and in cases involving transport of large
numbers of diplomats, VIPs and ambassadors, several areas on Deck 7 can be
converted to these quarters. In addition, these quarters can be
immediately converted to class H, K, L, N, and N2 environments within a few
hours notice.
Understandably, only a limited number of
residential apartments exist aboard a starship. Allocation of available
rooms falls under the authority of the Executive Officer, who is then
responsible to make arrangements with Operations, Engineering, and the ship's
Counselor concerning assignment of personnel.
8.3
RECREATION SYSTEMS

General Overview: Serving the
Federation's needs on both extended border patrol and scientific missions, the
New Orleans class is equipped with a large number of dedicated recreational
areas that help to maintain the crew's morale.
Holodecks: There are three standard
holodeck facilities on the New Orleans class located on Deck 7.
Phaser Range: Normal phaser recreation and practice is used
with a Type-III phaser rifle or Type-II hand unit set to level 3 (heavy stun). The person stands in the
middle of the room, with no light except for the circle in the middle of the
floor that the person is standing in. Colored circular dots approximately the
size of a human hand whirl across the walls, and the person aims and fires. After completing a round, the amounts of hits and misses, along with the
percentage of accuracy is announced by the computer.
The phaser range is also used by security to
train ship's personnel in marksmanship. During training, the holo-emitters in
the phaser range are activated, creating a holographic setting, similar to what
a holodeck does. Personnel are "turned loose" either independently or in an Away
Team formation to explore the setting presented to them, and the security
officer in charge will take notes on the performance of each person as they take
cover, return fire, protect each other, and perform a variety of different
scenarios. All personnel on board are tested every six months in phaser
marksmanship.
There are 25 levels of phaser marksmanship. All
personnel on board are trained in the operation of Types-II and I up to
level 14. All security personnel on board must maintain a level 17 marksmanship
for all phaser types. The true marksman can maintain at least an eighty
percent hit ratio on level 23.
Gymnasium: Some Starfleet personnel
can find solace from the aggravations of day-to-day life in exercising their
bodies. The Security department on board encourages constant use of this
facility; tournaments and competitions are held regularly in this room.
There is also a wrestling mat in the weight
room, which can be used for wrestling, martial arts, kickboxing, or any other
sort of hand-to-hand fighting. There are holo-diodes along the walls and ceiling
which generate a holographic opponent,
trained in the combat field of one's choice. The computer stores
personal patterns of attack and defense as it gains experience on a particular
user's style of
fighting, and adapts to defeat him.
There are also racks of hand-to-hand combat
weapons, for use in training. Ancient weapon proficiencies for Starfleet
personnel are recommended by Starfleet's security division as phasers may not
always be available for use in contingencies.
Swimming Pool: Located immediately
next to the gymnasium, the swimming pool features four lanes which are each 25
meters in length. While most personnel choose to use the holodeck for their
swimming needs, the pool exists mainly for physical fitness.
Arboretum: This area on Deck 9 is
housed within the interior of the deck and is unique to each starship.
Artificial sunlight simulates both day and night to the many different plant
types that grow here.
Recreation Rooms: There are
several such rooms located aboard the starship that provide entertainment in
various forms. Such rooms can be used to feature films both ancient and
holographic based to large audiences. Many tend to be equipped with
various games such as terrestrial pool, dom-jot, dabo, kal-toh while some can be
converted into small auditoriums for musical recitals or theatrical
performances.
8.4 SEVEN-FORWARD

This large lounge is located at the
forward-most portion of Deck 7, and serves as a place of social gathering for
all members of the crew and their guests. Serving as the social center of
the ship, it has a number of tables that line the six windows that grant a
spectacular view of what lies ahead of the ship. A bar lines the length of
the aft-facing wall of the room and is serviced by an on-duty bartender.
Two replicators provide the crew with beverages and food, while a limited stock
of alcoholic beverages is available beneath the counter. Most crews decide
to give the lounge a nickname that in someway relates to the ship's name or
history.
9.0 AUXILIARY SPACECRAFT
SYSTEMS

9.1 MAIN
SHUTTLEBAY
General Overview: One Main
Shuttlebay serves all the necessary auxiliary flight needs of the starship.
Spreading across Decks 3 and 4, the bay is also supported by machine shop and
maintenance facilities below it on Deck 5. Approximately 35% of bay
storage compartments is
reserved for mission-specific craft of various types, as well as leaving space
for craft from other vessels or stations to dock for the duration of their stay. Due to the nature of the ship's ability to be customized for
mission-specific applications, Cargo Bays 7-9 are equipped with fuel transfer
lines and necessary equipment to convert them into limited launch and recovery
facilities for shuttle operations. This practice normally comes into use
when the vessel is used for colonization activities, where the need for transfers
of large amount of materials and people is hampered by local phenomena that
prevent safe transport, such as some worlds undergoing terraforming activity
that may interfere with transporter beams.
A landing on Deck 3 houses a sealed
space/air-traffic control room known as "Flight Ops," which handles all flight
operations locally. Flight Ops works in conjunction with the duty
Operations Officer on the bridge by taking much of the burden of coordination
involving scheduling, launch and recovering of shuttles and other auxiliary
craft.
9.2 SHUTTLECRAFT

The standard shuttle loadout aboard a New
Orleans-class vessel is as follows:
- Two Type-16 Shuttlepods
- Four Type-6 or Four Type-8 Shuttlecraft
- Two Type-9 Shuttlecraft
- One Type-10 Shuttlecraft
- Two Work Bees
9.2.2 TYPE-16 SHUTTLEPOD

Type:
Medium short-range sublight shuttle.
Accommodation: Two; pilot and system manager.
Power Plant: Two 750 millicochrane impulse driver engines, four RCS
thrusters, four sarium krellide storage cells.
Dimensions: Length, 4.8 m; beam, 2.4 m; height 1.6 m.
Mass: 1.25 metric tones.
Performance: Maximum delta-v, 12,250 m/sec.
Armament: Two Type-IV phaser emitters.
Like the Type-15, the
Type-16 Shuttlepod is a two person craft primarily used for short-ranged
transportations of personnel and cargo, as well as for extravehicular
inspections of Federation starships, stations and associated facilities.
Lacking the ability to obtain warp speeds, the Type-16 is a poor candidate for
even interplanetary travel, and is traditionally used as a means of transport
between objects only a few kilometers apart. The craft is capable of
atmospheric flight, allowing for routine flights between orbiting craft or
stations and planetside facilities, and its cargo capacity is slightly higher
then that of the Type-15. Ships of this type are stationed aboard various
starship classes and stations, both spaceborne and planetside.
9.2.3 TYPE-6 PERSONNEL SHUTTLE
(UPRTD)

Type:
Light short-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation: Two flight crew, six passengers.
Power Plant: One 50 cochrane warp engine, two 750 millicochrane impulse
engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 6.0 m; beam, 4.4 m; height 2.7 m.
Mass: 3.38 metric tones.
Performance: Sustained Warp 3.
Armament: Two Type-IV phaser emitters.
The Type-6 Personnel
Shuttlecraft is currently in widespread use throughout Starfleet, and is only
recently being replaced by the slightly newer Type-8 Shuttle of similar design.
The Uprated version of this vessel is considered to be the ideal choice for
short-range interplanetary travel, and its large size makes it suitable to
transport personnel and cargo over these distances. A short-range transporter
is installed onboard, allowing for easy beam out of cargo and crew to and from
their destination. Atmospheric flight capabilities allow for this shuttle type
to land on planetary surfaces. Ships of this type are currently in use aboard
virtually every medium to large sized starship class, as well as aboard stations
and Starbases.
The Type-6 is perhaps
the most successful shuttle design to date, and its overall structure and
components are the foundations upon which the Type-8, -9, and -10 spaceframes
are based.
Major technological
advancements in the 2370’s allowed for further upgrades to be made to the engine
systems aboard shuttlecraft. These upgrades make this craft more capable of
long-range spaceflight and, like its starship counterparts, no longer damages
subspace.
9.2.4 TYPE-8 PERSONNEL SHUTTLE

Type:
Light long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation: Two flight crew, six passengers.
Power Plant: One 150 cochrane warp engine, two 750 millicochrane impulse
engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 6.2 m; beam, 4.5 m; height 2.8 m.
Mass: 3.47 metric tones.
Performance: Warp 4.
Armament: Two Type-V phaser emitters.
Based upon the frame of
the Type-6, the Type-8 Shuttlecraft is the most capable follow-up in the realm
of personnel shuttles. Only slightly larger, the Type-8 is equipped with a
medium-range transporter and has the ability to travel within a planet’s
atmosphere. With a large cargo area that can also seat six passengers, the
shuttle is a capable transport craft. Slowly replacing its elder parent craft,
the Type-8 is now seeing rapid deployment on all medium to large starships, as
well as to Starbases and stations throughout the Federation.
9.2.5 TYPE-9 PERSONNEL SHUTTLE

Type:
Medium long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation: Two flight crew, two passengers.
Power Plant: One 400 cochrane warp engine, two 800 millicochrane impulse
engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 8.5 m; beam, 4.61 m; height 2.67 m.
Mass: 2.61 metric tones.
Performance: Warp 6.
Armament: Two Type-VI phaser emitters.
The Type-9 Personnel
Shuttle is a long-range craft capable of traveling at high warp for extended
periods of time due to new advances in variable geometry warp physics. Making
its debut just before the launch of the Intrepid-class, this shuttle type is
ideal for scouting and recon missions, but is well suited to perform many
multi-mission tasks. Equipped with powerful Type-VI phaser emitters, the
shuttle is designed to hold its own ground for a longer period of time.
Comfortable seating for four and moderate cargo space is still achieved without
sacrificing speed and maneuverability. As is standard by the 2360’s, the
shuttle is equipped with a medium-range transporter and is capable of traveling
through a planet’s atmosphere. With its ability to travel at high-warp speeds,
the Type-9 has been equipped with a more pronounced deflector dish that houses a
compact long-range sensor that further helps it in its role as a scout. The
Type-9 is now being deployed throughout the fleet and is especially aiding
deep-space exploratory ships with its impressive abilities.
9.2.6 TYPE-10
PERSONNEL SHUTTLE

Type:
Heavy long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation: Two flight crew, two passengers.
Power Plant: One 250 cochrane warp engine, two 800 millicochrane impulse
engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 9.64 m; beam, 5.82 m; height 3.35 m.
Mass: 19.73 metric tones.
Performance: Warp 5.
Armament: Three Type-V phaser emitters, two micro-torpedo launchers,
jamming devices.
Developed specifically
for the Defiant-class starship project, the Type-10 Personnel Shuttle is the
largest departure from the traditional role of an auxiliary craft that Starfleet
has made in the past century. Short of a dedicated fighter craft, the Type-10
is one of the most powerful auxiliary ships, with only the bulkier Type-11 being
more heavily equipped. Nonetheless, the shuttle sports increased hull armor and
the addition of micro-torpedo launchers, as well as a suite of tactical jamming
devices. A larger warp coil assembly, as well as torpedo stores, makes the
Type-10 much more heavier then other shuttles. Elements from the Defiant-class
project that were incorporated into the shuttle include armored bussard
collectors, as well as a complex plasma venting system for use during possible
warp core breech situat |