possible address them all in this document, this section does provide an overview of several of the
major technological changes incorporated into Alpha class ships.
Hybrid deflector/ramscoop/sensors
The alpha class designers determined that the navigational deflector and the bussard ramscope
served several related purposes that could be better served by integrating the systems together.
Also, in accordance with the design philosophy to have three equally strength redundant
systems rather than a single overpowered primary system it was determined to mount three
hybrid systems in the ramscopes normal position at the forward end of the warp nacelle.
Because of the combined system the forward point of the nacelle is much larger than is
traditional but is tear-drop shaped flowing down to the normal circumference of the nacelle
(looking much like the nacelles in the abraham-verse Enterprise).
Sensors
Sensors are a traditional portion of the navigational deflector array, both because the need of
the array to locate and map very small intersteller objects and because of the dish shape of the
deflector which serves as a focusing lens for many long range sensor systems. The hybrid
system incorporates most of the sensors traditionally found in the defector array although
many of them are much smaller and less powerful than would have been found in a traditional
array. However, locating three smaller sets of redundant sensors and spreading them out onto
the warp nacelles has provided for an overall improvement on their gain as they are able to
better triangulate and correlate readings.
Navigational deflectors
Navigational deflectors are used to deflect small interstellar objects that could damage a ship
from its flightpath. It uses a series of small but precise tractor beams to deflect particles and
debris. At cruising warp speed in normal space only a single deflector is needed, but at higher
warp or when in space with an unusual density of interstellar matter (such as a nebula) a second
or even all three deflectors may be brought online.
Bussard ramscoop
Bussard Ramscoops are designed to detect and attract small interstellar objects that could be
useful to the starship (typically things like interstellar hydrogen for use as fuel). Like the
Defectors it uses a series of small but precise tractor beams but instead draws the material into
the path of the scoop where it is collected, processed, and stored.
Control room
A control room is included in the nacelle for the monitoring/operation of the Hybrid
deflector/ramscoop/sensor system and for the warp drive systems in the nacelle. The control
room is located just behind the hybrid deflector/ramscoop and just before where the warp coils
begin at the point where the pylon from the starship connects to the nacelle
Impulse RCS
Traditionally Federation starships use large impulse engines for forward momentum and a
network of chemical thrusters for station keeping, course changes, and limited travel in
directions other than forward. The alpha class project incorporated small (only slightly larger
than those used by a shuttle) multi-vector impulse drives rather than chemical thrusters for the
ships RCS network. This provides for a much more powerful RCS system and more nimble
ship handling. The system requires some strengthening of the spaceframe and SIF to prevent
the more powerful system from damaging the ship.
Phaser Cannon (optional modification)
Military anti-shipping phaser cannon. Located on the bow of the ship. All three primary linear
phaser arrays discharge their capacitors forward into the cannon system which consolidates the
combined energy into a single massive discharge. The primary phasers must recharge before
they can be used again or before the cannon can be used again so the use of the cannon slows
the rate of fire of the primary phaser arrays.
Point defense turrets
Point defense turrents cluster active defense systems and provide them with a an enhanced
field of fire to allow a starship to fend off an aggressor's attacks without tying up the starship's
primary phaser arrays or torpedo launchers in defensive responses. Point defense turrets are
excellent at destroying small quick targets such as fighters, missiles, and torpedoes. Each
turret includes a Type III-PD point defense phaser, a dedicated scanner/targeting array, and
a repulser beam emitter (tractor beam customized to deflect objects). The systems are
consolidated in an armored turret for protection and increased arc of fire.
Type III-PD - Point defense system phaser
This phaser is designed to produce a (relatively) weak phased effect but to pulse its fire in rapid
bursts for greater effect. It is much less useful than a standard phaser as it lacks the ability to
adjust its output. It is less effective against starship shields but is typically able to quickly
overwhelm the shields of a shuttle sized craft or smaller and to eliminate multiple small targets.
Holographic personnel
The alpha class project incorporates existing holographic personnel programs and expands on
the concept in several ways. Alpha class ships can support up to three holographic personnel
in all major areas of the ship. Other areas do not have emitters but still may be accessed by
holographic personnel with a mobile emitter.
Mobile emitter
The holographic personnel system incorporates a mobile holographic emitter that allows the
hologram to operate in areas of the ship without emitters and even on away missions within
communication range of the EMH computer core.
Emergency medical hologram system MkV
The mark five emergency medical hologram program includes several improvements to prior
EMH systems.
Extended lifetime
A development introduced with the MkII, the MkV program incorporates and refines the
MkII program upgrades to allow the holographic medical personnel to operate for extended
durations. While not intended as a replacement to living medical personnel the experiences
of the USS Voyager and other vessels have shown that it is possible for a ship to need the
uses of its EMH for longer periods than were allowed for in the EMH MkI.
Expanded medical database
As with the MkII, MkIII, and MkIV, the MkV continues to expand the medical knowledge
and skills database usable by the EMH hologram.
Mass casualty response
Typically EMH programs are needed most when massive casualties have overwhelmed or
eliminated a starship's normal medical contingent. The EMH MkV is designed to 'spawn'
multiple medical personnel to effectively manage mass casualty situations. A normal alpha
class ship's EMH MkV can simultaneously operate fifteen holographic personnel, although
other than sickbay, holodecks, or with a mobile emitter it is limited by the number of
emitters to only three in a particular area. The system can be upgraded to allow for more
simultaneous personnel. Medical pods have a separate EMH MkV system so a alpha class
ship mounting three medical pods with normal MkV EMH programs could operate sixty
holographic medical personnel simultaneously.
Holographic medical team
From experience with other EMH systems, one of the limits was that the holographic
doctor often had to rely on untrained crewmen's assistance in patient care. The MkV
includes an upgrade allowing it to not only produce the standard doctor but a holographic
nurse and medical technician allowing for a full range of surgical and trauma care.
Emergency security hologram MkII
The alpha class ships incorporate the first upgrade of the recently field tested holographic
security system. This system allows for the production of up to three holographic security
guards any of the main areas of the ship and in all of the security sensitive areas. The
system is designed to provide for temporary security until the ship's regular security
forces can mobilize, and to provide backup for the ship's regular security forces.
Security guard
The security system's standard hologram is of a human security officer. The program is
programmed in unarmed and armed combat. Senior officers can override the programs
safety interlocks limiting the security guards to non-lethal combat.
Holographic masks
The system is designed to provide for holographic screens to several critical ship's systems
allowing the system to project an illusion that a doorway or control panel is not actually
there. This system is intended to confuse and hinder intruders unfamiliar with the ships
internal architecture.
Emergency crew replacement MkII
Another of the new variety of holographic systems upgrades that have recently completed
trials. This system is a slight upgrade to the prototype systems. The system allows for
the production of up to three temporary crewmembers in any of the main areas of the ship.
Bridge officer
This hologram is automatically activated in the event that a bridge officer is incapacitated.
The hologram takes over the bridge station until the officer's relief arrives.
Hazardous duty engineer
This hologram provides for a temporary holographic crewman for performance of repairs
or other duties in environments hazardous to living crewmembers. It is limited in its
application in that some environments hazardous to living crewmembers, such has high
radiation, can also interfere with the holographic projection. The hologram is typically
used for damage control, fire-fighting, and emergency EVA duties.
Ship's Avatar
Some crewmember's have indicated a preference for interfacing with the ship's computer
through a holographic avatar interface. The ship's holographic systems are programmed to
provide for this interface although its use varies from ship to ship, captain to captain,
and crewmember to crewmember. The avatar program is also utilized for social interaction
if the ship's computer is self-aware.
Sentient Computers
Federation computer technology has advanced to the edge of self-awareness. Currently the
Federation lacks the technology to reliably intentionally create a self-aware artificial
intelligence, but on several occasions we have been faced with situations were advanced
computer systems for some reason cross that line into sentience. Starfleet protocols have
been updated to provide for dealing with the awaking to sentience of a federation computer.
It is not desirable to have a newly awakened sentient computer in control of critical systems
until it has had time to adjust to its new awareness and learn morality and responsibility. For
this reason a newly awakened sentient artificial intelligence should be transferred to a backup
computer core with only limited access to critical systems while a regular backup program is
brought online to manage ship's systems. The newborn sentient program should not be
deactivated or completely isolated unless it proves to be dangerous. Access to the ship's
avatar program for social interaction with crewmembers is encouraged.
The newborn sentience should later be transferred offship under the guidance of a mature
artificial sentience and a team of fostering biologicals to aid it in adapting to its new self-
awareness and the social interactions after which it is typically provided an opportunity to
test for Federation citizenship. Mature sentient program are often hired to operate complex
computer systems in research facilities, starbases, and even starships.
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