Reliant Class

Reliant Class
Affiliation:	Federation Starfleet
Service Period:	24th - 25th Centuries
Dimensions
Length:	251 meters
Width:	139 meters
Height:	55 meters
Mass:	575,000 metric tons
Specifications
Decks:	8
Crew:	150 personnel
Speed:	Warp 9.8 Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive
Armament:	Phaser Arrays Torpedo Launchers
Defenses:	Shields
Auxiliary craft:	Starfleet Shuttlecraft

Primary Shipyards

Antares Ship Yards, Antares; San Francisco Shipyards, Earth; Tranquility Base, Luna

Overview

Following the devastating Dominion War, Starfleet shifted its shipbuilding focus to producing smaller vessels that were able to compensate for the limited resources available during the reconstruction era. This, coupled with the devastating attack upon the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards in 2385, led the Starfleet Admiralty to order the development of a new starship to serve as the backbone of Starfleet's logistical efforts to better ensure the safe delivery of needed resources. As heir to the legacy of the Miranda Class, Starfleet's Corps of Engineers looked to this legendary workhorse as it began work on its new Reliant Class.

Designed from its inception to fulfill the needs of a support vessel, the new Reliant Class would take many of its design cues from its ancestor. The new Reliant would need to be able to transport a large amount of cargo safely between distant points and ensure that it had the defensive capability to survive against privateers. Designed alongside the Constitution III, the Reliant would benefit from improved automation capabilities, more versatile particle emitters and advanced sensor capabilities that would allow the ship to participate in a variety of scientific and survey missions.

Capabilities

Heavily based upon the Miranda Class, the dominant feature of the Reliant Class are its twin Shuttlebays located along its aft hull. Due to the size of its Shuttlebays, the Reliant can transport a variety of secondary craft including standard shuttles, scout vessels, runabouts, and workbees as part of its standard payload. The Shuttlebays are directly connected to the Cargobays, allowing for the efficent transfer of large amounts of consumables, equipment, medication, supplies, and other resources for distribution.

Due to its important role in logistical support, the Reliant often is needed at distant locations within a moments notice. To meet this need, the Reliant Class has been outfitted with a Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive. Based upon designs brought back by the Starship Voyager during its time lost in the Delta Quadrant, the Quantum Slipstream Burst Drive allows the equipped vessel to generate a Quantum Slipstream Tunnel, transporting the vessel up to 150 light-years before shutting down. While advanced, the Burst Drive takes 12 hours to reset after each use and requires extensive maintenance to prevent system failure. Because of this advantage, Starfleet often will use the Reliant to serve as a courier vessel for personnel.

While the Reliant was designed to excel in logistical support, the vessel was intended to be able to defend itself and its cargo from hostile parties. In numbers of fleet actions the Reliant Class performs admirably; nonetheless, in one on one confrontations, the Reliant could be overwhelmed by larger, tactically oriented vessels. Often, vessels of the Reliant Class have been forced to call upon their maneuverability and speed to survive in these conflicts.

Refits and Variants

First generation Reliant Class vessels were primarily suited for scientific and support operations that kept them close to the borders of the Federation. With the loss of several early Reliant Class vessels on routine assignments, the Admiralty launched a program to enhance the tactical capabilities of the Reliant Class. Upgraded with additional communications, sensors, and weapons systems, the second generation Reliant Class vessel was better equipped to withstand tactical assignments.

Mission Profiles

Courier/Cargo Transport; Crisis and Emergency Response; Scientific and Survey Operations. The Reliant Class is an ideal choice for humanitarian missions due to its sturdy construction and extensive cargo and shuttlebays.

Naming Conventions

Early Reliant Class starships were named in honor of vessels of the Reliant's Miranda Class ancestry. Second generation Reliant Class vessels maintain this lineage, but also have members named in honor of Starfleet officers who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Notable Starships

U.S.S. Reliant, Class Prototype U.S.S. Uhura, Assigned to Scientific and Survey Operations in the Maelstrom Sector.

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