User:Clement/Sandbox/Inquiry class


< User:Clement‎ | Sandbox

Fedcouncil.jpg
"I'm sure the Admiral will recognize the necessity of keeping discipline in any chain of command..."
This article is currently under PFA review to be added to Pegasus Fleet canon. Until review is complete and this notice is removed, please do not consider this article to be official fleet canon.
As a courtesy, please avoid making minor edits to this page while this message is displayed, in order to avoid edit conflicts.


Inquiry class.png
Inquiry-class
Class Information
Class: Inquiry-class
Affiliation: Starfleet
Role: Cruiser
Date Introduced: 2390
Expected Design Duration: 100 years
Time Between Minor Refit: 3-5 years
Time Between Major Refit: 20 years
Time Between Resupply: 5 years
Dimensions
Length: 400 m
Width: 185 m
Height: 75 m
Decks: 17 decks
Personnel
Total Crew: 480 persons
Officers: 80 persons
Enlisted: 400 persons
Passengers: 10 persons
Maximum (Evacuation) Capacity: 1,920 persons
Propulsion
“Efficient” Cruising Velocity: Warp 8.5
Maximum “Sustainable” Velocity: Warp 9.75
Emergency Velocity: Warp 9.96 (for 12 hours)
Slipstream Capable: No
Armaments
Energy Weapons:
  • phaser arrays
Launchers:
  • torpedo launchers
Payload Types:
  • Photon Torpedoes
  • Quantum Torpedoes
  • Probes
Shielding Systems:
  • Standard Shielding System
Defensive Systems:
  • Ablative Hull Armor
  • Duranium/Tritanium Double Hull
  • Structural Integrity Field
Auxiliary Craft
Facilities:
  • 2 shuttlebays
Other
Additional Features:
  • Adaptive Shield Allocation Algorithm
[ Source ]


The Inquiry-class starship was introduced by the Federation Starfleet in the late 24th century with the purpose of tactical support, patrol, and rapid response capabilities.

History

The issues of the Excalibur-class program might have been only a minor setback, but the loss of the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards and the continually changing political horizon put Starfleet in an awkward position. The Federation Council was against any larger projects but Starfleet was lacking in a modern tactical cruiser, especially with things still being compounded by unresolved issues with the Prometheus-class’ multi-vector assault (MVA) systems. A new approach had to be taken if a new class was to be put into service.

It was decided that it would be more efficient to build a medium sized tactical cruiser and incorporate the lessons learned from previous efforts. Starfleet Tactical wanted something that, despite its size, could go toe to toe with its most common threats. The Starfleet Corps of Engineers proposed to make use of lessons learned - don’t “go for broke” with the design and leave it open to upgrades (like the Constitution-class had been). Ultimately, however, it was the Sovereign-class that would become the true basis for this new ship class, Project Inquiry.

As such, the Inquiry-class has some of the latest systems in some regards while also focusing on more tried and true systems in others. Its propulsion systems are shared among modern Starfleet ships, and its sensors are considered on par with most ship classes as well. However, SCE chose to tune the impulse engines to make them more combat oriented, able to either give the ship better acceleration and deceleration or make the ship more agile than its bulk would suggest. The warp core was also modified to cut “warm up” times down as well, allowing for faster reaction times and faster withdrawals if needed.

Another major focus were the ship's sensors, which were tuned to better work with the weapons systems, making them even more precise and able to hit enemy weak points with a higher rate of accuracy. In addition, they were also tuned to better predict incoming fire, which when coupled with an advanced reactive subroutine, enabled the shields to be diverted automatically to better withstand impacts. The end results made the Inquiry-class seem like it had the defensive capabilities of a much larger vessel while still being able to move like one that was much smaller.

When it came to weapons, there was no compromise to be made. The best had to be employed. However, in a surprising twist, the corps of engineers and Starfleet Tactical found themselves going back class designs such as the Miranda-class and Constitution-class from the late twenty-third century. In particular, they found the phaser cannons of that era had the potential to meet the anticipate needs, provided they could be adequately modernized. Ultimately, the older phaser cannon technology was combined with more modern pulse phaser cannons (such as those aboard the Defiant-class), giving the Inquiry-class even more powerful weapons capability without necessitating a total redesign.

Engineers relied on the rapid-fire style launchers (similar to those aboard the Sovereign-class) as the initial basis for their work. This meant they did not require as many to achieve the higher firing rates expected of the design. Between these and the enhanced phaser armaments, the Inquiry-class was fully capable of punching above its weight without having to be some massive engineering feat.

Thanks to the work of Project Inquiry, Starfleet finally had a starship design that used readily available materials and technologies while being able to face down most projected threats. All this took place in a surprisingly short amount of time and the first vessel, the USS Inquiry, was launched in 2390. Starfleet Command quickly made production a priority with the goal of having at least two hundred vessels in service by the end of the decade. The design itself continues to be the subject of debate between those who believe Starfleet is taking too belligerent or militaristic a stance and those who see the Inquiry as avoiding the mistakes of the past while investing in the Federation's future security.

Mission and Purpose

Content Coming Soon

Shipboard Life

Content Coming Soon

Ships Commissioned

Appendices

Background Information

  • The Inquiry-class was first seen in the season one finale of Star Trek: Picard (PIC: "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2").
  • The name of this class was identified by screenwriter and producer Michael Chabon during an interview. Later, the class appeared as an unlockable skin in the game Star Trek Online. However, aside from this, very little information is known (including why there appear to be multiple variants of the design in the episode).
  • The specifications were drawn up using on-screen materials presented and extrapolated by the Pegasus Fleet resources staff to bring the class into use with the fleet.

Writing Notes

Onscreen evidence proves that, as of 2399, Starfleet was able to field at least two-hundred Inquiry-class vessels. During an engagement with Romulan forces near Coppelius, Captain Will Riker is quoted as having said that they were the “toughest, fastest, most powerful ship Starfleet ever put into service”. As such, it has become increasingly common to bump into one during a mission. Because the focus of the design is more for defense and rapid reaction to threats, one is most likely to see the Inquiry either investigating possible threats or acting as the response to a threat encountered by another ship. Depending on the type and scope of the threat, Starfleet may be willing to send several at a time.

While the initial assumption is to believe anyone who is posted to an Inquiry is more of a hardline militarist, that is only true of a small fraction of crews serving aboard the class. Many have a strong sense of duty and belief that they are protecting the Federation, that the best fight is the one they don’t have to fire a shot. Most commanding officers see their role as policing - a stern word is better than a volley of quantum torpedoes. They also tend to see themselves as the “cavalry coming to the rescue” in some situations, and will think nothing of putting themselves in harm’s way to protect others.

However, while engineers don’t mind being on such an advanced ship, science and medical personnel tend to find the posting to be at odds with their careers. Very few take posting on an Inquiry as their top ten choices. Still, there are those who seek out assignment to an Inquiry because they grew up on stories of heroism and glory during the Dominion War, stories which often paint a much different picture than what reality is.


Related Links