Inquiry class

Inquiry
Information
Affiliation	Starfleet
Role	Heavy Cruiser
Date Entered Service	2390
Expected Refit Cycle	5 years (minor) 20 years (major)
Time Between Resupply	3-5 years
Crew Capacity
Standard Complement	480 persons 80 officers 400 enlisted
Emergency Capacity	1,920 persons
Dimensions
Length	640.1 meters
Width	296 meters
Height	120 meters
Decks	29 decks
Propulsion
Propulsion System	matter/anti-matter warp drive
Cruising Speed	Warp 8.5
Maximum Speed	Warp 9.75
Emergency Speed	Warp 9.96 (for 12 hours)
Armaments
Energy Weapons	phaser arrays
Torpedo Launchers	2 forward launchers 2 aft launchers
Torpedo Payload	photon torpedoes quantum torpedoes probes
Shields	standard shielding system
Defensive Systems	ablative hull armor adaptive shield allocation algorithm duranium/tritanium double hull structural integrity field
Auxiliary Craft
Facilities	2 shuttlebays
Support Craft	12 shuttlecraft 6 maintenance craft
Template:Specifications

The Inquiry-class starship was introduced by the Federation Starfleet in the late 24th century. Designed in response to Starfleet's defense-oriented turn in the late 2380s, the Inquiry-class heavy cruiser is a fast, well-armed starship deployed in large numbers near the Federation's borders.

History

Development on the Inquiry-class began during a period of major upheaval for the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. In particular, the loss of the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards in 2385 and the sharp political changes that surrounded that incident put Starfleet in a difficult position. They needed to find a way of restoring their fleet numbers and projecting strength quickly without the support of (arguably) one of their most vital production facilities. And yet, they were greatly limited by the Federation Council's hesitancy to green-light major projects.

Eventually, a successful argument was made and a new generation of designs began to take shape on the drawing board. In an effort to overcome the challenges that arose with earlier designs, such as the Prometheus-class' and its multi-vector assault mode systems, the Starfleet Corps of Engineers aimed for something that would be more open to upgrades like the Constitution-class had been. It was hoped adaptability and standardization of parts would make these new vessels much easier to build and maintain anywhere in the Federation.

Designers quickly settled on the Sovereign-class as the basis for the design. This resulted in the Inquiry having many of the latest systems while also focusing on tried-and-true systems where it best served the needs of the ship. Adaptations were made to propulsion, sensors, as well as the offensive and defensive systems. These, along with advancements in processing and interface components, made it possible for the Inquiry to operate with the capabilities of a much larger starship while still being able to move and react like a much smaller one.

The timeline for design and construction proved surprisingly short, with the USS Inquiry being launched in 2390. Field testing proved successful and engineers as well as fleet command staff were pleased by the results. High priority was placed on subsequent production, with the goal of having over two hundred vessels in service by the end of the twenty-fourth century. Yet, the Inquiry has also sparked much debate among the upper echelons of Starfleet. Some argue the organization is taking too belligerent and militaristic a stance while others point out that it is simply avoiding mistakes of the past by investing in the Federation's future security.

Mission and Purpose

Content Coming Soon

Shipboard Life

Content Coming Soon

Ships Commissioned

• USS Zheng He (NCC-86505)

Appendices

Background Information

• The Inquiry-class was first seen in the episode "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2" (PIC). Very little information is known about this design, including why there were several variants in the episode. Screenwriter and producer Michael Chabon identified the class name in a tweet.
• The Inquiry-class was introduced to the Pegasus Fleet community by the resources team following its appearance on Star Trek: Picard. Much of the information presented currently has been developed by extrapolation from canon sources.

Writing Notes

By the year 2399, Starfleet was able to field at least two hundred Inquiry-class vessels. Captain William Riker even boasted them to be the "toughest, fastest, most powerful ship Starfleet ever put into service". Therefore, it would not be uncommon for sims operating at or near the edges of the Federation to bump into one during a mission, especially if they are investigating possible threats or acting as the response to a threat already identified or encountered by another ship. In fact, depending on the threat, Starfleet may be willing to send several Inquiry-class ships at a time.

While the initial assumption can be to assume anyone posted to an Inquiry is more of a hardline militarist, that is only true of a small fraction of the crews serving aboard this class. Most have a strong sense of duty and believe that they are serving to protect the Federation. In their minds, the best fight is the one in which they don't have to fire a shot. Thus, a majority of Inquiry captains see their role as policing (i.e. a stern word being better than a volley of quantum torpedoes). They also tend to see themselves as the "cavalry" coming to the rescue, willing to put themselves in harm's way to protect others.

Although engineers typically don't mind being on such an advanced ship, science and medical personnel tend to find such postings at odds with their careers. Very few would consider it as being one of their top ten choices. Conversely, those who grew up with tales of heroism and glory during the Dominion War might find such an assignment appealing, only to discover the reality much different from the picture painted for them.

Related Links

• Inquiry class at Memory Alpha