Design by: J G Alexander
Starship name: U.S.S. Archangel
Class: Gannet-class Light Cruiser
Length: ~330m
Beam: ~460m
Height: ~150m
Departmental class: Defense, Rescue, Utility
Cruise Velocity: Warp 7.5
Maximum Velocity: Warp 9.985 for 12 hours, full slipspeed (warp ~9.99995) for 12 hours
Weapons systems:2 Type-U.XII pulse cannons
2 Type-X phaser arrays
2 multi-load torpedo launchers
While the stock Gannet class is only armed with one Type-X phaser array and two basic fore/aft torpedo launchers, the weapon systems on the U.S.S. Archangel have been upgraded. The Archangel is armed with two powerful Type-U.XII pulse cannons and two Type-X phaser arrays on the raised ring surrounding deck 1. The Type-X arrays are capable of firing three emitters at once, with a maximum of two emitters per array and two emitters per target. This allows for maximum arc coverage without the need for extra arrays. The forward torpedo launcher is swivel mounted for a maximum firing arc of 30 degrees.
Defensive systems:The defensive systems on the Archangel have also been upgraded over the stock Gannet class. The hull consists of micro-fiber reinforced ablative armor segments overlaying a duranium/tritanium composite. The ventral hull plating of the saucer is further reinforced with new molecular thermal plating. This plating was designed for further protection in the rare case of antigrav failure during planetary drop, but tests have shown that it is also highly resistant to a variety of beam weapons.
The next defensive system was discovered by accident when the Archangel was testing its AEGIS array while exiting slipstream. The Archangel’s PHANTOM mode – which stands for PHAsed Neutrino Targeting Opposition Matrix – generates several false signatures around the vessel with the assistance of its AEGIS array and quantum emitters on the nacelles. These dozen or so signatures manifest in the form of wire-frame silhouettes ranging in color from light green to blue. The ship itself appears semi-transparent and the PHANTOM mode gives the vessel an ethereal quality. While it is not a full cloaking system – in order to abide by laws – it makes the vessel extremely difficult to target, especially at close range.
Decks: 12 habitable
Crew compliment: 130
Alignment & Era: Federation/Starfleet, ~2383
Mission profile:To provide a rapid response to those in distress with generosity, courtesy and compassion while
upholding the sacred laws. To take up arms in defense of the Federation and provide front line
support.
There is perhaps no vessel that is more aptly named than the Gannet class. Its aquatic bird namesake is able to dive under the surface of water at speeds in excess of 100 km/h. The Gannet class was designed as a heavy dropship, but to simply call it that would not do it justice. The stock Gannet is capable of carrying materials for an entire small planetary outpost such as one for science or terraforming. It is also capable of offloading this equipment rapidly with an intricate system of internal conveyors and lifts. The two cargo hulls can be separated into several compartments or modified for a variety of purposes, including a flight deck for shuttles or other small craft. The forward section of these hulls contains a large cargo lift that could be converted into a runabout pad.
In the case of the U.S.S. Archangel, the cargo hulls were indeed converted into shuttle bays with the forward runabout pads. The Archangel is the launch vessel for a HARP squad. HARP stands for Hazard Assessment & Response Personnel and is the amalgamation of a fighter squadron and a special operations ground unit. The Archangel carries a variety of auxiliary craft including a squadron of the Federation’s new Falchion attack fighters that are used by the HARP squad.
These Falchion fighters are capable of performing what is called a HALO maneuver - Heavy Assault Linked Orientation. When a HALO is initiated by four to six Falchions, the fighters attach to each other in a ring orientation and begin to spin rapidly. Each fighter fires a powerful energy beam from their deflector dishes in turn, much like a gattling gun. The number of rotations in a HALO is dependent on the intensity of each burst.
Purpose within Starfleet:The Archangel is still capable of performing several utility functions but its main purpose is a rapid rescue and front line support vessel. While the Federation constructs its transwarp network, it was still necessary to develop an advanced propulsion system. The new SLIP drive on the Archangel (short for Subspace Linear-Induction Propulsion) is slower than the slipstream drive encountered and used by the U.S.S. Voyager, yet it is stable and sustainable for a long period of time. When the slip drive is engaged, 1/4 slipspeed velocity is equivalent to the vessel's maximum warp velocity and is sustainable for 7 days before the drive's quantum motivator must be re-energized. Full slipspeed is roughly equivalent to warp 9.99995 and can be sustained for 12 hours. 1/2 and 3/4 slipspeeds can be sustained for 72 and 36 hours respectively.
The mechanics of this SLIP drive are similar technology to the one encountered by Voyager. Three advancements had to be developed in existing technologies to make a sustainable slipstream drive possible. The first is the addition of two dedicated deflector dishes used to focus the quantum field. These new quantum emitter dishes are located on the front of the warp nacelles. The quantum emitter dishes work in tandem with the main deflector dish. The second advancement is one that was first introduced centuries ago and is essentially dual core processing technology. This new dual-node processing doubles the processing power of current starships. This new computer core is similar in size to a current core but contains two processing nodes in each core and resembles a figure eight. The Archangel utilizes two dual-cores, which are needed for the complex and rapid calculation requirements of slipstream. The third advancement is advanced sensor arrays that are necessary to map the phase variances in order to keep the slipstream stable.
The Gannet-class starship features three-point variable geometry warp nacelles. During impluse cruise mode, the nacelle pylons are extended to their maximum width, angling down 15-degrees from the Y-axis. The second position is warp configuration where the pylons are angled up 45-degrees from the Y-axis for maximum warp efficiency. Finally, for planetary drop conditions, the pylons are swung around and inward, up to a 65-degree position from the Y-axis. This protects the pylons from any atmospheric shearing in the rare case of antigrav failure.
Another new feature common to all Gannets is the utilization of a completely redesigned RCS system. The most prominent feature is the secondary winglets on the nacelle pylons. An advanced RCS array covers nearly the entire edge of the winglet, and the winglet itself is able to pitch up and down on its rail on the nacelle pylon hub. These wing arrays coupled with the secondary RCS arrays on the saucer edge gives the Gannet class a potential maneuverability greater than any previous starship design. The Gannet is even capable of drastic changes in the Z-axis without changes in the vessel’s pitch axis.
The Archangel uses the new AEGIS communications array developed recently by the Federation. AEGIS stands for Amalgamated Emergency Gathering Information System and is used to receive and analyze emergencies all over the territory of the Federation and its allies and then dispatch the closest available starship. The AEGIS uses its own dedicated subspace network and is unaffected should the standard subspace relay network become disabled. Each vessel or starbase equipped with an AEGIS array also becomes a relay node in the network. Starfleet Command acts as a central dispatch and monitors and analyzes each incoming distress call and has the power to veto an outgoing dispatch. The AEGIS system on a vessel consists of the array and an advanced computer core with a holographic AI avatar called Pandora. It is Pandora who relays the distress call to the bridge crew from a holographic emitter pad at the left side of the main viewscreen. There is a similar emitter pad at the opposite side of the viewscreen that can be used to display 3D holographic data on the source of the distress call or a target.
Purpose within Star Trek Online:The Gannet class is not a large ship, so it is conceivable that it could be quite common in the game. As far as I know, there is no dedicated dropship in Star Trek – aside from small auxiliary ships like shuttles - so the Gannet is perfect for that role. It could be a transport for heavy ground equipment and vehicles and perhaps even troops.
