U.S.S. BRAHE - NCC-97235
Deep Space Exploratory Survey Vessel
The U.S.S. Brahe is a Rhode Island Class survey vessel commissioned in 2399 by Starfleet to perform deep space exploration and planetary surveys.
Those who study the stars have God for a teacher.
~Tycho Brahe (1546-1601 CE)
Image Gallery
Specifications
Basic Specifications
| LENGTH | HEIGHT | BEAM | MASS | DECKS | CREW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 180 meters | 35 meters | 43 meters | 110,000 tɒn | 8 | 65 20o/45e |
Propulsion
| WARP CORE | Ceries F-Type M/ARA Drive System MK IX |
|---|---|
| AVG. CRUISE SPEED | 7.5 |
| MAX. CRUISE SPEED | 9.2 |
| MAX. WARP | 9.995 |
Armament & Defence
| PHASERS | 11 Type XV Phaser Arrays (4 Saucer, 1 Lateral Stardrive, 4 Aft, 1 Aft/Port, 1 Aft/Starboard) |
| TORPEDO LAUNCHERS | 3 Mark VI Torpedo Launchers (2 Forward, 1 Aft) |
| TORPEDO CAPACITY | 100 |
| TORPEDO COMPLIMENT | 75 Quantum Torpedoes (25 per Launcher), 25 Probes (Mark I-IX per mission parameters; default ~2 of each type) |
| SHIELDS | 11 Asymmetrical Peristaltic Subspace Graviton Field Generators (rated 3.55GW, covers 67% of EM Spectrum) |
| HULL | Reinforced Duranium-Tritanium composite |
Sensor and Science Facilities
| LATERAL SENSOR ARRAY | 11 MultiSpectral Modular MK XII Lateral Sensor Pallets |
| TACTICAL SENSOR ARRAY | 10 Independent Omni-Directional Targeting Sensors |
| COMPUTER MAINFRAME | 2 Quantum Z-Series Isolinear Computer Core with Highly Redundant Storage |
Specialized Sensor Systems
- 6 Parallaxing High-Fidelity Topographic Imaging Scanners w/ Hologrphic Model-Mapping
- 2 Intraspatial Imaging Suites
- 6 Long Range Gravimetric Detection Arrays
- 1 Deep-Penetrating Metallurgical Sampling Transporter Suite
- 1 Subspace Graviton Field-Current Scanner
Small Craft
| Type | Name | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| WaveRider Atmospheric Shuttle | Robin | NCC 97235-01 |
| Type 8 | Okie-Dokie | NCC 97235-02 |
| Type 8 | A-Okay | NCC 97235-03 |
| Type 9 | No-Prob-Bob | NCC 97235-04 |
| Type 9 | Surething | NCC 97235-05 |
| Type 11 | Farflung | NCC 97235-06 |
| Type 11 | Champlain | NCC 97235-07 |
| Workbee | WB-01 | |
| Workbee | WB-02 |
Deck Layout
Deck plans created by Jack Coster
Annotated Deck Plan.pdf (2.7 MB)
History
History of the Nova Class Starship
The USS Brahe traces its history to the Nova Class, originally designed in 2363 as a replacement for the ageing Oberth Class. The Nova Class continued the tradition of scientific research, while also improving greatly on the old design.
With spartan crew quarters and limited luxuries, the Nova could fit more advanced sensor and imaging systems within its tiny frame. Planetfall capabilities allow vessels to land, permitting the crew to expand outward and use the ship as a research base. Improved defensive systems meant fewer ships caught unprepared while traveling through uncharted space. Finally, the specialized Waverider yacht, docked on the Ventral side of the Saucer section, provides the most advanced aerodynamic Vertical Take-Off and Landing support craft in Starfleet.
In truth, the Nova Class was designed as a flying sensor platform, intended to follow were larger ships have gone before.
Nova Mark II Program
In 2371, only four years after production of the Nova Class begun, the USS Equinox was mysteriously lost and presumed destroyed. This raised concerns about the capabilities of the design. Two years later, the Dominion War begun, placing a halt on new Nova orders until the close of hostilities in 2375.
A combination of isolated incidents, the Dominion War, and the loss of the Equinox pushed Starfleet to revisit the Nova Class, placing a greater emphasis on defensive and propulsion systems. The existing space frame was improved by shielding exposed sections with armor, more phaser emitters were added, shields enhanced, and the warp core and engines given a major lift. The result was a small, resilient ship that could go toe-to-toe with larger vessels, at least long enough to escape (or for help to arrive).
The improvements not only made the Nova Class capable in combat, but better at its job overall: greater survivability and high warp speeds meant this evolution of the Nova could complete deep space assignments with little or no support. Further improvements in autonomous computing allowed this version to decrease its crew compliment from 80 to 65, thereby making the tiny ship a little less cramped.
With the success of the Nova Mark II Program, Starfleet continued to invest in the platform, keeping this variant in regular rotation for servicing and upgrades.
USS Brahe
2399 - 2409
Launched in 2399 under the Nova Mark II program, the Brahe entered service in a time of relative peace under the command of Dominion War veteran Captain Kamaka Palakiko. This period was marked by extensive exploration and mapping of space along the Federation / Romulan Free State (RFS) boarder averaging over 72 system surveys per year. Brahe also served as an interdiction vessel, helping track and apprehend privateers and smugglers moving in and out of the RFS Space.
At the beginning of 2408, Brahe was attached to Task Force Sierra-71 which was tasked to apprehend Klingon and Romulan forces crossing Federation space to strike at one another. The Brahe served primarily as as a cloak detection and reconnaissance platform along side six other ships. During the early months of 2408, Sierra-71 was responsible for the destruction or apprehension of 89 enemy ships and 2 installations. Unfortunately, this success was short-lived. By mid-year 2408, Sierra-71 was ambushed during patrol with an apparent loss of all ships.
In truth, Brahe had narrowly survived, losing almost the entire Senior Staff and two-thirds of the crew; leaving Captain Palakiko and his Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Commander Wimini Zolwink, the only officers alive, the former severely injured. Badly damaged and without means of communication, the surviving crew were able to restore enough power to limp away at Warp 3. What followed would be a seven month game of cat-and-mouse as Brahe attempted to return to safe harbour under the shadow of a constantly shifting front.
Brahe was eventually found in 2409 adrift in low orbit over a Class-P world by the USS Atlis during routine patrol. Shortly thereafter, the remaining 19 Brahe crew were located and retrieved from the glacial planet’s surface.
Atlis spent a week restoring Brahe’s warp drive and power systems. Captain Palakiko had survived, but remained in critical condition within the Atlis’ Sick Bay. Lacking any dedicated bridge officers, Atlis temporarily placed their Chief Science Officer, Lieutenant Commander Zaliel Sel, in command of the Brahe for the duration of the return trip.
While en route to Regulus, Atlis was ordered to provide emergency assistance to another taskforce. Zaliel Sel was granted the provisionary rank of Commander, with orders to return Brahe to port and oversee repairs. For her oversight, diligence, and for want of more experience officers, Commander Sel’s rank and position were made permanent in the last days of 2409. Of the original officers and crew of the Brahe, only Chief Engineer Zolwink remained. Captain Palakiko would soon after retire as Rear Admiral Palakiko, having been too badly injured to return to service.
2410 - Present Day
USS Brahe completed repairs and refit at the end of 2410 under the attention of its new commanding officer, Commander Zaliel Sel. With the hostilities between Romulan and Klingon forces apparently abated, Brahe was returned to its original mission: exploration and scientific research.
The next several years would see the Brahe traveling throughout the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, performing surveys and collecting data. Brahe, by virtue of its remote work, managed to avoid the many other political and territorial conflicts among the major powers. Still, Brahe regularly encountered dangers, experienced loses, and suffered damage as is the risk when a ship leaves port.
From the latter months of 2418 to mid-2419, Brahe was assigned to Deep Space 13 where the ship primarily performed scientific surveys, in addition to various support roles.
2420 would see the Brahe in dry dock while it underwent major refits in preparation for a year-long deep space exploration mission. Though short by some comparisons, the Brahe was made ready with new engines, weapons, and support systems. By mid-2420, the Brahe crossed the edge of Federation space and entered uncharted territory where it would soon discover various anomalies and the Kit Commune.
OOC References / Contradictions
The information on this page was cobbled together from various sources in addition to my own interpretation how technology has advanced since the Nova (and subsequent Rhode-Island) were developed. Note that the Brahe has had a number of refits and mission upgrades as part of the ongoing story. Any contradictions should be considered Yet Another Trek Inconsistency:
http://techspecs.startrek.acalltoduty.com/nova.html#7.1%20SENSOR%20SYSTEMS
Our deck plans were a custom commission which took several months of planning and discussion, working hard to carefully and accurately design a working interior. Although this model deviates heavily in many ways from the original Nova Master System Display, this is acknowledged as being the result of the Mk II program and subsequent refits over a two-decade period.