Posted by Vice Admiral Robert Archer (Engineering Director) in Ship Submission Review Draft 2 - RSE Keldrak Class Medium Cruiser (Early TNG Era) - 7-24-23
Coming in for draft two of our early TNG era romulan cruiser design Katy gives up once more the Keldrak class. It is up for review from 7-10-23 till 7-24-23. All our welcome to comment constructively and review. Any concerns or questions please let me know.

Post Edit: Note this post was edited to update the google drive link with a new image as the original one as posted broke. Nothing else was touched.

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Changelog Draft 1 to 2:

Added punctuation and reworded a couple sections.
Fixed an incorrect name in the deck listing.

Keldrak-class
CATEGORY: Battlecruiser
VARIANT: Medium
DESIGNER: Katy Darrah
Mark I
Draft 2
DATE: 7/10/2023

HISTORY AND MISSION OVERVIEW

The dawning of 2355 saw the Romulan Empire wishing for a multi-profile ship that could fill a mid-range role using less resources and crew than its larger D’Deridex cousin. Within the next 5 years, the Keldrak-class warbird was born.

Keldrak warbirds are often given to newer commanders who have a long history with the Romulan Imperial Navy but who may not have the prestige to earn a position of being in command of a D’Deridex. Keldrak-class ships can run missions across the empire and, theoretically, beyond, though most of their missions would be within the empire’s boundaries or on the fringes thereof.

By the time the Romulans would emerge from their isolation in 2364, about 50 Keldrak-class ships were in service.

Mission Profiles

Due to its multi-role configurations, the Keldrak class is usually assigned to the following mission profiles:

1-5 year border patrols.
1-5 year scientific evaluations.
VIP transport when higher profile ships are not available.
Cargo transport.
Military fleet engagements.
Colony and holding infrastructure support
Subduing conquered race uprisings.
Emergency evacuations of Romulan citizenry.

STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION

Designed to appear similar to its larger cousin, the Keldrak-class is a smaller, lesser armed warbird design similar in shape to the D’Deridex. However, where the D’Deridex has two large open sections on the port and starboard side of the secondary hull, the area is almost completely filled in on the Keldrak-class down the middle hull lines, allowing for similar, but less powerful, systems in a smaller space. To either end of the wings are the ship’s two warp nacelles. At the forward end of the ship is a large ‘beak’ shaped structure.

The ship’s superstructure spans 20 decks, deck 1 consists of the entirety of the top of the ‘beak’ at the bow of the ship while decks 2 through 20 run the length of the ship. The ship is built out of a 80/20 mixture of duranium/titanium alloys built around a triple layered hull. Each hull layer is filled with titanium fillings, with each layer measuring 4 centimeters thick. The hull was then contacted with easy to service duranium armor plates along the exterior of the hull measuring 3 centimeters thick.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wIKzgnFp5lVvNb3NqPCbl8hCScDlGXMu/view?usp=drive_link

SCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS

SENSOR SYSTEMS

The Keldrak-class uses a Type-7 sensor array. Which is composed of 4 separate smaller arrays arranged across the ship’s outline. The system has a maximum low resolution scan out to 11 lightyears and a high resolution of 3.11 lightyears.

COMPUTER CORE SYSTEMS

The Keldrak-class has one isolinear-based processing and storage computer core located vertically on the middle sections of decks 14-17. It utilizes the standardized Romulan Access Data And Retrieval System (RADARS). This system is identical in user-interactions as the Starfleet LCARS system, allowing for complete customization and touch-screen capabilities on a per-user basis. Unlike the MAJEL system on Federation vessels there is no equivalent beyond basic vocal functions and responses.

WARP PROPULSION SYSTEM

The Keldrak-class contains the Class-VII Singularity Core spanning decks 17-19 with ejection systems on deck 20. This is a modified design of the larger and more powerful core used in the D’Deridex. The core has a maximum Avaihh’sadaere Caelis (the Romulan equivalent to Cochrane power ratings) of 1,649+. It has a maximum cruising speed of Warp 6.0, a maximum sustainable speed of Warp 9.0, a maximum velocity speed for 12 hours of Warp 9.2, and a maximum emergency speed for 2 hours of Warp 9.5 which results in reactor shutdown.

The Keldrak’s core has the ability similar to that on the D’Deridex to more efficiently constrict the energy flow of the core allowing a greater reactor output by 50%. Due to the stresses this places on the core and ship this is only done in an emergency when extra power or speed may be required in order to protect the ship and its crew to achieve their missions. By doing this, the maximum velocity and emergency speeds of the core are both increased by a factor of .2, though the time limits remain the same. The ship cannot constrict the core while under cloak in any circumstances. Once the core is constricted the ship cannot continue normal warp powered operations and must immediately be towed to the nearest starbase as the forces placed on the ship would cause tiny stress-fractures across the inner and outer hulls. The core also suffers from a degree of instability which could result in a singularity breach.

During a run away Singularity event the core and its associated systems can be ejected out of the bottom of the ship.

IMPULSE PROPULSION SYSTEM

The Keldrak-class has 2 impulse engines that can accelerate the ship up to a speed of 0.25c and to a full stop in 75 seconds. Maximum impulse speed is 0.30c when constricting the impulse engines or 0.20c when under cloak.

TACTICAL SYSTEMS

DISRUPTOR SYSTEM

The Keldrak-class is equipped with 10 Type-VIII disruptor arrays. Four are mounted with two facing forward and two aft on the dorsal and ventral wings to port and starboard. Each array consists of 50 emitters each. These arrays, in addition to normal operations, can also fire in two other beam configurations. These firing alterations can be emitted as a focused-beam that produces a smaller targeting point but increases the energy output or split-beam that produces a larger targeting point but with a reduction in overall energy effects.

Two additional, 25 emitter arrays, located forward of the main bridge on the head of the ship to port and starboard, are capable of both beam and bolt fire. These arrays cannot be fired in any special configuration.

The system has a maximum energy output of 3.5 MegaWatts, and a maximum effective range of 125,000km.

PLASMA TORPEDO LAUNCHING SYSTEM

The Keldrak-class is equipped with 3 Type-3 standard fire launching tubes. Located with one forward-facing tube on either wing, about halfway along the wing arc, as well as one aft-facing launcher just above the base of the tail at the aft end of the ship. These launchers can fire two plasma torpedoes or probes every 4 seconds. They have a maximum effective range of 3,000,000km at which point the plasma torpedo dissipates. Maximum effective range for the assorted scientific probes depends on their payload. The ship carries 150 casings, with 120 being for plasma torpedoes and the remaining 30 being made up of sublight and limited warp capable scientific probes. All three launchers fire standard plasma torpedoes as well as standard probes.

SHIELDING SYSTEM

The Keldrak-class is equipped with a Type-VIII shield array. The shielding system is composed of three sub-arrays which allow for the entire ship to be shielded. These can provide a Max Graviton Load of 1,612 MW and a Max Energy Dissipation Rate of 4.38 x 10^5 kW.

CLOAKING SYSTEM

The Keldrak-class is equipped with a standard cloaking device with its control and maintenance room located on deck 15. This enables the Keldrak-class to disable its weapons and shields as well as reducing its sensor range by 50%. Minor tachyon emissions can be used to detect the ship if one is knowledgeable in the construction of cloaking systems.

If the ship reaches speeds higher than warp 6.0 it begins to lose its cloak capabilities and may appear partially visible or on sensors as an echo. For this reason, most Romulan cloaking devices limit the ship to this warp factor by using 3 Nullifier Cores rather than the standard 1. In desperate situations, commanders of Keldrak-class warbirds have been known to order 2 of the Cores shut down or misaligned to allow higher warp under cloak.

COMMAND AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS

BRIDGE

The bridge is located on the ‘head’ at the forward end of the ship on deck 1. As part of the philosophy of “no officer should be unsupervised” the Commander’s chair is on a small elevated platform in the center of the bridge with a single step up to it, much like early Federation vessels. An extended platform is available that allows the optional slotting of a chair for an observer, however, this lacks a interface console for them, this is not required nor standard installation. The commander’s chair can spin in 360 degrees to enable him to view any section of the bridge.

To the commander’s left, is the science station, located on an elevated section of the bridge, which has full control of sensors and partial control of probe launches. Just forward of the science station, down on the deck level, is an auxiliary station, which faces the viewscreen.

To the commander’s right, located on the elevated section of the bridge, is the tactical station, which has full control of weapons and the other half of control of probe launches. Just forward of this station, down on the deck level, is an identical auxiliary station as to the left side.

Slightly forward and to the commander’s right, between the center of the bridge and the tactical station is another auxiliary station, generally designed for the Subcommander of the ship, though able to be used by anyone. Romulan tradition dictates that anyone in charge of the bridge, outside of temporary command if the commander is on an away team, does not sit in the command chair, but rather at this auxiliary station. Because of this, this is the only station in which the station control panel itself rather than the chair swivels.

Just in front of the commander’s chair is the combined navigation and piloting control. This is three consoles joined into one, as a Keldrak-class Warbird may have up to three active pilots at one time. This policy is thought to enable them to focus on specific maneuvers better during combat or other high pressure situations.

All three piloting consoles, as well as Tactical and Science stations are standing stations only, though chairs are optionally able to be provided for tactical, science and one of the three piloting stations.

Directly behind the commander’s chair, at the rear of the bridge, is the entrance to the Wardroom. At the rear of the bridge on the left side is the main turbolift to other parts of the ship. This is also where another auxiliary console is located, this one intended for use by observers or guests with bridge privileges such as Senators or other high ranking officials. To the right side of the rear of the bridge is the door to the Commander’s ready room.

Wardroom/Briefing Room

The combined function of Wardroom as on the larger D’deridex class also serves its function as a briefing room. The room has enough seats for up to ten selected personnel to sit. A number of others could also stand along the walls of the room as well. Along the right side wall are a number of briefing screens.

Ready Room

The commander can have a number of furniture items installed, including a bed that can fold into the wall, enabling them to rest if needed. The ready room also has a connection directly to the Wardroom.

BRIG/ARMORY/MAIN WEAPONS CONTROL

Spanning middle and inner port/starboard sections of decks 4 and 5, the brig, armory, and main weapons control are all combined together. This allows for supervision for both shipboard and handheld weapons as well as prisoners. While all weapon launch orders come from the bridge, this room is where those orders are carried out. Consoles that are set into the walls enable tests of targeting and firing systems, as well as simulating combat maneuvers.

The room also has a section that contains wall-mounted holo emitters much like a holodeck. This enables the weapons chief to run a firing range when it comes time to recertify the crew for weapons.

There are three identical brig cells to the rear of the room, all of which are equipped with a forcefield to keep the prisoners contained. A unique feature of romulan brig cells is the ability to apply a “black out” screen to the forcefield, enabling the crew to see in but the prisoner to not see out. Conversely this could be reversed for the purposes of interrogation of a prisoner within the cell.

MAIN ENGINEERING

Main engineering consists of a multi-deck area spanning the middle rear most sections of decks 15 through 17. The chief engineer’s office is located on the forward most section of deck 15 in this area. Most of the area is dedicated to maintaining the delicate balance involved in the singularity core, which is encased in a large spherical-shaped chamber set into the floors of deck 17. A holo-rendering of the core itself is set above a cluster of emitters built into the top of this chamber, enabling a visual inspection of the core. In an emergency manual inspection of the core can be performed in service crawlways on these lower decks.

Another area of engineering is simply involved in maintaining the secondary functions and maintenance of the cloaking device. More intricate or involved work on the device must be performed in the cloaking device maintenance room down the hall.

On the opposite end of engineering is the impulse reaction control systems, complete with a fully monitored display that enables performance tweaking of the engine during operation.

SCIENCE FACILITIES

Two primary general purpose science labs are located on the central forward areas of deck 10. With another four assorted planetary science labs are located on the port and starboard sides of this same deck. This area also includes the chief science officer’s office connected directly to the first general purpose lab.

A pair of biology labs are located down the hall from the primary Medical Facility on deck 5. A third smaller biology lab is similarly located down the hall from the secondary Medical Facility on deck 13.

A pair of advanced particle physics labs are located along the forward ends of deck 15, usually used to support experiments with the nearby cloaking device.

A pair of astrophysics labs and the stellar cartography lab are located on the rear most sections of deck 10 with secondary entrances to the cartography lab on deck 11. This double deck room includes a regularly updated interactive wall map.

Lastly there are four assorted mechanical and physical engineering labs to port and starboard with a pair of cybernetics labs on deck 14 above main engineering.

Long Term Study Labs

Located in a square cluster on deck 13. Are 8 long term study labs. These are modular labs that are used by secondary ship’s personnel to conduct long term experiments that are not a mission priority and so do not take up normal dedicated lab space and resources.

UTILITY SYSTEMS

Cargo Bays
A Keldrak-class vessel is equipped with 5 standard-sized cargo bays. 4 of these are equipped with cargo transporters and are located on the aft side of decks 7-10. The last bay is directly connected to Shuttlebay 1, and designed to take on cargo loaded by cargo shuttles.

Transporter Rooms

Four standard six pad transporter rooms are located on top of each other on decks 5 and 6, and another four on deck 13.

Emergency 10 pad transporters on decks 4, 7, 13 and 14. These transporters, while used primarily in an emergency situation, can also be used to drop troops on a location, but not retrieve them.

Standard rooms have an incoming and outgoing range of 40,000km and the emergency rooms have an outgoing only range of 10,000km.

Tractor Beams

Two primary tractor emitters are located with one on the dorsal middle side of deck 2 and another on the ventral middle side of deck 20. Secondary emitters are positioned at key locations across the ship’s frame to move objects closer to the primary emitters.

Tractor beam control rooms are located directly near both emitters. Primary emitters are able to handle a mass of 7,500,000 metric tonnes at less than 1,000 meters. While targets up to one metric ton can be reached out to a range of 20,000 km

CREW SUPPORT SYSTEMS

WARDROOM

The Wardroom is connected directly to the bridge on deck 1. This is where the commander, Subcommander, and any others invited can take meals both on and off duty. Other than the later-mentioned connection to the commander’s ready room, there also exists a turbolift directly to deck 2 across from the commander’s quarters for them to easily reach the room for meals.

Medical Facility

The Keldrak-class comes equipped with two large medical facilities, one on deck 5 the other on deck 13. Both are equipped with a treatment area, consisting of 6 biobeds, and a surgical bay, consisting of two biobeds. The surgical bay contains an incoming-only transporter buffer system allowing for patients to be beamed directly there from anywhere.

Just off of the treatment area, through a door which is flanked by two large windows, is the isolation room, which can be used to temporarily house 3-15 patients that need to be isolated, either due to immunosuppression or having a contagious disease.

Directly opposite the isolation room, but with the same door and window layout, is the office for the Chief Medical Officer, to supervise isolated patients, as well as getting camera feeds for the main treatment area. The second large medical facility on deck 13 is laid out the same, minus the chief medical officer’s office.

Two smaller, emergency medical facilities are located on decks 15 and 20, these are typically not stocked with more then basic first aid supplies, nor are used even in combat situations, unless the primary two medical facilities are not available. However, cargo transporters in cargo bays 1-4 can be used to beam more advanced medical supplies directly into the rooms to treat patients when large scale triage needs apply.

CREW MESS HALLS

Romulan ships are not equipped with personal replicators, due to the power draw being too great on the ship. Instead, much like earlier Starfleet vessels, there are 3 mess halls with preparatory service kitchens. One, located on deck 3, is the senior officer’s mess hall, for ranks of Centurion and higher. Deck 7 is the general officer’s mess, available to all officers, while deck 13 houses the largest mess hall for the enlisted crew, though all crewmembers are welcome to eat there if they so choose. These mess halls are mostly manned by Reman workers.

REPLICATION SYSTEM

Senior staff members can request installation of a replicator in their quarters but it can only create food, drinks, and serving utensils. The only replicators are located in the kitchens off each mess hall. Another is located in the kitchen facility that is connected to the wardroom. Finally, both larger medical facilities have a dedicated medical replicator for making medical instruments or similar supplies.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

The Keldrak-class has only a limited number of facilities for recreation due to its status as a military vessel. However there is a crew lounge/bar on deck 12. This is an unusual addition on a Romulan vessel due to how tradition typically dictates the separation of senior and junior crewmembers, but the multi-purpose mission style mandate of the class dictated that traditional conventions may need to be temporarily discarded at times.

There is also a single pair of holosuites on deck 19. These are rarely operational and time must be requested through official channels before use, as the power draw may not be doable during specific missions, even during down time.

CREW ACCOMMODATIONS

Commander/Subcommander Officer Quarters

The quarters for the commander and Subcommander have separated living, dining, and sleeping areas. Each also has a private bathroom. The commander’s quarters is located on deck 2, right across the corridor from the private turbolift to the Wardroom. The Subcommander’s quarters are located on deck 2 as well, near their office.

Centurion/Lower Subcommander Officer Quarters

These types of quarters are for the senior officers ranked Centurion and above. These quarters are spacious single-occupant rooms with a detached bed. A small cooking and dining area is also present, with an optional replicator able to be installed. A shared bathing facility between each pair of quarters is also present. These quarters are located on decks 3, 4, and 5.

Junior Officer/Subcenturion and Lower Quarters.

Quarters for junior officers of subcenturion rank and below, are located on decks 6, 7, and 8. These quarters are double rooms with fold-down wall bunk beds and a cooking and dining area. They also have a shared bathroom between each pair of units.

Enlisted Ranked Personnel Quarters

Quarters for enlisted personnel resemble the junior officer quarters, with the exception of the cooking and dining area. They are located on decks 9, 11, and 13

VIP Quarters.
Identical in set up to the Centurion and Lower Subcommander Quarters these quarters are located on decks 3 and 4.

Reman Worker’s Quarters
Located on decks 16-18, these quarters are very Spartan, consisting of only 4 folding-wall bunk beds, a shared bathroom, and a single desk.

AUXILIARY SPACECRAFT SYSTEMS

The Keldrak-class has 7 main shuttlebays. The first shuttle bay is on deck 5 which also directly connects to cargo bay 1. Shuttle bays 2 and 3 are located near the bottom of the vessel on decks 18 and 19 to port and starboard. The lower two are larger than the first, capable of holding either 4 Raptor-class runabouts or 8 Y’gora-class low warp capable only shuttles.

The first shuttle bay is smaller and can only house 1 Raptor class runabouts or 2 Y’Gora class warp shuttles. Usually though this bay is specifically intended for transferring cargo from cargo shuttles or other smaller ships.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions & Structure:
* Length: 521 meters
* Beam (Width): 386 meters
* Height: 96 meters
* Decks: 20

Crew Complement:
* Officers and Crew: 600
* Visiting Personnel: 100
* Maximum Evacuation Limit: 1,500

Computer Systems:
* Core: Isolinear data core x1
* Software: Romulan Access Data System (RADARS)

Warp Systems:
* Power Plant: 1x Class-7 1649+ Avaihh’sadaere Caelis Forced Artificial Singularity core
* Cruising Velocity: Warp 6
* Max. Sustainable Velocity: Warp 9.0 (6.0 when cloaked)
* Max. Velocity: Warp 9.2 (12 hours)
* Max. Emergency Speed: 9.5 (2 hours)

Impulse Systems:
* Full Impulse: 0.25c (0.20c when cloaked)
* Zero-0.25c: 75 seconds
* 0.25c-Zero: 75 seconds

Defensive Systems:
* Shield Maximum Graviton Load (Continuous): 1612 MegaWatts
* Shield Maximum Energy Dissipation Rate: 4.38x10^5 kiloWatts

Offensive Systems:
* Torpedo tubes (x3)
** Standard payload: 120 Plasma torpedoes; 30 Probes
* Disruptor systems
** 10x Type-VIII Disruptor arrays

DECK LAYOUT

Deck 1:
* Bridge
* Briefing Room/Wardroom
* Wardroom Kitchen
* Ready Room
Deck 2:
* CO’s quarters
* CO’s turbolift
* Subcommander’s quarters
* Subcommander’s office
* Tractor Beam controls/maintenance access
Deck 3:
* Senior Officer’s mess
* Senior Officers quarters
* VIP quarters (1-5)
* Guest Quarters (1-5)
Deck 4:
* Senior Officers quarters
* Upper Armory/Weapons Control
* VIP quarters (6-10)
* Guest quarters (6-10)
* Emergency Transporter Room 1
Deck 5:
* Lower Armory/Weapons Control
* Main Medical Facility 1
* Chief Medical Officer’s Office
* Transporter Rooms 1 and 2
* Senior Officers quarters
* Biology Labs 1 and 2
* Cargo Bay 1
Deck 6:
* Junior Officers quarters
* Transporter Room 3 and 4
Deck 7:
* Junior Officers quarters
* Officer’s Mess
* Emergency Transporter 2
* Cargo Bay 2
Deck 8:
* Junior Officers quarters
* Cargo Bay 3
Deck 9:
* Cargo Bay 4
* Enlisted Crew Quarters
Deck 10:
* General Purpose Science Labs 1 and 2
* Chief Science Officer’s office
* Cargo Bay 5
* Astrophysics Lab
* Upper Stellar Cartography Lab
* Planetary Science Lab 1-4
Deck 11:
* Enlisted Crew Quarters
* Secondary access to Stellar Cartography
Deck 12:
* Crew Lounge/bar
* Guest Quarters (11-20)
* Emergency Supply Storage Bay 1 and 2
Deck 13:
* Crew mess
* Enlisted Crew Quarters
* Main Medical Facility 2
* Emergency Transporter Room 3
* Long Term Study Labs 1-8
* Transporter Rooms 7 and 8
Deck 14:
* Cybernetics labs 1 and 2
* Physical Engineering lab 1-4
* Mechanical Engineering lab 1-4
* Emergency Transporter Room 4
* Upper Computer Core
* Impulse Engines
Deck 15:
* Upper Main Engineering
* Emergency Medical Facility 1
* Cloaking device control/maintenance room
* Advanced Particle Physics labs 1 and 2
* Middle Computer Core
* Impulse Engines
Deck 16:
* Middle Main Engineering
* Middle Computer Core
* Reman worker quarters
Deck 17:
* Lower Main Engineering
* Upper Singularity Core
* Lower Computer Core
* Singularity Core Upper Maintenance Access
* Reman worker quarters
Deck 18:
* Middle Singularity Core
* Singularity Core Middle Maintenance Access
* Upper Shuttlebay 2 and 3
* Reman worker quarters
Deck 19:
* Holosuites 1 and 2
* Holosuite programming room 1 and 2
* Lower Singularity Core
* Singularity Core Lower Maintenance Access
* Lower Shuttlebay 2 and 3
* Cargo Bay 6
Deck 20:
* Tractor Beam controls/maintenance access
* Singularity Core Ejection Systems/Hatch
* Emergency Medical Facility 2
* Cargo Bay 7

SHIPS OF CLASS

Keldrak class ships are named after legendary creatures in Romulan lore. Unlike Federation ships this list does not include registry numbers. The names typically do not translate well and are thus left in their original Romulan. While IRW is the primary prefix, Romulan ships sometimes omit the prefix in front of the ship name

• IRW Rovarran
• IRW Sorella
• IRW Keldrak (class namesake)

The following ships are used in NPC only status and may be reused by gamemasters as the need arises:

• IRW Tyram
• IRW D’ravsai
• IRW Nei’rrh

CONCLUSION

The Keldrak-class was designed with typical Romulan efficiency in mind as well as to fill the role of a multi-mission vessel. While not as prestigious as its larger D’Deridex cousin, the Keldrak is, like most Romulan ships, a force to be reckoned with.

SUBMITTED July 10th 2023
Katy Darrah

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Robert Archer EDir

Note to the Edir: Based on feedback I’ve received, I have decided to add an additional 4 names for GM use only They are as follows.

Val’ik
Vastam
Selae
Rhhaein

Katy