Runabout: Standard - Liberty-class

History and Mission Overview

“Some wounds just won’t stay closed.” —General Hallo

After several years of service, Star Fleet decided that a new runabout was needed to compliment the existing Danube-class. Step forward Avalon Ship Yards, a busy group of designers who had proved themselves a valuable tool for Starfleet with their previous designs.

The designers at Avalon realised that they didn’t need to make new Danube-class, and so they set about coming up with a design that would be just as reliable and enduring, but suitably different. After several weeks of nose-to-the-grindstone work they presented Star Fleet with three possible designs. Star Fleet chose the third of these, dubbed “Liberty” by the designer. This became the prototype for the Liberty-class runabout.

As a Runabout, the Liberty-class falls between the roles of shuttlecraft and Star Ship. The Liberty-class is expected to perform such tasks as

• Rapid response rescue missions
• Short-term scientific missions
• Transport of cargo and personnel
• Emergency tactical missions

Structure and Construction

“We spared no expense.” — John Hammond

The designers at Avalon “borrowed” from recent Star Fleet designs when designing the hull of the Liberty-class. The main hull looks like a scaled down version of the saucer section of the Nova-class, included the “cut-away” section at the front, which on the Liberty-class houses the deflector array.

The warp nacelles inherited the engine cowling of the Defiant-class warp propulsion system. They are located on the dorsal surface of the hull, with the cowling covering them on the dorsal surface. The ventral surface is smooth, aside from the landing gear.

The interior of the craft is built around a central corridor, which connects to the key areas of the ship.

Access hatches are mounted to the front (Port and starboard of the deflector array) dorsal, and aft. Four landing gear, located at 45, 135, 225 and 315 degrees, allow the Liberty-class to land on any surface that will support the weight of the craft.

The Liberty-class is constructed from tritanium and duranium alloys, with transparent aluminium use for the view ports. Avalon used Transporter Welding when making Liberty-class vessels, although some Ship Yards do not.

Science and Remote Sensing Systems

“Fascinating.” — Wheeljack

Sensor Systems

The Liberty-class Runabout has sensor units located throughout the main hull, with a good number in a forward mount behind the deflector array. High-resolution scanning range is 0.8 light-years; low resolution is 3.6 light years.

Computer Systems

The Liberty-class has two computer cores. Both are comprised of 8 processing units utilising isolinear chips with a single bio-neural gel pack attached to each core for enhanced processing speed.

Scientific Probes

The Liberty-class carries 10 micro-probes as standard, and can carry more if necessary at the expense of its micro-torpedo payload.

Warp Propulsion Systems

“Why do rats desert a sinking ship?” — Agent K

The Liberty-class Runabout is fitted with a warp core rated at 300 Cochranes. This allows a Cruising Velocity of Warp 3, a Maximum Sustainable Velocity of Warp 4, and a Maximum Velocity of Warp 4.5

Impulse Propulsion Systems

“It used to come with a Black dude but he kept getting pulled over.” - Agent J
Two sub-scaled impulse units provide sub-light propulsion and primary power generation for the Liberty-class. It can reach a speed of 0.24c, which it can accelerate to from 0 in 12 seconds. Slowing from full impulse to 0 takes 20 seconds.

Tactical Systems

“You underestimate me, Galvatron.” —Unicron

Defensive Shields

The Maximum Gravitational Load of the Liberty-class Runabout’s shielding is 150 MW. The shield has a Maximum Energy Dissipation Rate of 2.23 X 10^3.

Metaphasic Shields

The Liberty-class is fitted with a metaphasic shield to protect it from natural phenomena while on scientific missions.

Phaser Systems

The Liberty-class is fitted with 6 type-V beam phaser strips, each consisting of 5 emitters. These are located forward-dorsal, forward-ventral, aft-dorsal, aft-ventral, port and starboard, to provide maximum protection. Energy output of these phasers is 0.2 MW

Torpedo Systems

There are two micro-torpedo launchers on the Liberty-class; one mounted forward, one mounted aft. Both have 15 micro-torpedoes. The forward launcher also launches micro-probes.

Command and Support Systems

“But Prime, I’m just a soldier.” — Ultra Magnus

The “Bridge” of the Liberty-class is located at the front of the craft. Conn and Ops are at the front, with science to port and engineering to starboard. Any of these can double as Tactical in combat. Although intended for 4 people to crew the craft, it is possible for as few as 1 to fly the Liberty-class if needed.

There is a small, general use science lab found in the port compartment behind the Bridge.

Utility Systems

“So we’re not even sure they work?” — Rollbar

Tractor Beam Systems

The Tractor beam has a range of 7,500km, dependent on the speed and mass of the object being tractored.

Transporter Systems

A transporter pad is located to the aft, which can transport 4 people up to 10,000km.

Crew Support Systems

“Want some coffee?” — Anonymous Worm Guy

A small “Sickbay” area is located starboard, opposite the science lab. This is composed of a single bio-bed and basic medical supplies, plus Med-kits for field use.

A “bunk room” contains 3 wall-mounted beds for the crew to use. An additional 3 beds can be added, but space will be cramped.

There is also a dining table and replicator. This area can also double as a briefing area.

Technical Specifications

“Might have been nice to know that ahead of time.” — Rollbar

Dimensions and Structure

Length

23.44 meters

Beam (Width)

20.29 meters

Height

5.56 meters

Decks

1

Crew Complement

Officers and Crew

1-4

Maximum Evacuation Limit

30

Computer Systems

Core

2 Isolinear Chip Data Cores

Operating System

Starfleet Library Computer Access and Retrieval System (LCARS)

User Interface

MAJEL

Warp Systems

Power Plant

One 300 cochrane M/ARA cores feeding two nacelles

Cruising Velocity

Warp 3

Maximum Sustainable Velocity

Warp 4

Maximum Velocity

Warp 4.5 (12 hours)

Impulse Systems

Full Impulse

0.24c

Accelerate

12 seconds

Decelerate

20 seconds

Defensive Systems

Shield Maximum Graviton Load (Continuous)

150 MegaWatts

Shield Maximum Energy Dissipation Rate

2.23x10^3 kilowatts

Offensive Systems

Torpedoes

Micro-Torpedo Tubes

2

Standard Payload (total)

40 micro-torpedoes

Phasers

6 Type-V Phaser Strips

Ships of the Class

“Autobots, transform and roll out” — Rodimus Prime

USS Liberty, NCC-99301
USS Freedom, NCC-99302
USS Justice, NCC-99303
USS Peace, NCC-99304
USS Loyalty, NCC-99305
USS Dignity, NCC-99306

Conclusion

“You cannot imagine” — Scythe-Meister

The Liberty-class is a general purpose Runabout, designed to serve as a compliment to the larger ships of Starfleet. While it lacks the modular design of the highly successful Danube, it compensates with lower maintenance requirements associated with only having to deal with a single craft.