Astraeus Refit Overview
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ASTRAEUS REFIT OVERVIEW
Hull, Defensive, and Warp Power Revisions
The neck connecting the Astraeus’ saucer and engineering sections was rebuilt into one that smoothed the transition between primary and secondary hulls, reinforcing a known weak point in the design. This resulted in the saucer being positioned further forward, increasing the ship’s overall length by seven meters.
The primary reason for this modification, however, was the installation of an experimental Quantum Slipstream drive. Designed before the discovery of such technology, integration into Galaxy class starships has always been a challenge, and Astraeus’ slipstream drive has proven too stressful on the spaceframe and power systems for practical use, as it requires the diversion of conventional warp power from engines to structural integrity fields. Because of this, procedure reserves slipstream use for emergencies, and travel to and from exploration regions that are too far to reach practically with her warp drive.
At nearly thirty years old, what had once been Starfleet’s fastest ship had been rendered one of its slower front line vessels by technical innovations utilized in new ship designs, such as the Sovereign and Intrepid classes. These modifications vastly increased the Astraeus’ optimum cruising speed from warp 6 to 7, and her maximum velocity from warp 9.7 to warp 9.99. Her new warp configuration also worked as a solution for the problem of subspace pollution that had been originally solved in the Intrepid class’s variable geometry warp nacelles.
Tactical
Two phaser arrays were added, to the dorsal side of the rebuilt warp nacelles, and multiple heavy duty fusion reactors were added throughout the ship to act as a secondary power source for these weapons, resulting in vastly increased phaser power. Her torpedo launchers were slightly modified to handle a load of quantum torpedoes rather than photon, and a second forward launcher was added to the forward section of the ship’s neck.
Her shield generator grid was upgraded, and additional fusion power generators were added to supplement the new shields, as well. Also, her structural integrity fields were reinforced and new RCS thrusters added across the Astraeus’ spaceframe, increasing her maneuverability. After a conflict alongside the USS Veritas in the Shoals, the decision was made to add ablative armor across her hull to protect her from extended attacks.
Internal / Scientific
Perhaps the most extensive refits were internal. Her three isolinear computer cores were replaced with top of the line bio-neural units one at a time, allowing the bioneural replacements to absorb the system awareness that the isolinear units had developed over the last few decades. The Astraeus’ navigational deflector, already one of the most powerful and versatile in Starfleet, had its software and certain pieces of hardware upgraded, increasing the ship’s sensor range and resolution.
Additional scientific scientific sections were added as well. Her diplomatic facilities were updated and diversified, to increase the variety of habitable conditions able to be offered to visiting dignitaries, and her recreational equipment was updated, providing as many luxuries to her crew on long-term voyages as possible.
Summary, leading up to completion:
Such an extensive refit is not without its share of difficulties. Problems with acquiring and manufacturing materials normally used in new starship construction, such as ablative armor and bio-neural gel pack compatible computer cores, have pushed the Astraeus’ refit behind schedule. Experts in Galaxy class systems were brought in to help keep the refit on track whenever possible, and completion followed by the beginning of a shakedown cruise are anticipated within the year.
When these revisions and refits are complete, the Astraeus will have been modernized into an almost entirely new vessel. Officers and department will be required to re-certify on her upgraded systems, and it is anticipated that with the ship’s new scientific facilities and increased maintenance time required due to more powerful systems and the simple fact that the Astraeus’ space frame is aging, approximately one hundred and fifty additional crew members will be required for optimal performance, mostly engineering and operations.