Sovereign Class Small Craft
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Located at the dorsal stern of the primary hull, the Main Shuttlebay takes up a significant portion of the aft section of Decks Six through Nine on the Sovereign class. Due to the mission profile of the Sovereign class, the shuttlebay extends larger than normal for a vessel its size to accommodate runabouts and ships smaller than Courier-grade that may be the primary mode of transport by entities the vessel’s crew encounter. The Main Shuttlebay is managed by a team of Helmsmen/Pilots, Engineers and Technicians, and Operations personnel that are based on the Flight Operations office under the supervision of the Flight Control Officer.
The Secondary Shuttlebay is located at the very aft portion of the Engineering hull, a homage to the Constitution-class shuttlebay. This bay, while smaller than the main shuttlebay, is just as capable of handling flight operations as the main shuttlebay.
SHUTTLECRAFT
The Sovereign-class Main Shuttlebay is equipped with:
Four Type-8 Medium Short-Range Shuttlecraft
Four Type-9 Medium Long-Range Shuttlecraft
Three Type-11 Heavy Long-Range Shuttlecraft
Four Work Bee-Type Maintenance Pods
Ordnance and Fuel
Flight Operations
The Sovereign-class Secondary Shuttlebay is equipped with:
Two Type-8 Medium Short-Range Shuttlecraft
Two Type-9 Medium Long-Range Shuttlecraft
One Type-11 Heavy Long-Range Shuttlecraft
Four Work Bee-Type Maintenance Pods
Ordnance and Fuel
Flight Operations
TYPE-8 PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT
Type: Light long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation: Two flight crew, six passengers.
Power Plant: One 150 cochrane warp engine, two 750 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 6.2 m; beam, 4.5 m; height 2.8 m.
Mass: 3.47 metric tones.
Performance: Warp 4.
Armament: Two Type-V phaser emitters.
Based upon the frame of the Type-6, the Type-8 Shuttlecraft is the most capable follow-up in the realm of personnel shuttles. Only slightly larger, the Type-8 is equipped with a medium-range transporter and has the ability to travel within a planet’s atmosphere. With a large cargo area that can also seat six passengers, the shuttle is a capable transport craft. Slowly replacing its elder parent craft, the Type-8 is now seeing rapid deployment on all medium to large starships, as well as to Starbases and stations throughout the Federation.
TYPE-9 PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT
Type: Medium long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation: Two flight crew, two passengers.
Power Plant: One 400 cochrane warp engine, two 800 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 8.5 m; beam, 4.61 m; height 2.67 m.
Mass: 2.61 metric tones.
Performance: Warp 6.
Armament: Two Type-VI phaser emitters.
The Type-9 Personnel Shuttle is a long-range craft capable of traveling at high warp for extended periods of time due to new advances in variable geometry warp physics. Making its debut just before the launch of the Intrepid-class, this shuttle type is ideal for scouting and recon missions, but is well suited to perform many multi-mission tasks. Equipped with powerful Type-VI phaser emitters, the shuttle is designed to hold its own ground for a longer period of time. Comfortable seating for four and moderate cargo space is still achieved without sacrificing speed and maneuverability. As is standard by the 2360’s, the shuttle is equipped with a medium-range transporter and is capable of traveling through a planet’s atmosphere. With its ability to travel at high-warp speeds, the Type-9 has been equipped with a more pronounced deflector dish that houses a compact long-range sensor that further helps it in its role as a scout. The Type-9 is now being deployed throughout the fleet and is especially aiding deep-space exploratory ships with its impressive abilities.
TYPE-11 PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT
Type: Heavy long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation: Four flight crew, six passengers.
Power Plant: One 400 cochrane warp engine, two 800 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 16 m; beam, 9.78 m; height 4.25 m.
Mass: 28.11 metric tones.
Performance: Warp 6.
Armament: Four Type-V phaser emitters, two micro-torpedo launchers (fore and aft), aft-mounted veritable purpose emitter.
With an ultimate goal towards creating a useful all-purpose shuttlecraft, the designers of the Type-11 Personnel Shuttle set out to create a craft that was equipped with all the systems of a starship within the shell of a relatively small shuttle. Allocation of the larger Danube-class runabout to starships in the field proved too costly, and with the expressed need by the Sovereign-class development team for a capable shuttle, the Type-11 was born. Its overall frame and components are a meshing of lessons learned in both the Type-9 and Danube-class vessels. Impressive shielding, several phaser emitters, micro-torpedo launchers and a capable warp propulsion system makes this shuttle capable of performing a multitude of tasks. Both the ventral and dorsal areas of the shuttle feature a new magnaclamp docking port that is capable of linking up to other ships similarly equipped. A two-person transporter and a large aft compartment with a replicator adds to the shuttle’s versatility. The end hope is that these all-purpose shuttles will replace the more specific-purpose crafts already stationed on starships, reducing the amount of space needed for shuttle storage in already-cramped bays. The Type-11 is now seeing selective deployment outside the Sovereign-class to further assess its capabilities in the field.
Information on the Type-11 is relatively scarce, aside from a few paragraphs in Star Trek: The Magazine #1. Its classification is conjectural.
WORK BEE
Type: Utility craft. Accommodation: One operator. Power Plant: One microfusion reactor, four RCS thrusters. Dimensions: Length, 4.11 m; beam, 1.92 m; height 1.90 m. Mass: 1.68 metric tones. Performance: Maximum delta-v, 4,000 m/sec. Armament: None
The Work Bee is a capable stand-alone craft used for inspection of spaceborne hardware, repairs, assembly, and other activates requiring remote manipulators. The fully pressurized craft has changed little in design during the past 150 years, although periodic updates to the internal systems are done routinely. Onboard fuel cells and microfusion generators can keep the craft operational for 76.4 hours, and the life-support systems can provide breathable air, drinking water and cooling for the pilot for as long as fifteen hours. If the pilot is wearing a pressure suit or SEWG, the craft allows for the operator to exit while conducting operations. Entrance and exit is provided by the forward window, which lifts vertically to allow the pilot to come and go.
A pair of robotic manipulator arms is folded beneath the main housing, and allows for work to be done through pilot-operated controls. In addition, the Work Bee is capable of handling a cargo attachment that makes it ideal for transferring cargo around large Starbase and spaceborne construction facilities. The cargo attachment features additional microfusion engines for supporting the increased mass.
CAPTAIN'S YACHT
Type: Sovereign Class Integrated Craft Accommodation: 4 flight crew, 20 passengers. Power Plant: One 5,220-millicochrane warp engine, two 750-millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters. Dimensions: Length: 50m; Width: 22.5m; Height:12m Performance: Cruise: Warp 4.5; Max Cruise: Warp 5; Max Warp: Warp 5.5/12hrs Armament: 5 Type-V Phaser Strips, Pulse Emitter, Micro-Torpedo Launcher
Mounted in a recessed docking port in the underside of the primary hull, the Sovereign-class Captain’s Yacht serves dual purposes. A situation to be dealt with by the captain of a starship does not always require the entire ship to accompany him or her, or the ship may have a more important mission to accomplish. In these cases, the Captain’s Yacht provides a long-range craft that is capable enough to function without its primary vessel. Be it a simple excursion to get away from the stresses of command, or a run to retrieve or deliver VIPs, the yacht serves as an extendable arm of the Sovereign class.
Facilities include six sleeping bunks and a comfortable passenger cabin. A replicator and flight couches provide for the needs of the passengers and a two-person transporter allows for beaming of personnel or cargo when needed. Atmospheric flight capabilities allow this shuttle type to land on planetary surfaces.