(covers information from Vanguard universe)
this article was thought of and created by Maximus1925
| Ambassador III-class | |
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Class: |
Ambassador III |
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Type: |
Cargo cruiser variant |
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Affiliation: |
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Status: |
Active |
| Career | |
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Yard: |
Coronalis Frontier Fleet Yards (Vanguard) |
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Launched: |
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Commissioned: |
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| Dimensions | |
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Length: |
524 meters |
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Beam: |
383 meters |
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Draft: |
131.15 meters |
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Mass: |
3,710,000 metric tons |
| Specifications | |
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Decks: |
26 (cargo variant) |
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Complement: |
Cargo Variant (80 total): |
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Speed: |
Via Enhanced warp drive: |
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Armament: |
Cargo Variant: |
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Defenses: |
- Enhanced, redundant, regenerative deflector shields |
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Shuttlecraft: |
Cargo Variant: |
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The Ambassador III-class is a variant of the Ambassador-class deep space exploratory vessel utilised by Starfleet in the mid 2340s. It is composed of two variants: A Cargo Cruiser variant and a Standard Refit variant.
The Ambassador III class Heavy Cruiser.
Background[]
The Cargo Cruiser variant was modified from decommissioned space frames of Ambassador-class heavy cruisers. By the 2360s the mission role of the Ambassador became more and more limited to the role of border patrol and defensive specialist with fewer and fewer assigned to deep space exploration and diplomatic transport. Continued refits kept the majority of the Ambassador-class starships in service, despite the end of their active production run.
The Standard Refit variant, still designed as a Heavy Cruiser, were extensively refitted from still functional starships whose crews were reassigned to newer ones with uprated facilities and equipment to be near comparable in firepower and onboard technology to other heavy cruisers.
Description[]
The sturdy frame of the Ambassador-class presented an evolution of the cylindrical secondary hull design made famous by the legendary Constitution-class. This structure was supported by a nacelle and saucer assembly that draws inspiration from the Excelsior-class and would later serve as a template for the layout of the much larger Galaxy-class. It was intermediate in size between the Excelsior-class and the Galaxy-class. In addition, the class boasted at least three engineering levels.
The original class was well equipped to deal with a wide variety of missions and assignments, either in isolation or as part of a flotilla.
The Ambassador III-class Cargo Cruisers were commissioned beginning 2370 to serve primarily as supply cruisers or military freighters to provide repair parts, consumables storage, and other logistical needs. They are thus equipped with advanced cryogenic deuterium drives and are armed with modern force recoupling phasers. The modified Ambassador III ships are essentially interstellar cargo carriers, with a top speed of warp 9.5, only 12 decks for its crew, and 26 huge cargo holds of various sizes.
The Ambassador III-class Heavy Cruisers were also commissioned beginning 2370 to function as part of the rapid reaction force directly assigned to Vanguard Command headquarters in the Coronalis System.
A view of the Ambassador III class variant.
Another view of the Ambassador III class variant.
Master Systems Display the Ambassador III class variant.
Onboard tactical systems[]
In combat, the class offered an effective balance of endurance and firepower. The original variant was notable for being the first serving Federation starship class to be equipped with phaser strips, rather than individual phaser firing ports or turrets.
The refit variant of this class incorporated the latest in Starfleet weaponry and defensive technology, while the cargo variant retained its most recent tactical system specifications prior to conversion as a cargo vessel.
Offensive capabilities[]
The refit variant was armed with 4 collimated Type-XII phaser arrays, 6 Type-X phaser arrays distributed evenly across the frame. These curved stretches of charging coils were symmetrically arranged across wide areas of the ship's hull and allowed a single phaser array to project the beam to any point along the strip, even sometimes shifting the origin points of a beam across the strip itself while it remains engaged in order to track a moving target. This system essentially eliminated all blindspots from the vessels weapons coverage, allowing the ship to defend itself from an attack in any direction with only limited maneuvering. It was also armed with 4 variable-use torpedo launchers with the capacity to fire 50 quantum torpedoes. It has a payload of 50 quantum torpedoes and 200 high-yield photon torpedoes. This supplanted the original armament of 10 Type-IX phaser arrays and 2 photon torpedo launchers.
Defensive capabilities[]
The class's shield systems are extremely resilient, able to endure sustained fire from multiple targets thru an extended engagement. This helps to partially mitigate the ship's limited agility, as the large vessel can often be sluggish when mneuvering at sublight speeds. of the refit variant was equal to that of a Akira-class Heavy Cruiser. It was outfitted with regenerative, multiphasic shield systems, and secondary shields. The regenerative features increase effectiveness against both high energy tractor beams and phased anti-muon (polaron) particles, measures clearly aimed at the Borg and Dominion respectively.
Under normal operations, the shield modulation frequencies were controlled by the ship's computer system, which continually evaluates incoming weapons fire and automatically re-modulates the shields to provide the most effective possible defense. It was thought that this system can also prevent beam-through by Borg transporter technology.
The variant class boasts a hull that was made of overlapping and regenerative ablative hull armor that allows it to take many direct hits from enemy fire even with minimal shields. In addition, the class has been equipped with two separate armor generators that can deploy a thick layer made of ablative armor plating along the contours of the entire ship when activated. This can be done through the numerous armor plating emitters that were installed at different points on the ship's hulls. This coating covers the ship's phaser mounts, but torpedo launchers were not affected by it.
This triple redundancy feature of shields and armor on the Vesta-class allows it to effectively counter Borg and Dominion firepower. However, due to the huge energy needed to deploy both the shields and the generated armor coating at the same time, the Vesta can only use these simultaneously for a maximum of one hour.
The hull of both cargo and refit variants assigned to Vanguard Command was coated with microdiffracted carbon to absorb all visible radiation that fell upon it, making it as black as the space it moved through.
Standard auxiliary craft complement[]
There were two shuttlebays aboard the refit variant, supporting a variety of shuttlecrafts. The ships' main shuttlebay was located on the aft portion of Decks 20 to 22 in the secondary hull. The bay was high enough to accommodate at least one Yellowstone-class runabout. The second shuttlebay was located in Decks 3 and 4 of the aft portion of the saucer section, where smaller shuttlecrafts and shuttlepods are docked.
The cargo variant features a shuttle complement of:
The refit variant features a complement of 13 auxiliary crafts of varying types with support facilities for all, namely:
- One Yellowstone-class runabout
- Two Venture-class scout ships
- Two Flyer-class heavy shuttlecrafts
- Two Valkyrie-class advanced tactical flyers
- Four Type-11 medium shuttlecrafts
- Two Type-9 light shuttlecrafts
Propulsion systems[]
The propulsion system onboard ships of this class both cargo and refit variants were comparable to newer classes. The class boasts of the best navigational sensors, and high rated top speed. Main Engineering itself was located on Deck 21 and was an open-plan facility, directly accessible from the corridor. Consisting of three levels, it provided direct access to the vessel's warp core and primary engineering support systems. The corridor bulkhead housed the Master Situation Monitor. Inside the main section, the master systems display was the operational focus of the room. Beyond this, heading towards the warp core, the chief engineer's office and several support consoles were located on the left, and the assistant chief engineer's console on the right. These formed part of the bulkhead protecting the main part of engineering from the warp core. Access to the upper level, a circular area surrounding the warp core, was provided by a ladder to the left of the warp core or an elevator on the right. The upper level had access to other warp core maintenance systems.
Impulse drive[]
The impulse drive system of the Ambassador III-class was had impulse engines that were equipped with impulse thrusters that provide superb sub-light maneuvering speed.
Warp drive[]
The Ambassador III’s matter-antimatter reaction assembly warp core spanned 17 decks of the Engineering Section. Its warp drive was refitted a tri-cyclic input manifold and was designed to operate for up to 5 years before refueling. The ship's refitted warp engines were based on a new concept in warp drive design, one which eliminates subspace distortion effects inherent to standard warp drives. The reaction chamber was equipped with a compositor, which allowed recrystallization of dilithium. The deuterium tanks were above the core, while antimatter storage pods surrounded the base of the core.
Equipped with the enhanced warp drive of the Khronnians, the Ambassador III could now easily attain and indefinitely sustain a normal cruising speed of Warp 8.5, a maximum cruising speed of Warp 9.5, and a maximum attainable speed of Warp 9.9 for 12 hours.
Quantum slipstream drive[]
Refit variants of this class assigned to Vanguard Command were installed with the latest quantum slipstream drive. This allows them to travel 300 light years in an hour. The systems installed as part of the slipstream drive included a quantum field focus controller at the front of the ship's main deflector and a chroniton integrator, the latter of which could be used to take sensor readings several seconds into the future when the ship was using its slipstream drive.
Computer systems[]
The refit variant was equipped with some of the most advanced computer systems of the time. The computer system on board the class was a hybrid of isolinear and bio-neural based. Computer systems were concentrated in a computer core, which was accessible through a maintenance room. The refit variant carries one main computer core and one back up computer core. The cargo variant only had a single computer core.
Emergency holographic complement[]
All starships assigned to Vanguard Command were equipped with holo-emitters on every deck to allow emergency holographic programs a higher level of access and free movement around the ship. The ship’s computer systems could simultaneously bring online a full Long-term Holographic Program Package composed of:
- 2 Mark-III Long-term Command and Navigation Holograms (LCNH)
- 2 Mark-III Long-term Security and Tactical Holograms (LSTH): 1 Gorn, 1 Pahkwa-thanh
- 3 Mark-III Long-term Engineering Holograms (LEH)
- 2 Mark-IX Long-term Medical Holograms (LMH)
- 2 Mark-III Long-term Health Care Holograms (LHCH)
- 2 Mark-III Long-term Science Holograms (LSH)
Science facilities[]
The refit variant was equipped with a full Astrometrics Lab, a Stellar cartography Department, and several multi-purpose science lab for field testing and investigations.
Medical facilities[]
The class features one large Sickbay on Deck 8, containing eight standard biobeds and two advanced biobed. This room serves as the primary crew support facility during emergency situations.
Crew facilities[]
The refit variant features standard crew quarters and recreation facilities for its 500 crew complement, while the cargo variant had the same facilities for its 90 crew complement.
Accommodations[]
As was common on Starfleet vessels, the living accommodations for senior officers and VIPs were larger than standard crew quarters and lined the edge of the saucer section. They were generally reserved for lieutenant commanders and above. Captain's quarters were similar to the officers' quarters but slightly larger. The captain had a large desk area and work terminal. VIP and diplomatic guest quarters shared the same layout.
Officers' quarters usually included a living area in the center of the dwelling, which held a personal workstation, couch, replicator, and a small dining area. Connected to this was a bedroom that featured a double-sized bed and room for personal belongings. The bedroom would be connected by a half-bathroom with a wash basin, mirror, toilet, several drawers, and a sonic shower.
Junior officers' quarters were small-unit quarters located on the interior of the ship and lacked windows. They were comprised of a living area, a bedroom, and a bathroom. Crew members of lieutenant junior grade were given their own quarters; ensigns and non-commissioned officers were required to share quarters. The living area contained a replicator terminal and was customizable with a variety of furniture and decorations.
Mess lounges[]
There were 4 mess halls and two senior officers' mess lounges onboard the refit variant and only one onboard the cargo variant. These were equipped with full bar and kitchen facilities each managed by a Mess officer, with a private captain's dining room just behind the mess lounge, all served by windows that offered a spectacular view of space outside. Eating accommodations were provided by a slew of tables and chairs. The mess halls could occupy 32 diners at a time. Each mess area had a very relaxed and congenial air about it. At the head of the hall were open slots that served as dispensers for the replicators. The mass-use replicators were able to produce other food and non-alcoholic beverages with an extensive recipe listing from over two hundred worlds for the crew to enjoy in this relaxed social setting. The most notable accessory to the mess areas were modest-sized bar areas, offering a wide selection of synthetic and alcoholic. To conserve replicator rations, the mess halls’ menu was supplemented with food stocks of vegetables cooked by the mess officers from the aeroponics bay and hydroponics bay, along with food obtained from trading and scouting missions. In addition, the mess areas could double as large meeting areas that could be used to conduct crew briefings and mission profiles. A tall screen panel located on one of the walls could be used as a visual aid to display graphics.
Recreational facilities[]
The refit variant features 8 holodecks scattered all over the ship. The ship’s 1 gym contained a variety of recreational equipment for a variety of sports. They were not overly spacious, but were well outfitted. The facilities include variable weight machines, isometric machines, and calisthenic machines and a sparring ring configured for Anbo-Jytsu but easily modified and/or expanded for other practices. All equipment was equipped with the ability to variate gravity for those species that were physically biased toward higher or lower than standard gravity.
Command and senior staff[]
Ambassador III-class Heavy Cruisers had Commanding Officers that hold the rank of Captain, while Executive Officers hold the rank of Commander.
Vanguard Command[]
Twelve Ambassador III-class Cargo Cruisers were assigned to Vanguard Command as cargo vessels tasked to deliver needed logistics between headquarters and four of the six sector commands. Due to the combat-intensive nature of locations operated in by Vanguard Command, where these ships were assigned to, much of their armament have remained unaltered.
Another twelve Ambassador III-class Heavy Cruisers were assign to Vanguard Command as part of its Rapid Reaction Force, deployed whenever a crisis was imminent, or for diplomatic missions: shipping ambassadors, admirals and other high-ranking dignitaries from world to world between headquarters.
Related links[]
| Ambassador-class starships |
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| Prime universe: USS Discovery • USS Enterprise-C • USS Excalibur • USS Hawthorne |
| Vanguard universe Ambassador III-class: USS Victor • USS Zhukov |
| Ambassador III-class: USS Queen of the West |