Hetman-class Starship

[Planet of Hats]

Hetman-class Starship
Fast multi-mission cruiser

Starship Specifications: ShowHide

GENERAL INFORMATION Class Hetman Designation Fast multi-mission cruiser Hull Duration 100+ years Time Between Refits 25 years for major replacementss Time Between Resupply 5-7 years	PERSONNEL Officers 122 Enlisted Crew 605 Civilians 0 Marines/MACO 0 Evacuation Limit 2,700
DIMENSIONS Length 751 metres Height ~90 metres Width ~225 metres Decks 24 (22 habitable)	WEAPONS AND DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS Shields 28x shield grids generating 13,600 MW Weapon Systems At launch: 16x Type XIV phaser beam array Refit: 6x Type XV-C burst phaser beam array 10x Type XIV phaser beam array Torpedo Armament 4x multi-purpose photon torpedo tube, 2x forward-firing, 2x aft 1x twin-bore rotary quantum torpedo turret, ventral mount
SCIENTIFIC SYSTEMS Sensor Systems 56x tactical sensor systems 20x multipurpose interchangeable sensor pallets Scientific Laboratories 30x multipurpose laboratory facilities 1x stellar cartography bay Probe Systems Class I through X probes available	PROPULSION SYSTEMS Engine Configuration Launch: -- 1x Yoyodyne SSWR-40 M/AM warp core powering 2x Mitsubishi-Thylliash MAM-9900 warp nacelles -- 1x Ares Dynamics Challenger-5F adaptive impulse drive Refit: -- 1x Yoyodyne SSWR-45 M/AM warp core powering 2x Yoyodyne Swallowtail nacelle assemblies -- 1x Ares Dynamics Challenger-7B adaptive impulse drive, dual-outlet configuration Cruise Speed Normal: Warp 7.5 Maximum: Warp 9.5 (launch), warp 9.6 refit Maximum Sustainable Speeds Launch: Warp 9.977 for 6 hours Refit: Warp 9.968 for 12 hours; slipstream 27 in short bursts Emergency Speed Warp 9.977
CREW SUPPORT SYSTEMS Medical Support Systems Standard infirmary facilities (10x standard beds, 2x advanced biobed) 2x intensive care units 3x surgical suites 1x null-grav therapy ward 1x dental care office Full-deck emergency medical hologram infrastructure Recreational Systems 4x standard holodecks and 8x holosuites 1x weight room and physical activity space 1x forward lounge area Crew Quarters Capacity for up to 750 regular crew	AUXILIARY CRAFT Shuttlebays 2x standard shuttlebay in saucer, capacity for six shuttles Small Auxiliary Craft 6x Type 11 shuttle 4x shuttlepod or work bee Large Auxiliary Craft 1x captain's yacht

The ships of the Hetman class were commissioned between 2400 and 2405 as part of a program of up-armament in preparation for an anticipated conflict with the Klingons. They represent an early venture into modern Starfleet design principles as well as an evolution of the more combat-focused Sovereign-class fleet cruisers, designed with an eye towards acting as a "fast Sovereign" in 25th-century conflicts.

Procurement for the class began in the late 2380s under Starfleet's Cruiser, Multirole (CMR) competition. Program finalists were rapidly winnowed down to Austal Galactic, offering an unusual "space whale" design that would lead directly to the bulkier star cruisers of the Klingon War era, and Koenig-Prax-Nelok Star Dynamics (KPN) offering a highly streamlined "hot rod" design with linear similarities to the Sovereign and Regent classes. Prototypes of each ship were holotested at Utopia Planitia, with the Austal design being rejected on grounds of inferior defensive coverage. KPN was allocated yard space at Utopia Planitia to begin construction as of 2395, with the first ship of the class entering service in 2401. The class name - a Ukrainian term for a leader of Cossacks - reflects the class's clear Sovereign lineage.

On paper the Hetman ships are classified as "fast multi-mission cruisers," but in practice they were fielded as fast battlecruisers with amphibious assault capability. The baseline Hetman was a highly streamlined ship designed to produce a low-profile, elongated warp bubble, driven by a high-powered, wide-aperture deflector. This geometry minimizes Cochrane deformation even at extremely high warp speeds but also draws more heavily on the ships' power reserves. In its initial configuration, the ship was propelled at superluminal velocities by high-powered Mitsubishi-Thylliash MAM-9900 nacelles. This configuration was intended to deliver high burst speed for extremely fast response times.

At launch, the Hetmans were among the fastest ships in Starfleet at their top speed. However, their top speed could be maintained for no more than six hours, with cruising speeds being more in line with those expected of ships such as the Sovereign. This suited Starfleet fine at the time: It allowed the ships to act as fast offensive platforms, warping rapidly into combat zones and striking fast with heavy phaser and torpedo armament. The Hetmans were designed "for but not with" laboratory facilities, a euphemism designed to obscure that significant open space was left inside the hull for boarding troops and weapons: The ships were designed to carry up to 250 MACOs and their associated equipment. A single Hetman was theoretically capable of capturing and holding a major starbase with only the troops aboard.

The Hetmans served effectively in their role throughout the Klingon War, appearing prominently in a number of major battles and fleet actions. In particular, USS Tlatoani spearheaded a major operation against Klingon positions in the Dorala sector, successfully destroying a major shipyard and forestalling a campaign against Federation worlds in the nearby Alpha Lyncis Sector. However, the high power and acceleration stresses involved in frequent ultra-high-warp bursts resulted in the ships suffering significant nacelle pylon stresses. These problems were made horrifically apparent by the loss of USS Cacique in 2413: The ship was destroyed with all hands when her starboard pylon broke off at maximum warp. A subsequent investigation revealed all ships of the class were experiencing pylon microfracturing. The class was drydocked pending a complete pylon and nacelle replacement. The Starfleet Corps of Engineers recommended the replacement of the MAM-9900 nacelles with the more efficient Yoyodyne Swallowtail. This replacement reduced the ships' extremely high top speeds somewhat, while prolonging cruising duration and reducing stress on the pylons to levels easily accountable for by nominal adjustments to the structural integrity field.

Alongside these modifications, a transition to dedicated carrier ships like the Presidio class of command cruisers led Starfleet to order the MACO facilities removed from all ships of the class, to be replaced with science and sensor analysis facilities. This was largely seen as a political directive from the Federation government, recognizing the need for explorers following the wind-down of conflicts with the Iconians and the reduction of ongoing war efforts to task force-level engagements. Further computerization modifications reduced the overall crew complement needed for regular operation.

The remaining Hetmans continue in service as well-balanced cruisers capable of carrying fairly solidly-equipped science missions into dangerous regions of space. The ships are fairly popular with their crews and considered to have excellent high accommodation standards: The crew reduction associated with removing the MACO contingent has allowed even junior crew to have individual rooms.


Known ships in class: Hetman NCC-96550, Cacique NCC-96551 (lost), Tlatoani NCC-96553, Khanzada NCC-96557, Sachem NCC-96612