Poll of the Week: Small Ships Packing a Punch

[Jo Marshall]

When you mention ships of the Trekverse, the one everyone remembers is the Enterprise; the beautiful vessel that has captured the hearts and imaginations of the audience and the crew through years of successive storytelling. In the series, where space flight could be perilous, encounters with enemies more so, and hosting everyday life on board, the ships of the line became as recognisable in the shows as the characters themselves. You'd be hard-pressed to find a Star Trek fan who can't identify the sleek lines of the Galaxy class on sight, or punch the air when the Sovereign class makes that famed strafing run against the Borg.

However, there are the unsung heroes of the Starfleet ship catalogue in the smaller ships; those with a smaller crew, designed for a specific purpose, and perform their role within the universe perfectly. This broad range of starships includes vessels designed for war the Federation didn't plan for, scientific vessels with limited weapons capabilities, ships solely for transport and supply, or for scouting in areas larger ships would be detected. In a universe where space vessels make up the primary settings for our characters, encounters, and stories, having a ship which suits the tale you want to tell is paramount. 

So, this week, we want to know if any of these ships have captured your interest and your imagination. Have you had dreams of sailing around the galaxy doing all the science in your Oberth class, opted for the cloak and dagger aspects of a Saber class, or would you be interested in running search and rescue missions in a Defiant?

Which of these smaller ship classes has ever piqued your interest?

Edited May 21, 2020 by Jo Marshall

[Noa T'Nessa Levinson]

For me, it's the Defiant-class.

Placing the fact it just looks awesome in my opinion aside, this one little ship is smaller than an NX-class!

It honestly just baffles my mind. I know there are over 220 years of difference between the development of the two classes, but it's just awesome to me.

[Alieth]

Defiant have an spacial place in my heart due it is the ship of my fav show. No logic behind it, it's DS9 and that's enough for me XD

[Pholin Duyzer]

The Defiant definitely is a beautiful little thing- but it's the Nova who's always had a special place in my heart. I love the idea of a tiny science vessel zooming through space with barely enough room to breathe. 😂

[Jo Marshall]

There's something of the old-school swashbucklers about the Defiant class! Definitely a strong favourite, especially with all that nose art 😂 

 

Hermes Class, search and rescue 👀 dive in, do the stuff, dive out

[+ Lephi]

The Defiant almost got my vote simply for being in my favorite Trek, but I have to go with the Nova class. There's just something so sleek, beautiful, and noble about it.

[Wes Greaves]

Defiant is pretty sick, but I love the venerable Miranda.  Call me a sucker for nostalgia, but name another ship with the flexibility and the service life of the Miranda.  Work horse of the Federation for over a century and a half!

 

That nose art on your defiant picture does make me want to do a Defiant model kit with some custom decals....

Edited May 21, 2020 by Wes Greaves

[Jo Marshall]

So much love for our smaller ships! We've had a couple of Miranda classes in the fleet, maybe Wes' will be next!

And man, the Nova gives me such feels 😂 Tonnes you could with a science vessel winging around the galaxy, looking into all the strange and doing all the science.  Had a couple of Nova classes too!

https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Starfleet_Vessel_Register/By_Class

[Sal Taybrim]

I'm torn.  I *almost* chose a Nova class ship for my command because I love the feeling of having a small, maneuverable stealthy ship with a specific mission type like the sciene-oriented Nova.  It's would be like Bill Nye the Science Spies

But I also adore the Miranda class because I love classic ships and I can not lie, you other Captains can't deny, when a ship flies in with two fine nacelles and a big old dish to swell you get *hyped!*

[Maddi Hyden]

From the first time I watched DS9 I have always loved the Defiant class not only does she pack a punch, but can have a surprise or two no one would expect. 

[Solaris]

5 hours ago, Sal Taybrim said:

I'm torn.  I *almost* chose a Nova class ship for my command because I love the feeling of having a small, maneuverable stealthy ship with a specific mission type like the sciene-oriented Nova.  It's would be like Bill Nye the Science Spies

But I also adore the Miranda class because I love classic ships and I can not lie, you other Captains can't deny, when a ship flies in with two fine nacelles and a big old dish to swell you get *hyped!*

Mmm... wow how different of a history that would have been.

 

~~

 

I picked the Defiant-class. Its like an A-10. Hits hard, survives pretty much everything.

[+ Nadeshiko]

I picked the Defiant-class because.. well, it's always reminded me a lot more of a purpose built ship, and it's limitations make it more interesting to me, since well, the Galaxy class can go on longer in deep space, but the Defiant has a time limit in how long it can be on mission.

(That said, my second choice is the Nova-class)

I can't say I like any of the others, but I'd like to see a modern refit of at least the Miranda-class. (Because, honestly, my favorite ship class is actually from STO.. <_<)

 

[Piravao sh'Qynallahr]

While the Defiant is a damn nice ship, I just can't ever get over how cute and silly the Oberth class looks, it gets my vote

[Hannibal Parker]

I've got a real love for the Miranda Class. Lots of guns, multi mission capable and capable of just about anything. I like them so much when I do make Captain, I'm picking a Miranda Class as my ship...an updated one...with armor, regenerative shields and a bigger hangar bay. According to STO, Miranda production was restarted in 2406, so you never know...heh..heh..heh...maybe it started a little early...

[Tony, aka Rouiancet]

I have an inexplicable soft spot for the lil' weirdo that is the Oberth class.

[+ Hutch]

No fair! I can only vote for one!

as much as I want to vote for the Defiant, it’s got to be the Miranda for me. I was always a huge Reliant fan as well as being a Drake alumni.

[+ Edward Spears]

The Nova class gets my vote, hands down. A little biased, as I used to sim on one in a different Trek game but there's something intimate about a small survey ship. I feel like you can get a really compelling story going since the crew compliment is so small. I mean, you could put a name and face to every member of the crew quite easily! And that adds to the peril of something happening to any of them! 

Defiant is choice number two because that thing hits way above its size, and the nose art potential (as mentioned earlier) is just fantastic. Also, it had the best concept patch ever. 

[Jo Marshall]

The Nova-class is over taking the Defiant! 👀 what have I done

[Pholin Duyzer]

SCIENCE! 😜

[Pholin Duyzer]

Also... not enough love for the Miranda variant Soyuz! She's like a Miranda but even more sexy.

[BenStryker]

If we're still talking about these ships and since I'm new here, I'm curious. Are we in distant future going to have another playable ship like a defiant class or maybe something similar to a Soyez or a Miranda class? Small ships are boss....just saying.

 

👀🤫🤔

[Hannibal Parker]

2 hours ago, Pholin Duyzer said:

Also... not enough love for the Miranda variant Soyuz! She's like a Miranda but even more sexy.

Now you're talking!!!!!

[Hannibal Parker]

31 minutes ago, BenStryker said:

If we're still talking about these ships and since I'm new here, I'm curious. Are we in distant future going to have another playable ship like a defiant class or maybe something similar to a Soyez or a Miranda class? Small ships are boss....just saying.

 

👀🤫🤔

Mirandas are playable as far as I know....Defiant Class not sure....

[Jo Marshall]

I can't believe the Defiant and Nova are neck and neck in this space race 😄 Lot of love for the plucky science vessel!

[Hannibal Parker]

22 hours ago, Jo Marshall said:

I can't believe the Defiant and Nova are neck and neck in this space race 😄 Lot of love for the plucky science vessel!

That is hard to believe...but you can't beat Defiant Class nose art....where would you put it on a Nova Class?