Curiosity Class

History

In the years following the Dominion War, Starfleet began a phase of structured and ensured rebuilding. This involved the intention to finish the run of vessels currently under production, and roll out a new series of ship designs that would share a design philosophy. In a similar vein to the Starfleet of the 23rd Century, the Fleet wanted to return to having the flexibility to quickly and easily construct a wide array of vessels for the Fleet.  Referred to internally and in design orders as “Starfleet Design Order Forvitni” the intent was to return to an era of standardized ship design. This program was to create a single base platform that could be built at just about any Fleet Yard in all of the Federation. Most importantly, these ships were to be able to fulfill any mission profile within the Fleet, while still providing the opportunity to act and operate as a warship, should the need arise. 

After the attack on Mars in 2385, and the destruction of one of the Federations foremost dockyards, this program was moved up in priority, and the design firm was selected, with ships required to be entering service no later than 2390. The firm that won provided two primary designs, the Inquiry and the Curiosity classes. The Federation ordered development of both ships, with the Curiosity to be deployed first as the Light Cruiser variant, and the Inquiry to come out later as the Heavy Cruiser. 

With heavy advancements in the field of holographic modeling and the use of artificial intelligence (though limited in comparison to the newly illegal synths) the firm set to work with designs. While the Vesta Program had originally produced a failure of a system, room for the currently experimental Quantum Slipstream Drive was left for future refit. Computers went to work designing two ships, easy to produce, that would be the new cornerstone of the Fleet. 

The Curiosity was complete as of 2386, with the test keel laid that year. Production, slowed as it was by the sudden lack of the original testing yards, was done at San Francisco Fleet Yards over Earth, under the watchful eye of both the Federation and Starfleet. By 2387 NX-87000 was completed, and system checks were given permission to begin. 

Noted by engineers was the computer’s reliance on two oversized impulse engines in both designs, which seemed to be far larger than necessary. The computer, having been fed information around vessels successful in the Dominion War, had pushed out two ships that were faster and slightly more maneuverable in normal operation, relying on a more compacted design. Further, rather than the convention of placing the shuttle bay to the rear of the craft, instead it was moved to the front of the ship, with the pulse phasers just below it. Taking cues from the success of most Alpha and Beta quadrant powers, the use of the pulsed weapons from the Defiant class were used, allowing if the need presented itself, the Curiosity to be used in strafing runs for attack.

The ship was not without its usual Starfleet facilities, with a powerful array of scientific suites, medical facilities, and access to industrial replication facilities to allow for supporting colonies and humanitarian missions. This made the Curiosity a well rounded vessel, designed to easily fill the role of a Light Cruiser vessel, while still aligning with the Federation’s goal for Starfleet to be a scientific element as well. 

The nacelles and deflector followed a different take, with the nacelles actually being easily detached and replaced in the event of damage. This also meant that, should a Curiosity or Inquiry be refit for a QSD, a new set could be easily installed. Further, if they were damaged, they could be replaced with ease. The deflector, famously a weakness of Federation ships, was given a layer of protection, with a closeable grill back across the front that would open during jumps to warp. This would protect it from attacks while not under power.

When the Curiosity herself launched in later 2387 for trials, she was found to measure up well, with an excellent acceleration and maneuverability rating. That agility showed itself in combat trials, with the vessel able to perform well in its light cruiser operations, and even able to keep up with the more heavily armed Sovereign class ships it tried against. Although not able to punch up against them necessarily, she did give them a run for their money. After a year of tests and trials, the Curiosity class was approved for operations by the Federation, with an order of fifty placed for immediate production.