A couple of days ago I saw a comment on how Nero's presence in the past was what resulted in the change in the Enterprise's design. The Evil-Mind-Gears-of-DOOM! started turning and this came out. It is, in fact, based on my own issues with the re-design. If you too were dissappointed with it make sure to leave a comment.
Star Trek = Gene Rodenburry
Edwin Wilker = Me!
Why The Enterprise Is So Messed Up
His name was Edwin Wilker, he was merely a cadet at the time but he had dreams. His dream was to one day become a well renowned designer for Starfleet's Engineering Corp. He had been drawing up plans for various vessels since he was fifteen. He was close to achieving his dream, but first he had to complete a five-year tour aboard the U.S.S. Kelvin.
In another universe Edwin would end up designing the most advanced ship in the fleet, but this isn't that universe. In this universe three great men died in one day: Captain Richard Robau, First Officer George Kirk, and Wilker himself. Some creations, though, should die with their creators.
Seconds before the Kelvin impacted upon the hull of the mysterious Romulan vessel it gathered all the data in its computers and transmitted it to Starfleet; a blackbox of sorts. Amongst the data sent was Wilker's preliminary designs for a class of vessel he had named 'Constitution'. It consisted of a large saucer connected to a cylindrical body by a slanted neck. Two warp nacelles trailed behind standing on outwardly-slanted stilts. It was stream-lined, efficient…beautiful.
In another universe its beauty would sail out amongst the stars; the flagship of the Federation. But this isn't that universe. In this universe the message sent is distorted and the plans are handed over to a second-rate engineer (at least, when compared to Wilker) and the Constution class, as it was meant to be, was torn apart. The color of the hull plating is turned bone white, the nacelles pushed too close to each other and almost touch the saucer. The neck securing the saucer to the body is pushed too far back and the perfect curves of the ship are turned into slants.
It is ugly.
And it's all Nero's fault.