Paint and Powder

A Star Trek anthology by Andrew Joshua Talon

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager et al are the property of CBS Television, and creation of Gene Roddenberry. Please support the official release.

Coontz-class Destroyer

Starship Class :: Coontz
Starsip Type :: Destroyer/Scout
Starship Production Status :: In Production
Starship Fleet Status :: Currently in Service

Starship Design Statistics
First Launched: 2367
Length :: 350 Meters
Beam :: 387 Meters
Draft :: 78 Meters
Displacement :: 850,000 Metric Tons
Cargo Capacity :: Mission Dependent
Hull Type :: Duranium & Tritanium
Decks :: 11
Crew :: 110
Troops :: 60
Evacuation Capacity :: 1,800

Performance:
-Cruising Speed: Warp 7
-Maximum Cruising Speed: Warp 9
-Emergency Speed: Warp 9.5/12 hours

Armament:
-3 x Type X Collimated Phaser Arrays
-1 x FQT-7A Rapid Fire Torpedo Launcher
-1 x Vertical Launch Torpedo System Pods (200 x Single Shot Torpedo Launch Cells Each) (Optional)

Defenses:
-Deflector Shields
-Ablative Armor

Space Wing:
-2 Type-8 Medium Short-Range Shuttlecraft
-2 Type-9 Medium Long-Range Shuttlecraft
-4 Work Bee-Type Maintenance Pods
-Mixture depending on mission

History:
The Galaxy Dynasty of starships was part of an effort to not only upgrade Starfleet of the 2360s and simplify logistical issues, but also to help with testing of numerous technologies and components of the Galaxy Project across the fleet. Numerous successful designs arose from this, including but not limited to the Nebula, New Orleans, Cheyenne, and Galaxy-X classes. Even smaller designs such as the Challenger, Springfield and Freedom classes proved their worth as light cruisers, scouts, and destroyers. However, after the battle of Wolf 359 in 2366, it was clear that Starfleet not only needed to rearm, but expand their fleet considerably.

The Galaxy Project lineage had made up the majority of the starships destroyed at Wolf 359, but the tech and manufacturing base was the most expedient. As a result, build contracts were reissued for the Galaxy, Nebula, New Orleans, and Cheyenne classes, but the majority of other vessels were considered obsolete. However, this did leave Starfleet without a suitable destroyer/scout replacement in the meantime, as Miranda and Oberth-class vessels were definitely showing their age. The independent starship design firm Cryptic, operating out of Utopia Planitia, submitted an unusual design for a vessel to fill the gap and hold the line until more advanced classes came online.

It was based on a classic destroyer profile, a one-nacelle vessel with a saucer attached, as had been done with vessels like the Saladin and Freedom classes. But where those had been essentially cobbled together kitbashes, the Coontz-class destroyer/scout was only slightly more expensive by simply using scaled down modules from the Galaxy Project tech base. The double-warp coil configuration of the Galaxy-type warp nacelle and the organic shaping of the hull made the ship very fast for a mono-nacelle design, and despite being scaled down, the use of modern computers and support systems would make it fairly comfortable for a small vessel-Enhancing crew performance. Finally, it would utilize direct links to the warp coils for phaser power, giving it a respectable punch for its size. The addition of a single photon torpedo launcher with Sierra launch and rapid fire capability would make it deadly, especially in groups. And with lessons learned from the Borg, even its basic shields would be at least five times as durable as those fitted to Miranda-class ships. The addition of a new technology, ablative armor, would make the tiny vessels even tougher.

Utopia Planitia herself helped iron out issues with the design, and it was accepted and put into production by 2367. Extensive testing and shakedowns saw multiple Coontz-class destroyers/scouts entering service in large numbers, mainly deployed to reinforce the Federation interior and border patrol.

While small, the Coontz-class became favorites of their crews for their comfortable furnishings and maneuverability. Galaxy-grade maneuvering thrusters had been left in place and her single impulse drive was multi-vectored, making the awkward looking ship surprisingly agile. While only armed with three phaser arrays and a single photon torpedo launcher, the tiny ship could fire her weapons at high rates of speed and at high energy levels, offering a nasty surprise to unwary enemy vessels. And her torpedo launcher was the FQT-7 model utilized by the Galaxy-class, allowing for salvos of up to ten torpedoes in a single launch.

The Coontz-class AIs were generally "younger" AIs, peppy, perky, and almost childlike to reflect their small hulls.

(Strangely a lot of them prefer to have one missing appendage on their avatars-A strange joke in reference to their single warp nacelle).

With the coming of the Saber-class and other more modern destroyer/frigate/scout ships, the Coontz-class took more of a support role. Yet their service, especially during the Dominion War, was invaluable-Unsung heroes of the Federation frontiers.

Look up the Coontz-class destroyers at InPayne's Star Trek model page! I know they look a little weird but I like them.

Note: Yes, now you can have cute amputee anime shipgirls. You're welcome... Whoever wanted that.