KASHMIR-CLASS STARSHIP

The Federation's mad scramble for allies during the Dominion War of the 2370s (as well as the subsequent Breen conflict, continued incursions by the Borg and continued tensions with the Romulans) had one significant fallout: by the turn of the century, the Federation was larger than it had ever been. Rather than consolidating these gains, new technologies such as the tentative research into Transwarp conduits and the unreliable Slipstream Drive brought back with the famed starship Voyager (Intrepid-class, q.v.) meant that Starfleet vessels were exploring further afield than ever before.

This created many blessings, but also a curse: it now took several years for starships to cross the Federation's territory. Ships patrolling (and exploring beyond) certain parts of the border would stay in a few specific sectors for their entire operational life. With so many new (albeit valuable) members on the periphery who were often unclear on what it 'meant' to be in the Federation, fears were raised at Starfleet Headquarters that the existence of such 'military districts' could lead to provincialism, increased nationalism and the ultimate breakaway of whole sections of the outlying sectors.

Admiral Nog's classic report addressed these concerns and recommended the construction of a new, fast starship class of cruiser to provide an intra-Federation transport network. Previously such duties had been given to older ships no longer considered 'front-line' - the few remaining Excelsior-class starships, the Akira-class and the 5 Galaxy-classes that had survived thus far.

In 2407 the first prototype was rolled out, the USS Kashmir, NX-90770. In terms of speed, it matched the upper limits of the Intrepid- and Prometheus-classes, with limits of Warp 9.99985 recently declassified. Legend has it that the Kashmir even broke the Warp 10 barrier during tests, but this has always been denied by all members of the test crew. Stories that they all acted too embarrassed to ever work with each other again, and developed a profound aversion to amphibians, remain merely rumours.

The Kashmir-class became one of the most successful starships of the 24th Century, with 263 ships built. Many remain in service today.

(From All Along The Watchtower: Starfleet in the 24th Century by Farquar, Warrink and Dunehew; VIVA LAS VEGAS Press, 2555)

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"Isn't Y2K year 2048?? I mean last time I checked 1K was 1024.
Now that Y1.953125K, that's where the real problem lies..."

(your lucky cause I don't think I've used the word 'neat' before *chuckle*)

P.S. I agree with Bernd about the non-existant warp 10 stuff - lets just put that aside to those hallucinagenic Delta Q dilithium crystals Voyager found...
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"I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die, while you discuss this invasion in a committee" Queen Amidala - Star Wars: Episode 1, The Phantom Menace

If it's not, WHO IS IT?? Might I have a relative online?

Other than that, it's really pretty neat. Hope to see the pics soon.

*grin*

Sounds neat. How abotu a USS Cashmere as well?

Sorry, I just haven't had time to finish this. If I'd known it was going to take so long, I'd have held off on posting this thread. Soon, I promise. Oh, and. . .

*smites Feddy* 8)