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Description

Here is my idea of a backstory for this refit. Given the opportunity to include whatever features I wanted, I pretty much threw in everything I’d like to see on a Star Trek starship. So don't be shocked.:

In the year 2379 after the Sovereign–class U.S.S. Enterprise-E barely survived an encounter with the Reman Warbird Scimitar, Starfleet came to the realization that even its heavily armed Sovereign-class starship might not be enough to face the new and emerging threats that the Federation was facing.

In light of that realization, Starfleet set forth on a new project to rapidly enhance the defensive capabilities of its existing fleet. One aspect of that effort was to upgrade the combat capabilities of its Galaxy-class vessels.

“When relieved of its bulk, the [Galaxy-class] Enterprise becomes an exceptional weapon.” -- Lt. Worf 2364

Lieutenant Worf’s sentiment expressed an opinion that was widely held throughout Starfleet. But while Galaxy-class vessels were able to detach their saucer section in the event of an imminent threat, doing so meant leaving the saucer (filled with civilians) relatively defenseless, often in or near a combat zone.

In an effort to address this concern, Starfleet (for a short period of time) began to deploy its remaining Galaxy-class vessels without their saucers. It was hoped that this step would immediately increase the combat effectiveness of this class while at the same time, minimizing the risk to civilians. But leaving the saucer behind meant leaving much of the ship’s manpower, computing power, laboratories, and other resources behind as well. A better solution was required.

Starfleet commissioned “Project Warhorse,” an effort to modernize, upgrade and enhance the defensive capabilities of the Galaxy-class. Project Warhorse began by developing a new smaller saucer section for the Galaxy-class that would significantly reduce the size and mass of the vessel, while still maintaining its most important capabilities. While this proposal was well received, Starfleet was concerned that this one modification alone didn’t go far enough. Starfleet Command directed that even more sweeping upgrades be implemented. The response to this directive resulted in two parallel paths:

1. A quick turn-around option that would deliver the best results possible within a short time frame.
2. A more aggressive and sweeping upgrade over a longer development cycle.

The quick turnaround path resulted in the Galaxy-class Dreadnaught (famous for its 3-nacelled design.)

The longer development option resulted in the Galaxy-class refit.

The Galaxy-class refit employed the following upgrades:

- The large oval saucer-section was replaced with a sleek, smaller “arrowhead” design. (Reducing the mass of the saucer dramatically increased the ship’s speed and maneuverability.)
- Following the lead of the Sovereign-class, the vulnerable “neck” section was essentially eliminated.
- Impulse drives upgraded.
- Shielding was dramatically enhanced, including the implementation of metaphasic shielding.
- Numerous retractable torpedo launchers added.
- Phaser strips added.
- The main navigational deflector was upgraded and reconfigured to operate as “super-phaser.”
- Three additional super-phaser weapons added to the underside of the saucer section.
- Warp nacelles were upgraded to Transwarp nacelles, a revolutionary upgrade. (Maximum Transwarp speed remains highly classified.)
- Bussard collectors were given more armor protection, while simultaneously increasing their effectiveness.
- Hangar bays relocated to secondary hull, and redesigned to support a small contingent of star-fighters.
- Fighter launch tubes added to lower section of secondary hull.
- After the ban on cloaking technology was lifted, Galaxy-class refitted with cloaking devices.
- Overall crew size reduced.
- The number of windows on the engineering area was dramatically reduced.
- New components constructed largely of new advanced Quadratanium and Herculanium.
- The new main bridge was buried deep within the saucer, addressing an age-old complaint.

The newly refit U.S.S. Galaxy, NCC-70657, entered service under the command of Fleet Captain Matthew Raven in 2382. Shortly after entering service, encounters with Borg and Romulan forces promptly established the U.S.S. Galaxy as the dominant ship in the fleet and in the quadrant.

While the Galaxy-class refit was largely intended to upgrade the vessel’s defensive capabilities, the refit maintained its designation as an “Explorer.” The U.S.S. Galaxy has continued to live up to those ideals, by making first contact with over 15 new worlds to date.

Description

Here is my idea of a backstory for this refit. Given the opportunity to include whatever features I wanted, I pretty much threw in everything I’d like to see on a Star Trek starship. So don't be shocked.:

In the year 2379 after the Sovereign–class U.S.S. Enterprise-E barely survived an encounter with the Reman Warbird Scimitar, Starfleet came to the realization that even its heavily armed Sovereign-class starship might not be enough to face the new and emerging threats that the Federation was facing.

In light of that realization, Starfleet set forth on a new project to rapidly enhance the defensive capabilities of its existing fleet. One aspect of that effort was to upgrade the combat capabilities of its Galaxy-class vessels.

“When relieved of its bulk, the [Galaxy-class] Enterprise becomes an exceptional weapon.” -- Lt. Worf 2364

Lieutenant Worf’s sentiment expressed an opinion that was widely held throughout Starfleet. But while Galaxy-class vessels were able to detach their saucer section in the event of an imminent threat, doing so meant leaving the saucer (filled with civilians) relatively defenseless, often in or near a combat zone.

In an effort to address this concern, Starfleet (for a short period of time) began to deploy its remaining Galaxy-class vessels without their saucers. It was hoped that this step would immediately increase the combat effectiveness of this class while at the same time, minimizing the risk to civilians. But leaving the saucer behind meant leaving much of the ship’s manpower, computing power, laboratories, and other resources behind as well. A better solution was required.

Starfleet commissioned “Project Warhorse,” an effort to modernize, upgrade and enhance the defensive capabilities of the Galaxy-class. Project Warhorse began by developing a new smaller saucer section for the Galaxy-class that would significantly reduce the size and mass of the vessel, while still maintaining its most important capabilities. While this proposal was well received, Starfleet was concerned that this one modification alone didn’t go far enough. Starfleet Command directed that even more sweeping upgrades be implemented. The response to this directive resulted in two parallel paths:

1. A quick turn-around option that would deliver the best results possible within a short time frame.
2. A more aggressive and sweeping upgrade over a longer development cycle.

The quick turnaround path resulted in the Galaxy-class Dreadnaught (famous for its 3-nacelled design.)

The longer development option resulted in the Galaxy-class refit.

The Galaxy-class refit employed the following upgrades:

- The large oval saucer-section was replaced with a sleek, smaller “arrowhead” design. (Reducing the mass of the saucer dramatically increased the ship’s speed and maneuverability.)
- Following the lead of the Sovereign-class, the vulnerable “neck” section was essentially eliminated.
- Impulse drives upgraded.
- Shielding was dramatically enhanced, including the implementation of metaphasic shielding.
- Numerous retractable torpedo launchers added.
- Phaser strips added.
- The main navigational deflector was upgraded and reconfigured to operate as “super-phaser.”
- Three additional super-phaser weapons added to the underside of the saucer section.
- Warp nacelles were upgraded to Transwarp nacelles, a revolutionary upgrade. (Maximum Transwarp speed remains highly classified.)
- Bussard collectors were given more armor protection, while simultaneously increasing their effectiveness.
- Hangar bays relocated to secondary hull, and redesigned to support a small contingent of star-fighters.
- Fighter launch tubes added to lower section of secondary hull.
- After the ban on cloaking technology was lifted, Galaxy-class refitted with cloaking devices.
- Overall crew size reduced.
- The number of windows on the engineering area was dramatically reduced.
- New components constructed largely of new advanced Quadratanium and Herculanium.
- The new main bridge was buried deep within the saucer, addressing an age-old complaint.

The newly refit U.S.S. Galaxy, NCC-70657, entered service under the command of Fleet Captain Matthew Raven in 2382. Shortly after entering service, encounters with Borg and Romulan forces promptly established the U.S.S. Galaxy as the dominant ship in the fleet and in the quadrant.

While the Galaxy-class refit was largely intended to upgrade the vessel’s defensive capabilities, the refit maintained its designation as an “Explorer.” The U.S.S. Galaxy has continued to live up to those ideals, by making first contact with over 15 new worlds to date.