From: roholdr@ccu.umanitoba.ca (R Ross Holder Jr)
Subject: Galaxy Class Starships & More!
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 19:19:43 GMT

Unfortunately, FASA didn't handle the Galaxy Class Starship very well when it
included statistics for the design in its Sounrce Book.  Using the Starship
Construction Kit I, in command of the Galaxy Class I.S.S. Enterprise (visiting
from the Mirror universe) encountered a "Federation Class Dreadnaught" from
an altered timeline - the "Federation that doesn't take any crap" universe.

The Federation Class Dreadnaught used all the finest 23rd century technology
available in the Construction Kit.  I had the standard Galaxy Class as listed
in the Sourcebook.  While able perhaps to scratch the paint, the Galaxy Class
with all its might was little more than annoyance to the Dreadnaught and
within 4 turns the Galaxy Class went up in the most spectacular explostion.

This can only be the result of one of two things; either I'm an incompetent
starship commander, or the Galaxy Class - according to FASA is a hopeless pile
of junk.  Simulated battles between the Galaxy Class and Exelsior (Mk III)
show, however, that the Galaxy Class is hardly an improvement over other
designs - at best it's a giant science vessel.

Yet, somehow, the Galaxy class is the flagship.  While I'm quite sure that
FASA is aware of these problems by now, it may be powerless to update its
Sourcebooks or make changes after being slapped with a lawsuit by Paramount.
There was the possibility raised that the transwarp engine, while more powerful
than the more modern ultrawarp posed certain hazards to the fabric of space
and the the Galaxy Class' less impressive performance is the result of this.
However, this isn't mentioned in the "technical" manual anywhere and given
other discrepancies with itself, I think FASA's explanation just won't hold
water.

(Note: The power output of the warp engine mounted on the Exelsior Mk III is
3.6 x 10^10 Mw (48 eu.), the warp engine mounted on the Galaxy class is only
3.0 x 10^10 Mw (40 eu.)  The abbreviation "eu." stands for 'energy units'.)

Of particular concern is the weapons array on the saucer section.  The biggest
blunder being that the collimitor (while admittedly powerful) only gets one
shot for every 8 the Exelsior can fire in the same time period.  Enterprise
can fire in that single shot only 3 times the power of a single phaser blast
from Exelsior.  If this were the case, why would someone design a collimator
and include it on the "flagship"?  (I'll grant it looks cool, but so what?)

The Galaxy class starship needs to be overhauled.  I'm at something of a loss
to determine how, though.  The Construction Kit published by FASA doesn't
include even engine types used on the Exelsior.  If anyone has any ideas,
would you please e-mail them to me?

Also, if anyone has any "proposed" stats for _any_ Cardassian or Klingon
24th century vessels - it'd be appreciated as would any information on the
Federation Nebula Class starship.


-- 
R. Ross Holder, Jr.    INTERNET: roholdr@ccu.umanitoba.ca   (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Department of Philosophy   ---Season's-Greetings---   The University of Manitoba
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DISCLAIMER: The views I express are not neccessarily those of the U of Manitoba.