Hermes Class - Pegasus Variant Scout


SHIP DESCRIPTION

The U.S.S. TANG NCC-581 is a HERMES Class PEGASUS Variant Scout.

When it was first designed and built, the TANG was just another HERMES class scout vessel, but due to the added design specifications it looks bit different. Most notable is the Early Warning, Detection and Space Traffic Control Disk rising out of the main hull and neck section. This disk houses all the equipment and crew needed for deep sensor scan into surrounding space and the Space Traffic controllers. The Space Traffic Control function is used to augment or stand in place of a planetary space control system and during fleet actions is the traffic control for the fleet and keeps track of enemy vessels and dispatches the appropriate ship to deal with an enemy ship. When not acting as a mobile space Traffic Control platform, the TANG uses its augmented sensors to conduct scans deep into bordering space.

At this time though the TANG is assigned to patrol near the Delta Quadrant and scan for Borg Cubes and Spheres operating near, or on a heading, the Alpha Quadrant. Future missions will include long-range surveys in the Gamma Quadrant. Another apparent difference is the modified neck, it's thicker and wider than the standard cruiser or scout neck, this is to offer additional structural support for the Disk Array and provides space for Two Photon Torpedo tubes. On port and starboard sides of the neck are two cylinders resembling small or runabout sized warp nacelles, these in fact house further sensing equipment.

As is apparent, the PEGASUS Variant of the HERMES class are ultra sensitive sensor platforms with added features, yet with enough weaponry to not be a burden during fleet engagements.

SHIP HISTORY

The TANG and her sister rose out of the necessity for space Traffic control during fleet size engagements, such as that at Wolf 359 and later during the mass engagements during the conflict with the Dominion. One of the odd things about the TANG and other ships of the PEGASUS Variant is that the hulls used are the old HERMES and SALADIN class hulls. This is because shortly after the disaster at Wolf 359 Starfleet Command looked to the old hulls in the Fleet scrap yard to refit some in order to have as many ships back in action as possible until newer designs were perfected and constructed.

Since the hulls were for the most part still intact, the Starfleet corps of Engineers put many back into action. But while there were a god number of the old HERMES and SALADIN class still workable, the design would not be powerful enough to stand against a cruiser of either the Dominion or the Cardassians. Therefore, some Fleet Engineers felt that Starfleet needed some ships with the abilities of the 20th century AWACS air- craft then in us by the U.S. Military. By the time the first ship was ready to go into service the engineers had completely reworked the internals. The controls were replaced with the newer touch pad surfaces much of the circuitry was replaced by the newer bio-gel packs. The warp nacelle of the older ships proved to be very accommodating for the newer more efficient warp drives. By the time the first new Galaxy class replacement ship was put into service quite a few of the older HERMES, SALADIN and CONSTITUTION class ships were back in service. As the fleet was rebuilt with newer ships, most of the older class ships were pulled back to serve on border patrols and deep space watch.

 

 

Commanding Officer
Commodore Lutz

Executive Officer
Captain Jolitz

Chief of the Boat
CPO Gayhart