Runabout

The unheralded workhorses of the Federation, runabouts exist in the liminal space between frigate and shuttlecraft and perform roles as varied as force reconnaissance and warpspeed infrastructure transport. These small starships can be found berthed at almost every Federation facility and make up a substantial majority of all commissioned Starfleet craft all while remaining largely beneath the notice of all but the most die-hard fleet enthusiasts among the general population.

Although the definition of the term 'runabout' is something that has fluctuated somewhat over time, in modern parlance it refers to any warp-capable starship with a length from 20 meters to 100 meters, or a displacement in excess of 15 kt and not exceeding 200 kt (although certain ships falling below that latter mark are exempted from the runabout category on a per-case basis). A runabout is also required to have the capability to operate independently for an extended period of time. While smaller runabouts are often assigned to, say, a starbase or even an Explorer on a permanent basis, a vessel that relies on their 'mothership' would fall short of these qualifications.

For those versed in human history, the name itself is somewhat confounding. First applied to small watercraft, the vessels so named were light boats meant for leisure and local transportation and which entirely lacked the wide range of utility for which modern runabout has become emblematic. The true origin of the term in fact lies with the small warp sleds that cluttered the space around Tellar Prime and her colonies, called thramgrult -- or, literally, "everywhere scamperers." When UESPA studied the Tellarite State's stellar logistics practices in the 2150s with an eye towards incorporating their innovations into the burgeoning human sphere, warp sleds were among the concepts 'borrowed' by the nascent program. In the process, the name was calqued into the simple "runabout."

As with most technologies, runabouts have progressed quite a long way from those simple utility and transport craft of yore. The earliest UESPA runabout, the C-3 class, consisted of little more than a warp drive and nacelles bolted onto a teardrop-shaped metal hull and was typically tasked with slowboating noncritical cargo to far-flung colonies where requisitioning a proper cargo vessel wouldn't make sense. Conversely, the modern Alarm-class vessel carries a crew of 70 and facilities to handle the predicted needs of the millions of colonists within its patrol corridor.

The course of runabout evolution over the past 170 years have diversified the category into a series of specialized subtypes:

Liaison Runabouts
These vessels are perhaps the closest to the 'prototypical' runabout mold, in that they tend to be relatively small and extremely fast. Stationed all across the Federation, liaison runabouts serve as a kind of 'pony express' that delivers both cargo and personnel from one end of the Federation to the other both rapidly and on short notice, with the parcel often hopping from one ship to another with mere minutes between arrival and departure.

The simplicity of the typical liaison runabout design combined with their ability to fit inside the shuttle bays of many Federation starships has served to encourage the development of a wide array of mission-specific packages, modules, and assorted modifications. With their unique ability to perform a variety of specialized roles and odd jobs, these ships can be sought-after assets and often spend their time sprinting frantically from one assignment to the next.

A typical liaison runabout will have a crew of approximately 15, although this can very by class from as few as 8 to as many as 34. By far the majority of those assigned to them represent trained engineers given the unenviable task of managing the immense strain placed upon the ship's propulsion systems, all while having to deal with every situational modification foisted upon their vessel by Starfleet command. Assignment to one of these ships is regarded as a crucible by the Starfleet engineering community, and those who thrive in the position find themselves as hot commodities within the fleet; by reputation, they're viewed as avid and inspired tinkerers who can manage a redlining engine without breaking a sweat.

Aviso Runabouts
The aviso, put simply, is the opposite of the liaison in every conceivable manner. Blurring the line between 'small frigate' and 'large runabout', the aviso sets itself apart from the former by way of ability. Or, more precisely, the lack of a very important one: quickness. Frightfully slow, the aviso sacrifices any semblance of speed in exchange for sensors and facilities that push the boundaries of what might be expected from a ship so limited in size. (It should be noted that these runabouts are capable of emergency sprinting, but not in a sustained manner.)

In effect, the aviso is designed to be a sort of colonial watchdog, a cutter that meanders its way among the less vital colonies of the Federation with an aim to handle minor crises and emergency situations before they can spiral out of control into something that would demand the attention of a proper starship, up to and including defense against small raids that minor worlds find themselves inherently vulnerable against. Given this broad spectrum of abilities, outmoded aviso runabouts are commonly exported to Federation protectorates as a 'training wheels'-type starship for them to cut their teeth on while developing the ability to manage their local space responsibly.

Aviso crews, although small by Starfleet standards, are gargantuan in strict runabout terms. Some have had 'lean' crews of about 50, but modern designs push the envelope as high as the mid-90s. Serving aboard an aviso is said to be a unique experience among all Starfleet postings, as the crew are encouraged to form a close relationship with the population of the worlds within their assigned zone of space. While spending time at a port-of-call, it's not uncommon to spend as much time planetside as aboard your ship. Avisos are usually commanded by an outstanding young Lieutenant Commander fresh off a distinguished assignment as a junior officer, and their experiences riding the periphery tends to grant them an uncommon amount of presence even among the Federation's best and brightest.

Expeditionary Runabouts
Often mistaken as mere pint-sized science vessels -- an 'Oberthette', if you will -- by the unfamiliar, these ships are built for a more hands-on approach to the sciences. While an expeditionary runabout does boast impressive equipment and facilities for its size, the purpose of these starships isn't to operate in deep space scanner stellar phenomena. Rather, these ships are intended to slot into the 'research gap' between the transient attention of a proper starship and the resource-intensive investment inherent with a full-scale colony. In essence, the expeditionary runabout serves as a mobile base camp for Federation scientists to study on-site for months at a time (for example, at an archaeological dig) without the necessity of relying on constant supply drops. Moreover, the expeditionary runabout allows them to bring an array of instrumentation into the field that would be otherwise outside the reach of scientists operating out of, say, a prefabricated 'shack.'

The space and power required for a full suite of modern scientific sensors and equipment (plus their unnerving ability to find themselves in sketchy situations at the behest of their science-minded captains) demand that expeditionary runabouts be on the larger side of the spectrum, with some even sharing hullforms with their aviso counterparts. Expeditionaries are, however, unique among runabouts in mounting a full-scale deflector dish. Nominally unarmed, these vessels have been known to use those deflectors to jury-rig a makeshift phaser array for use in emergencies. More adventurous Captains have been also been noted to fire improvised photon torpedoes from the probe bay.

Outside of Starfleet, expeditionary runabouts are a fairly common sight in civilian use. Most well-funded universities and research institutions operate at least one such vessel at a minimum, and the Vulcan Science Academy on its own fields a small fleet of them. 'Races' to promising research sites between VSA runabouts and those belonging to the University of Betazed have become an amusingly common scene, often third-partied by various Gaeni institutes.

Due to the immensely variable nature of their assignments and the wide variety of specialists involved, the crew complement of an expeditionary runabout can fluctuate wildly from one mission to the next. Larger examples generally maintain a skeleton complement of approximately 25 aboard as a baseline with accommodations for as many as 50 more, but given the unforgivingly remote (and for non-scientists, incredibly dull) nature of most deployments, each expeditionary runabout maintains two separate crews that rotate between missions.

(One particularly interesting aside is that these crews are among the only ones in Starfleet with extensive experience taking such a large vessel into planetary atmosphere under operational conditions.)

Spaceliners
Midscale runabouts, these vessels are essentially militarized versions of the ever-present civilian passenger runabout. Lacking the raw speed of liaison runabouts, the spaceliner is generally able to carry a significantly larger amount of people in relative comfort over large distances at a reasonable pace. Although accommodations lean more towards spartan functionality compared to their civilian peers, they still boast a wide array of leisure amenities. Many classes feature a ventral observation deck that spans the entire length of the ship, with the modern Anzajath-class even sporting a ventral 'viewing pod' from which passengers can properly enjoy planetary descent.

The civilian origins of these ships give them a technological simplicity and straightforwardness that leaves them prime candidates for conversion into a variety of specialized roles. Sensor pickets and antimatter tankers are by far the most common, but a fair few have found their way into the hands of Starfleet Intelligence where they've doubtlessly undergone further sundry espionage-related modifications. Of perhaps more interest to the lay-citizen, a select number serve as transportation for the President of the United Federation of Planets and their senior officials and staff; these vessels have been equipped with a top-flight communications suite to ensure the continuation of effective and responsive government in the event of a sudden and catastrophic attack against Earth.

Crew requirements vary wildly depending on class and configuration, but trend towards the smaller end of the scale. For obvious reasons, the crew of an executive transport will massively exceed that of an antimatter tanker cruising at low warp between depots. The inherent prestige also varies considerably. For example, while most runabout commands are sought-after posts, being the CO of 'Starfleet One' is arguably the single most meritorious Commander-grade assignment in the entire service. On the other hand, drawing 'tanker duty' tends to suggest that one was caught having a one-night stand with an Admiral's offspring. While in uniform.

Utility Runabouts
As much as irate sector commanders might protest otherwise, the simple fact of the matter is that the vast majority of blue-collar 'Space Jobs' do not, in fact, warrant the valuable attention of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers' limited fleet of dedicated engineering ships. Enter the humble utility runabout, which is tasked with the heavy lifting that keeps Starfleet operational on a day-to-day basis. Size-wise, these ships can run the gamut from 'shuttles, but very ugly and also a little larger' all the way to 'I can't believe it's not frigate!' Most, however, find themselves somewhere in the middle: just barely large enough to mount a heavy-duty tractor beam while also carrying some respectable on-board industry. Some larger 'Utes' are known to sport low-powered phasers for use in asteroid mining.

The majority of these ships find use as harbor tugs or dedicated repair ships for orbital industry, but a handful of the faster ones are employed as small warp tugs. These are as a rule much faster than their cousins, but otherwise are the same designs but with a better warp engine. Runabout warp tugs are without a doubt very useful craft, but find themselves hindered by their limited range. Long-distance tow jobs require the attention of one of Starfleet's full-sized warp tugs, which are typically outdated frigate hulls pressed into the menial labors of logistics after a minor end-of-service retrofit.

'Utie' crewmen are, as a rule, tough, resourceful, and dedicated. Many of them go so far as to resist transfer into the regular fleet, preferring the camaraderie and lifestyle of their current role. Those who do make the switch immediately become valued members of any engineering staff in the fleet, made conspicuous by a trademark sardonic wit that seems to thrive in the cramped confines of a 'Ute' runabout.

Pinnace Runabouts
The pinnace runabouts occupy something of a contested space within the small-craft spectrum. Generously, one could call them "light-duty" or "economical" vessels; less kindly, as glorified shuttlecraft. Pinnaces lack speed and endurance compared to liaison runabouts, meaning that they rarely stray too far from their bases of operation. They do, however, share the liaisons' extreme modularity and thus can serve well as scouts, sensor pickets, tenders, or warp tugs as the situation dictates. Pinnaces have on occasion been put to use as light strike craft as well, frequently flying sorties both in and out of atmosphere during the campaign against the Orion Syndicate.

Pinnaces also differ from other runabouts in terms of crew composition. Both the Nile-class and preceding Rhine-class designs operate with merely four in total — half the number carried by similarly sized Jholu-class liaison runabouts. Unlike other craft with the NRC registry prefix, these vessels have no captain of any rank. Instead, the ship's commander is termed "Flight Officer" and is usually subordinate to whichever higher-ranking officer has been placed in command of a given mission crew. In addition to the FO (almost always a junior grade Lieutenant), a pair of fresh Ensigns serve as Operations Officer and Onboard Engineer, while a single enlisted Loadmaster rounds out the quartet. In practice, the reality of running three shifts with four people has produced a doctrine of thorough cross-training, and every member of the crew should be able to handle essential duties with a high level of competence.

Combat Runabouts
Small warp-capable dedicated weapons platforms have a long history among the powers of known space.

Andorian
The Andorian Empire has long maintained a sizable fleet of combat runabouts in the inventory of the Andorian Orbital Guard, a design lineage that dates back to before the cold war against the Vulcans. These vessels are among the last in production to bear the hallmarks of the traditional Andorian shipbuilding aesthetic, and thus are defended jealously against Starfleet offers to integrate the combat runabout program into the greater Federation runabout architecture. Andorian combat runabouts differ from those of most races in that they are designed to operate independently in wolfpacks, making them excellent additions to Federation task forces in need of a picket force.

Rigellian
Combat runabouts are a common sight in the service of the United Worlds of Rigel. Used to police remote colony worlds and trade outposts, Rigellian designs tend toward a utilitarian simplicity that belies their effectiveness against unprepared raiders and brigands. The Mnora-Chem class in particular is a rare breed that manages to mount a full-scale photon torpedo launcher onto a runabout chassis. All nominally a part of the Rigellian Defence Service, some runabouts are crewed exculsively by the Xindi as part of a 150-year old treaty. In an odd piece of historical trivia, the original Rigellian combat runabouts were of Tellarite design courtesy of a 2100s era tech transfer agreement that also saw the Tellarite State produce a full run of Rigellian light cruisers.

Star-Kin
The Star-Kin possess a series of powerful combat runabouts of Honiani make, including the Kraid, Ithurrine, and Samrosk classes (all named after aggressive Okathan wildlife), in addition to the Obar D'ku which is being actively phased out of service. Honiani runabouts are famed for exceptional sturdiness and sublight evasion, which allows them to threaten much larger vessels in the hands of a capable crew. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these ship have proven to be the favored mode of transport for elite Yan-Ros Ranger teams.

Klingon
Klingon 'combat runabouts' are a bit of an odd topic, as the Klingon Empire has not traditionally drawn the same distinction between ships of the line and auxiliary craft. The closest match would be the Taj-class Bird of Prey, an onmipresent small craft found throughout Klingon space serving any number of interests. Houses from the greatest to the most minuscule operate Taj BoPs as something like local police craft, while pirate crews and even individual glory-seeking warriors are always eager to get their hands on one. The main complicating factor is that Taj has become a kind of catch-all encompassing an entire spectrum of small warship designs from dozens of sources (although usually at least outwardly resembling the original Taj class). If the Klingons have a more useful way of breaking this complex down, they're in no hurry to share.

Starfleet
Starfleet, in contrast to the above, has never adopted a combat runabout; political concerns about dedicated combat craft have always outweighed the marginal benefits any such design might have afforded in terms of local defense and deterrence. However, the cascade of memberships in the early 24th century have shaken that prior consensus. Many among their number view the existence of combat runabouts as simply a matter-of-course, and there's been a certain amount of agitation in the Council to consider the future implementation of a Starfleet combat runabout program. As an intermediate step in that direction, several Federation members (among them, the Amarki, Indorians, Rigellians, and Ked Peddah) have been working with Starfleet research organizations to adopt a standard design among their member fleets provisionally known as the Joint System Defense Runabout. Based on hull of the recent Samothrace-class expeditionary runabout, the JSDR would utilize the forward space occupied by the probe launcher, deflector dish, and mission equipment bay to fit a photon torpedo burst launcher with a five-round capacity and 25 additional casings in the magazine.