Envoy

A variant design of the Renaissance-A intended to full the role of a diplomatic ship in task forces and lead smaller ones, based on the success of the Nelhiar and similar dedicated courier/diplomacy designs in Federalized service. One of the other driving forces was the memetically persuasive diplomatic facilities aboard Harmony tenders and the very polite confrontation the Federation had been having with them creating a perceived need for a counterweight on task forces. Recent political developments have however cast some doubt on the suitability of the lightly-armed Envoy to this new, more tense phase of the brewing confrontation.

Designed by a team including (then) Lieutenant Galan in consultation with the FDS- a first for the Office of Naval Architecture- the Renaissance hull was selected for its instant recognizablity as a Starfleet vessel. Including the latest diplomatic facilities and recreational spaces, these are arguably the most capable diplomatic vessels in the Federation, superior even to an Ambassador-class ship. Combat power was de-emphasized, which lead to a notable reduction in firepower; the Envoy is tougher than a Kepler, but no better armed. The ship has improved endurance, on a par with a Comet, for long cruises to distant locales and being able to remain on deployment for long-term missions. An sophisticated shipboard hospital, patterned on but less extensive than the earlier Comfort-class variant, offers state of the art medical facilities to support sophontarian or diplomatic efforts as required. The associated medical labs provide roughly half of the scientific capability, which is on par with contemporary garrison frigate designs.

Warp Core
The Envoy-class is powered principally by an updated Yoyodyne Type-III Block-B warp core, far more weight-efficient than the original 40E design, produced at Yoyodyne Assembly Plant, Andor.

The highly efficient Luna-VII M/AM injection system, also focus on power-to-weight ratio, is a more incremental upgrade. This system is designed by Luna Commune, a research outpost on Sol III's moon that works closely with Yoyodyne, and is produced in a facility at Vancouver Orbital Plant. Again for reasons of weight, the core has a Yoyodyne VIII Mod L coolant system produced alongside the core at in same the Yoyodyne Assembly Plant. The upgraded VSA-7 Pulse Injection Manifolds from Delta Vega Core Yard can distribute 70% more 120hz, six-phase electro-plasma power delivery.

Impulse
The SDB-97 impulse drive system is continued from the Renaissance. This 33,000 ton triple-ducted system has been rigged for high sublight power, allowing for rapid throttling and vectoring changes. They are linked to a single battery of four fusion plants that operate a separate plasma trunk. The battery is in the saucer section, half-way between the bridge and the trailing edge. This impulse engine is produced in a separate Yoyodyne facility at Ranford III, the Blue Light Impulse Plant.

Nacelles
A twin-nacelle system is employed, retaining the mid-weight Standard 2305 Cruiser Sprint-Pattern nacelles. Like almost all nacelles in Starfleet use, the warp coils for all Renaissance variants are produced at the Yoyodyne Assembly Plant in Andor. This nacelle system employs a very efficient, but maintenance heavy, 8,000 ton warp matrix, based around a quadruple-chamber plasma conditioner and a eight-valve distribution system. The verterium-cortanide warp coils are Yoyodyne-XII patterns, the same employed in the much larger Ambassadors.

Deflectors
The Envoy employs the same Mk-IV-E tactical deflector shield system as the Renaissance, however the power budget and absolute number of emitters are reduced in light of the diplomatic role. The Envoy employs four full-size systems, and five backup units employed to supplement coverage. These components are made by Andor Shield Systems, with the primary emitters distributed three to the saucer section (at the front, rear-left and rear-right, with these also covering their nacelles) and one ventrally to the secondary hull.

Sensors
The sensors employed on the Envoy include powerful, cutting-edge Mk-VIII Heavy Long Range Sensors and a single Mk IV Lateral Sensor array for short-range work. Like a few other ships, rather than employing a dedicated navigational array, the long-range sensor pulls double-duty, utilising the powerful Modulated Graviton Beam Deflector dish and considerable software support to provide adequate sensor clarity. The Mk-VIII Sensors are produced at Tomographic Production Division, Lomay II and mounted at the ventral apex of the saucer section, where it is able to best interact with the deflector dish. The Mk-IV SR sensors are split between the port and starboard edges of the saucer, on the upper lip, and are served by the Primary Radial EPS trunk.

Computing
In a cost-reducing measure, the core of the Envoy remains a light-weight Type-III-A duotronic system. Like all Type-III cores, this is produced by Tellar Processors, in the Tellar system. The Type-III-A is a capable evolution of the earlier Type-III system, delivering 20% greater capacity. In terms of processing power, it is a full generation ahead of the early duotronics employed by systems such as the Type-I-B used by the Constitutions.

The Type-III-A employs a six discrete processing loops, each consisting of a chain of twelve Daystrom Mk9 Logic Units, spaced one to each deck through the "meat" of the saucer-section. The core is served by Yoyodyne coolant systems, and a the Inner Core EPS Loop, which runs from the neck to loop around the core and return, and is the same EPS trunk that serves the sensors and bridge.

Life Support
While not a specialist hospital ship, the Envoy incorporates lessons from the Comfort-class layout and features four large capital-grade, cutting-edge Quorsh-Pattern Sickbays- two in the saucer, two in the hull. The fore saucer sickbay is main sickbay, and provides the offices of the Chief Medical Officer. This is located halfway between bridge and bow, carefully spaced between the Inner Core EPS Loop and the Tactical Trunk, with considerable SIF reinforcing on the bulkheads in between. As with all Starfleet Medical equipment, they are provided by the Starfleet Medical Manufacturing Division's plants, in this case primarily out of Starfleet Joburg Medical Plant.

Coming a few years before Mark-III Replicators are available, updated Mk-VII Protein Synth systems are used to provide perishable crew stores, as well as consumable medicinals and science materials. There is an emphasis on catering to a broad spectrum of xenoform tastes and palettes.

Overall, the Envoy has comparable emergency medical capacity to an Ambassador explorer, one refit with the latest advances in Federation medical technology.

Diplomatic Facilities
All diplomatic spaces conform to the first edition of the new Lwaxana protocols, taking into account the latest developments in Xenopsychology and FDS Xenorelations. The Envoy will be used to prove and refine the next generation of Lwaxana protocols for the Ambassador-A refit. The near 360˚ panoramic views available from the primary saucer section lounges- Four Below and Seven Above- are undeniably spectacular.

The mostly-transparent ‘suspended droplet’ Four Below lounge underneath the Envoy saucer is the FDS suggested solution to onboard aquatic-species relations- both it and the adjacent dignitary accomodations are designed so they can be partially or completely filled with water or similar liquid atmospheres.

The aft lounge, above the shuttle bay, give an indication of the busy activity of a Starfleet vessel, as shuttles come and go, and provides a suitable location to host delegates you might not wish to show the length of the ship.

The new Recreation facilities are both spurred by and reflect the greatly increased membership and diversity of the Federation since the previous 2260s design. Crew, dignitaries and FDS alike can enjoy the dual, modernised onboard facilities, located on either side of the saucer, able to support the crew separately from private diplomatic functions.

The addition of four large capital-grade diplomatic suites and opening their sweeping viewing galleries in the main hull and saucer does reduce ship structural integrity. Given the structural changes from the original, the SIF fields and Duranium plating are updated to partially compensate.

Combat Module
Due to internal space constraints, the Envoy uses a 50kt Phaser Combat Module, consisting of a trio of Model 83 single phaser banks produced at the Amarkian Tales Har Nadionworks. These are served by the Tactical Radial Trunk EPS conduit, which loops in the middle of the saucer, a deck above the central deck, and exclusively delivers to the phasers and the saucer deflectors.

While not standard Starfleet practice, the mountings and power conduits for this Combat Module could instead support a 50kt Science Module, improving sensory capabilities within the same crew, cost and power budget.

Torpedoes
A pair of Mk IV Burst torpedo launchers provides the long-range punch of the Envoy. These are both mounted in the secondary hull, with one forward - mounted above the navigational deflector dish - and one mounted over the aft shuttle bay. The aft launcher is served from a magazine that sits several frames forward of it, and delivers via a turbolift style delivery chute. They are produced at Tactical Services Rethelia.