Spectre class able to land on planets?

[Nathan]

I am writing a little fan fic story for myself. The premise is a small intelligence gathering ship. I wanted to use the Spectre Class ship as its a relatively small crew and looking really for one that lands on planets. Similar to the Archer class ship (from the Vanguard series), but my gripe with that ship is I think the crew is too small for longer than a few months (i.e. not enough to do 24 hours ops, but I digress).

Just wonder if folks thought Spectre Class could land on planets. On the deck plans, where the shuttle bay is located, I just wanted to add a line that is also where the landing the struts are located.

Yes, yes, I am sure the answer is "Hey pal, its your story, your universe, you can do whatever the hell you want to do." I just read the thread about Fan Fic Nit Pics -- (i.e. Mary Sues, Small universe syndrome, best and brightest crew, youngest capt) so I try to keep that in mind. I still want to have a somewhat believe-able story/believe-able ship.

Just wanted to see what where people thoughts as I really want a Federation ship that can land on planets (other than a runabout or shuttle). thanks. Nathan

 

[Nathan]

 

[admiralelm11]

I would say that she can land on planets. However, I don’t have much familiarity with this class of starship so my supposition could be incorrect.

 

[Admiral2]

What's wrong wiith runabouts? They're warp-capable, armed wih micro versions of the weapons starships carry and they can land on planets. And with the replicators and bunks aboard they're more than capable of sustained operations. That's the point of replicators and crew rest areas.

You don't need a large crew to gather intelligence, especially if it's signals intelligence. If you need to put a lot of agents on the ground, use more than one runabout.

If the intelligence missions you're planning requires a large crew, then just pick a small starship and land with transporters.

 

[Nathan]

I think with a runabout -- they are barely armed and can't go long distances. (well they can go long distances but with a crew of 4 or 5, do 24 hours can be grueling, and still do a mission). Plus, I always run into the issue of a ship being detected in orbit, whereas if it lands on a planet it can "hide in the woodwork". Also, I never buy into the idea if a runabout is in orbit (but unattended, how it is left for chance in case someone stumbles upon it.

I like having a platoon of MACOS/special forces type in case it is an extraction of person(s) and/or equipment.

Anyway, Admiral2, you bring up some valid points, but hate always relying on the transporter and just like a stories where the ship is able to land on planets.

I guess on the above ship, it has about 15 officers, just under 100 for crewman, and about 40 MACOs (a plussed up platoon). Thinking it could go out for a mission a few months in length, or a mission that is only a week or two in length.

Plus, if there is a battle - say with a Bird of Prey or Ferengi marauder, it would be evenly matched. Your thoughts?

 

[SolarisOne]

Ferengi Marauders are much, much stronger than Birds of Prey.

 

[Admiral2]

I think with a runabout -- they are barely armed and can't go long distances. (well they can go long distances but with a crew of 4 or 5, do 24 hours can be grueling, and still do a mission). Plus, I always run into the issue of a ship being detected in orbit, whereas if it lands on a planet it can "hide in the woodwork". Also, I never buy into the idea if a runabout is in orbit (but unattended, how it is left for chance in case someone stumbles upon it.

Runabouts can land on planets. What part of that are you not getting?

And define "grueling," because a runabout is essentially a flying four-person dorm with food processors that never run out of food and computerized systems that can be set to automatic in a myriad of ways. With judicious scheduling a four-person crew can handle being on duty for twenty four hours with relative ease in a runabout.

I like having a platoon of MACOS/special forces type in case it is an extraction of person(s) and/or equipment.

Anyway, Admiral2, you bring up some valid points, but hate always relying on the transporter and just like a stories where the ship is able to land on planets.

I guess on the above ship, it has about 15 officers, just under 100 for crewman, and about 40 MACOs (a plussed up platoon). Thinking it could go out for a mission a few months in length, or a mission that is only a week or two in length.

Plus, if there is a battle - say with a Bird of Prey or Ferengi marauder, it would be evenly matched. Your thoughts?

My thoughts are you don't need all of that for a pure intelligence gathering mission, but if you insist on all those requirements, just use an Intrepid-class. It's bigger, can carry more troops, and, oh, look! Voyager showed it can land on planets!

 

[Nathan]

I suppose "Grueling" would be flying in a "four person dorm room" for a month at a time or more, working 12 hour shifts, but to gather intel etc you may need for than one person -- perhaps meeting an asset, it can be grueling. Plus, in a runabout you are more susceptible to being captured -- even by a Bird of Prey. Hell, just being cooped in your college dorm for a weekend binge watching TV can drive you crazy at times!

I think the Intrepid is to large of a ship -- plus I never thought it seems feasible when it landed. I always thought the land struts would just sink into the ground as it could never support the weight.

Anyway, just wondering if you think it is plausible that the ship could land.

 

[Admiral2]

I suppose "Grueling" would be flying in a "four person dorm room" for a month at a time or more, working 12 hour shifts,

So schedule two hour watches with one person on and the others off and automate whatever sensors or systems need to be on continuously.

but to gather intel etc you may need for than one person -- perhaps meeting an asset,

You don't need multiple people to meet a single asset, and even with multiple assets your agents don't have to meet all of them at the same time.

Plus, in a runabout you are more susceptible to being captured -- even by a Bird of Prey.

More susceptible than a ship twenty times it's size? Nonsense! Again, the things can land, and if you're using them on Class M planets there are plenty of places to hide them and plenty of ways to camoflage them, and both are harder to do the larger the ship you're trying to conceal.

Hell, just being cooped in your college dorm for a weekend binge watching TV can drive you crazy at times!

Binge-watching is not intelligence gathering. The more professional you are about it, the better you'll adjust to the close quarters.

I think the Intrepid is to large of a ship -- plus I never thought it seems feasible when it landed. I always thought the land struts would just sink into the ground as it could never support the weight.

Anyway, just wondering if you think it is plausible that the ship could land.

Plausibility isn't the issue. Necessity is the issue. There are so many different ways in the Trek universe to deliver an agent into enemy territory that insisting an entire ship land to do it is overkill.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

The Spectre is a non-canon ship, the full capabilities of which aren't known, so there's nothing to say that she can't land on a planet, Voyager set an example of ships that can so it's not outside the realms of believability. Though if it's an intelligence ship, her objective would be to keep a low profile, get in, conduct reconnaissance, get out without being spotted, so I'm not sure why she'd need a squad of MACOs (especially 40 of them), but that's the only thing that stands out to me.

Runabouts have mission modules, so you could have a couple for extra accommodation and a couple for information gathering/analysis, thus increasing the crew and they could be used as an advanced tactical team (such as the Hazard Team) if the mission called for it. Or there are the initial designs of the Defiant/Valiant, which was conceived as a larger, better armed runabout before being turned into what she became.

Alternatively, you could take a page from Star Trek: Away Team and have a ship equipped with external holo-projectors and an elaborate sensor net to take on the appearance of any ship they needed to in order to conduct intelligence work, allowing her to hide in plain sight.

 

[Sgt_G]

Just wonder if folks thought Spectre Class could land on planets.

Well, any ship can land on a planet. Not all of them can take off again.

But, yeah, I think that ship, with its size and design, should be able to land onto & take off from planets.

it has about 15 officers, just under 100 for crewman, and about 40 MACOs

That's about what I'd give it for a crew. I've built crew rosters listing ranks and job titles for everyone on board, and had to make it fit a crew of ~100, including officers. I had to account for 20 in the boarding parties and another 10 as shuttle bay crew, leaving me with 70 to run the ship. With the MACOs, you've gained back 20 bodies to use elsewhere. That's plenty for 24/7 ops for patrols lasting several weeks to a few months at a time. I wouldn't want to go on a Five Year Mission on it.

 

[Nathan]

Well, any ship can land on a planet. Not all of them can take off again.

But, yeah, I think that ship, with its size and design, should be able to land onto & take off from planets.
That's about what I'd give it for a crew. I've built crew rosters listing ranks and job titles for everyone on board, and had to make it fit a crew of ~100, including officers. I had to account for 20 in the boarding parties and another 10 as shuttle bay crew, leaving me with 70 to run the ship. With the MACOs, you've gained back 20 bodies to use elsewhere. That's plenty for 24/7 ops for patrols lasting several weeks to a few months at a time. I wouldn't want to go on a Five Year Mission on it.

Thanks for the input. I agree, I think for a mission lasting a few weeks to a few months about a crew of 100 works. I think regular US Seal teams, the missions are usually up to a week in length and it just a few members assigned (of course with a bunch of support staff)

Anyway, having fun making up a little story based on the ship.

 

[Sgt_G]

If you need help building a crew roster, let me know. As I said, I made lists for the 100-man Police Cutter and the 180-man Burke-class Frigate in the Star Fleet Battles world.