Spoilers Starship Design in Star Trek: Picard

[Gonzo]

Everyone's talking about the models being low-poly but they look fine to me aside from the lack of variety. It's a generic post-TNG ship design, which is exactly what it was designed to be.

They don't look low poly to me its just a bad case of seeing the wood for the trees plus having to zoom the camera out so far to get them all in the shots, some of the first shots after they warp in are OK though, those are the ones I used to ascertain the number of individual ship classes even if they do look like they could all be sub classes of another main class, just the nacelles and bridge modules that are different from what I could see (maybe the impulse engines as well).

Everything else looks the same.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

I could justify them having a "Tactical Reason" to hide the names and ID #'s of the ships.

If you have a mass fleet and are jamming their sensors to some extent, they would have to rely on visual ID and if you don't label your vessels or use eInk style paint that can Turn On/Off the lettering, then you can hide the identity of which ship has which crew in a giant mass.

For example, if they think targeting the Admiral / Leader of a Strike Group would severely weaken it. (e.g. Captain Will Riker), it's best to not turn on the physical labeling of your ships when you're about to go into battle.

This way it's harder for the enemy to figure out where your important Admiral / Leader is physically located in.

 

[Dukhat]

If it didn't have the StarFleet Pennant and double red stripes, I could easily mistake it for alien of the week if I hadn't seen the ship before.

I thought it looked recognizably ‘future’ Starfleet. Perhaps this is one of those things that I see differently than you do.

I don't know why you dislike the traditional saucer / nacelle combo so much.

Because there have been at least five different, and arguably better, means of propulsion introduced throughout the history of the shows, and yet warp drive still seems to be the preferred method, that’s why.

 

[cooleddie74]

There is one theory for why there are no names and registries. They've deployed ablative armor technology.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Because there have been at least five different, and arguably better, means of propulsion introduced throughout the history of the shows, and yet warp drive still seems to be the preferred method, that’s why.

Which 5x methods are you referring to specifically?

There is one theory for why there are no names and registries. They've deployed ablative armor technology.

That doesn't look quite like Ablative Hull Armor Generator IMO. It looks closer to the Ablative armor on the Defiant, but mass produced. And the Defiant still managed to have it's registry and name painted on.

 

[fireproof78]

Quantum slipspace drive seems to be a good viable tech, with no antimatter required.

 

[Dukhat]

Which 5x methods are you referring to specifically?

1. The Dauntless's quantum slipstream drive which the crew of Voyager copied.
2. The holographic equipment Reg Barclay created to send the Enterprise 30,000 light years to the center of the galaxy, which the Cytherians gave them the knowledge of but that Federation scholars would take decades to analyze (2399-2367 = 32 years have passed since then).
3. Kosinski and the Traveler's engine upgrades which sent the Enterprise 2,700,000 light years away.
4. Transwarp beaming/drive/conduits/etc.
5. Coaxial warp drive with the ability to fold space, which a Voyager shuttle was modified with so they had the technology.

I can think of more examples if these aren't good enough for you.

 

[Arpy]

1. The Dauntless's quantum slipstream drive which the crew of Voyager copied.

Why didn’t they copy it all the way home? Was there an in-universe explanation?

2. The holographic equipment Reg Barclay created to send the Enterprise 30,000 light years to the center of the galaxy, which the Cytherians gave them the knowledge of but that Federation scholars would take decades to analyze (2399-2367 = 32 years have passed since then).

Presumably they had Barclay wipe that info from the computers once he got them there or some component is missing? Maybe a device on the Cytherians’ end that makes the whole thing possible?

3. Kosinski and the Traveler's engine upgrades which sent the Enterprise 2,700,000 light years away.

The Traveler was essential here?

4. Transwarp beaming/drive/conduits/etc.

Transwarp beaming ruins everything.

5. Coaxial warp drive with the ability to fold space, which a Voyager shuttle was modified with so they had the technology.

Again, what’s the in-universe explanation here?

Overall, I kind of agree with you. I think the only real reason warp is still the primary is that it and phasers and photon (not quantum) torpedoes are essentially Trek. “Engage Coaxial Drive!” isn’t as catchy.

That said, I think after Picard, if they could create a younger and more optimistic Next Next Generation, maybe they could use one of these drives (re-branded) to open up the galaxy in a new way. Maybe Delta Quadrant and Gamma Quadrant frontiers aren’t as far off and there’s a whole new galactic landscape to explore for a new generation.

 

[Dukhat]

Why didn’t they copy it all the way home? Was there an in-universe explanation?

Nope.

Presumably they had Barclay wipe that info from the computers once he got them there or some component is missing? Maybe a device on the Cytherians’ end that makes the whole thing possible?

Not that I remember from the episode. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

The Traveler was essential here?

And what's stopping the Traveler from helping out again?

Transwarp beaming ruins everything.

A judgment.

Again, what’s the in-universe explanation here?

To my knowledge, there wasn't one.

Keep in mind that logic does not work in many instances of Voyager because the producers and writers had no intention of giving them an easy way to get home, because that would be the end of the show. So technology they unearthed that could have helped them was forgotten by the next episode.

 

[The Old Mixer]

What happened with the Traveler was because of the Traveler. It had nothing to do with the "engine upgrades," which were a sham.

 

[The Old Mixer]

And what's stopping the Traveler from helping out again?

So a Traveler on every ship as a means of propulsion?

 

[Dukhat]

What happened with the Traveler was because of the Traveler. It had nothing to do with the "engine upgrades," which were a sham.

Thanks, I had forgotten that.

So a Traveler on every ship as a means of propulsion?

Not a Traveler per se, but a person the Traveler could train. You, know, like Wesley

 

[Arpy]

A judgment.

You betcha. Hell, might as well do Iconian gateway. It's just no fun. Unless you want to go the CSI: Star Trek route and have one HQ set from which an away team beams thousands of lightyears away every week to solve a mystery. I'd go on, but I have to vomit and look at a pretty starship, fast.

 

[137th Gebirg]

I was thinking more Stargate Trek, myself.

 

[Dukhat]

You betcha. Hell, might as well do Iconian gateway.

If they built a gateway in space large enough for a ship to pass through, that would again alleviate the need for warp drive.

 

[Arpy]

If they built a gateway in space large enough for a ship to pass through, that would again alleviate the need for warp drive.

What do gods need with a starship?

 

[fireproof78]

Unless you want to go the CSI: Star Trek route and have one HQ set from which an away team beams thousands of lightyears away every week to solve a mystery.

Shut up and take my money.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

I can think of more examples if these aren't good enough for you.

Sure, list them all.

Dukhat, I preferred it when you actually had Gul Dukhat as your user portrait instead of Unicron. =D

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

1. The Dauntless's quantum slipstream drive which the crew of Voyager copied.
2. The holographic equipment Reg Barclay created to send the Enterprise 30,000 light years to the center of the galaxy, which the Cytherians gave them the knowledge of but that Federation scholars would take decades to analyze (2399-2367 = 32 years have passed since then).
3. Kosinski and the Traveler's engine upgrades which sent the Enterprise 2,700,000 light years away.
4. Transwarp beaming/drive/conduits/etc.
5. Coaxial warp drive with the ability to fold space, which a Voyager shuttle was modified with so they had the technology.

1.) In my Head Cannon for the start of the 26th century, Quantum SlipStream drive is one of many "FTL options available".
2.) I'm not sure what happened in that ep, but something caused Reg Barclay to go back to normal intelligence and nobody followed up on trying to decode that tech?
3) The Traveler has abilities to make the Enterprise travel that far. Kosinski is a sham. And Wesley / The Traveler would just travel on their own personal StarShip or hitch a ride somewhere and go as far as they feel like. Eternal WanderLust.
4) Transwarp beaming - takes A BOAT load of Warp Core energy (Nearly all of it), just to send one person super far away. In the apocrypha, where they explained how Khan when to Qo'noS so fast, Khan had setup a series of Transwarp Transporter pads that were directly linked to the StarShips reactor. Every jump literally burned out the reactor of the StarShip it was on and would require extensive repairs. All this for 1 person to travel many light years to another pad until he reached Qo'noS. It's HIGHLY energy INefficient, HIGH energy consumption for moving 1 person, HIGHLY risky should there have been interference or something with the computer went wrong.

According to the novelization of Star Trek Into Darkness, beaming to Qo'noS for Khan was a more complicated plot. The small portable transwarp beaming device on the jumpship only had enough power to beam Khan to an automated cargo station on Earth's orbit. From there he accessed a heavy-load transporter to beam onto an unmanned vessel in orbit of Luna. Khan had equipped the ship with another unauthorized transwarp device wired into the empty ship’s engine. Utilizing the entire energy output of the engine for a single massive burst, he could have beamed anywhere in our galactic region. Transporting to Qo'noS completely burned out the device, so no one was able to follow him using it.

Basically, Transwarp across internstellar distances is generally avoided for the inherent danger, resource cost, and value proposition that it brings. Why move 1 person when you can move an entire StarShip there. Sending 1 person at extreme energy cost with no backup is fundamentally dumb, even if Khan was a Genetically Engineered Super Man.

Transwarp Drives = In my Head Cannon for the start of the 26th century, The Voth would have joined the UFP and come back home to Earth, sharing technology. Ergo sharing their technology and integrating it with the UFP.

Transwarp Conduits = In my Head Cannon for the start of the 26th century, StarFleet would have enough experience with Borg tech that they can manufacture their own Transwarp Conduits and it's the start of the next golden age for civilian travel between StarSystems and planets. Where your average civilians can take their "Space Cars" and literally drive between planets since they don't complicated engineering skills to maintain a complex reactor. Automated "Transwarp Conduits" literally create the equivalent of "Freeways" in space for average UFP citizen to travel about.

StarFleet StarShips of course can use this same method as well, but that's just one of many "FTL" options in their tool boxes.

5.) Coaxial Warp Drive - In my Head Cannon for the start of the 26th century, StarFleet reverse engineers the information on how it works from the data and modification specs of the Shuttle that were recorded during the trip. CoAxial Warp Drive is one of many "FTL" options in their tool boxes.

With the Various FTL drives on each StarFleet StarShip, certain drives would be faster than the other drives at a specific Warp Factor and be more energy efficient once you reach a specific Warp Factor. There would also be operating speed ranges for each drive and have Pro's/Con's for each.

I even added my own Next Generation "FTL" drive =D.

 

[mikelima777]

My headcanon is that the Zheng He type is Starfleet's primary tactical starship circa 2399, and deployed in force as a response fleet to confront potential hostile armadas. Yes, some designs like the Akira, Sovereign, and other late TNG-era designs are still around, but those are dedicated to other tasks. Because I'm quite sure that Starfleet learned the follies of having Mirandas and Excelsiors still in heavy conflict. Starfleet had learned that the hard way starting with Wolf 359 and especially with the Dominion War.

In Space, having multiple starship types may be aesthetically appealing, but may not be as tactically or strategically effective. With a fleet of largely one design plus variants, the ships may be better at coordinating formations, fighting cohesively, and working together. In other places, I have mentioned the example of the Standard Type battleships, which despite increasing armaments, were very similar in appearance, and also had similar handling characteristics. As well, during the age of sail, often the most effective fleet were those comprising dozens of similar ships, most notably the 74-gun which was well regarded for balance speed, firepower and cost.

In a confrontation like in the finale, it may be more tactically sound to have a fleet of Starfleet's most powerful, toughest tactical starship, as that means you are sending in a force with maximum firepower, manoeuvrability, and durability. No more sending spontaneously-combusting Mirandas and Excelsiors and other kitbashes in small waves. Instead, a whole bunch of heavily armoured starships armed to the teeth warping in en mass.

Vessels like the Defiant, Akira, Yeager may be used for general-purpose defence, but might not hold up when dealing with a massive enemy fleet. But perhaps, the Zheng He is more suited for fleet engagements, and act as the 24th/25th century version of the ship of the line. Meanwhile, older designs are elsewhere continuing their exploration and scientific missions.

TL, DR: The Zheng He-types are designed primarily to serve in tactical fleet operations like a classic ship of the line.