[New Star Trek Idea] Star Trek Freighter

[Brainsucker]

My issue with a Galaxy Class being used in this way is that even if the vessel had become obsolete by general tech standards, it's still an incredibly sophisticated ship that required a ton of maintenance. The GCS was generally portrayed to have several if not outright design flaws, at least several potential issues. The warp core especially seemed to be... delicate.

I'm not sure a ragtag crew of rejects will have the expertise to keep that kind of ship flying, even if it's old. Actually maybe even worse if its old.

Well, technology is not stagnant. Maybe the earliest version of Galaxy Class (TNG season 1) was really has a lot of issue. But even Ent-D had a lot of Refit. Well, it is a fantasy. Even if it's not, the newer Galaxy Class (newer than Ent-D) could get newer Warp Core that has already has resolve the problem.

Just look at how many crew that the earliest Galaxy Class (Ent-D) and later Galaxy Class ships have (Dominion War era). the Ent-D require more than 1.000 crews. It fit with your argument, as the Ent-D, the earliest version of Galaxy Class really was delicate and had a lot of issue.

But look at the Galaxy Class in DS9. They actually had less crews than the Ent-D. So maybe after making several Galaxy Class, they managed to solve the issue, and make the Galaxy Class to be operated by less crews than the Ent-D. So what if the Galaxy-Freighter class get newer reactor? Specially when the role change, the complex system that the Galaxy Class had has been removed for the storage.

 

[The Wormhole]

But look at the Galaxy Class in DS9. They actually had less crews than the Ent-D.

I don't recall that ever being stated.

 

[evilchumlee]

But look at the Galaxy Class in DS9. They actually had less crews than the Ent-D. So maybe after making several Galaxy Class, they managed to solve the issue, and make the Galaxy Class to be operated by less crews than the Ent-D. So what if the Galaxy-Freighter class get newer reactor? Specially when the role change, the complex system that the Galaxy Class had has been removed for the storage.

I mean sure. Anything can happen. I can tell you're super dedicated to the idea so cool.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I would imagine the crew of a G-Freighter would be less. No scientists for one thing. They'd just need people to fly the ship, repair the ship and handle cargo.

 

[RichMerk]

I remember a show from the 80's (I think) called "Quark" that was about a super mundane ship like a trash truck or something. They made a go of it for about half a season (I think), so I guess there's enough interesting stories for at least that many episodes. I literally don't remember any episodes so I could be wrong.

 

[somebuddyX]

This sounds like it would have been an interesting plot for like some future set episode of TNG, if they hadn't done "Future Imperfect" or "All Good Things..." Someone winds up in the future on the Enterprise-D and it's just becomes some freighter ship and the sets are all a bit messy looking. It might even work for some fanfiction or fanart. I just don't see the point of going to the trouble of having that specific ship for a continuing series when you could develop an original ship and sets that would encompass better the vision for a series set in that industry. Like if that show was set today I don't think you need to sub in the USS Gerald R. Ford for MV Dali

 

[Brainsucker]

This sounds like it would have been an interesting plot for like some future set episode of TNG, if they hadn't done "Future Imperfect" or "All Good Things..." Someone winds up in the future on the Enterprise-D and it's just becomes some freighter ship and the sets are all a bit messy looking. It might even work for some fanfiction or fanart. I just don't see the point of going to the trouble of having that specific ship for a continuing series when you could develop an original ship and sets that would encompass better the vision for a series set in that industry. Like if that show was set today I don't think you need to sub in the USS Gerald R. Ford for MV Dali

But you're comparing apple to orange in here. Both Gerald R. Ford and Real World Freighter belong to 2 different entities that has different purpose in our planet. Gerald R Ford is a dedicated Warship for military purpose. While our Freighters belong to private companies to pursue capitalism means. The USN won't sell Gerald R'Ford to private companies, because it contains a huge military secret that can't be share with other entities.

But in Star Trek, we all know that there is only one organization (at least for Earth) that work in the Space. That's Starfleet. That's why they said that Starfleet is not a military organization. Yes, they true. Because Starfleet is the only State Organization that govern everything that work in space. That's including economy and military means. So don't tell me that the job of hauling latinum ingot from DS9 to Earth is the job of Merchant Marine. Because there is no Merchant Marine in Star Trek. There is only one Star Fleet.

2nd, why Gerald R-Ford can't become a supply ship after they retire as an aircraft carrier? Because they have a very huge different tools and design philosophy that require a Gerald R-Ford to change almost everything if they want to use it as a military supply ship. So it is cheaper for them to build a new specific purpose ship for the role of supplying the battle group.

But in Star Trek, it is different. Because almost all Star Ships that we see in Star Trek actually are a multipurpose Star Ship that to be used for almost everything. From combat, exploration, scientific mission, diplomatic missions, to hauling material from one planet to another. Plus, the tech in Star Trek is a very simplified concept that capable to do almost everything as long as the writers want to. For Freighter purpose, The Galaxy Class has already has tractor beam, a lot of transporter rooms, huge interior space, huge hangar bay for a lot of Shuttle, etc. That enable the ship to do Freighter job even without any replacement.

Also, in Star Trek, Star Fleet also has the ship building technology that enable them to replace everything inside with ease. The Modular interior type design. It is so easy for the Space Yard to replace the old interior. To an extend that Kirk can replace the Bridge of the Enterprise whenever he bored. Like what he did to the Enterprise in the movie. Replacing the Bridge everytime the new movie coming.

For the next TNG, no. It's not the next TNG. I prefer the next DS9. Because it involve a space station. The Dilithium Crystal mining Station. So beside the G-Freighter, the station will also become the main setting of the show.

 

[somebuddyX]

But you're comparing apple to orange in here. Both Gerald R. Ford and Real World Freighter belong to 2 different entities that has different purpose in our planet. Gerald R Ford is a dedicated Warship for military purpose. While our Freighters belong to private companies to pursue capitalism means. The USN won't sell Gerald R'Ford to private companies, because it contains a huge military secret that can't be share with other entities.

But in Star Trek, we all know that there is only one organization (at least for Earth) that work in the Space. That's Starfleet. That's why they said that Starfleet is not a military organization. Yes, they true. Because Starfleet is the only State Organization that govern everything that work in space. That's including economy and military means. So don't tell me that the job of hauling latinum ingot from DS9 to Earth is the job of Merchant Marine. Because there is no Merchant Marine in Star Trek. There is only one Star Fleet.

2nd, why Gerald R-Ford can't become a supply ship after they retire as an aircraft carrier? Because they have a very huge different tools and design philosophy that require a Gerald R-Ford to change almost everything if they want to use it as a military supply ship. So it is cheaper for them to build a new specific purpose ship for the role of supplying the battle group.

But in Star Trek, it is different. Because almost all Star Ships that we see in Star Trek actually are a multipurpose Star Ship that to be used for almost everything. From combat, exploration, scientific mission, diplomatic missions, to hauling material from one planet to another. Plus, the tech in Star Trek is a very simplified concept that capable to do almost everything as long as the writers want to. For Freighter purpose, The Galaxy Class has already has tractor beam, a lot of transporter rooms, huge interior space, huge hangar bay for a lot of Shuttle, etc. That enable the ship to do Freighter job even without any replacement.

Also, in Star Trek, Star Fleet also has the ship building technology that enable them to replace everything inside with ease. The Modular interior type design. It is so easy for the Space Yard to replace the old interior. To an extend that Kirk can replace the Bridge of the Enterprise whenever he bored. Like what he did to the Enterprise in the movie. Replacing the Bridge everytime the new movie coming.

For the next TNG, no. It's not the next TNG. I prefer the next DS9. Because it involve a space station. The Dilithium Crystal mining Station. So beside the G-Freighter, the station will also become the main setting of the show.

Yeah, we know in fact there are other shipping organisations. We see merchant ships all the time. Kasidy Yates belonged to one. I abhor the idea that Starfleet has a monopoly on everything.

 

[Blip]

Just for the sake of entertaining the idea:

If I were to convert a Galaxy-class for this ignominious purpose ala the earlier Miranda-class examples, I'd empty out the entire saucer section of crew quarters etc, leaving the Shuttlebay (modified for cargo transfer), the former Main Bridge as a simplified Aux Control and the Impulse Engines and power plants, with the Computer Cores either consolidated into a single unit or drastically pared down in size. Then just have all of the crew quarters, facilities and the Main Bridge in the secondary hull; converting it from a "Battle Section" to a glorified tug.

Come to think of it, similar changes could be made to turn the class into a big honking evacuation or colony support ship... Hmm.

 

[Brainsucker]

Yeah, we know in fact there are other shipping organisations. We see merchant ships all the time. Kasidy Yates belonged to one. I abhor the idea that Starfleet has a monopoly on everything.

Kasidy Yates belong to capitalism. She transport her wares for Latinum Ingot. And she doesn't even operate inside Federation space. Plus, we are talking about Dilithium Crystal here. The most important, critical resource in Star Trek Universe. Without this crystal, no ship can move around the universe. Just like in Discovery season 3.

Also, we are talking about the 25th century space, that's far far more dangerous than the 21st century ocean in Earth. Look our time now. With only disturbance in the red sea by Houthi alone has already has disturb the international trade a lot. Just imagine what happen to 25th century Space where the space still has the same level of security like the ocean in 16th century Earth

And we are talking about a state owned Dilithium Crystal Mining station here, that work under the jurisdiction of Starfleet. Not a private owned Mining station that operate under a capitalist.

So why would Star Fleet open their purse to pay Kasidy Yates with latinum Ingot for her to transport their own Dilithium crystal? Hey, Latinum Ingot is not US Dollar. You can't print more latinum Ingot inside Star Trek universe like US print their USD. And we don't even know if the Fed actively collect Latinum Ingot for the sake of interstellar trading.

So why not using their so many old ships to transport their own resource inside their own space to avoid using Latinum Ingot to pay other people? It's cheaper that way. At least, you don't have to pay someone with non print-able Latinum Ingot for their service.

 

[Brainsucker]

Just for the sake of entertaining the idea:

If I were to convert a Galaxy-class for this ignominious purpose ala the earlier Miranda-class examples, I'd empty out the entire saucer section of crew quarters etc, leaving the Shuttlebay (modified for cargo transfer), the former Main Bridge as a simplified Aux Control and the Impulse Engines and power plants, with the Computer Cores either consolidated into a single unit or drastically pared down in size. Then just have all of the crew quarters, facilities and the Main Bridge in the secondary hull; converting it from a "Battle Section" to a glorified tug.

Come to think of it, similar changes could be made to turn the class into a big honking evacuation or colony support ship... Hmm.

You need also to add more tractor beam, to take a container of Dilithium Crystal from the mining station hangar to the ship cargo storage. But it's cheaper than using Miranda. Because you need only 1 Galaxy Freighter class to carry the same amount of cargo that several Miranda Class can carry.

 

[Brainsucker]

I would imagine the crew of a G-Freighter would be less. No scientists for one thing. They'd just need people to fly the ship, repair the ship and handle cargo.

Even Roger Wilco in Space Quest V can make the game comparable to Star Trek with only a Garbage Scow at his disposal.

Plus, we are not telling about G-Freighter alone. But also the Mining Station itself. So it can be the successor of DS9.

A remote mining station that situated near Neutral Zone (not with Romulan, but a new secretive Galactic power), far-far away from the core of Federation space. The situation is similar to what we see in Strange New World Season 1 Episode Final. Where both Kirk and Pike couldn't find any reinforcement from Star Fleet because of the range.

And because the Dilithium Crystal yeild is not that great, Federation only exploit it to prevent the resource to be stolen by another people. So they bring a small mining station with few defenders there. And for security reason, they modify an old Galaxy Class for Freight mission. So she can ensure the safety of the resource when they transport it to Earth / other Federation planets.

At first, it is the commander of the mining station that take command of the vicinity. He / she is a commander rank officer. But because of the incoming captain rank officer with the Galaxy Freighter class, he / she needs to relinquish their command to the higher rank officer nearby. That's the Freighter captain.

Well, you know what. If we talk about consumer wares, then the story can be boring. But we talk about Dilithium Crystal here. The most critical resource in Star Trek Universe. And they're really in a very remote area. So everybody can steal / rob / even take over the station to exploit the resource.

This is the same as the conflict in our modern world. Where the fossil fuel can become a reason of war. Well, we can replace the oil with another resource. But people in Star Trek can't replace Dilithium with another one.

 

[Danja]

The story happen in early 25th century, when almost all Galaxy Class Starships has been decommissioned or broken down for the sake of new generation of Star Ship. It is a story of the last remaining Galaxy Class Starship that still operational, the USS Left Over. Her role is not to explore Strange New World and seek out new civilization, but for more of mundane task. Like delivering raw Dilithium Crystal from the mine to the Federation Dilithium crystal refinery. And because of that there are many features of the original Galaxy Class Starship that has been removed. Like the Torpedo bay, etc. For the sake of dilithium storage chamber. And the crew has been reduced from 1000 like in TNG to 50. Although these Star Ship still have weapons, but they're old weapon. The original phaser that used by the old Galaxy Class Starship when they were still considered as the Flagship in Starfleet Armada.

The crew are not the best. They are the left over from the Academy that considered as fail, or have the lowest score in the class. Well, just think about the logic here. You don't need A Mr. Data or Mr. Spock to operate the lowest priority Starship in the fleet.

The captain was a war hero from Dominion War era. But because of his excentric and rebelious nature. He has even some disiplinary problem.So Starfleet Command doesn't like him so much. Just because he had a war medal, so he still hasn't been fired. and be given a big starship that he had dream to command when he was young. The Galaxy Class Starship, the Flagship of the United Federation of Planet. The problem is, his Galaxy Class Starship is a Freighter. And his job is very boring, even for him; the rebelious war hero.

Isn't Lower Decks covering this?

 

[evilchumlee]

Isn't Lower Decks covering this?

It does feel Lower Decks-y.

I don't think the overall premise is bad, but I think I would shift it to a non-Starfleet crew. Maybe go ahead and make them a bit morally gray. They're aren't like, space pirates or anything but they're also not 100% on the up and up. I think the premise is more interesting if you make it that this freighter and crew are operating mostly outside of Federation space, perhaps more in a role of venturing out to other nations and bringing trade goods back to the Federation.

Set in the PIC-era, have them maybe not be active members of either organization, but have them sympathetic towards the Fenris Rangers and Mariposas, helping them obtain supplies and the like. There's alot of potential drama by having this crew largely working in the fractured Romulan space.

 

[Brainsucker]

It does feel Lower Decks-y.

I don't think the overall premise is bad, but I think I would shift it to a non-Starfleet crew. Maybe go ahead and make them a bit morally gray. They're aren't like, space pirates or anything but they're also not 100% on the up and up. I think the premise is more interesting if you make it that this freighter and crew are operating mostly outside of Federation space, perhaps more in a role of venturing out to other nations and bringing trade goods back to the Federation.

Set in the PIC-era, have them maybe not be active members of either organization, but have them sympathetic towards the Fenris Rangers and Mariposas, helping them obtain supplies and the like. There's alot of potential drama by having this crew largely working in the fractured Romulan space.

Well, you can just write your idea. It is interesting, to be honest. But I have my own idea, ha ha ha.

 

[Brainsucker]

Isn't Lower Decks covering this?

Maybe my first idea. But I've update my idea, by adding the Mining Station as the main setting; as important as the Galaxy-Freighter class itself. Also, the premise is not about lower deck officers. But more about the captain him / herself.

To be honest, I like the captain as the older version of Chief O'Brien. But I don't know.

 

[evilchumlee]

Well, you can just write your idea. It is interesting, to be honest. But I have my own idea, ha ha ha.

Yeah totally cool. Just spitballing ideas around.

 

[Brainsucker]

Yeah totally cool. Just spitballing ideas around.

But it would be like Firefly.

Btw, what if you take the idea of Honor among Thieves? Rather than Freighter boss, they are actually thieves? And their Freighter job is actually only their cover. Or their another side job, to cover their real identity. I don't know, just spitballing ideas around.

Wait a minutes, why not make a story about 25th century Harry Mudd? Like, the original Mudd already died in 23rd century. But his ship was stranded in Space for so long, until one day, his digital data inside the ship transporter active, and create his clone in Picard Era Star Trek. Then, here you goes, A private Freighter boss that can give Starfleet admirals and captains a reason to drink 25th century version of aspirin. A smart trouble maker, a thief, a scoundrel, a trickster, but also an excellent businessman.

After his awaken in 25th century, Ferengi start worshiping him like a god. Maybe like Chinese god of prosperity. Because Mudd is the only human left that embrace capitalism at it's finest, and the only human that can cheat Ferengi in business.

 

[evilchumlee]

But it would be like Firefly.

I think there are plenty of ways to differentiate it from something like Firefly.

Btw, what if you take the idea of Honor among Thieves? Rather than Freighter boss, they are actually thieves? And their Freighter job is actually only their cover. Or their another side job, to cover their real identity. I don't know, just spitballing ideas around.

It's certainly an idea. I'm not super keen on that for Star Trek... i'm a bit more old school in my Trek and generally prefer to go more positive with it. I'm ok with like, rough-around-the-edges freighter captain who is a bit of a scoundrel, but a loveable scoundrel who is generally going to do the right thing, while maybe not doing it in the most above board methods.

If anything, rather than a Harry Mudd, I could do something more like a Rios, or like a Star Trek Han Solo.

 

[Will_Carter]

If I were to convert a Galaxy-class for this ignominious purpose ala the earlier Miranda-class examples, I'd empty out the entire saucer section of crew quarters etc

OK, Thirty year old question I've had.

You have saucer seperation. Even if used VERY SPARINGLY it still works.

Why not... use that more? I'm not talking split off mid mission. I'm talking have a bunch of purpose built saucers that a generic star drive can link to.