Service History, Delphis Class Starship USS Horizon.
After the USS Voyager’s triumphant return in 2378, Starfleet began to extensively examine the data brought home by the ship and its crew. Through the ships brief contact with Starfleet via the Pathfinder Project, Starfleet had learned of several new technologies that the crew of Voyager had come across, including faster than warp systems like slipstream and the failed transwarp experiments. Unable to implement them before the crew of Voyager found their own way home, Starfleet decided to experiment with them regardless.
Several projects started, Dauntless II, Protostar, Vesta and Delphis. Dauntless II, Vesta and Delphis were to be based on slipstream technologies, whilst the Protostar project would focus on a new type of warp system involving three nacelles.
The Delphis Project was started in 2381 by Admiral Hayden Wolfe. Wolfe charged his team to design a fast exploration ship able to probe the farthest reaches of known and unknown space. The new ship should be around the same size as an Intrepid Class and carry a crew of 150-200. The ship should have comparable offence and defence abilities as an Intrepid – based on current technology as well as the latest sensor and computer technology.
The early design prototype was nicknamed the “Wolfe” after the officer overseeing the project. Simulation models would later deliver hull geometry that many felt had a more aquatic look. Class names like Mako and Irrawaddy would be suggested before Starfleet finally settled on Delphis.
Unlike the Vesta and Dauntless II projects, the Delphis would feature twin navigational deflectors. This would help focus the phase pulses required to form the slipstream subspace tunnel. The fifth generation (latest) of bio-neural gel-pack based computer systems would be needed to generate the slipstream calculations needed. A full height warp core, running the full height of the ship would also be required to provide the power required to maintain and hold the slipstream open.
Additionally, the project team decided to incorporate a new theory regarding warp propulsion. Angled nacelles that re-focused the warp field in a more power efficient lobe would allow for a smaller nacelle and a lower hull mass.
The modelled Delphis showed – in theory – that the new warp propulsion system would work, and that a built ship would be able to sustain high speeds of warp 9.995 and hold slipstream for thirty plus hours. Of course, this was all theory. The hull would have to be massively reenforced to withstand the pressures of sustained slipstream, and therefore in almost a step backwards in terms of design the Delphis would require deck heights of 5.5 meters like the Intrepid Class, with a thicker hull than normal. This issue would be a common problem for both the Dauntless II and Vesta projects who dealt with it in different ways.
After much modelling, Starfleet approved the design of the Delphis and a prototype starship was commissioned: USS Delphis NX-86100, with the keel laid in 2381 at Utopia Planitia. After 20 months of work, the USS Delphis was launched and began space trials. The warp drive worked as simulated; however, the slipstream ability was lacking. Whilst the Delphis was able to move at slipstream speeds, the ship was unable to sustain the slipstream for 30 hours, only managing 18 hours. The recharge time was also double that projected.
Whilst not fully successful, the Delphis was also not fully a failure either, achieving about 90% of what had been wanted. Starfleet commissioned more work on the project, and a second ship was commissioned; USS Wolfe NCC-86166. Design changes and the installation of the sixth generation of bio-neural computer systems improved the Wolfe’s slipstream potential and recharge rate. The profile of the upper deflector bay was lowered, reducing the number of decks to 13. This also reduced the size of warp core which was a potential issue that was resolved by a redesigned core and a slight reangling of the warp nacelles.
The USS Wolfe launched in 2384 and underwent space trials. The Wolfe fully delivered a sustainable warp speed of 9.995 and was able to sustain a quantum slipstream tunnel for 26-hours, with a 56-hour recharge. This was comparable with the USS Dauntless NCC-80816 and the Vesta Class. Starfleet ordered full production of the Delphis Class with the third ship, USS Horizon NCC-86176 and a fourth the USS Irrawaddy NCC-86201 slated to enter service in 2386. Both the Horizon and Irrawaddy would make use of the seventh generation of bio-neural computer systems, with the Wolfe being retrofitted with the new gel packs. The USS Delphis would remain in service, different from it’s class-mates, but still of service to Starfleet and the Federation.
