U.S.S. Ranger

Ship Name

Class	Ahwahnee Class
Registry	NCC-70915-A
Owner	United Federation of Planets
Operator	Starfleet Fifth Fleet United Sector Taskforce
Launched	2397
Status	Active (2426)

Ahwahnee-class
NCC-70915-A
The USS Ranger (NCC-70915-A) was a Federation Ahwahnee-class starship operated by Starfleet. Laid down by Starfleet Engineers in mid 2397, the Ranger was originally constructed as a Sagan-class starship, however, was rebuilt to Ahwahnee-class specifications following critical damage received during the final hours of the Iconian War in 2414. This was the sixth vessel to be named Ranger.

Starfleet commissioned the Ranger (NCC-70915-A) as a replacement for the Ranger (NCC-70915) in honour of the 632 crew who gave their life in the effort to liberate Mars.

Named after the USS Ranger (CV-4), the first U.S. Navy ship originally designed to be an aircraft carrier, the modern Ranger follows this legacy, holding a large hangar bay equipped with a large complement of mixed-use shuttlecraft, Runabouts and a small complement of multi-role Valor-class bombers/fighters.

Capable of a wide array of mission profiles, with particular focus on engineering support and space superiority, the Ahwahnee-class was well poised as a versatile upgrade to the Sagan-class vessels.

The Ranger has been rebuilt with upgraded defence systems based on improvements seen in the Yorktown-class vessels, and enhancements to its science and engineering systems, based on systems from the Jupiter-class project.

Legacy

There have been five other vessels in Starfleet history to bear the name Ranger.

Technical Data

Physical Arrangement & Crew Support

Specifications
Length Beam Draft Mass	500.38 meters 317.5 meters 143.51 meters 1,650,000 mt
Decks Crew Capacity	18 311 5,000
Avg. Cruise: Max Cruise: Max. Speed:	Warp 7.5 Warp 9.997 Transwarp 13 (for 1 hour)
Armaments	12x Phaser Arrays 8x Torpedo Launch Systems
Defenses	FSS6 Primary Covariant Shield
Auxiliary Craft	16x Type 7 Shuttlecraft 24x Type 8 Shuttlecraft 4x Type 11 Shuttlecraft 16x Type 14 Shuttlecraft 4x Argo-type Runabout 2x Danube-class Runabout 16x Valor-type Fighters 36x Workbee CMUs

Measuring at 500 meters and with 18 decks, the design of the Ahwahnee-class consisted of a circular-shaped primary hull with two secondary hull structures, each mounting two warp nacelles. Ranger was designed to carry a standard compliment of 300 officers and crew. In an emergency situation, the Ahwahnee-class was rated to carry up to 5,000 passengers for a limited duration.

Ranger was rated as a Command Carrier, a relatively new designation for Starfleet vessels.

In the capacity of a designated Command vessel, the Ahwahnee features an expanded communication array, capable of forming the backbone of any fleet it’s in through its robust power distribution and support capabilities. These same capabilities shine in disaster recovery; a single Ahwahnee can conduct a search for survivors, power a colony, and replace local administrative functions, and it can do so on a moment’s notice. The ship is flexible, congenial, and enduring – much like Starfleet itself.

As a carrier, he Ahwahnee-class builds on the foundation laid down by the Sagan-class as a capable auxiliary craft support platform, while there are fewer externally accessible shuttlebays, the larger interior space dedicated to small craft allows a wider range of typical mission profiles, with the addition of fast release magnetically propelled launch tubes at the port and starboard of the primary hull allowing fast deployment of dedicated fighter craft.

A range of typical amenities were also available to the ship’s crew, including a number of holodecks and recreational facilities. Ranger possessed one sickbay with full facilities while also maintaining smaller triage areas and a sizable array of scientific facilities.

Ahwahnee-class Starboard View

Rebuilding

Originally constructed as a Sagan-class starship, the rebuilt Ranger deviated from her original design. Now classified as a Ahwahnee-class, Ranger does have several features owing to her unique history.

Aft view

While most of the changes are to the replaced external hull, a significant number of changes were made to the structural layout of the vessel. Most notably, the four hangar bays were merged, with the external bay covered with a cowling to protect the dorsal hull nacelle interconnects, a key weak point exposed particularly by Iconian battle tactics.

Rapid advancements in impulse, warp, transwarp and slipstream technologies since the early 25th century resulted in a redesigned engine configuration, with smaller, higher efficiency impulse engines and warp nacelles replacing the previous designs. Additional improvements to the warp field governor system allows the four-nacelle design to only require the inclusion of two governors, port and starboard, instead of the four originally found on Sagan-class vessels.

Ventral view

The result is an 8% decrease in reactant consumption over the previous design, with no additional impact to subspace flux or a reduced maximum speed.

Following the ventral hull, the front edge has been shortened, and the deflector assembly has been restored to a more traditional layout, joined with the long range and planetary sensor arrays. New, high reflectivity, hull plating allows the long range sensor array to be reorientated and provide high resolution scans of any objects beneath the vessel.

Additional RCS quads provide enhanced stationary manoeuvrability, allowing the vessel to faster reorient itself during carrier operations, providing advantageous access to the hangar bay as required.

Finally, the ventral phaser arrays have been replaced and moved along their axis allowing increased phaser yield and increased coverage, providing increased point defence against incoming munitions and small craft.

Fore view

Moving fore, the changes to the warp nacelle pylon attachments are clearer, with both ventral and dorsal pylons featuring integrated torpedo launchers.

At the front edge of the primary hull, four launch catapults allow fast launch of fighter craft ahead of the Ranger.

Dorsal view

The dorsal section of Ranger sees some of the more iterative changes from her previous Sagan-class iteration. With a similar phaser array upgrade as on the ventral side, the new layout increases coverage and available phaser power.

With the removal of the warp field governors from the top side of the vessel allowing additional transporter emitters to be installed, allowing faster SAR operations.

With the removal of the dorsal shuttle staging area, portions of the hull are able to hinge open to provide direct access to the unified hangar bay below, and adjoining cargo bays. This system can also be used in an emergency to allow a fast evacuation of the hangar bay.

Finally, to support hangar operations and other specialised functions, at the rear of the bridge module a new command information centre has been built, allowing for quick insight into developing operations.

Command and Control Systems

Ahwahnee Bridge Layout

The computer systems aboard the Ahwahnee-class were based on isolinear circuitry, with additional bio-neural gel packs positioned throughout the vessel. Ranger employed two computer cores, one each in the port and starboard sections. Operational control of the ship was provided by the main bridge, located on Deck 1.

While Ahwahnee-class ships, like most Starfleet vessels, were capable of saucer separation, the process was destructive and irreversible without the support of a shipyard facility.

Propulsion and Power Generation

Ranger was equipped with two standard Class 12 matter/antimatter warp drives, of General Electric ADS/03 specification, each with an average output of 1650 Cochrane. Her standard cruising velocity was Warp 7.5, with a maximum cruise of up to Transwarp 12. Ranger was rated for a top speed of Transwarp 13 for a period of up to 1 hour. Sublight propulsion was achieved through the use of the vessel’s impulse engines, located along the aft edge of the hull structure. These impulse engines provided thrust and were capable of providing significant manoeuvring thrust at high speed through the use of vectored manifolds. Fine manoeuvring or stationary manoeuvring control was provided by RCS thrusters, however.

The twin warp cores serve as the primary source of power for all ship systems, supplanted by the vessel’s conventional deuterium fusion and impulse reactors.

Tactical and Defensive Systems

Primary defensive systems aboard the Ranger are comprised of a large-scale covariant shielding array, capable of withstanding a significant barrage of incoming particle or projectile weaponry. This shielding array provides significant protection against incoming fire and hostile craft, ensuring the vessel’s crew remain protected.

Due to the size of the vessel, and her intended role Ranger has not been equipped with ablative hull armour.

In keeping with the ship’s designation as a Command Carrier, the Ranger carries only a moderate array of offensive weaponry. While still capable of defending herself, Ranger is not intended to be a frontline fighter and should not enter combat without the support of other vessels.

The primary hull holds eight collimated phaser arrays, four dorsal and four ventral. Four additional phaser arrays are present outboard of the main hull structure, with the arrays on the dorsal and ventral side of the warp nacelle pylons. While each phaser array is capable of providing standard power, the targeting and fire control software is primarily tuned to target small craft and incoming ordinance, resulting in typically shorter bursts of phaser fire intended to suppress and screen.

Ranger additionally carries eight torpedo tubes which are the primary offensive weapon systems aboard. All launchers are capable of launching multiple ordinance packages as required by missions, and each pair of launchers shares a torpedo magazine, each magazine holds up to 100 ordinance packages. Ranger’s torpedo launchers are less accurate at short ranges compared to typical Starfleet launchers; however, they are capable of higher velocity launches, allowing Ranger’s munitions to strike at significantly longer ranges than a standard launcher tube.

Auxiliary Spacecraft

Ranger is equipped with a large launch/landing bay utilizing the same launch control systems employed on Jupiter-class and Alita-class vessels. The launch/landing bay is dual height and spans much of the full length of the vessel. While there is only one entrance to the hangar bay to aft, it is twice the height of a standard hangar and features a wide landing area allowing for combat landings should the situation require it. While it is capable, the launch/landing bay is not typically pressurised.

Immediately beneath the launch/landing bay, and accessible by multiple lifts throughout the launch/landing bay is a large hangar bay, capable of holding the Ranger’s expansive complement of small craft and other vehicles. To the port and starboard of the launch/landing bay are the Ranger’s large cargo decks, which are pressurised and separated by atmospheric forcefields and hard lock sealing doors. These bays also feature lifts to the main hangar bay and can if needed be utilized as additional storage for small craft, or in emergencies, additional egress points. It is not uncommon for some Ahwahnee-class vessels to maintain a permanent configured cargo bay replete with an additional wing of Valkyrie-class or Valor-class hybrid fighter/bomber vessels.

Ranger’s standard complement features sixteen Type 7 shuttlecraft, twenty-four Type 8 shuttlecraft, four Type-11 shuttlecraft and sixteen Type 14 shuttlecraft. She is also equipped with four Argo-type shuttlecraft (and associated vehicles), two Danube-class Runabouts and thirty-six Workbee Cargo Management Units. Ranger additionally caries sixteen Valor-type fighters.

Ranger is also equipped with a large array of industrial and vehicle replicators and is able to produce replacement vehicles or parts as required, provided there is a suitable supply of materials onboard. Such materials as verterium cortenide, required to produce warp coils, cannot be readily replicated at these facilities, however, can be synthesized at a material laboratory if necessary.

Type 7 Shuttlecraft (Mk IV)

Type 7 (Mk 1) Shuttlecraft, made famous by its service on Galaxy-class vessels such as the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D.

First introduced by the Technology for Next Generation (TNG) program, the Type 7 shuttlecraft was originally designed to complement the fourth generation Starfleet vessels such as the Galaxy-class, Nebula-class and Cheyenne-class vessels. By far one of the largest successes of this era, “The little shuttle that could” saw an extensive active service life and production life well beyond that of the vessels it was designed to complement. Seeing iterative redesigns and improvements, while a far cry from its original capabilities of those vessels that served aboard TNG-era vessels, its external layout and style has been retained throughout its three-quarter century service life.

Versatile and resilient, the Type 7 shuttle is capable of multi-role functions far beyond what its stature would imply, with an efficient power plant and extensive adaptability, this craft has seen active duty since the 2340s, including combat duties in the Cardassian Border Wars and Dominion War.

Capable of being equipped with advanced medical support facilities and enhanced sensor suites, the Type 7 shuttlecraft aboard Ranger serve as search and rescue craft in situations where transporters are not available or not reliable. The Type 7s are also capable of being equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems, capable of interrupting hostile actions, these craft are a vital part of the Ranger’s arsenal.

Type-8 Shuttlecraft (Mk III)

Type 8 (Mk 1) Shuttlecraft, made famous by its service on Intrepid-class vessels such as the USS Voyager NCC-74656.

A standard personnel shuttlecraft, first introduced with later fourth generation Starfleet vessels such as the Intrepid-class and Achilles-class, the Type 8 was envisioned as a more compact upgrade to the earlier Type 6 which had begun to phase out of service after almost a century in active use, the last holdouts being relegated to California-class vessels, or their sole remaining production plant at Starbase 80.

Made famous by their resilient service aboard the USS Voyager NCC-74656, the Type 8 was a contributing factor to the early success of Voyager’s journey home from the Delta Quadrant.

While not featuring the modularity and utility of the Type 7, the Type 8 plays a vital role as a personnel transport aboard Ranger, capable of rapidly deploying personnel to and from the vessel due to being equipped with a warp drive to allow personnel transport when on detached duty.

While the Type 8 is gradually being phased out in favour of the improved Type 14 shuttlecrafts, these shuttles still fill a vital role in a compact form factor.

Type-11 Shuttlecraft (Mk II)

Type 11 (Mk 1) Shuttlecraft, made famous by its service on Sovereign-class vessels such as the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E.

Formed from a Starfleet directive after contact with the USS Voyager was re-established, the Type 11 shuttlecraft was designed by the crew of the USS Enterprise, under the direction of then Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge during the Enterprise’s shakedown cruise in 2372.

The Type 11 shuttle uses some elements of the technology of its parent vessel. Bio-neural gel packs have been included as standard, a step up from the Type 8 computer system which offered the gel packs as an upgrade only. Other technology incorporated is mostly centred around the warp core and nacelles, which allows the Type 11 to have an equal speed to the Danube-class Runabout with a somewhat smaller power plant.

Equipped with most of the amenities of a Daube-class Runabout, but with a significantly smaller footprint, the Type 11 saw wide adoption in the late 2370s and was produced at most Starfleet facilities.

With significantly improved defences over the Type 8 design, the Type 11 sees primary use as a personnel transport in hostile environments and has been used by Starfleet and MACO forces alike. The Type 11 is also the transport of choice for Ranger’s onboard Hazard Team.

Type-14 Shuttlecraft

Type 14 Shuttlecraft, made famous by its service on Odyssey-class vessels such as the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-F.

A planned replacement and upgrade for the Type 11 shuttlecraft, the Type 14 utilizes fifth generation Starfleet technology, most notably seen in the improved nacelle and warp core design, allowing high warp speed previously unseen in Starfleet shuttlecraft, matching most Starfleet vessels in traditional warp speed.

Further redesigns to the impulse and thruster assemblies see the Type 14 unmatched by other shuttlecraft, only being superseded by fighter craft. In atmosphere, however, the Type 11 is still the far superior craft due to its more aerodynamic design.

The Type 14 additionally sees improved combat ability with the inclusion of a micro-photon torpedo launcher as standard and smaller components, reducing the crafts profile and weight.

Because of the incredible efficiency of its high warp engine, production is a limiting factor, and Type 14 shuttlecraft cannot be currently produced with parts obtained from a standard industrial replicator. While the craft can be created without these features, the reduction in power plant capabilities as a result leads most deployed engineering teams to instead replace damaged or lost Type 14s with Type 11 shuttlecraft instead.

Argo-type Runabout

Argo-type Runabout, made famous by its service on California-class vessels such as the USS Cerritos NCC-75567.

The Argo-type Runabout was initially deployed in 2379 aboard the USS Enterprise but saw limited use as their missions rarely needed the utility provided by these craft.

Vessels tasked with Second Contact mission profiles, such as the USS Cerritos saw extensive use of these vessels as cargo craft and vehicle transport. Ranger utilizes the Argo-type Runabout in many transport roles, as well as its library of vehicle surrogate craft such as the famous buggy, scout bike, aquatic submersible transport and a glider. Additional vehicles produced with Ranger’s vehicle replicator can also be transported in the Argo-class runabout, should they be needed.

Primarily designed as a space-to-surface craft, the Argo-type Runabout has two aerodynamic fins which can deploy from the sides of the vessel and provide additional lift in high gravity environments. It is also equipped with a small, short range warp engine, capable of a maximum of warp 2.

Danube-class Runabout (Mk III)

Danube-class Runabout, made famous by its service on Deep Space Nine.

Typically independent, the Ranger has two permanently assigned Danube-class runabouts in its roster. Equipped with various mission pods and interior modules, the Danube-class is capable of long duration missions away from the Ranger which other craft are not.

While the Type 11 may have many of the amenities of the Danube-class, its smaller footprint prevents the shuttlecraft being used for long term habitation, which is where the Danube-class excels.

While newer sixth generation Yellowstone-class and fifth generation Morpheus-class Runabouts are now in production, the fourth generation Danube remains the primary choice for assignment to bases and starships, while the former are more capable of fully independent use.

The typical configuration for Ranger’s Runabout features a living module to the rear, a sickbed module, an armoury and two cargo modules. They are also equipped with a long-range sensor array and ECM suite.

These Runabouts have been equipped with the same improved warp drives as featured on the Type 14 shuttlecraft, allowing a high warp speed.

Primarily the assigned Danube-class Runabouts are intended for very long-range cargo or personnel transport, or for long term surveillance and reconnaissance where they can be deployed while Ranger leaves the system.

Valor-Type Fighters

Valor-class Fighter, made famous by its service on the USS Typhon NX-85808.

Designed as an upgrade to the Valkyrie-class fighters assigned to the USS Typhon, and first deployed during the Hurq crisis, the Valor-class fighter has since seen wider deployment in reaction to increasing tensions with Dominion presence in Federation space.

While most alpha and beta quadrant powers fell out of the use of fighter style craft before the Dominion War, Starfleet has adopted a new starfighter corps in the years since with many pilots born from Starfleet Academy’s Nova Squadron, which have been deployed to great effect.

Ranger is deployed with a small contingent of fighters capable of defending the ship and squadron if necessary.

Senior Officers

Commanding Officer	Executive Officer
CAPT Juulla S’Vesta	CMDR Curven Trem
Chief Science Officer	Chief Engineer	Chief Medical Officer	Chief of Security
LCMDR Samatha Butler	LCMDR L’Kura	LT Siabi Adree	LT Delon