The USS Speedwell holding station at Starbase 39, late 2410.
The USS Speedwell, NCC-93834, is a Nimbus-class deep space research starship assigned to the Alpha Centauri Institute under the command of Vulcan Captain Solak. The ship was named after an ancient Earth sailing vessel that was one of the first to colonize the North American continent. The quote on its dedication plaque comes from the historian William Bradford: "The dangers were great, but not desperate; the difficulties were many, but not invincible."
Specifications[]
- Class:Nimbus
- Length: app. 300 meters
- Height: app. 155 meters
- Beam: app. 170 meters
- Mass: 1 million metric tons
- Operating Crew Complement: 200
- Maximum Crew Complement: 450
- Armament and Defense:
- Fore: 1 Tachyon Beam Array, 1 Plasma Beam Array, 1 Quantum Torpedo Launcher
- Aft: 2 Plasma Beam Array, 1 Quantum Mine Launcher
- Shielding: Mk XI Regenerative Shield Array
- Primary Mission: Deep Space Science Research
- Secondary Mission: Cultural Exchange
History[]
The Speedwell was launched in 3497 in response to a perceived need to increase Starfleet's Deep Space Research abilities in the wake of knew knowledged gathered in the Gamma and Delta Quadrants. The vessel served many years as a standard research vessel, including extensive tours in the Gamma Quadrant while based in the Bajor Sector.
In 3409, the ship was recalled to Utopia Planitia for upgrades and refits. The Speedwell's deep space abilities were enhanced, crew quarters were expanded, and its research facilities were upgraded to the latest standards. Upon relaunch, the vessel followed the established success of the USS Titan and introduced a policy of extreme diversity among its science and engineering crew.
Now, the Speedwell is regarded as among the pre-eminent research vessels in Starfleet. The competition for posting to her crew is intense among science and theoretical engineering officers. For non-Starfleet researchers, the Speedwell is highly sought after as a research resource and testing platform for everything ranging from astrophysics to particle research to non-warp faster-than-light travel.
Crew[]
The crew of the Speedwell is one of the most diverse in Starfleet with no one single species constituting a
Commander Sodock and Lt. Commander Retor on the bridge of the Speedwell in late 2410.
majority. Vulcans have the largest presence on the ship at 23% of crew. Among other Federation species represented are Deltan, Betazoid, Aenar, Human, and Benzite.
In addition to Federation species, the Speedwell hosts numerous scientists and researchers from allied and non-aligned worlds.