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Published Nov 2, 2012
STO Guest Blog: Multi-Mission Science Vessels
It’s finally here. Straight from the pages of the “Destiny” trilogy of Star Trek novels, originally designed by Mark Rademaker, Cryptic Studios and the Star Trek Online team are proud to finally bring you the Multi-Mission Science Vessels: Vesta line.
For those of you who have been following the progress of the Vesta, this line of ships has been a long time in the making. Our ship artists, Jeff Miller and Adam Gibson, have worked for some time to capture every detail originally envisioned by Mark Rademaker, and we think you will be very pleased with its appearance. But the ship model is not the only detail we wanted to get right. The “Destiny” novels focus on the U.S.S. Aventine commanded by Captain Ezri Dax, a ship that was was key in defeating the Borg in the novel series. Simply put, this ship has a pedigree and we wanted to make sure we accurately represented its rich history and lore in as much detail as possible.
Designing the Vesta’s capabilities was a bit of a challenge. We spent a lot of time researching its specs and reviewing the novels. It was important to us that fans of the “Destiny” novels felt like they were commanding a Vesta class starship. But let’s face it; the Vesta is a technological marvel with every factory option known to Starfleet. It even has Intrepid-style landing gear! In game terms, the ship is a little over-powered. So the challenge was to bring to life as much detail as possible without breaking the game.
We first needed to decide what kind of ship the Vesta was. It’s big like a cruiser, it has cannons like an escort, it has a hangar bay stocked with a fleet of Runabouts like a light carrier, and it has advanced sensors and technology like a science vessel. We settled on it being a Science Vessel, but we decided to make a new class of science vessel. The novels classify the ship as a Multi-Mission Explorer, so we decided to call the entire line Multi-Mission Science Vessels.
Next, we took a close look at its technology. First and foremost, it had Slipstream Drive. That’s not uncommon in Star Trek Online, so we wanted to make sure the Vesta’s Slipstream was special. Next, it had several key pieces of technology that we wanted to put in the player's hands: a Multidimensional Wave-Function Analysis Module , a Quantum Field Focus Controller , a Chroniton Integrator , and a Sympathetic Fermion Transceiver . The Multidimensional Wave-Function Analysis Module could be used to create a Multidimensional Graviton Shield to protect the ship from the powerful gravimetric forces of a wormhole’s event horizon. There was some definite game potential in that. The Quantum Field Focus Controller was key in the Vesta’s Slipstream Drive, but could also focus power to the main deflector to fire a massive, sustained phaser beam or a powerful shield bubble – the later could even crush a ship. That one practically designed itself. The Chroniton Integrator could take sensor readings several seconds into the future, a key piece of technology for maintaining the ship’s Slipstream Drive. That would become the key to designing a better Slipstream Drive for the Vesta.
Then there was the Sympathetic Fermion Transceiver. Not much was said about this piece of technology except it “impressed” Geordi La Forge in more ways than one. For those who have read the novels, you know what I am taking about. So this last piece of technology seemed important, but there was not much to go on other than the name. Fermions are subatomic particles. Sympathetic, in physics terms, refers to a body vibrating or resonating as a result of similar vibrations from another body. And a transceiver is simply a transmitter and receiver. That was going to be a challenge to design and try to remain true to both the novels and the game.
So that’s where we started. We soon realized there was just too much to put in one ship. So, like the Odyssey Class , we made three: the Multi-Mission Surveillance Explorer: Vesta Class (a science model), Multi-Mission Reconnaissance Explorer: Aventine Class (a tactical model); and the Multi-Mission Strategic Explorer: Rademaker Class (an engineering model). Each ship in this line has a slightly different console slot configuration, a different power level bonus, and a unique costume. Each also has one unique Console Module item that can only be used on these three ships. The three consoles are part of a set and provide a two and three-piece set bonus when equipped on the same ship. The costumes are unique to each ship, but if you own more than one, you will unlock the appropriate costume parts to use on the others that you own.
So, in the end, we believe we truly represented the Vesta as it was intended. Fans of the novel series will recognize a lot of attention to detail in its design and fans of Star Trek Online will appreciate its capabilities. Now for the details you’ve been waiting for:
Multi-Mission Science Vessels:
The most technologically advanced line of starships in the fleet, the Multi-Mission Science Vessels come with a myriad of new technologies. Originally designed as a testbed ship for the experimental Quantum Slipstream Drive, Vesta type ships have been successful in combats against the Borg. One of the initial Vesta class ships, the U.S.S. Aventine, is commanded by Captain Ezri Dax.
Multi-Mission Science Vessels come standard with a Mark XII Auxiliary Dual Heavy Phaser Cannon. This cannon is designed to utilize Auxiliary power instead of Weapon power. The vessels also feature Sensor Analysis, Subsystem Targeting, a hangar bay stocked with a wing of Danube Runabouts hangar pets (other carrier pets may also be slotted), and is the only Science Vessel that can equip dual or dual heavy cannons. They also feature Universal Lieutenant Commander and Universal Ensign Bridge Officer Stations that can by operated by any Bridge Officer class.
Base Stats (for all Multi-Mission Science Vessels):
Rank Required: Vice Admiral
Hull Strength: 27,800
Shield Modifier: 1.35
Weapons: 3 Fore, 3 Aft
Device Slots: 3
Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Lieutenant Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Engineering, 1 Commander Science, 1 Ensign Universal, 1 Lieutenant Commander Universal
Base Turn Rate: 13 degrees per second
Impulse Modifier: 0.16
Sensor Analysis
Subsystem Targeting
Can Equip Cannons
Aux Phaser Dual Heavy Cannons Mk XII [Acc] [Dmg]x2
1 Hangar Bay - with 1 wing of Danube Runabouts
Multi-Mission Surveillance Explorer: Vesta Class
The Multi-Mission Surveillance Explorer comes with the Vesta Class ship Costume. Acquiring other Multi-Mission Science Vessels will unlock additional costume options for your ship.
Specific Class Stats (in addition to the base stats listed above)
+15 Power to Auxiliary Systems
Console Modifications: 3 Tactical, 2 Engineering, 5 Science
Console - Universal - Sympathetic Fermion Transceiver
Multi-Mission Reconnaissance Explorer: Aventine Class
The Multi-Mission Reconnaissance Explorer comes with the Aventine Class ship Costume. Acquiring other Multi-Mission Science Vessels will unlock additional costume options for your ship.
Note: Unlocking the Multi-Mission Reconnaissance Explorer: Aventine Class unlocks this ship for every Federation Vice Admiral character on an account.
+10 Power to Auxiliary Systems, +5 Power to Weapon Systems
Console Modifications: 4 Tactical, 2 Engineering, 4 Science
Console - Universal - Quantum Field Focus Controller
Multi-Mission Strategic Explorer: Rademaker Class
The Multi-Mission Strategic Explorer comes with the Rademaker Class ship Costume. Acquiring other Multi-Mission Science Vessels will unlock additional costume options for your ship.
Note: Unlocking the Multi-Mission Strategic Explorer: Rademaker Class unlocks this ship for every Federation Vice Admiral character on an account.
+10 Power to Auxiliary Systems, +5 Power to Shield Systems
Console Modifications: 3 Tactical, 3 Engineering, 4 Science
Console - Universal - Multidimensional Wave-Function Analysis Module
Console Set
The Multidimensional Wave-Function Analysis Module, Quantum Field Focus Controller, and Sympathetic Fermion Transceiver may be equipped on any Multi-Mission Science Vessel. They are each part of the Experimental Systems set.
The two-piece set bonus grants you Chroniton Integrated Quantum Slip Steam . When this set bonus is active it will upgrade your standard Quantum Slipstream. Chroniton Integrated Quantum Slip Steam is the fastest Slipstream Drive in the Federation and offers a 4X Slipstream turn rate modifier.
All special abilities from the Multi-Mission Science Vessel consoles, including the set bonus, are mutually exclusive and only one can be active at a time.
Keep sensors locked on www.startrekonline.com for news on when they’ll be available for purchase. We'll see you in-game!
Al "CaptainGeko" Rivera
Lead Designer
Star Trek Online
NOTE: You must have enough Ship Slots to commission the new ships. If you do not have enough space, you can purchase additional slots from the C-Store or keep the ships in your bank until you do have space.
NOTE: The above stats for all ships are subject to change.
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- USS Aventine
The USS Aventine ( NCC-82602 ) was a 24th century Federation starship , a Vesta -class multi-mission explorer in Starfleet service from the 2380s [1] decade . Since the year 2381 , Aventine was under the command of Captain Ezri Dax , with a crew of about 750. ( ST - Destiny novel : Gods of Night )
Service history and disposition [ edit source ]
2380 [ edit source ].
The Aventine was fitted to serve as a testbed starship for the quantum slipstream drive in late 2380 . ( TNG novel : Greater Than the Sum )
2381 [ edit source ]
The Aventine saw her first combat action against the Borg during the invasion of Acamar . During the battle , the commanding officer and the executive officer were both killed, leaving Ezri Dax in command of the ship. One week after the battle, Starfleet officially promoted Dax to captain and gave her command of the Aventine .
The Aventine was then sent to the Gamma Quadrant to investigate and salvage the remains of the Columbia . This was, however, cut short when the ship was reassigned to defend Trill from the Borg. During the operation, two of the Aventine' s engineering personnel, who were part of the salvage team, were found dead. An investigation revealed the cause of the death to be a Caeliar , who also managed to board the Aventine , where he caused additional deaths. After stealing the runabout USS Seine in an attempt to locate his former home, Erigol , Arithon confessed to Captain Dax that he had not caused the deaths on purpose, but had known only the need to feed. ( ST - Destiny novel : Gods of Night )
Once in the Azure Nebula , the Aventine received a distress call from the USS Enterprise -E and rescued it from a Borg cube . After dealing with the immediate threat, the two vessels enacted repairs while awaiting further orders. Captain Dax wanted to utilize the tunnels as exploratory devices, but Captain Picard insisted on determining how to collapse them to prevent further Borg incursions. However, after sensor readings indicated that collapsing the tunnels could have disastrous results, the two ships worked to open and survey the far sides of the tunnels, hoping to take the front line of the Borg invasion to the Collective. The Aventine made contact with an unusual cosmozoan species in the Delta Quadrant who had repelled a fleet of Borg vessels and only allowed the ship to survive because they were not Borg. Another tunnel took the Aventine to the intergalactic void , almost a million light years distant of NGC 5078 , and the last tunnel that the Aventine went through, jointly with the Enterprise , deposited them in a plasma stream between a binary star on the outer rim of the Carina Arm near the meridian of the Delta and Gamma Quadrants , where they faced a Hirogen assault. Although the two vessels were boarded, they were able to repel the assault. The journey back was rushed due to the collapse of the tunnel system, and when they arrived back at the Azure Nebula , they found a ship graveyard—the remnants of the Alpha/Beta Quadrant expeditionary force which had been destroyed by a massive Borg armada of over seven thousand cubes. The Aventine set course for Earth to attempt a defense, and the Enterprise chased them. ( ST - Destiny novel : Mere Mortals )
Against immeasurable odds, Captain Dax of the Aventine initially planned to bring the ship's experimental slipstream drive online ahead of the test schedule to allow the ship to get to Earth ahead of the Borg and mount a desperate last defense. Dax was eventually dissuaded from this plan by Captain Picard of the USS Enterprise . ( ST - Destiny novels : Mere Mortals , Lost Souls )
Dax later did use the Aventine 's slipstream drive in an ambitious plan to ambush a Borg vessel and plant a fake Borg Queen to take control of the Borg armada. The slipstream drive allowed the ambush to go ahead successfully, and the plan prevented the annihilation of several Federation worlds.
The Aventine , along with the Enterprise and USS Titan , was later present in the Azure Nebula to witness the end of the Borg invasion, and the entire Borg Collective, at the hands of the Caeliar . ( ST - Destiny novel : Lost Souls )
After being repaired and refitted, the Aventine began relief operations. It occasionally used its slipstream drive to expedite travel times between destinations. In April 2381, it transported Sonek Pran to Achernar Prime in order to convince Donatra to help in providing aid to the Romulan Star Empire . ( ST novel : A Singular Destiny )
2382 [ edit source ]
In August of that year Julian Bashir and Sarina Douglas were dispatched on an under-cover mission into Breen space to track down the prototype Breen quantum slipstream-equipped starship, and destroy it. The Aventine provided support for the mission; ready to make a slipstream jump into Breen space and extract them once the prototype was destroyed. Ultimately the Aventine was called in slightly before the destruction of the prototype, and had to help finish the mission by using her shields to force the Breen ship back into the shipyard, where it was destroyed by a reactor core breach in the base. ( ST - Typhon Pact novel : Zero Sum Game )
2383 [ edit source ]
In 2383 , Starfleet sent the Aventine to the Venetan Outpost V-4 to investigate Tzenkethi activity there. ( ST - Typhon Pact novel : Brinkmanship )
2385 [ edit source ]
In August 2385 , Captain Dax and the Aventine crew docked at the new Deep Space 9 for the dedication ceremony of the new starbase . ( ST - The Fall novel : Revelation and Dust )
In September , the Aventine was ordered to intercept Dr Julian Bashir on his way to Andor to prevent classified information being leaked to the Typhon Pact . The Aventine was involved in a standoff and fired upon by Andorian ships before temporarily defusing an extradition situation. Once Captain Dax had sided with Bashir in administering the cure to Andor, the USS Warspite and USS Falchion attempted to remove the Aventine from the system. However, the ship remained in orbit of Andor for the duration of the conflict. ( ST - The Fall novel : A Ceremony of Losses )
It is unknown who replaced Dax following her arrest and incarceration on Jaros II. ( ST - The Fall novel : The Poisoned Chalice )
Later in 2385 it was revealed that Ishan Anjar was long dead. Baras Rodirya - the man who had taken his identity during the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor - was revealed to be working with the Cardassian group the True Way . Baras was personally arrested by Attorney General Phillipa Louvois and removed from office. Admiral Akaar was soon authorized by President Pro-Tempore Sipak to drop all the charges against Captain Dax. Dax was issued a commendation for her actions and reinstated as captain of the Aventine . ( ST - The Fall novel : Peaceable Kingdoms )
2409 [ edit source ]
The Aventine remained in service into the 25th century . In 2409 , the ship underwent a refit and became the prototype of the Aventine -class multi-mission reconnaissance explorer. ( STO - Klingon War mission : " Welcome to Earth Spacedock ")
2410-2411 [ edit source ]
In 2410 , the Aventine travelled to the 20 Draconis system, where the time-displaced Deep Space Station K-13 had been recovered and its crew awoken from suspended animation . Captain Dax intended to bring her experiences as counselor and with the Klingon Empire to bear when helping the 2270 -era station personnel and their Klingon ex- prisoners to terms with the 25th century. ( STO - Tales from K-13 short story : " Part 3 ")
Following the end of the Dominion - Hur'q conflict, Doctor Julian Bashir accepted the assignment for chief medical officer aboard the Aventine so he could live with his wife Ezri and their children. ( STO - Victory is Life mission : " Home ")
During an away mission to investigate a mycelial network , Bashir ended up hanging upside down and called Aventine for assistance. After his recovery, Captain Dax's investigation led her to classified files from the astromycologist Paul Stamets . ( STO - Age of Discovery short story : " Spores ")
In 2410 and 2411 , the Aventine represented its class in the Starfleet Shipyards Operations interface. ( STO - Klingon War mission : " Welcome to Earth Spacedock ")
Khitomer Alliance flag officer in, or aligned with, Starfleet, deployed Aventine for missions around the galaxy 's four quadrants as part of the four-quadrant strategy . ( STO - Klingon War mission : " Welcome to Earth Spacedock ", admiralty system )
Crew manifest [ edit source ]
- Captain Dexar (2380-2381, KIA) [2]
- Captain Ezri Dax (2381-2385, 2385-2411) [3]
- Commander Tovak (2380-2381, KIA) [2]
- Commander Sam Bowers (2381) [3]
- Lieutenant Commander Ezri Dax (2380-2381) [3]
- Lieutenant Commander Gruhn Helkara (2381) [3]
- Lieutenant Mikaela Leishman (2381) [3]
- Doctor Simon Tarses (2381) [3]
- Lieutenant Commander Julian Bashir (2411)
- Lieutenant Oliana Mirren (2381) [3]
- Lieutenant Lonnoc Kedair (2381) [3]
Auxiliary craft [ edit source ]
- Meuse ( shuttlecraft )
- USS Seine ( Danube -class runabout )
Appendices [ edit source ]
Connections [ edit source ], appearances and references [ edit source ].
- ↑ TNG novel : Greater Than the Sum
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 ST - Destiny novel : Mere Mortals
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 ST - Destiny novel : Gods of Night
Section Actions: Edit | Talk
- 1.7 2410-2411
- 2 Crew manifest
- 3 Auxiliary craft
- 4.1 Connections
- 4.2.1 Appearances
- 4.2.2 References
Service history and disposition
Crew manifest, auxiliary craft, connections, appearances and references.