GEMINI PROJECT 1998

The soon forthcoming launch of a pair of twin starships is viewed as a minor miracle by their construction crews. Designed "on the fly," these two ships were completed just 14 months from the initial conception of their mission purpose. Born from the Borg incursion, these special ships are designed for deep space exploration, to provide clues to what really is out there, to once again go boldly where no one has gone before.

These vessels rise like the Pheonix from the ashes of Wolf 359, the Federation's costly battle with the Borg. Prior to the incident at Wolf 359, the shipyards at Utopia Planitia were operating below 60% capacity and those above San Francisco were shut down completely. Three months later, both were operating at full capacity and it was decided to start up a third site in the Terran system. Io was selected because of the natural shielding provided from long range sensors by her sulferous emmisions. Most of the materials for these ships came from salvaged starships lost in the battle at Wolf 359.

Top and Side View

The engineering hulls are of new construction. Six Intrepid class ships were initially planned. Four had been completed by the time Voyager was lost. Construction of the remaining two ships were halted pending an inquiry. Approximately 80% of the engineering hulls had been completed at that time. These two hulls served as a starting point. Two Miranda Class vessels, whose battle damage was restricted primarly to their warp nacells, were fitted with the warp nacells originally designated for the Intrepid hulls. These "saucers" were then fitted on the engineering hulls in place of the spoon shaped forward hulls which were never built. Both of these new forward sections are capable of automous operations when seperated from the main craft. Newer, somewhat larger warp nacels were then installed on the Intrepid hulls.

Side View Seperated

The USS Gemini and the USS Providence constitute this entire Gemini class. These "Gemini Twins" are so named because of their twin warp cores, but several other twins apply. For one, the ships are, of course, twin designs. For another, each ship has been fitted externally with large holo arrays. The net effect being a projection of an entire ship from either or both seperated hull sections, giving the appearance of two complete ships when only one seperated ship is present. This feature allows a hoped for tactical advantage to a starship far from home.

Top View - Seperated

These holo-projections appear amazingly real to sensors. Normally, sensors easily distinguish between real and holo ships. In this application, sensors are deceived because the "holo ships" are attatched to real ships. Real ships with real warp core signatures. Battle damage is simulated when the holo image is "hit" and approiate explosions are provided to complete the effect. Targeting of specific areas by an adversary allows minimal damage to the ship half projecting those areas, allowing it a significant advantage. Simulations have shown this to be an effective tactic. Use of the holo projectors can allow images of entirely different vessels to be simulated, and the masking of ship functions can enable the ship to be precieved entirely as a hologram. Impressive recreational holo suite facilities are provided by the special holo projection control computers installed to coordinate the external holo projectors.

When the hulls are joined, the aft warp core is assigned propulsion, and the forward warp core is given shields and weapons using the equipment in the Miranda hull. The forward engines are normally of-line except under emergency conditions. Long range sustainable cruise speeds exceed warp 7 and a maximum emergency warp speed of warp 9.975 is available for periods of up to 28 hours. The two warp core systems cannot be allowed to interact. Plasma conduits have, however, been configured to permit re-routing the energy systems to (if one warp core goes down and the ship is under emergency conditions) allow either warp core to power any engine available and to maintain the EPS power grid. This flexablity should not overshadow the dangers involved which could destroy the ship or render it powerless if safety procedures are overridden or ignored. Ejection of the rear warp core can be at least partially compensated for using the remaining warp core. Warp 6.5 is the upper limit for the entire ship using just the forward core due to power requirements of systems in the other hull. Warp 9.975 is available using just the aft warp core.

Side View - Seperated

One additional unsual feature is control of both ships from a single bridge during battle. Although external control of starships has been available, attack paterns coordinated using secure multi-frequency subspace telemetry (which is practically jam proof) has not. The primary concerns of this system are range affecting reaction time and a duncel attitude of the controlled ship's crew affecting recovery time should external control fail. However, these concerns are offset by the superior control of attack patterns allowed using this system.

The USS Gemini is to be the first of these two ships commissioned. Her initial shakedown is to take place as soon as her captain takes command at the end of this month. The USS Providence will launch shortly thereafter when Captain Warren Price takes command. Their first assignments will be toward the delta quadrant. The space known to have produced the Borg.

General specifications:

Additional features:

1. Metaphasic Shielding
2. Holo torpedoes simulating ships, asteroids, small moons, space stations
3. Quantum torpedoes
4. Photon torpedoes
5. Transwarp shuttle ( 5 person)
6. Gemini fighters (6 short range warp capable two pilot craft)
7. Dual deflector dishes
8. Self modulating phasers (random or step)

LINKS

HOME	CREW BIO	HAND	CREW PICS	TOP

Thanks for the Visit