|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The U.S.S. Darwin is a small science ship, Beagle class with a crew complement of approximately 90. She is not heavily armed, however she is well equipped with highly sophisticated labs and scientific equipment. She was originally designed for astronomical survey missions as well as venturing out into previously unexplored space and observing pre-warp cultures. As a result of this she is equipped with scanners that are more accurate and stronger than those of most regular ships - mainly for the purpose of astronomical surveying - and a cloaking device - mainly for the purpose of observation. Since these technologies are severely draining power, the designers had to cut back on weaponry and tractor beams, leaving only what was necessary for self defense.
Designed to remain autonomous for long periods of time, the Darwin is able to explore the far regions of known Federation space. This is another important reason for the concern about power usage. Conserving as much energy as possible, the U.S.S. Darwin is capable of being on her own for as long as ten years, providing that she is not engaged in battle or other disasters that result in damage of her systems.
Designed to spend long periods of time away from inhabited space she is equipped with family quarters although relatively little high-tech recreational facilities (for example only one small holo deck), which is partially due to her small size. She does, however, have a large arboretum, spanning almost an entire deck. This is used for scientific as well as recreational purposes.
She is also equipped with two small shuttle pods and a large variety of scientific probes.
Although not customary for ships of her size, she does have the position of a counselor among her senior staff who also acts as the head psychologist when observing pre-warp cultures.
With the beginning of the Federation/Dominion war, construction of the nearly finished U.S.S. Darwin had been temporarily put on hold. The crew, already selected and ready to go on their first scientific mission had been reassigned to other ships.
Now, several years into the war, with the Federation's fleet severely diminished there was an immense need for backup and construction the Darwin had been completed and most of the original crew had been reassembled to aid in the ongoing war.
Eager to finally resume their previously delayed research projects, the crew transferred back onto the newly commissioned vessel. Very soon, however, they were confronted with a major disappointment. Instead of doing scientific exploration and start several long planned-for observations of pre-warp cultures and extraordinary phenomena in the far regions of known space, Starfleet Headquarters had reassigned the Darwin to act as a surveillance ship in the war.
Due to her small size and her excellent scientific surveillance equipment she had been sent on missions to spy and act as a messenger in situations where Starfleet wished to keep their presence a secret.
For this purpose, the equipment had been significantly altered - with a lot of make shift weaponry being added to the Darwin's systems. With the engineers trying to solve the never-ending cascade of malfunctions caused by the newly added equipment and the scientists barely prepared to suddenly be in the center of war, the Darwin was now ready to embark on her first mission.
