The Eternal class was a 31st century Federation starship class, a temporal multi-mission science vessel and variant of the 29th century Wells- and Verne-class[1] timeships, in Starfleet service during the Temporal Cold War. (STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock", STO website: Agents of Yesterday: 31st Century Ship Stats)
History and specifications[]
The 29th century timeship Verne.
The Wells-class USS Relativity and its sister ships like the USS Pastak[2] were active by the 2860s[3] and 2870s[4] decades. (VOY episode: "Relativity", STO - Future Proof missions: "Temporal Ambassador", "The Temporal Front")
Their design evolved into the Verne-class temporal science vessel. (STO website: Emergence: The Evolution of the Infinity Lock Box)
In that time period, protecting the timeline was the mission of Starfleet and the Temporal Integrity Commission. (VOY episode: "Relativity")
Federation timeships.
The USS Eternal entered service in the 31st century. Like the Chronos-class temporal dreadnought and the Ouroboros-class temporal raider, the Eternal was designed for cross-temporal engagements during the Temporal Wars. Structurally, all three classes were based on the Wells-class active in the 29th century. (STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock", STO website: Agents of Yesterday: 31st Century Ship Stats)
Voth Palisade-class science vessel.
The Eternal continued the trend started with the Verne of having a pair of temporal impellers at its aft end. Structurally, a bulky engineering hull connected to the conical primary hull through a short, thick neck. Instead of warp nacelles, the engine drives were circular and placed on either side of the hull.[5] Overall, the Eternal science vessel's shape followed the form of the Voth Palisade-class science vessel and its Bastille-class temporal science vessel refit.[6] (STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock", STO websites: Rise of Discovery, The Voth Evolve in the Infinity Lock Box!)
This class was designed to operate alone on the frontier and equipped with cutting-edge technology that supported its role as a multi-mission explorer. Its advanced systems made it a versatile part of 31st century Starfleet and valuable asset in the Temporal Cold War. (STO website: Agents of Yesterday: 31st Century Ship Stats)
Eternal fires an antiproton beam.
The Eternal was armed with a forward-facing dual antiproton bank, an antiproton beam array and one chroniton torpedo launcher at the fore. Two antiproton beam arrays and another chroniton torpedo launcher covered targets astern. (STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
As a combat-oriented timeship, it was able to fire a molecular deconstruction beam at enemy targets. An emitter could generate a causal anchor that dragged hostile vessels and damaged their deflector shields and hull. Overall, the ship's design and capabilities were a marriage between the Wells class and the advanced Voth science vessels of centuries past. (STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
Eternal-class design.
Due to the opening of a new front of the Temporal Cold War in the year 2410, the Temporal Integrity Commission and Temporal Agent Timot Danlen worked with Khitomer Alliance authorities native to the 25th century. Some commanding officers of that time were recruited as temporal agents, and given access to starship classes of the 26th and 31st centuries. This included the Eternal class. (STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "The Once and Future Agent")
The USS Eternal at Procyon V in 2554.
In 2554, Agent Danlen directed Eternal-class ships to protect the USS Enterprise-J and engage the forces of the Temporal Liberation Front during the Battle of Procyon V. The Eternal moved in to draw fire of Tuterian Sphere Builder ships away from the USS Enterprise-J. This occurred repeatedly because the TLF reset the timeline. (STO - Future Proof mission: "Ragnarok")
By the 3050s, temporal guardianship had transferred into the hands of a civilian Federation authority, the Federation Temporal Agency. (DTI novel: Watching the Clock)
Following the end of the Temporal Wars, time travel was banned and related technology dismantled. As a result, time travel was unavailable when the Burn occurred in 3069[7]. (DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 1")
Livery[]
The USS Eternal in 2409.
In the 25th century, the design of the Eternal-class temporal multi-mission science vessel allowed its commanding officer to choose from different designs of hull materials, which could be modified further at shipyards. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
The hull did not display the ship's name or NCC/NCV registry number. (STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
Furthermore, the installation of deflector shields from specific factions modified the hull appearance, including shields from the Reman Resistance, the Breen Confederacy and the Dominion. (STO missions: "Coliseum", "Cold Storage", "Boldly They Rode")
Known vessels[]
| This article or subsection has an associated category. | Eternal class starships |
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Appendices[]
Connections[]
References[]
- ↑ STO website: Emergence: The Evolution of the Infinity Lock Box
- ↑ STO - Future Proof mission: "Temporal Ambassador"
- ↑ Last Unicorn RPG module: All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook
- ↑ VOY episode: "Relativity"
- ↑ STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock"
- ↑ STO websites: Rise of Discovery, The Voth Evolve in the Infinity Lock Box!
- ↑ DSC episode: "Die Trying"
External links[]
- 31st Century Ship Stats dev blog at the ARC website.
- Special Agents Packs dev blog at the ARC website.