Science spearhead

For other uses, see Vanguard.

A Crossfield-class science vessel in the 2250s.

In starship classification, a science spearhead, or science vanguard, was a 25th century Khitomer Alliance designation for modified, highly effective science vessels. This classification was based on the 23rd century Federation Crossfield-class experimental science vessel. (STO website: Emergence: The Discovery Lock Box!)

History and specifics

In the 2250s decade, the Crossfield-class science vessel was a Starfleet starship class specialized in scientific endeavors. Following the eruption of war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire after the Battle of the Binary Stars in May 2256, these starships underwent heavy modification to aid the war effort. These ships combined cutting-edge technologies and powerful new tactics. Equipped with top-secret technology, ships of the class were deployed during the Federation-Klingon War of 2256-2257. These refits proved to be highly effective and birthed a new breed of starships, the science vanguard (spearhead). In the year 2411, scientists recovered these inventions from the 23rd century. (STO website: Emergence: The Discovery Lock Box!)

The Glenn-class was a modernized, 25th century version of the 23rd century Crossfield class. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")

The sentry vessel of the Ba'ul was another Age of Discovery-era starship type recovered by the Khitomer Alliance in the 25th century. This starship type was classed as a sentry spearhead vessel. (STO website: Legacy: Command the Ba'ul Sentry Ship!)

Federation members, the Vulcans, deployed the large Sh'vhal-class Vulcan cruiser in the early 2380s. (LDs episode: "wej Duj")

In the 2410s, this class was in Federation Starfleet and Khitomer Alliance service as a tier 6-rated temporal science spearhead. (STO website: The Sh'vhal Temporal Science Spearhead:)

Starfleet's Protostar-class experimental science vessel entered production in 2384. (PRD episode: "Supernova")

Through the Temporal Cold War, the Khitomer gained access to uptime technology, including the 32nd century refit Crossfield-class and the 3180s-era Saturn-class intel science spearhead. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")

The USS Premonition of 2411 was a replica of the Premonition-class timeship USS Premonition. The Khitomer Alliance-operated Premonition class was rated as a tier 6 temporal science spearhead. With the ability to mount dual cannons and an additional weapon placement, the science vanguard resembled a science dreadnought without hangar bay. (STO website: Unparalleled: The Heritage Starship Bundle!)

Subtypes

Science spearhead

The 23rd century Crossfield-class classified science vessel operated by the Starfleet in the 2250s was classed as a tier 6 science spearhead or science vanguard by the Alliance in the 25th century. Ships of this class were equipped with the mycelium ambush universal console, which temporarily and instantaneously jumped the ship forward for a quick strike. (STO website: Emergence: The Discovery Lock Box!)

Variants of the Crossfield class could operate with the same specifications, including the Terran Crossfield class from the mirror universe, the 25th century Glenn-class and its mirror counterpart, and the 32nd century Crossfield-class refit. This included a bridge officer seating for an officer ranked commander performing double duty as intelligence officer and of any other department. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")

Intel science spearhead

The 32nd century configuration of the Saturn-class was rated as tier 6 intel science spearhead by the 25th century Khitomer Alliance. This version of the Saturn class originated from the year 3189 and was operated by Alliance members from 2411. As a type of intel starship, the intel science spearhead included the gather intelligence mechanic in addition to the sensor analysis standard to 25th century science vessels. The bridge of the Saturn allocated stations for a commander-level officer doubling as intelligence specialist and science officer, and an ensign pulling double duty as pilot specialist and any other department. The chakram projector was a ring-like turret weapon employing programmable matter relays in combat and was standard equipment on Saturn-class intel science spearheads. (STO website: Reflections: Voyage to Saturn and Beyond)

Miracle worker science spearhead

The Duderstadt-class from the early 2400s operated as a miracle worker science spearhead in the 2410s, combining the subsystem targeting and sensor analysis of science vessels with the innovation mechanic that was the trademark of miracle worker ships. The ship's special weapon was an energy being habitat that could release Calamarain combatants during engagements. Specialized bridge officer seating included stations for a lieutenant commander doubling as engineering and pilot, and a commander serving both as science officer and miracle worker. (STO website: Both Worlds: The Duderstadt at your Command)

Temporal science spearhead

The Vulcan High Command operated the Sh'vhal-class and contributed it to the Federation in the 24th century. The Sh'vhal class was a dreadnought-sized support vessel in the 2380s. In the 25th century, this class included the molecular reconstruction mechanic that was a standard for timeships of that era, and the sensor analysis of science ships. It was rated as a temporal science spearhead. (STO website: Shadow's Advance: The Sh'vhal Temporal Science Spearhead)

Starfleet's 2380s-era Protostar-class was an experimental science vessel equipped with the protostar drive. In the 25th century, the new USS Protostar was equipped with the reformed living construct, which was a weapon that hacked other combatant's systems. It shared the molecular reconstruction of temporal starships and sensor analysis power of science vessels. Bridge seating accommodated a commander doubling as science officer and temporal operative, and a lieutenant commander operating as engineer and miracle worker. (STO website: Incursion: Command the Protostar Temporal Science Spearhead)

In 2411, Starfleet and the rest of the Khitomer Alliance operated the Premonition-class temporal science spearhead. The USS Premonition was a replica of the timeship USS Premonition from an alternate future. In addition to sensor analysis and molecular reconstruction mechanics, ships of the Premonition class were equipped with the Gemini device. This technology could summon an alternate version of the Yorktown-class USS Enterprise-F and duplicate it with the Gemini effect. The bridge allowed for a pair of temporal operatives - a commander from the science department and a lieutenant commander of any department. Some of the temporal technology was stripped of this class compared to the original, and several features were considered confidential. (STO website: Unparalleled: The Heritage Starship Bundle!)

Science spearhead classes

class name	spearhead classification	original faction	special weapon	service periods	ship image
Ba'ul sentry vessel	sentry vessel	Ba'ul	sentry mode	2250s-2410s	Ba'ul sentry vessel.
Crossfield-class	science spearhead	Federation Starfleet	mycelial ambush	2250s-3180s	23rd century Crossfield-class.
Crossfield-class (refit)	science spearhead refit	Federation Starfleet	Kwejian assault craft	3180s-3190s	32nd century Crossfield-class.
Duderstadt-class	temporal science spearhead	Federation Starfleet	energy being habitat	2400s-2410s	Duderstadt-class.
Glenn-class	temporal operative science vessel	Federation Starfleet	mycelial ambush	2410s	Glenn-class.
Premonition-class	temporal science spearhead	Federation Starfleet	Gemini device	2410s	Premonition-class.
Protostar-class	temporal science spearhead	Federation Starfleet	reformed living construct	2380s-2410s	Protostar-class.
Saturn-class	intel science spearhead	Federation Starfleet	chakram projector	2410s, 3060s-3190s	Saturn-class.
Sh'vhal-class	temporal science spearhead	Federation, Vulcan	regenerative shield amplifier	2380s-2410s	Sh'vhal-class.

Appendices

See also

• experimental science vessel

Background

This section is written from the Real World point of view.

• In ST video game: Star Trek Online, this science vessel type was introduced as Science Vanguard. With the launch of the "Victory Is Life" expansion, this subtype was renamed to Science Spearhead to avoid confusion with the Jem'Hadar Vanguard starships.

External links

• Crossfield Science Spearhead article at Stowiki.net.
• "The Discovery Lock Box!" dev blog on ARC website.