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   Intrepid-class starships were intially constructed in the mid to late 2360's and introduced into Starfleet service with the launching and commissioning of the prototype USS Intrepid in 2370. Designed with an elliptical "saucer", ships of this class measured 344 meters long and had a mass of 700,000 metric tons with 15 decks that could complement a crew of about 140. The warp propulsion system (WPS) of the Intrepid-class featured variable geometry warp nacelles which were designed to increase various warp velocity and performance efficencies, allowing Intrepid-class starships to reach velocities of at most Warp 9.975. However, an unknown, yet positive side effect developed with the use of this new WPS: the elimination of damage caused to space and subspace compared to older warp engine systems. Furthermore, vessels of this class were designed with a computer system that used traditional isolinear circuitry and newly-developed bio-neural circuitry to increase computer response time. For defense and protection, Intrepid-class vessels were equipped with 13 Type 10 phaser arrays, four torpedo launchers (2 forward, 2 aft) and a symmetrical, oscilllating subspace graviton field deflector shield generated through 14 separate shield grids. Intrepid and her sister ships were equipped with the capabilities of routinely entering a planet's atomsphere, landing on the surface, lifting off and returning to space. Intrepid-class ships were also equipped with the then-revolutionary Mark 1 Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH). The prototype was the third Federation ship to bear the name Intrepid.

   On or about Stardate 48307 (early 2371), the Intrepid-class vessel USS Voyager, registry number NCC-74656, disappeared in the Badlands region of the Alpha Quadrant. The ship ended up 70,000 light-years from the Federation in the Delta Quadrant. Starfleet presumed that Voyager was destroyed until contact was made to the ship through Voyager's Emergency Medical Hologram aboard the experimental starship USS Prometheus in 2374. Through the Pathfinder Project, created in about 2375, Starfleet made direct contact with Voyager in 2376 using an experimental communications technique developed by Lt. Reginald Barclay, formerly of the Enterprise-D and -E. Voyager returned to the Alpha Quadrant on about Stardate 54973 (late 2377/early 2378) by using a Borg transwarp conduit.

   In 2379, the class prototype, USS Intrepid would be assigned to Battle Group Omega, a task force established and assigned to stop a possible invasion of the Federation from the Remans, a former slave race of the Romulan Star Empire who had overthrown the Romulan government. However, the use of this battle group became unnecessary when the Reman threat was eliminated by USS Enterprise-E and its crew.

Ships of the Class