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   Intrepid-class starships were intially constructed in the 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 (1,128.6 feet) 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, oscillating subspace graviton field deflector shield generated through 14 separate shield grids. Intrepid and her sister ships were also equipped with the capabilities of routinely entering a planet's atomsphere, landing on the surface, lifting off and returning to space. Furthermore, Intrepid-class ships were equipped with the then-revolutionary Mark 1 Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH). The prototype was the third Federation ship to bear the name Intrepid.

   A few months after being commissioned, during its' first mission, the new Intrepid-class USS Voyager; registry number NCC-74656, disappeared in the Badlands region of the Alpha Quadrant on Stardate 48308 (April 2371). The ship was transported 70,000 light-years from Federation space to the Delta Quadrant. While in the Delta Quadrant, Voyager would make first contact with numerous species and have multiple encounters with the Borg during its journey home. Following an extensive search for the ship in the Badlands and the surrounding space of the Alpha Quadrant, Starfleet declared Voyager “LOST (with all hands)” two years after its' disappearance during its first mission, until contact was made with the vessel through Voyager's Emergency Medical Hologram aboard the experimental starship USS Prometheus in 2374. Through Starfleet's Pathfinder Project, created in about 2375, direct contact with Voyager was established in 2376 using an experimental communications technique developed by Lt. Reginald Barclay, formerly of the Enterprise-E. Voyager would suddenly return to the Alpha Quadrant, less than one light-year from Earth on about Stardate 54973 (late 2377/early 2378) by using a Borg transwarp conduit. The once “lost” Intrepid-class cruiser is escorted by a flotilla of 27 Starfleet vessels back to Earth.

   In 2379 USS Intrepid, the class prototype, would be assigned to “Battle Group Omega”, a task force established and assigned to stop a possible invasion of the Federation by 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