Truth OR Myth? BETA – The Columbia Class – Early Design History – Pt 2

Truth OR Myth? BETA – The Columbia Class – Early Design History – Pt 2

Last time, on Truth or Myth Beta

Starfleet Command, in the process of upgrading their fleet, was shocked when the Federation Council refused their request for further resources to construct 6 new starship design, and told to go back to the drawing board and come up with new starships not so resource-intensive, and Dr Richard Daystrom certified mentally fit once again, was determined to solve this problem for Starfleet in order to clear the now tainted institute that held his name.  In order to do this, he turned to a 100-year-old starship design, forgotten in a Starfleet decommissioned shipyard.

The question for Daystrom now, is could his plan for the institutes redemption work?  Well stay tuned and find out!…

Hello and welcome to another episode of Truth OR Myth Beta Canon, a Star Trek web series that dives into the history of any given topic using Beta Canon sources and my own imagination to fill in the gaps, and create a cogent narrative.  In today’s episode, we’re continuing our look at the Columbia Class of Starfleet Starships, in an effort to better understand it’s place in the Star Trek Beta Universe.

Because this IS a Beta Canon video, all information relaid should pretty much be taken with a grain of stardust, and only considered a little bit of Star Trek Fun!  And so, with all that out of the way, lets begin.

Dr Richard Daystrom
(CBS) Dr Richard Daystrom

From the Starfleet Historical Archive; Personal Journal Entry, Dr Richard Daystrom, Stardate: 7621.8

I had the dream again.  I’m aboard the U.S.S. Excalibur, in the Captain’s chair.  Everything is calm and peaceful until suddenly the ships shakes violently.  Turning in the chair I’m confronted by the first officer, who’s look of shock and surprise makes my stomach turn.

I try to turn away, to look at something else, anything else, but I can’t, I’m frozen.  And even as the first officer’s flesh begins to melt away like a bowl of Chocolate Pistachio Ice Cream left in the sun too long.

She’s melting and I can’t turn away.


And only after shes a pile of burn sludge do I feel a hand on my back turning my chair, and it’s the Excalibur’s Captain, face also melting in a horrible melange of flesh and bone, crying out over the screams, You Daystrom, You did this…

And it’s at that point I wake up, with the words,  Your mighty starships, 4 toys to be crushed as we choose, ringing in my ears.

I can never fully atone for what I have done, but I MUST try.  I must find a way to quiet the Screams of the 400 dead, And restore the faith in my legacy.  For if I do, perhaps the dead will let me have one night of interrupted sleep… But how?  How can I make up for the damage I’ve done?

End of Log.

Dr Richard Daystrom’s plan to solve Starfleet’s starship problem was coming together nicely by utilizing an already constructed, albeit reinforced, hull design, he would satisfy the Vulcan’s and their concerns.  But a lot of work still had to be done in order to get the NX Class Refit up to par with Starfleet current design specs.

Setting to work with his team, Daystrom began to formulate the plan based on the needs of Starfleet Command for this starship design.

(CBS) U.S.S. Lantree – Miranda Variant

First Starfleet wanted a starship that like the Miranda Class could fill a multitude of roles.  But unlike the Miranda Class, the Columbia class would be a cargo and transport vessel only. Laying out the internal areas of the starship, Daystrom and his team decided to take the modular approach that Starfleet had begun using in all it’s starship designs. By making components removable, Starfleet was able to easily able to upgrade various aspects of the new starships.

The Miranda Class, for example, could have the roll bar removed from its standard configuration, replace with various other pods specifically designed to change the role of that starship, and Daystrom felt this approach could give this new design of the institutes the required edge to win the Federation council and Starfleet over. The technology used currently by Starfleet, though more complex, was much smaller and more compact then even what had been used 20 years prior in the Constitution Class, thus making more available internal space which could be utilized by this new design. And so looking at the lower decks of the Saucer Section of the starship, Daystrom and his team design 4 removable modules which could, in theory, be ejected and replaced in only a few hours of being docked at a Starbase.

The first module designed would be a cargo module.  This module would be designed with variable environment controls and basically be a huge open area Cargo bay, allowing for the transport of various material throughout the Federation. The Second module was designed for the transport of persons.  This module would be separated by decks, and contain multiple cabins in 1, 2 and Family travel sizes. Daystrom also included variable environmental controls for each Cabin, going far beyond Starfleet’s current design level.  In fact, the environmental controls per Cabin could be altered so extensively, that even a Tholian could ride comfortably within this new design. The third Module designed would be for massive personnel or troop transportation, with large barrack style rooms.

Each module design would also contain its own personal transporter, powered by its own miniature reactor.  In the case of main power failure, these transporters would still work, giving the passengers and crew a better chance for survival. Also, each of these transporters would include the new Site to Site transport capability.  In case there were drastic systems failures, and no planetary body to transport survivors to, the transporter operator could lock on to individual life signs and beam them in to escape pods, where the pods onboard systems would then kick in and launch the pods to safety.

(CBS/Cryptic) The NX Refit Side View

The Engineering Hull would remain as it was, though Daystrom would insist that specially designed explosive bolts be added as back up, to allow the starship to discard the Engineering section if necessary.

The original engineering room in the Saucer Section was converted to a state of the art Impulse Engineering room, while the upper decks of the Saucer were converted to crew quarters, sickbay and scientific and recreational facilities. Due to improvements in computer control and components, this design required only 10 officers to effectively control the ship, however, the standard crew complement was 52 officers and crew members. A 4th pod would also be designed by Daystrom and company, which would allow this starship to be easily converted to a hospital ship, though this module was never constructed.

The second requirement by Starfleet was in this design aesthetic.  Starfleet was going for a complete fleet wide overhaul of it’s look in order to not appear old and stagnant. So, in keeping with Starfleet’s Current design look, the original NX Class refit hull paint would striped down to it’s white under layer.  Sections of it would be polished, while other sections of the hull would receive a shiny pearlized coating. The final touch was the only major component that had to be replaced, that of the NX Class refits Nacelles.

These were detached and a new nacelle design, based on the nacelles carried by the Oberth Class would be incorporated. These new nacelles, though appearing like the Oberth’s, were nothing of the sort.  All their internal components were redesigned by the institute in hopes that this new design would give the Columbia Class an edge over her Oberth Sisters in speed. With the plans all drawn up, Daystrom met with Admiral Robert April and Starfleet Command council and presented the new design to the admiralty.

(CBS/Cryptic) The Columbia Class Refit

Unsure of what to expect, Daystrom was pleasantly surprised when Columbia Class was met with resounding amazement from all.  Starfleet Command immediately voted to present the new design to the Federation Council but had one request, the addition of weapons to the design.

Daystrom, perhaps wanting to make up for his past mistake, had not included any weapons on the Columbia Class, and was dead set against them being added to the design, however, back at the Daystrom Institute, his closest friends were able to convince him that weapons were a necessity of sorts to have on a starship, even if it was only minimal weaponry. Raiders, space entities and enemy vessels were still prevalent through out the Galaxy, and to send a starship out without weapons would reduce the chances for a starships survival.  And with this logic, Daystrom would agree to 8 Phaser Emitters and a 2 Torpedo Launchers to be incorporated in this design.

With the plans finalized and Starfleet Approval, the Admiralty then presented the new design to the Federation Council.  Impressed with how Starfleet was utilizing an old starship design, and needing few resources to bring this new design to life, Sarek of Vulcan immediately moved that the design be approved and resources allocated at once for construction to commence. And with the great sway of the Vulcan Ambassador, the motion was passed and construction did indeed commence.

Hauling the S.S Columbia out of the shipyard, she would be refit at the Utopia Planitia ships yards over the course of 9 months.  And when finally completed, Daystrom and his team would not only be invited to the christening ceremony but to also participate in the shakedown cruise itself. The entire design was a complete success.  Everything Daystrom and his team designed worked exactly as expected. Modules could be removed and installed in less than 3 hours and even the starships engines performed above expectations, reaching a standard cruising velocity of warp 6, with an emergency maximum speed of warp 7.

(CBS) The Daystrom Institute in Okinawa Circa 2399

It was a true triumph for Dr Richard Daystrom and the Institute which held his name, and it did in fact restore Starfleet’s faith in the institute and its abilities.  To this day, the Daystrom Institute continues to work closely with Starfleet Command.  Creating new and brilliant technology while refining older ones, a truly amazing relationship for the 2 organizations.

As for Daystrom himself, he would be somewhat forgiven by history, often referred to as a brilliant man who made a big mistake.  He would die almost a year after the U.S.S. Columbia’s launch, and would be given a states funeral by Starfleet in his honour.

From the Starfleet Historical Archive; Personal Journal Entry, Dr Richard Daystrom, Stardate: 7811.6

I had that blasted dream again, the one where I’m on the Excalibur with the crew melting away.  Waking up in terror, as usual, I was suddenly shocked to find myself at complete calm.

Something has changed, I know that, I feel it.

I’ve begun to put my affairs in order as I believe my time here in this universe is almost at an end.  And I meet that end head-on.

If the laws of God and man are to be believed, then perhaps God will forgive me and show me mercy for my past deeds.  If not, if I am to burn in hell for eternity then I accept my fate and hope that those that I’ve harmed in the wake of my bad decisions, will find some comfort in that.

They say Space is the Final Frontier, but I believe that to be incorrect.  Rather death is the Final Frontier, where all of the questions of the universe are answered.

So mourn not for me, for this is just shell and My human adventure is just about to begin…

End of Log.

That was Dr Richard Daystrom final journal entry.  He was found in his bed, the night that journal entry was made, having passed away from heart attack during the night.  The only odd thing about the death that was reported was that Daystrom was found, with a smile on his face…

Thank you for watching today’s episode of Truth or Myth Beta Canon, what do you think of the events surrounding the Columbia Class I’ve laid out here?  How do you feel about the headcanon I’ve created in regards to Dr Richard Daystrom?  Well leave your comments in the section below and don’t forget to like the video and subscribe to the channel.

What to help the channel tell more stories like this one? Then just click HERE to become a channel Patron… 

Watch The Latest Truth Or Myth Below

Thanks again for watching, Live long and prosper…

Join the conversation

Leave A Comment

« Due to GDPR, EU users need to be logged into Facebook to read and leave comments »

Share this post

Facebook
Twitter
Reddit
Email
WhatsApp

Latest From Treksphere