Ok, so I decided to do a bit more R&D. The Leyte Gulf is not off, but it is on the back burner while I figure out how to rearrange the engineering hull (I am having trouble visualizing other perspectives of the current design). On the other hand, I think I have a much easier project to work on that is much different than anything done before, yet much the same...
I would like to introduce the Sovereign Class Prototype. It is based off the concept art by John Eaves and the Master Systems Display from First contact. It is not exactly the same but very close to what I visualize the prototype being. It is built closer with design elements form the Defiant and Akira, with heavy armor and dense phaser strips, making even the smaller "Half" strips under the saucer more powerful than a Galaxy Class phaser bank. It, in keeping with Starfleet Capital ship design, only has 2 torpedo tubes, the Quantum turret and an aft Photon tube. The Deflector is how the Sovereign Deflector was supposed to be, but it was changed for the scene in First Contact. The new Nacelles are based off of the MSD, and the Impulse/Shuttlebay swap is based off of the concept drawings in the Novel adaptation of First Contact.
Development Start- 2365
Development End- 2367
Launch- 2368
Warp Trials- 2369
Clear for Service- 2370
Stationed at Deep Space 9- 2370-2373
Refit to bring to spec with NCC-1701E USS Enterprise- 2373 (New Warp Nacelles, more torpedo tubes, new impulse engines and shuttlebay)
Events of First Contact- 2373 (Sovereign in Refit near Cardassian Border, unable to join the fight).
