An Intrepid-class vessel capable of holding 200 crew members, the
U.S.S.
Voyager NCC-74656 is one of the fastest and most powerful starships in
Starfleet. Although at 345 meters long it is about half the size of the
U.S.S.
Enterprise NCC-1701-D, Voyager is more technologically advanced than
previous Starfleet vessels. Superbly equipped for exploration and
research,
Voyager has an equally impressive array of defensive and offensive
weapons,
making it ready for action.
The U.S.S. Voyager is the second of only four Intrepid-class starships
built by
Starfleet to date, launched in 2371 on stardate 48038.5.
On stardate 48307.5, Voyager was pulled over 70,000 light-years from
the
Badlands area near Deep Space Nine by an extragalactic alien dubbed
"Caretaker." The alien had been searching the galaxy for a compatible
life-form
with which to procreate.
Voyager's assigned first officer Cavitt, helmsman Stadi, chief
engineer,
and
doctor and nurse were killed in the transfer as well as a transporter
chief
and
other crewmembers. Its original short mission did not call for a
counselor
to be
assigned.
Voyager is currently en route from the Delta Quadrant to Federation
space;
at
maximum speed, however, the journey may take up to 70 years.
Voyager's folding wing-and-nacelle warp drive system allows the
starship
to
exceed the warp 5 "speed limit" without polluting the space continuum.
Voyager can reach a speed of warp 9.975, but only for short periods.
Its EPS system and back-up have been totally modified to employ Enaran
power-conservation technology; power relays on some decks now employ
Borg
technology. It carried 152 people as of SD 48975.1; Chakotay doesn't
believe
it
can be operated with less than 100. Reference: Caretaker, Part I
