HISTORY OF THE PATHFINDER-CLASS STARSHIP
 

In 2377 a new class of ship entered service: the Pathfinder Class, designed as the ultimate in front-line explorers.

Following the destruction of a Borg cube in 2366, Starfleet stepped up several new ship designs to combat this new threat. One of the designs to benefit this increase in production, the Pathfinder class developed and evolved rapidly. As the initial design proposal for the Prometheus-Class starships, it featured MVAM: Multi-Vector Assault Mode. However, after Starfleet decided to go with a smaller MVAM-capable proposal, the Pathfinder design was commissioned as a separate class. Owing to their common design roots, the Pathfinder- and Prometheus-Class starships still share this unique design feature. As new weapons, shields, computers, and other systems were also developed the design was continually modified to incorporate the new technology. As a result, the prototype emerged from dry dock as Starfleet's most sophisticated and comprehensively-armed vessel.

The Pathfinder Class merges the catamaran hull design of the Akira Class with the maneuverability (both physically and mission-wise) of the Sovereign and  Galaxy Classes. Constructed as a response to the Klingon Negh'Var-Class Warships, the Romulan Valdore-Class Warbird, and the Dominion Battleship-Class Heavy Cruisers, the ship features a brand new torpedo turret as its primary weapon, as well as the Type-XIV phaser arrays (known as Sovereign-Type) and two Type-XV (commonly known as Defiant-Type) phased pulse emitters. The ship boasts 15 torpedo tubes among its three hulls, as well as the type XX phaser cannon prototype.

The USS Scorpion is currently one of the few Starfleet vessels that has enough firepower for any combat role yet also carries the full capabilities of an exploratory Starship. Designed to go for extensive periods on deep-space exploratory duties, it also carries an extremely heavy torpedo armament of fifteen torpedo launchers. Nine of these are mounted in the large roll bar pod, Four forward and five back. Tubes 10-13 are located on the underside of the saucer section while the remaining two face directly out to port and starboard, a unique feature in a Starfleet vessel, shared only with the Akira Class.

The vessel is also equipped with a new variant of the Type-XIV phaser array (formerly known as the 'Type X+' for security reasons), which equips the Federation's most powerful starbases and deep space facilities. The Type XIV has a raw beam power output some 60% more powerful than the Type-X arrays installed on the standard Galaxy Class. In addition, the Type XIV has a shorter recharge time and can fire a longer sustained burst, giving each bank a combat effectiveness 79.4% greater than a Type-X array. All tolled, the Pathfinder-Class has an overall 54.6% increase in phaser capability over the Galaxy-Class.

The shield system of the Pathfinder Class is similarly one of the most powerful of any Starfleet ship. Immediately prior to installation, the design was modified to increase effectiveness against both high-energy tractor beams and phased polaron particles, a measure clearly implemented to address the Borg and Dominion threats, respectively. Under normal operation, the shield modulation frequencies are controlled by the ship's computer system, which continually evaluates incoming weapons fire and automatically re-modulates the shields to provide the most effective possible defense. It is thought that this system can also prevent beam-through by Borg transporter technology.

Another special feature of the Pathfinder Class is arrangement of its hangar bays. One large shuttle bay runs the width of the saucer section and has bay doors on both sides, allowing for large numbers of simultaneous launch and landing operations. During peacetime, this enables the Pathfinder to evacuate large numbers of small survey craft or ferry evacuees on board at a high rate. During time of war, the ship can serve as a fighter carrier, with capacity for up to thirty-six attack fighters. Currently however, the Scorpion carries only two squadrons of star fighters, one Starfleet fighters, while the other is a Marine Recon squadron.  There are four additional shuttle bays spread throughout the ship as well, two of which are located in the rear of the Tertiary hull. Shuttlebay 4 is where the Scorpion's Marine Rangers Division keeps it's squadron of star fighters, along with all the necessary support equipment.

The ship's new Trelinium-based warp engines are based on a new concept in warp drive design, one which eliminates subspace distortion effects inherent to standard warp drives.  (This feature was so effective it is now becoming common on most Starfleet ships.)  With a maximum cruise speed of Warp 9.905 and a top speed of Warp 9.993 sustainable for up to eighteen hours, Pathfinder-Class starships are currently the the fastest vessels in Starfleet (especially with the inclusion of the Slipstream Drive).  This very high cruise speed is intended to allow the ship to deploy as rapidly as possible to potential trouble spots.  Additionally, the Pathfinder-Class impulse drive system is the most sophisticated model in production.  This and updated structural integrity fields give the ship maneuverability equal to that of a vessel two-thirds it's size.

Launched in 2382, the latest Pathfinder class was assigned to Starbase Praetor on the edge of the Typhon Sector as part of Operation Forestall, and renamed the USS Scorpion.  Its task is primarily to advance the new Forestall policy of 'remain hidden and observe', in an attempt to prevent disasters like first contact with the Borg and Dominion.  Its secondary role is standard Starfleet duties, as required on an emergency level, as well as the routine mapping and exploration duties that any Starfleet vessel is expected to carry out.