Because of the inherent flexibility afforded by the customizable mission pods, the Nebulas can perform any task assigned to it.

 

OPERATING MODES

 

The normal operating routines of the USS Argus are in compliance with the set parameters and standard operating procedures of Starfleet. However, the exact parameters of the operating states of a ship is determined by the commanding officer ( or the highest ranking officer when the CO is unavailable).

The ship and its personnel also operate in three shifts: Alpha or Forenoon Watch; the Beta or Middle Watch; Gamma or Night Watch. The ship adheres to an 24-hour cycle known as Zulu Time and each duty shift last 8 hours. A shift is headed by an Officer of the Watch (OOW) who is responsible for the ship's operations during that period. There is also an Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW) that is responsible for the ship's power and propulsion systems. The captain and the first officer are not required to stand watch but must be available at any given moment.

 

COMPUTER SYSTEM

 

Computer Cores

There are three computer cores aboard the USS Argus, each of which is capable of handling all the primary computing load of the entire ship. Two can be found on Decks 5 through 14 of the primary (saucer) hull. A third is located in secondary hull on Decks 11 to 17.

The ones both on the saucer are based on isolinear technology, while the third ( the one in the stardrive section) is bio-neural. USS Argus is currently serving as a test bed for integration of bio-neural computer systems on board older ships.

A starship's computer core controls every system onboard the ship, from weapons to propulsion. The computer cores are massive cylindrical objects that that cross several decks.The computer core uses Faster Then Light data transfer, this is accomplished by using miniature subspace field generators. The upper level of the core contains the core monitoring room, the FTL nano-processor units, and access to the subspace field system.

Each isolinear core on the USS Argus has 2,048 modules made up of 144 isolinear chips that provide a storage capacity of 428 PetaQuads (428,000,000 GigaQuads) with a memory access rate of 650 GigaQuads/sec. The main cores are supplemented by 380 subprocessors located throughout the ship. These subprocessors do not have FLT capabilities but help to improve overall response time of the system. The main cores and the subprocessors are both tied into the ships Optical Data Network All of the ships display panels, sensors, relpicator, and system are connected to the ships ODN system for direct access to the computer core or subprocessor.

In addition to the three basic cores carried by a Nebula-class starship, most types of mission pod carry a dedicated computer core, in addition to their own power systems. This was designed to minimize a pod's dependence on its mother ship, especially so because the efficiency of their operation depends on computing power.

Universal Translator

The UT is built in personal commbadges and other small devices for field use, while a ship's computer have a more powerful and robust version of the program to enable it to decipher unknown languages encountered during missions.

 

SENSORS SYSTEMS

 

High - Resolution Mx. Range : 10 lightyears
Maximum Sensor Range : 27 lightyears

*All sensor pallets are interchangeable and configurable*

Main Sensor Array

This multi-function sensor array, AN/DSU-86 Mod3, is actually made up of several clusters of sensor pallets operating together to enhance their performance. The main sensor array is paired with the main deflector dish in order to eliminate effects that are detrimental to sensor performance. Because of the high-gain efficiency afforded by this system, many of the ship's data collating subroutines rely on it.

AN/LSU-102V(6) sensor pallets are located around the rim of the ship, providing an all-around coverage. These provide the vessel with full situational awareness in all standard scientific fields. And with the V(6) version, the ship could now focus power to one segment or several of them to enhance gain, range, and resolution. This sensor array can also be tied to the ship's fire control sensors thereby improving hit probability.

Tactical Sensors

USS Argus has 25 tactical sensors studded all over the ship. These are AN/STS-62 Fire Control and Targeting Systems, and are part of the Mk.77 Fire Control System (FCS). FCS controls the continous wave illumination sensor as well as terminal guidance of torpedo-type weapons. The FCS also utilizes several other sensor components such as the lateral sensor array to improve its hit probability even in an intense electronic counter-measures environment.

This is a dedicated sensor unit, composed of AN/SPS-39 subspace graviton field inferometer and several AN/SPS-36 Mod6 sensor modules specialy designed for subspace conditions. This allows the vessel to keep track of other ships whilst on high warpspeed cruise.

 

PROBES

 

In addition to various sensor arrays, USS Argus is equipped with various types of probes. These are devices that allow the ship to investigate phenomena in much greater detail than may otherwise be possible. It also allow the ship to study a potentially dangerous enviroment without putting the ship and crew at risk.

A probe is flexible and can be customized according to a mission priority. It can also be piloted remotely or completely driven by preset autopilot instruction. Certain type of probes can be fitted with warheads to become explosive devices similar to a photon torpedo; this, however, is detrimental to its sensor capabilties.

USS Argus is equipped several types of probes, each optimize for different missions.

 

CLASS 2 Sensor Probe

Range : 2 x 10⁵km
Delta-V : 0.65c
Powerplant : J587 microfusion reactor
This type of probe is equipped with a full EM/subspace and interstellar chemistry pallet for in-space applications. It is based on Class 1. In addition, Class 2 has enhanced long-range particle and field detectors and imaging system.

CLASS 3 Planetary Probe

Range : 1.6 x 10⁶km
Delta-V : 0.65c
Powerplant : J587 microfusion reactor
A planetary probe capable of terrestrial soft landing to subsurface penetration missions, as well as material sampling and collection. Class J atmosphere missions are survivable up to 450 bar pressure.

CLASS 4 Stellar Encounter Probe

Range : 7.2 x 10⁶km
Delta-V : 0.98c
Powerplant : J587 microfusion reactor
Modified from Class 3 for stellar study. The probe is equipped with triply redundant stellar fields and particle detectors and a stellar atmosphere analysis suite. There are six ejectable/survivable radiation flux subprobes, deployable for nonstellar energy phenomena.

CLASS 5 Reconnaisance Probe

Range : 8.42 x 10⁹km
Delta-V : Warp 2.6
Powerplant : N82 M/ARA engine
This is a medium-range reconnaissance probe equipped with extended passive data-gathering and recording systems. The probe has a full autonomous mission execution and return system and is capable of atmosphere entry and soft landing. The casing is coated for low observability and can be modified for tactical missions with a customized sensor countermeasure package.

CLASS 6 Communication Relay / Emergency Distress Beacon

Range : 4.3 x 10¹⁰km
Delta-V : 0.8c
Powerplant : J587 microfusion reactor
This is essentially a Class 3 casing modified as a communication relay or emergency beacon. It provides 9270 RF and subspace channels, with a 360° antenna coverage and 0.0001 arc-second high-gain antenna pointing resolution. The probe's extended deuterium supply allows for increased transceiver power generation and planetary orbit plane changes.

CLASS 7 Remote Culture Study Probe

Range: 4.5 x 10⁸ km
Delta-v limit: Warp 1.5
Powerplant: Dual-mode matter/antimatter engine
This is a remote culture study probe, modified from Class 5, but applicable to civilizations only up to level III and has low observability coatings and hull materials. The maximum loiter time is 3.5 months. A low-impact molecular self-destruct package is tied to its antitamper detectors.

CLASS 8 Multi-mission Probe

Range: 1.2 x 10²ly
Delta-v limit: Warp 9
Powerplant: Dual-mode matter/antimatter warp sustainer engine
A medium range, warp-capable probe using a modified photon torpedo casing. It is equipped with a standard sensor pallet and mission-specific modules. Its applications vary from galactic particles and fields research to early-warning reconnaissance missions.

CLASS 9 Multi-mission Probe

Range: 7.6 x 10²ly
Delta-v limit: Warp 9
Powerplant: Dual-mode matter/antimatter warp sustainer engine
A long-ranged, warp capable probe using a modified photon torpedo casing. It is equipped with a standard sensor pallet and mission-specific modules. The typical application is an emergency log/message capsule on homing trajectory to the nearest starbase or known Starfleet vessel position.