Starship Smackdown!

[Athos]

Actually, the fight between the Defiant and the Lakota was not a draw.  If you re-watch the episode, it is stated that the Lakota was worse-off than the Defiant; that one more hit would destroy them.  Both crews decided to stand down though as neither wanted to kill fellow Starfleet officers.

I did. Jax comments that if they wanted to they could have gone in the kill, but the Lakota had quantum torpedoes and refused to use them. The Defiant and Sisko, via channel, acknowledged that those torpedoes would have destroyed the Defiant. The Lakota stood down because they did not want to kill the crew of the Defiant, something that would have happened if they had fought to win. I stick with my choice, an upgraded Excelsior would win this fight.

Jax?  I presume you mean "Dax"?  

Did you forget that the Defiant carries quantum torpedoes?  In the Lakota/Defiant battle, you are correct, had the Lakota fired quantum torpedoes, it could have destroyed the Defiant.  On the other hand, one more hit from the Defiant's pulse phaser cannons (i.e. one more hit) would have finished the Lakota.  I stick with my analysis; Defiant would have triumphed.

Additionally...how many excelsior class ships did we see destroyed in the Dominion War?

[Athos]

Hmmmm... seems to be a pattern developing over these last couple of battles.
But seriously... the Defiant over an Excelsior?
I leave it to Jean Luc to present the appropriate expression.

Hey man...I flipped a coin for this vote because I could argue either way with this match up.  May I suggest that whatever pattern you are perceiving is merely imagined.

[Jeff T]

Hmmmm... seems to be a pattern developing over these last couple of battles.
But seriously... the Defiant over an Excelsior?
I leave it to Jean Luc to present the appropriate expression.

Hey man...I flipped a coin for this vote because I could argue either way with this match up.  May I suggest that whatever pattern you are perceiving is merely imagined.

Galaxy 7-5 victory over the Constitution
Defiant 7-5 victory over the Excelsior (still as of this response)

This pattern doesn't seem very imaginary to me. 

[Sorripto]

Actually, the fight between the Defiant and the Lakota was not a draw.  If you re-watch the episode, it is stated that the Lakota was worse-off than the Defiant; that one more hit would destroy them.  Both crews decided to stand down though as neither wanted to kill fellow Starfleet officers.

I did. Jax comments that if they wanted to they could have gone in the kill, but the Lakota had quantum torpedoes and refused to use them. The Defiant and Sisko, via channel, acknowledged that those torpedoes would have destroyed the Defiant. The Lakota stood down because they did not want to kill the crew of the Defiant, something that would have happened if they had fought to win. I stick with my choice, an upgraded Excelsior would win this fight.

Jax?  I presume you mean "Dax"?  

Did you forget that the Defiant carries quantum torpedoes?  In the Lakota/Defiant battle, you are correct, had the Lakota fired quantum torpedoes, it could have destroyed the Defiant.  On the other hand, one more hit from the Defiant's pulse phaser cannons (i.e. one more hit) would have finished the Lakota.  I stick with my analysis; Defiant would have triumphed.

Additionally...how many excelsior class ships did we see destroyed in the Dominion War?

Jadzia and Dax together... a typo of sorts haha. True, but you have to remember two things. First the Lakota was there to "stop" the Defiant. Which is why they opened with phasers. Considering they had the first shot if they had started with a phaser and Torpedo volley the battle would have gone a bit differently. Second this is fiction, so the writers are free to do what they want with ships and fights. How short would action movies be if bad guy henchaman's aim didn't suck. Following strict technical parameters, as in canon stats I stick with the Excelsior. I saw Galaxy Class ships getting destroyed by things the Enterprise-D survived a dozen of. 

Additionally... it is hard to tell for sure. Since DS9 loved to reuse stock footage I can tell you I saw the same ships getting blown up a bunch of times.

[Evshell]

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Despite the hard feelings and accusations (although we know it is all in good fun!) the Defiant has won fair and square over the Excelsior 7-5!

Maybe we can avoid a fistfight now that we're going back to a challenge that involves a non-Federation vessel again

Next up, the Klingon Bird-of-Prey against the Federation Akira!

Klingon Bird-of-Prey

Specifications
This classic Klingon vessel has continued in prominence and relevance for over 2 centuries! The Bird-of-Prey is like the Federation Miranda in that is the primary workhorse of the Klingon fleet. While it is one of the smallest ships at only 109 meters in length, in any battalion, you will see at least several Birds-of-Prey working together. Not much was known about the ship until one was captured by Captain Kirk in 2285. While the armament is not overly-impressive, with 2 Mark VI disruptor cannons and 1 Mark I photon torpedo tube, as stated earlier, it is almost never alone and will attack as a group. These weapons specs from 2285 would also be assumed to have been upgraded as the years went on, in order to equal or outmatch newer Federation and Romulan vessels. All in all, the Bird-of-Prey makes for a capable, deadly, and popular model.

Federation Akira

Specifications
This stalwart heavy cruiser seen twice in Lotus Fleet's RP by the name of the USS Tempest and the USS Spectre is a force to be reckoned with. Designed almost entirely for combat after so many ships were destroyed by the Borg at the Battle of Wolf 359, the Starship was thus seen prominently in fighting the Borg, and fairing much better, in the Battle of Sector 001. With 3 Type X phaser arrays and a massive 15 pulse-fire photon torpedo tubes, the Akira is destruction-incarnate in a compact frame. Its relative diminutive size when compared with other cruisers such as the Ambassador and Galaxy just give it more of an ability to maneuver and flank the enemy, while also sacrificing on defensive capabilities just slightly.

[Niomo]

This was a tough call for me. But I went with the Akira. When I was a kid, and Armada I came out, it came with a single card game card. It was the Akira. Since then, the little ship that could has become my second favorite ship (Galaxy holds that place in my heart).

Akira wins out of nostalgia.

edit 9-0, I think it's done, Jim...

[Evshell]

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Well, the Akira has shut out the Bird of Prey 10-zip! The Klingons died with honor, but there's no need to continue this slaughter, so we can go on to the next one.

Next battle is between the Klingon D7 Battlecruiser and the Vulcan D'Kyr!

Klingon D7 Battlecruiser

Specifications
The standard-bearer of the Klingon fleet in the 23rd century, the D7 was an impressivebattlecruiser able to strike fear in the hearts of many of the Federation during the Klingon-Federation Cold War of the mid 23rd century. At the time, it sported 4 Mark-7 Disruptor Cannons and 2 photon torpedo tubes, and was only equally matched (possibly outgunned) in firepower by the Federation Constitution.

Vulcan D'Kyr

Specifications
This unique Vulcan design was used heavily in the 22nd century when the Vulcan High Command was engaged in conflict with the Andorian Imperial Guard. It was and then resurrected later when the Vulcans needed to reinvigorate their combat in the early 25th century in order to help the Federation in its many conflicts with Klingons, Romulans, Borg, Hirogen, Undine, Breen, Tholians, and Voth. The D'Kyr was an enormous ship for the time, measuring 600 meters from end to end. In the 22nd century, it had 6 phase cannons and 4 photon torpedo tubes. The unique ring nacelle design was favored by the Vulcans at the time. Unlike other earlier designs, like the Suurok-class, the ring could be folded down 90 degrees while it was not being used in combat in order to protect the nacelle from damage.

[BLZBUB]

 Their relative strength indices being equal, I have never-the-less chosen the D-7 over the Vulcan's. It is the classic Klingon ship first encountered by Captain Archer.
 ... annnnd, I built one as a model rocket back in the 70's. It flew superbly ... twice!

[Kheren]

Since I don't care at all about firepower and tactical comparisons (being meaningless and completely uninteresting in this game) this was a tough one; classic original design vs splendid new design.

I ended up voting D'Kyr simply because it showed a very original application of the Eugene Laws in a very well thought out design in terms of alien (Vulcan) shipbuilding... and there are other Klingons out there in this challenge to carry on the glory of the Empire.

[Evshell]

 Their relative strength indices being equal, I have never-the-less chosen the D-7 over the Vulcan's. It is the classic Klingon ship first encountered by Captain Archer.
 ... annnnd, I built one as a model rocket back in the 70's. It flew superbly ... twice!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Archer actually encounter the D5? Not that it detracts from its classic-ness (perhaps possibly adds to it, with the prequel being the newest of the shows).