Specifications

The fifth ship to be launched by Lotus Fleet after the loss of the USS Tempest and the decommissionning of the USS Umpqua, shortly before the attempted takeover of then Starbase 10, the Alsea is the heavyweight fighter of the fleet. Although quite capable of performing every kind of starship activities, the Prometheus class is however essentially designed to function as a combat task force for efficient response to serious threat, from alien attack group incroachment to Borg Cube approach. It's unique capabilities and impressive firepower makes the Alsea a tremendous asset for the fleet as it can support any and all actions necessary in the entire Hromi sector... and well beyond.

The Lotus Class starship entered service in 2410, marking the crowning achievement of over a century of engineering advancements, starting with the Transwarp Development Project in the late 23rd century and the Galaxy class design of mid-24th century. With currently only one in service, the Lotus Class is servicing the Federation and Starfleet. Lotus Class vessels are to be the largest in the fleet along with the capital class of the Odyssey design, on par with the massive Romulan D'Deridex, built to boast Starfleet's most advanced technology and show the Federation's presence as if a core member world was next door with it's own mobile space station or outpost.

Initial production of the Lotus Class began at the Advanced Starship Design Bureau Integration Facility, Utopia Planitia, Mars, and will later expand to include other classified bases, The first was prematurely assembled and launched from the Advanced Starship Design Bureau Integration Facility, Utopia Planitia, Mars, in early 2410 to help resolve the situation of the Azimuth Horizon Incident, before being consolidated with the rest of the primary production facilities in the Hromi Cluster, namely Starbase Lotus, as the ship was delivered to the elite Starfleet division of Lotus Fleet, already commended for it's significant role in stopping the final Borg Invasion of 2409 and now following their success during the operation.

The design of primary and secondary hulls has been a staple of Starfleet since it's inception over two hundred years ago with the legendary Constitution Class. Advances in that design includes the emergency separation mode, where the primary and secondary hull split into two separate vehicles, each capable of individual flight maneuvers. However, this design was initially an emergency response only, which required the ship to be towed to a Starbase to be put back together, until the advent of full separation mode with the Galaxy class. Now the Lotus Class, like the Galaxy class, Sovereign class and all twin-hulled designs that followed, can perform a saucer separation and rejoin itself, one of the biggest advances since the procedure was conceived. This advance in saucer separation makes it possible for the Lotus Class to use the maneuver routinely as a tactical maneuver, instead of a strategic contingency. The advancements and problems of the ultimate version of this concept, the Prometheus class, were resolved with Odyssey class carrying a small escort-type vessel in addition to it's saucer seper mode, an improvement that was also included in the Lotus class. Moreover, the size of the Lotus class allowed to provide the separated saucer with it's own hull-integrated warp nacelles, just like what had been tested successfully on the Defiant class, allowing it to reach up to warp 7 as an independent starship even if deprived of a secondary hull. Beyond the obvious tactical advantages, already tested with the Prometheus class, this would allow the crew to return home even in the advent of loosing the stardrive in a far away area; a lesson taught by the incredible hardships of the USS Voyager when it had been lost in the Delta Quadrant.

The secondary warp core needed for this, again build from Defiant class tested designs, is also what allows the successful implementation of transwarp technology when the vessel is whole.

The Lotus Class is well armed. Describing it as the best-armed ship in Starfleet could lead to arguments, but the vessel is able to hold it's own, even in some mismatched battles. Being the first vessel to mount the Type-XII Starbase-issued Phaser Array has made the class a foe to contend with. However, at the time of it's design, Starfleet decided that it would be best to limit the amount of torpedo tubes aboard the vessels. Designers went with five in the original specs. After layout problems and Starfleet's recommendation for less, the designers went back to the drawing boards. They decided to use a swiveling, larger launching system, one that would be able to process a loadout of ten casings. There were two of these launchers placed into the plans, one forward and one aft (plus two extra launchers for the separated saucer, one forward and one aft available only when in seper mode); Starfleet approved. Designs of other classes have had increasingly more amounts of torpedo launchers and tubes placed on them, to counter the new and increasingly more powerful threats facing Starfleet, but these were deemed sufficient to provide the Lotus class starship to provide adequate response in synergy with its other tactical systems.

This newly crafted Avenger-class Star Cruiser is a hybrid vessel modified toward a specialization for scientific research and exploration.

With a crew of 1,000 and a newly designed layout with the latest technology and equipment,  it can readily switch from a research vessel, to fulfilling long-range diplomatic needs or if necessary, transform into a formidable battling cruiser... depending primarily on immediate circumstances.

The U.S.S Artemis - NCC-64121 is an Ambassador-class heavy cruiser built as a multipurpose capital ship in the early 24th century to serve in all of Starfleet's exploration, colonisation and peace keeping duties. Presumed lost at the end of the Cardassian Wars where it was reknowned as ''The Stalwart Guardian of the Federation,'' it was rediscovered hidden inside an abandonned secret asteroid base. Refited to 25th century specs as a symbol of Federation hope and survival after the Borg War, it has been assigned as the 5th currently active ship of Lotus Fleet to serve as its prime deep space explorer.

A tragic accident on the eve of departure for an emergency rescue operation killed Captain Kevin Froud, forcing newly promoted Executive officier Kheren to assume command. Following the success of that rescue mission which lead to the discovery of the Azimuth Horizon, Kheren was confirmed as the captain of the Artemis and subsequently lead her and her crew to several remarkable missions, most notably first contact with the X'ell of the Hromi Dyson Shell, resolving the Mutara nebula ship disapearances and the fate of the lost USS Achilles and preventing the Romulan Star Empire from altering the timeline and destroying all civilizations of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.

During the complex events of Operation Horizon leading to the taming of the cosmic-scale destructive anomaly, the USS Artemis lost it's stardrive in a ramming attack to stop a Romulan Scimitar class dreadnought threatening the entire operation. Then, her remaining saucer section was sacrificed to ensure the successful completion of the operation. To the very end, the USS Artemis proved to be the Stalwart Guardian of the Federation and a shining example of Lotus Fleet's unswerving dedication and commitment to duty and life.

The Millennium Project was the program approved by the the Command Board of Starfleet out of several thousands of proposals from scientists, engineers and technicians all accross the Federation to provide the United Federation of Planets with an effective mean of meeting the new wonders and perils of the multiverse and time alterations; all this while facing opposition that would not be hampered by such ethics. Furthermore, such needs were becoming pressing as other possible time incursions like the recently averted Kelvin timeline catastrophy. The class' name, Millennium, completely new and reflecting the special aim it is built for, heralds a new era of Starfleet operations that will come to fullness in the centuries to come while it safeguards our reality beyond our universe and even in ages past. As such, it christens the most ambitious starship project yet: a starship able to travel to other universes and through time. The new Millennium class not only represents the next stage of Starfleet operations, but also the adaptability of recent designs to new needs and needs to come, emphasizing a completely new approach while allowing for versatility and efficiency. Since the turn of the 25th century, the galaxy is facing an increasing number of new wonders and challenges from even beyond this universe. This class is therefore developped to carry a message of peace and hope for life among the stars, as well as to show the strength of resolve to discover and learn, all the while preserving reality itself from threats to its integrity; all that which forms the very foundation of the United Federation of Planets and of Starfleet, its main tool to meet those challenges.