Vastam class

The Vastam-class warbird is the premier modern multi-mission battlecruiser for the Romulan Republic fleet. Originally developed as a science vessel capable of relaying data back to New Romulus from deep space, with the help of Starfleet, the ship metamorphized into a true multi-mission battlecruiser capable of most missions laid before it to give the Romulan Republic the versatility in modern capabilities it severely needed. The Vastam is quickly becoming the front-line multi-mission starship for the Romulan Republic as the D'deridex-class warbird did for the Romulan Star Empire or the Galaxy-class did for Starfleet in decades previous.

Exploration and Science

Where the Vastam excels compared to its most apt predecessor in the D'deridex is that it was a ship built with science and exploration in mind. At the core of the Vastam's capabilities is a cutting-edge sensor suite, developed in collaboration with the Starfleet Corps of Engineers. This suite integrates state-of-the-art sensor arrays and is mounted on the front of the ship’s top superstructure and directly under the ventral hangar. Coequally, the ship boasts a state-of-the-art communications system mounted on the rear of the superstructure. These technologies combined enable the ship to gather, process, and transmit data at unprecedented speeds, providing a critical advantage in exploration and research missions.

These include permanent, fully-equipped laboratories dedicated to exogeology, xenobiology, chemistry, and astrophysics. Furthermore, the ship houses approximately six dozen configurable labs, which can be adapted for various purposes, such as archaeology, hydroponics, or engineering. The ship also contains a dedicated stellar cartography lab which was a large enclosed room with integrated holographic technology.

With this infrastructure in place, the Vastam is poised as not just a frontline battlecruiser but also a deep space explorer for the Romulan Republic. This dual-role capability positions the ship to meet the Republic's evolving priorities. With the Republic turning its attention away from imperialism, exploration has become a priority as the drive for knowledge. This strategic pivot not only improves the Republic’s standing but also uncovers previously unknown discoveries, fostering growth and prosperity.

Diplomacy

As a flag of diplomacy, the Vastam excels where previous Romulan starships would be considered spartan by comparison. Even the D'deridex, despite its imposing presence, fell short in its capacity to host diplomatic functions due to its distinctly militaristic accommodations. The Vastam was built with diplomatic endeavors in mind, and as such has dedicated conference rooms, ample guest quarters, and multiple holodecks that can be used to create tailored diplomatic spaces. In all, the Vestam has been equipped with the ability to independently host diplomatic functions, facilitate first contact, and accommodate foreign dignitaries with ease.

Engineering

The Vastam is, in some ways, a large departure from traditional Romulan ship design while maintaining the distinctly Romulan identity. Its most significant departure lies in its modular internal configuration, a feature heavily influenced by Starfleet's contributions to its development. Similar to Starfleet vessels, the Vastam possesses the ability to reconfigure internal spaces, offering more versatility for a Romulan ship than ever before. Additionally, the Vastam features Starfleet-designed sensor and communication arrays.

However, the ship still boasts an extremely powerful singularity core at her heart powering a warp drive that feeds directly to four nacelles: two at the tips of the wings and two at the top of the body of the ship. This four-nacelle configuration enhances warp stability and longevity, particularly while cloaked. By maintaining warp field synchronization, the Vastam achieves higher speeds under cloak than previous Romulan designs without risking detection. Theoretically, it can sustain its top speed of warp 9.85 while cloaked.

Additionally, the cloak on the Vastam is the first generation of new Romulan Republic designed cloaks since the fall of the Star Empire. Successful deployment on the Vastam paved the way for more of these advanced cloaks to be produced on a larger scale and retrofitted onto older vessels, marking a significant step forward in Romulan stealth technology.

Tactical

Like most Romulan designs, the Vastam excels in combat. As a dedicated battlecruiser, the Vastam augments its classic Romulan bird-like design with eight wing-mounted disruptor cannons facing forward. Combined with the ship's state-of-the-art cloak, this makes a frontal assault by the Vastam extremely dangerous for any opponent. In addition to the disruptor cannons, the ship also boasts full arc coverage with eight disruptor arrays. Finally, the Vastam supports a deadly forward torpedo turret inspired by the Sovereign-class and two aft single torpedo launchers which makes the Vastam's ability to unload plasma torpedoes nearly unmatched. Defensively, in addition to the cloak, the Vastam also supports an extremely durable shielding system, further bolstering its survivability in prolonged engagements.

In addition to its armaments, the Vastam boasts a large ventral hangar which, along with shuttles, also holds a small fighter wing comprised of 12 fighters.

Because of the raw power of the Vastam's singularity core, it should be noted that the weapons power output is similarly scaled. In the same way the Sovereign-class was a significant tactical upgrade over the Galaxy, the Vastam is over the D'deridex.

Shipboard Life

The Vastam is a massive ship with a lot of internal space. Under the Star Empire, such space would have been allocated to barracks-style accommodations and facilities designed solely for peak efficiency. However, the Romulan Republic has adopted a markedly different philosophy. The Vastam's crew of 1,800 enjoys far more comfortable living conditions, reflecting the Republic's emphasis on morale and well-being. Junior and senior officers are provided with private quarters, while lower-ranked crew members typically share a cabin with just one other person. Regardless of rank, all crew quarters are decorated and well-furnished.

In addition to its upgraded accommodations, the ship features leisure facilities rarely seen on earlier Romulan vessels. These include multiple holodecks for entertainment purposes, workout centers, theaters, and an arboretium. While this may seem contrarian to the ship's role as a battlecruiser, the Vastam is also a multi-mission cruiser that often requires its crews to spend significant amounts of time either in deep space or, at the very least, away from a starbase. Recognizing these demands, the Romulan Republic designed the Vastam to prioritize comfort and quality of life for its crew, ensuring optimal performance during long deployments.

Class History

The Vastam began its development around the same time as the Dinaes-class warbird was being conceptualized. While the Dinaes was developed as a straightforward, easy-to-produce vessel, the Vastam was a joint venture between Starfleet and the Republic Navy to create a new generation of starships for the Romulan people. Initially envisioned as a science vessel, it quickly became apparent that the Romulan Republic needed a new, versatile, multi-mission class more urgently. Consequently, Starfleet and the Republic Navy adapted the design into a more versatile ship to allow for a more robust multi-mission platform. As the project transitioned from the planning phase to the construction phase, it became undeniable just how critical this design would be for the future of the Romulan people.

In 2397 the first prototype, the Vastam herself, was launched for trial runs. The ship excelled at even the most optimistic estimates of her performance in predictive simulations. After a year of space shakedowns, the Vastam returned to the shipyards of New Romulus for a refinement phase. As Starfleet and Republic engineers analyzed he data, the Republic government was beyond ecstatic with the results showing the platform's true potential. With the persistent threats and dangers against the Romulan Republic, the Vastam was a ship that offered a solution; it could be produced in numbers sufficient enough to protect Republic borders and interests while strengthening the alliance with the Federation.

By 2398 the final modifications were completed to the Vastam and the ship was cleared for full production. With a slate of approximately five ships produced annually, by 2402 enough Vastam class warbirds were deployed throughout the Republic to ensure greater safety and security across Republic territories.

In Play

• The Vastam is the do-it-all class of the Romulan Republic in the same way the Galaxy, Sovereign, and Odyssey-classes were of the Federation at their respective heights. The Ra'nodaire-class is much larger flagship, but it was built for an entirely different and specific purpose. Size isn't everything. So when using or encountering one of these, just imagine what it felt like to have the Enterprise show up in TNG.
• This ship is more than just a ship. It also represents a true collaboration between the Federation and Romulan Republic, which narratively sets the Republic so far apart from the old Romulan Star Empire.