USS Kaskaskia

From REDdimension Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Kaskaskia.jpg

USS Kaskaskia NCC-73372

Career (Starfleet)
Starfleet flag.jpg
Ordered: March 10, 2373
Laid down: April 7, 2373
Launched: August 5, 2373
Commissioned: January 18, 2374
Decommissioned: N/A
Status: On extended detached duty in Norman-Makuhari Nebula
General Characteristics
Mass: As built:

metric tons light
metric tons full load

with Science Module installed:
metric tons light
metric tons full load

in Emergency Configuration:
metric tons full load

Length Overall: 23.1 meters
Beam Overall 13.7 meters
Height Overall 5.4 meters
Propulsion: Toenjes KT4 light MARA Warp Drive

Columbia 206 Impulse Drive

RSRCT-5 Reaction Control Thruster System
Flank Speed: Warp 5.15
Maximum Crusing Speed: Warp 4
Range: kilomters at Flank Speed
kilomters at Maximum Cruise
Complement: 2 Flight Crew

2-10 nominal Mission Crew
up to 40 passengers (Std. Configuration)

up to 100 passengers (Emg. Configuration)
Armament: As built:

1 × TypeIX phaser emitters (fore)
2 × Micro Photon Torpedo Launchers (fore/aft)
As modifed on USS Khai Tam:
2 × TypeIX phaser emitters (fore/aft)
2 × Micro Torpedo Launchers (fore/aft)

1 × Antimatter Charge Launchers (fore)
Armor: SDS-05 Deflector Shield
SND-03 Navigational Deflector
Nickname: Lost In Space
Honors and awards: Starfleet Unit Citation


The fictional USS Kaskaskia was one of two runabouts detached to the USS Khai Tam when she set out on her maiden voyage. The other was the USS Santa Ana. The Danube-class runabouts gave extra reach to the Khai Tam's sphere of influence. It is the Starfleet tradition to name ships of the class for Rivers, in this case the Kaskaskia River in Illinois on Earth.

Origin

A coal loading station on the Kaskaskia River

The Kaskaskia River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, which runs through central and southern Illinois where Colin Toenjes grew up. When developing ideas for the Technical Manual, Colin and author Kevin McNulty decided to name each of the two runabouts after a river by where they grew up. Although some doubt was initailly expressed, Colin's pick of the Kaskaskia was a well thought out choice.


Usage

It became common after that to start referring to Kevin's car as the Santa Ana and Colin's as the Kaskaskia, especially on away missions when both would be in caravan. When Colin left, he said that he was taking the Kaskaskia with him literally and figuratively. From that day, the ficticious Khai Tam never again embarked the Kaskaskia. The replacement runabout turned out to be the Ichetuknee, though no one's sure if Kevin actually told anyone that.