The Nebula class ship has become one of the most populous ships in Starfleet. With hundreds in service by the late 2390s, Starfleet started to become concerned that the aging vessels would soon need to spend more time in drydock undergoing overhaul and maintenance work. By 2395, Starfleet R&D and the ASDB came up with plans to refit the oldest of the active Nebula Class ships while also building several of the new class from the keel up. Then, they needed a ship.
In early 2398 Starfleet pulled the USS Sutherland from Starbase 400 to the Beta Antares Shipyard. Her secondary hull was refit to allow for a new deflector array, new nacelles and pylons were also installed. The primary hull was modified to allow for a new pod, new internal systems were added, new impulse engines installed, and the list went on. Essentially, she became a new ship and a new NCC number was even assigned, something that was a-typical for Starfleet.
By the end of 2400, the USS Sutherland was recommissioned and undergoing trials. Initial successes ended in failure when the ship lost all internal power following a series of high impulse maneuvers to simulate combat. After being towed to Starbase 74, issues were found in the ship's new inertia dampeners. Once corrected, the test crew tried again. This time, in simulated combat with the Nebula class USS Sweeney, they found the USS Sutherland to be far more maneuverable even with the added length. The newly designed impulse engines also allowed the USS Sutherland slightly faster acceleration while also providing higher maximum impulse speeds. Once back in port, the Sutherland's phaser arrays were upgraded with new radiolytic emitters which improved overall phaser output and heat dispersion for longer sustained use. Starfleet immediately approved three more Nebula class ships receive the refit as well as approving a construction run of five ships a year through 2415.
A few years later, the USS Sutherland NCC-91800, was assigned to the Alpha Quadrant and apart of Starfleet's new Emergency Response Team. Starfleet's ERT isn't a new idea, it was actually apart of the 4th Fleet in the 2370s under the command of Fleet Admiral Mike K'Wor Bremer. However by the 2380s, Starfleet was focused on exploration again and a 'battle fleet' style unit was deemed unnecessary. However, after following the conflict with the Romulans in the mid-2390s, Starfleet decided both the Alpha and Beta Quadrants needed an ERT. While the Beta Quadrant group was made up entirely of Inquiry and Curiosity class ships, the Alpha Quadrant group would also include new Ross, Sutherland, Gagarin, Reliant, Luna, Sovereign, Akira, and Inquiry class ships.
2394: Starfleet's ASDB issues a design brief for a new class of ship to augment and possibly replace the Nebula class starship. Briefs for sensors, propulsion, environmental, defensive, and other systems are approved by Starfleet's ASDB after several months of discussion and forwarded to the Beta Antares Shipyards.
2395: After a minor redesign of the warp nacelles, Starfleet approves the general brief for the class. To speed the overall process forward, BAS decides it will first complete modular components for the ship. Sensor/Weapons pod, nacelles and pylons, and new impulse engines would all be build and ready to install. Internal redesigns approved. Modification of the ship's external appearance approved after three redesigns.
2396: Starfleet views the schematics for the upgrades and the designs receive final approval. Warp nacelles redesigned again. New Sensor/Weapons pod construction completed. Nacelle pylons completed. Impulse engines redesigned. Engineers decide to use computer cores from the Sovereign class, which will boost storage capacity and processing speed compared to the type used in Nebula class ships.
2397: New bridge module designed and construction started. New navigational deflector designed and built. Completed impulse engine assemblies delivered and are ready to be installed. New computer cores are delivered. Three additional Nebula Class ships begin begin refit.
2398: USS Sutherland is chosen as the first ship to receive the new refit, and the new class of ship is named after her. USS Sutherland is transferred from Starbase 400 to the Beta Antares Shipyard. Nacelles and pylons, pod, and navigational deflector are removed. External design modifications are started. Impulse engines replaced. New computer cores are fitted. Internal redesign completed. Near end of the year computer cores are activated and ship functions begin to be transferred from station control to ship control. New nacelles and pylons installed. New sensor/weapons pod fitted.
2399: Computer system now operating at 73% of maximum. System expected to become self aware within two months. Ablative Armor applied to the hull. New bridge module installed and brought online. Saucer section separation systems tested following completion of saucer section modifications. Stardrive section modifications near completion. Computer system fully self aware and umbilical from the station are cut as the ship become self sufficient. Impulse systems pass Review Three and being autonomous low level power control.
2400: Secondary Back up Generators are shut down and become Auxiliary system control. USS Sutherland leaves dry dock for primary testing. USS Sutherland returns to BAS a month later and warp stress coating is applied. USS Sutherland begins deep space assessments. USS Sutherland returns to BAS for final exterior markings and paint. On 31, October 2400 the USS Sutherland is officially recommissioned by Starfleet during a brief ceremony. Bridge plaque is put in pride of place and Captain Dusty Gibbons takes command of the USS Sutherland. USS Sutherland is ordered to begin shakedown cruises estimate to last six months.
