Galas Class

The Galas-class science vessel is an advanced Romulan Republic starship developed in collaboration with the Vulcan Science Academy to provide the Republic with a deep-space exploratory platform. Notable for its incorporation of principles of both Romulan singularity reactors and the Vulcans’ annular warp drive, the Galas has a unique silhouette that sets it apart from the rest of the Romulan Republic Navy. Several of these starships embark joint Romulan and Vulcan crews, which is perhaps an even more important collaboration than the design of the ship itself.

Science and Exploration

The Galas is intended for long-range exploration missions to identify potential colony worlds and find resources for the Romulan Republic. The ship’s design incorporates the most powerful sensor arrays developed by either the Romulans or the Vulcans. These sensors are connected to a hybrid isolinear-bioneural computer core that is capable of detailed analyses of star systems even from light-years away. In the field, the Galas identifies worlds for smaller survey vessels to follow up on. For high-priority missions, the Galas also has a dozen science labs that can be configured for nearly any mission, but this ship’s time is best spent covering as wide an area as possible. In addition, the ship has a wide complement of probes which can be used to extend the ship’s sensor range or can be left to observe surveyed systems.

Diplomacy

Galas-class vessels are not diplomatic platforms per se, but their entire design and history are a diplomatic effort as they represent one of the first deep collaborations between the Romulans and the Vulcans since the Time of the Awakening. They are equipped with large communal recreation and gathering spaces to allow for cultural exchange, and have well-stocked libraries of texts from both cultures. Following standard Romulan procedures, a warbird is preferred for first contact missions, but the Galas will reveal itself when it can be assured that there is little risk of conflict. For those types of missions, it can serve as a good first impression for the Romulan Republic. Other types of diplomatic duties such as hosting summits sometimes fall to the Galas, but they are better used for their primary scientific mission.

Engineering

The main hull of the Galas is reminiscent of Vulcan starships: a long, thin wedge-shaped body with a propulsion ring in the center. This design is expanded laterally with wings typical of Romulan design tipped with warp nacelles, while the bow is a more straightforward Romulan command module. Unlike either Romulan or Vulcan ships, however, the propulsion ring in the center of the ship is a massive subspace field generator, both containing and harvesting the energy from a singularity. Because the singularity is not contained within a reactor core deep within the vessel, it can easily be jettisoned in an emergency. The propulsion ring works in the inverse compared to the Vulcan design, focusing a field inwards rather than outwards. The energy from the singularity is then routed through conduits down into the wings and to the warp nacelles.

Tactical

In some respects, the Romulans were surprised by how willing the Vulcans were to outfit this ostensibly peaceful vessel with some serious armament. Logically, an experimental vessel was a tempting target for all sorts of threats, so it must be able to defend itself. Quad plasma cannons and a plasma torpedo launcher in the head section are complemented by an additional twelve plasma beam arrays and an aft-firing torpedo launcher, making the Galas every bit as capable of defending itself as a warbird.

Another pragmatic aspect of the ship’s extensive weapons arrays is that the ship’s external singularity core, for all of its advances, relies fully on the ship’s shields to keep it from being damaged by enemy weapons fire. The added power from this drive system provides the shields with significant resilience, but a Galas must end engagements quickly and decisively to avoid potentially catastrophic damage to its reactor, which would take days to restart. Thus, the Galas is a defensive combatant only, not suitable for patrols or other tactical missions.

The gravitational field created by the reactor core caused headaches in the design of the ship’s stealth systems and required the installation of a cloaking device that would normally be used on a much larger vessel. The result is an unusually powerful stealth system that makes the Galas suited for long-term observation and reconnaissance behind enemy lines.

Shipboard Life

Galas-class starships often operate with mixed Romulan and Vulcan crews. To support this, the interior design incorporates features common to both cultures. As the ship was being designed, the engineering team quickly realized that there are similarities in how Romulan and Vulcan crews prefer to operate: private quarters are considered a must, while shared recreational and dining spaces are the norm. In addition to well-stocked libraries, lounges, and meditation spaces, the Galas also has several holodecks. As this joint venture is still new, service on a Galas with a mixed species crew isn’t without pain points, but the officers on these ships are specially selected for their ability to get along well with others.

History

Development of the Galas was proposed by the Vulcan Science Academy to the Romulan Republic in 2392 to help create a vessel that would identify new worlds for the Republic to settle. While the project was treated with initial skepticism, the design process began at a facility on New Romulus in 2394. For over four years, the design team worked slowly but surely to ensure that the new ship’s systems would make the best of both Vulcan and Romulan ship design principles—and not fly apart in the process. Initially, six of these vessels were built, three with all-Romulan crews and three with mixed Romulan and Vulcan crews. The first vessels of this class were launched in early 2399 and were sent out past the established borders of Romulan space to search for new places to settle.

Through this joint operation, much was learned by both cultures, even though the idea of reunification was still something that seemed far off. It was decided to begin a full production run of the class, and the Romulan Republic made the surprising gesture to give the design back to the Vulcan Science Academy—though without the cloaking device. While the Vulcans saw no real need to expand their own exploratory fleet, a token complement of these ships were built to Vulcan specifications as a gesture of appreciation.

In-Play

• Galas-class starships are science vessels first and foremost. While armed like any Romulan vessel, their role is to look for new planets and conduct peaceful scientific studies. They are the closest equivalent to a Federation Intrepid or Pathfinder-class vessel.
• Many of these ships operate joint crews, so it’s an opportunity to tell stories with both Romulans and Vulcans. Not all of them have joint crews, though, so you’re not forced into that arrangement if you don’t want to be.
• These ships are advanced and still relatively rare.