The USS Hellcat

It had now been few days since the Leviathan had to avoid a fight, that made it fine for Ensign Ambrose. He would like to avoid fighting if possible especially if the odds were better, but he knew the Captain's idea wasn't what Lieutenant Commander Harris wanted.

"Ensign Ambrose. I'm here to relieve you." A younger ensign said from behind him. Kirk turned his head to see his replacement but didn't say anything rather he stood up and walked over to the turbo lift.

Entering the turbolift, he thought about the possible battle with Battle Bugs how it would have been great to see those ships blown to pieces, but he knew where his responsibilities lay. He knew that the next time a battle came we couldn't fall back or fall forward, "Deck ten" *Why didn't Starfleet send two ships ?*

The turbo lift stopped and Ambrose walked to his quarters. As he entered his quarters, something hit him like a bolt of lightning. He spoke out loud, "A new ship ! I'll design my own starship and submit it to Commander Harris for approval." He grabbed a PADD and started to think.

"Computer begin recording ! Hellcat Class Starship; Purpose: Medium Fighter and Escort; Two decks; Crew of four, plus accomodation for upto twenty." Kirk stopped there and thought for a while on what else this ship need to have. "Fountain phaser banks; Refractive shielding; Micro Quantum Torpedoes." He was now trying to figure out the over all design for the ship but was stumped. "Stop."

Kirk decided to take his PADD and go to the Lounge and have a few drinks and maybe an idea would hit him.

It was really in the morning at the forward lounge was empty. Kirk sat at a table by himself trying to remember other small designs in Starfleet but all that came to him was the Defiant Class. Then he remembered about runabouts with its sturdy frame, small and compact. The *Defiant* is extremely maneuverable due to it positioning of the Warp Nacelles so whatever design he came up with would have to resemble it. Then it hit him, the Danabe Class runabout. If the warp engines were shortened to 7.5 meters and extending 17 meters from the main hull, it would be just as maneuverable as the *Defiant*.

He then placed that idea on the PADD and worked on the hull. It would have to have at least a meter of hull thickness and half meter of ablative armor.

Kirk then designed the interior with the conn would be the forward-most controls followed by Tactical where its con panel was facing the wall. Directly across from that would be Ops and Engineering combined at one station. Then finally at the rear of the Bridge would be science. Nevertheless, the command chair was centered on Bridge which would be able to rotate 360 degrees.

*Okay, now for the hard part- the computers and propulsion.*