USS Skylark NCC-1557

• Name: USS Skylark
• Registry: NCC-1557
• Class: Hermes
• Type: Scout-Surveyor
• Crew:280
• Cruising Speed: Warp 6
• Maximum Speed:Warp 8
• Phasers:Type 7, 6x Twin Mount
• Launcher:No Torpedos, 1x Probe Bay
• Shuttles:2 landing bays, 3 Type-F shuttles

The Hermes-class scout-surveyor is one of several classes derived from Project Constitution. First launched in 2255, a large number were built following the Klingon-Federation War to replace heavy losses among smaller ships and bring the fleet as a whole to a more modern standard. The Hermes is essentially a Constitution saucer with a single engine nacelle. Room was carved out of the rear for an engineering facility and a small vertical shuttle hangar. The single nacelle makes for simpler maintenance and construction at the cost of top speed and warp maneuverability. The Hermes is primarily a scout and survey ship used for scientific missions and fleet escort, often alongside its sister-class, the Saladin scout destroyer, which removes some of the labs in favor of a pair of photon launchers and improved shields.

Skylark is a typical member of the class. Currently it is on an assignment near the southern edge of the Klingon-Federation border, where both polities' frontiers start to get a bit fuzzy. It has been fitted out to conduct planetary and stellar surveys after initial exploration by other ships. These results are being used by a variety of Federation organizations for planning colonization efforts and the placement of new outposts, including finding sites for the construction of at least two new surface starbases to support fleet operations in the event of a new war.

Skylark took significant damage during the engagement with the Klingon cruiser Razorwind. While the crew was able to detect the attacker in time to raise shields and fire back, it was badly outmatched. Only quick thinking and a lucky hit to the enemy's impulse manifold allowed it to find a hiding spot. Even so, her shields failed during the attack and a volley of disruptor bolts raked the upper saucer, opening main engineering to space, cutting several key power conduits and structural beams, and damaging the Deck 1 / Deck 2 superstructure. Main power is offline and impulse drive is limited. The phasers are mostly intact but lack power.