CLASS: KELDON

The Keldon class is the most powerful vessel in the Cardassian fleet. Essentially an enlarged and uprated Galor class vessel, the Keldon class is an improvement on its predecessor in almost every respect. The secondary armament has been boosted from six to twelve phaser banks, while the primary phaser has been upgraded to put it on a par with a Type X phaser array. The photon tubes are capable of firing at more than twice the rate of the Galor class tubes, and the Keldon includes a great deal of new sensor and computer equipment designed to increase its ability to target vessels under cloak or capable of a high level of manoeuvrability. The shield system has been heavily upgraded, while the hull beneath has received a layer of high density armour plate.

While these measures put the Keldon class significantly above the Galor, they still do not rank with the larger, more sophisticated ships that the larger alpha quadrant forces can field. The Cardassians planned to produce the Keldon in huge numbers to compensate for this - over three hundred were planned, but the difficulties suffered by Cardassia in the last few years have made this more a fond hope than a realistic plan.

The Cardassians use these useful craft as general purpose warship. It is a modular design, with a power system and warp and impulse engines in a stern section and the crew quarters, computer systems and bridge in the bow section. Between the two is anything from one to five cargo sections, each of which carries six storage pods. The standard pod is capable of carrying normal cargo items, but pods designed for bulk ores, liquids, and frozen items are also available.