This is a Miranda Class Cruiser retrofitted in the Badlands. Deck 6 and 7 have been virtually gutted to make way for a much more expansive shuttle bay. This allows the Carrier to ferry a variety of smaller craft providing both protection within her hull for transport, as well as providing orbital cover while making landing operations.
MFS Independence and her two sister ships, MFS Michael Eddington, and MFS Shakaar are capable of carrying seven Danube class Runabouts, two Tactical Fighters, as well as two standard Type 6, and two advanced Type 11 Shuttlecraft.
Utilizing the variety of craft belonging to the Runabout Task Forces, these ships can be used for deployment when establishing Base Camps, or Colonizing new areas. A Runabout Task Force would be made up of five or more Runabouts, consisting of one of each the variations (ie: 1 ground assault, 1 medical, one Command Center version, etc). Since Runabouts are completely Modular vessels. The Modules could either be removed from the Runabouts and used to form "fixed" structures, or could be left aboard the Runabouts and the ships themselves could be converted into structures. There would be little need to beam building supplies until a later stage of development when the base of operations, the planetary system, and the sector are deemed safe for a more permanent presence. If at any time the base is compromised or its presence discovered before planetary defenses can be set up, the Runabout Task Force merely breaks camp and under the cover of Independence and her sister ships, can evacuate safely.
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