U.S.S. Caracal CC-750
Command Cruiser Class 
Illustrator: Todd Guenther
Copyright: 1981
Summary:
GENERAL
UNLIKE MOST OTHER STARSHIPS, THE CARACAL CRUISER CLASS LEAD AN EFFECTIVE BUT SOMEWHAT SHORT LIFE. THE ENTIRE CLASS WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE PREMATURELY WITH THE ADVENT OF THE CONSTITUTION CLASS HEAVY CRUISERS AND THEIR STUNNING SUCCESS. FIVE OF THE NEWER SHIPS OF THE CLASS WERE KEPT IN RESERVE UNTIL 2250, BUT FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NEVER ANY NEED TO REACTIVATE THEM (WAR IS SOMEWHAT OF A CONSTANT THREAT).
ALTHOUGH THE CARACAL'S DID FACE STIFF COMPETITION FROM CONSTITUTION AND HER SISTERS, NEVERTHELESS, THE TWO CLASSES SERVED BESIDE EACH OTHER FOR 15YEARS(2217-2232).WITH THE DUAL PHASER SYSTEM ONLYA SEMI-SUCCESS, AND STAR FLEET CONSIDERING THE COST OF RUNNING 15 MORE CRUISERS IN ADDITION TO THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER CLASSES, THE DECISION WAS MADE IN 2229 TO DECOMMISSION ALL SHIPS OF THE CLASS.
HOWEVER, DURING ITS SERVICE, THE CARACAL CLASS CRUISER PROVED TO BE AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE AND VERY EFFICIENT VESSEL. EACH PARTICIPATED AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER IN MISSIONS INTO UNEXPLORED AREAS OF SPACE, AND SEVERAL RUN-INS WITH KL1NGON WARSHIPS WERE ALSO RECORDED. ONLY ONCE DID THE KL1NGONS APPARENTLY EMERGE SUCCESSFUL IN THESE SITUAT10NS:ON 17 JULY 2223, THE CRUISER AUDACE ENGAGED AN UNIDENTIFIED VESSEL IN BATTLE, AS STATED IN THE SHIP'S LOG. NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE MADE, A RECORDER-MARKER WAS NEVER RECOVERED, AND THE SHIP NEVER RETURNED. AT THE TIME, AUDACE WAS ON PATROL A FULL 7 RARSECS FROM KL1NGON SRQCE, AND MILITARY ANALYSTS STILL BELIEVE AUDACE WAS THE VICTIM OFA KL1NGON SNEAK ATTASK. REGARDLESS, 224 LIVES WERE LOST.
ONLY ONE OTHER CRUISER, ALLEGANY, WAS EVER LOST. SHE WAS AT A RESUPPLY STATION WHEN AN EXPLOSION OCCURED IN THE IMPULSE ENGINES. 77 CREWMEN AND 9 STATION PERSONNEL WERE KILLED, AND THE ALLEGANY WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. TO DATE, THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION IS UNKNOWN.
ALL OTHER CARACAL CLASS CRUISERS WERE INTACT AT THE TIME OF THEIR DECOMMISSIONING, AND THE CARACAL ITSELF IS CURRENTLY PRESERVED AT THE FEDERATION AIR & SPACE MUSEUM.
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