Art by Guidomic

     The Ajax class of light cruiser was originally intended to be a simple practical warp field study vehicle designed to test the use of lighter warp drives with the more standard Choikis primary hull. The design study, begun in 2274 eventually lead to the proposal of the Ajax class as a supplementary light cruiser. With Klingon relations continuing to deteriorate, Star Fleet Procurement green lighted the project and contracted for 20 of the small craft to be commissioned.
     The Ajax has an extremely reduced secondary hull, used exclusively to house the botany section, shuttle bay and torpedo armaments. The Mk I was equipped with the light but fast FWE-2 warp drive system which gave the small cruiser excellent maneuverability and power distribution characteristics. Designers fitted the same overall number of phasers aboard the Ajax as were found on the much larger Enterprise class cruiser. But the Choikis primary hull internal configuration chosen was the same as that found on the Wilkerson destroyer. Although the cruiser had a secondary hull, the primary hull still required redesign and layout changes to install the necessary laboratory spaces to fulfill the mission requirements. Several systems were automated and redundancies removed to ensure sufficient room for the needed crew. When finally launched, the Mk I was a capable exploration platform and was quickly sent to the rimward exploration frontier.
     The Ajax class continued is missions, often following up scouting missions and conducting contact with new races where heavier cruisers where not needed. But the Ajax Mk I was still considered an anathema – too heavily armed for a light cruiser and underpowered for a full sized combat vessel. Field commanders enjoyed the weapon options when necessary, but few Ajax class vessels were assigned to boarder patrols. More and more heavier vessels were being built and lunched, quickly outclassing the smaller Ajax. By 2280, the vessels production was reduced to by-yearly launches, and Star Fleet Command began to investigate mothballing the class.
     In 2295, when the last Mk I was officially commissioned, the class suddenly came into its own. In a convoluted series of events, Orion factions along the Klingon boarder suddenly realized that the peace accords between the Empire and the Federation would severely cut into profits. Dashing across the Neutral Zone no longer guaranteed safety. Using purchased Klingon vessels no longer held advantage either. The peace accords meant that twice the number of combat ships were now looking for pirate activities. To compensate, and compete with the ever increase yet quiet pressure from the Frengi, the Orion Syndicate began operating along the Federations far flung frontiers. And the Ajax was there to meet them.
When the USS Ajax her self, now nearly 20 years old, successfully engaged six separate pirate raids against Federation interests along the rimward frontier, Star Fleet realized that keeping the light craft fielded was both plausible and practical. While the Ajax no longer had sufficient heavy firepower to engage warship from major governments, the unique design allowed the Mk I to effectively counter numerous Orion vessels.
     None the less, the decision to upgrade the design was made in 2302. 10 new hulls were contracted to include a larger computer, larger impulse drive and heavier primary weapons. The Mk II, launched later that year, was quickly hailed as a success, and all Mk I’s were converted within 4 years. The Mk II also saw the increase in the secondary weapon’s range, as well as improved sensor suites and enlarged recreation facilities. Despite these improvements, and the fact that no Ajax had yet been lost, the construction contract was finally cancelled in 2315 after only 6 new hulls were completed. By 2319, the Ajax class was no longer conducting primary exploration duties but had been again relegated to follow up missions. Since that time, the Ajax class has continued to serve with distinction and remains in the inventory conducting patrols and follow up missions through out the Federation. Amazingingly, no Ajax has been lost, scrapped or destroyed. One was sold to the Andorian Government in 2325 and is used as a diplomatic cruiser in their fleet. No timetable has yet been put fourth for retiring the Ajax, and several design teams have requested funds to update the venerable light craft to a MK III version.