>I see them as a Starfleet design for an Iowa Class killer.

They've tried that once already.

>Your thoughts, Gryphon?

The Defiant class's design philosophy is totally at odds with that of Earthforce and, by extension, the modern Starfleet. Their desire is for ever larger and grander ships, the better to project the image of Earth's power and prestige into the galaxy at large - to impress and intimidate people. That means battlewagons, big beasts like the Earthforce Nova class and the Starfleet Galaxy class. Size and visible power are at the heart of any approved Earth or Fed design nowadays - not speed and maneuverability.

So, basically, my thoughts are that your scenario is not very likely.

--G.
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Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor in Chief, Netadmin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/