S-8 (Murph) Class VI Mobile Repair Facility

from Klingon Ship Recognition Manual, 2nd Edition, FASA, design by Forest G. Brown, graphics by Dana Knutson

 
NOTES:
Known Sphere Of Operation: Empire-wide use
Data Reliability: C for all models
Major Data Source: Klingon Sector Intelligence
 
The S-8 was the first mobile repair facility in known Klingon space. Lessons learned during the Four Years War, during which front-line repair of warships was inefficient, showed that faster repair capabilities were needed. The only way this could be accomplished was to take the facility to the area of conflict, and the Imperial Command constructed a vessel that would be capable of traveling with the fleets and performing any repairs. On Stardate 2/1208, the first S-8s were commissioned and sent to join various fleets.

The S-8 has two configurations, one for travel and one for operation). After arriving at its destination, the S-8 unfolds into its operational mode and begins repairing damaged vessels. In most cases, the damaged ship is brought inside the S-8 so that all damage can be repaired quickly. Damaged vessels are arranged in and around the facility to take advantage of its structural cranes and tractor fields. An S-8 repairing several different ships at once will give the most peculiar readings on sensor scans.

When the MRFs were first commissioned, they were considered to be so un-maneuverable that mounting weapons was impractical. To avoid the shame of commanding an unarmed vessel, two to five gunboats are assigned to its protection and are under the command of the S-8s captain. The B model is armed with two disruptors, and recent intelligence reports indicate that the S-8As began modifying themselves to the S-8B configuration as soon as the B model was officially commissioned.

As with most Klingon tenders and repair facilities, the S-8 was often modified by it’s crews. While the A and B models were the officially recognized (and approved) versions of the S-8, dozens of modified versions were known to be unofficially operating within the Empire’s ranks. In 2294, command of these ships went from undesirable to highly honorable despite the mission profile of the S-8. With the destruction of Praxis and the need for more permanent repair sites to dedicate construction resources to saving the homeworld, S-4s, S-5s and S-8s soon became incredibly necessary to from line fleets. While the Empire had a much-reduced need for combat ships along the Federation boarder, many in the Klingon Military were well aware that the Romulans, Cardassians and even the Kinshaya may take advantage of the tenuous position of the Empire. Plans to commission an official update to the S-8 came in over the next 40+ years, with a C, D, E and F model all approved for construction. This did little to alleviate the significant range of variants until 2334 when the Empire officially adopted the G model. The Klingon Material Command was able to detail sufficient resources to ensure that all S-8s were updated to the G model by 2340. With the recovery of the homeworld and the ability for Klingon vessels to repair at Federation ports, the need for S-8s and other mobile repair facilities is reduced once again. Most S-8s are well past their operational lifespan and are scheduled for sale or to be scrapped. With the continued re-build efforts after the Dominion War, these vessels will most likely be removed from service very slowly.

Of the 362 S-8s built, 351 Gs remain in active service, 5 have been destroyed, 1 A is listed as missing, 3 have been scrapped, and 1 A has been sold to private interests in the Triangle. The S-8s were officially being produced at Iosia, but some had been manufactured by other S-8s.

The class name is from the abbreviation of the vessel type, MRF; the Klingon class name is tlhImqa’ ngeb, which translates to ‘folding box’.