The year is 2379.  Four years since the end of the Dominion War,
which devastated a large portion of Starfleet's Fleet, and barely
almost a year since the Romulans opened negotiations.  But there
are still challenges to be faced, and as much as it looks like
things are finally changing for the better there is always that
chance that something unexpected may happen. Knowing this
chance existed, in 2376 the Federation Council, based on the
presentation of Starfleet Command, authorized the 'Redemption
Project'.  Redemption-class starships were designed to be
heavier variants of the Sovereign-class starships.  To start,
Starfleet Corps of Engineers took the design of the Sovereign
and expanded on it.  A new warp drive was commissioned to
be built by venerable earth-based General Electric.  In
addition, a whole new platform of equipment was to be designed
for ship, with the hopes that she would become the most
sophisticated ship of her kind.