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The Pathfinder-class merges the catamaran hull design of the Akira-class with the maneuverability (both physically and mission-wise) of the. The vessel was initially named USS Pathfinder, but recommissioned USS Miranda-B in honor of the previous vessel to bear the name, at the request of Fleet Admiral Victor Murdock. In 2377 a new class of ship entered service, the Pathfinder-class was designed as the ultimate in front-line explorers. By 2375 the prototype was completed, USS Pathfinder, which began her shakedown cruiser shortly thereafter. Continuing until 2373 the ship was not ready for the next encounter Starfleet had with the Borg, but the first superstructure was built in the following year. The following year, following confirmed approvals from Starfleet Command and the Starfleet Corps of Engineers, the Pathfinder-class Development Project. The design of the current Battlecruiser contributed to other contemporary starship designs - Akira, Steamrunner, Saber, Sovereign - which were being designed and built at the same time. In light of the events at Wolf 359 against the Borg, the design principles of the Pathfinder-class leaned more to defensive and offensive capabilities. While the project development peaked and waned over the next few years - usually at the whim of Starfleet Command - it was not until 2368 that the modern Pathfinder-class design was developed. Admiral Victor Murdock took up the gauntlet and began the process of designing a new starship class capable of meeting these requirements. It was felt that Starfleet needed to diversify the fleet with command ships capable of multi-mission design specifications to cover the three primary duties of the Starfleet charter - exploration, defense, and diplomacy. The Pathfinder-class Starship had its origins in the early 2360s shortly after the Galaxy-class starship began their successful run in to the Fleet as a deep-space explorer.