Starfleet had always intended the Type 6 to be something of a transition, and by 2370 they where satisfied that the new technology had been introduced without difficulties. It was therefore decided to press on with a replacement which would abandon the Type 3 structure, instead using a completely purpose designed hull. Originally it was planned to use the same isolinear computer system developed for the Type 6, but at the last moment Starfleet decided to use a system based on bio-neural gel packs. This inevitably tied in the development of the Type 8 shuttle to the Intrepid class project; Intrepid herself had been launched in 2370, the first Starfleet ship fitted with BNG computers. Since the crews of these ships had the most experience with this system, it was to the Intrepids that the fi