The Space Control Ship, also known as the SCS or "Battlestar" Project, is a relatively new concept in Starfleet design ethics. With the recent conflict with the Dominion, and the recent coup d'état and subsequent instability on Romulus, Starfleet Command saw it necessary to commission a cheaper and more self-sufficient alternative to the massive Ark Royal-class star carriers already in service. The fleet needed a carrier with more defensive punch than the dedicated star carriers, but more spacecraft capacity and offensive striking power than the smaller escort carriers designed solely for fleet defense. (Star Trek: New Order)