Playing Star Trek RPG since Highschool..we started with the same charactures and began them as Ensigns. In that time..by standard play..and over the years to now..my Characture, Richard T Darrison is now a Full Admiral in command of the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) and Special Operations. I personally designed a new ship...The Frontier Class Attack Cruiser which has warp hop capabilities..tyrelium plating (Scan resistant) as well as forward missile tubes which register as small ships.
This ship was designed 5 years ago..and since then, modifications have been made..such as new line-phaser banks and multiple-firing torpedo tubes. Stardate 2382.6.."The Blood of Kahless" a Klingon prototype attack ship engaged the USS Pavlow under the command of Captain Remmington. The Klingon vessel was destroyed..and the Frontier Class ship Pavlow was not even hit once.
In this system..we have designed many such vessels..yet the Klingons as well as others..never seemed to go beyond offense as far as defense..this is their loss in the ways of technology.