When the Zodiac Class was conceived by Admiral Nogura, it was meant to be a small, fast, tactical vessel. It was to supplement the larger bulkier vessels with something that was quick hitting and could get out fast and take a beating. While this is what they went for when they were designing the class, politics of the region known as The Triangle changed and a small yet beefy science vessel was needed in the area as the Independent worlds in the Triangle weren't going to allow Heavy Cruisers in the area from any of the Big Three. The Zodiac class fit this bill. It was a class that hadn't been seen in any kind of engagements, had a strong and versatile sensor suite, and with as fast as it was, could traverse the Triangle faster than any other ship in Starfleet. And so all Thirteen of the Zodiac class ended up there eventually. The last built of her class, the Aries, like her sister ships, had a multi-purpose room on the opposite side of the saucer from the Arboretum. Up until a week from being ready to go on active duty, this room had been completely ignored. On the Zodiac it was treated like a small quiet meditation lounge. The Pisces had gone a completely different direction with the room. That part of the Pisces still remains classified. When it came down to it, the Captain of the Aries decided that if the ship was going to be a "Science" vessel, she needed an actual Science Lab. Several requisitions later and a makeshift set of lab components was ordered and summarily dumped into the room by Operations. Her instincts paid off as the Federation Council and the Diplomatic Corps decided that the Aries was going to be the poster child for their attempt to bring the Triangle into Federation hands. She only wished she'd asked for more equipment for the lab... *** I'd been working on the Arboretum when I realized I'd need a room opposite that one on the saucer rim to match the windows I had there. I didn't want to do a full two deck affair again and simply re-dress the Arboretum, so I hatched a plan to 'cut' the Arboretum in half which ended up with me actually building out the mesh again from scratch as I didn't want a planter on the railing in the Science Lab. This came together prety quickly after that as everything else here is re-purposed equipment from other sets. The Lab Stations are reworked stations from the Civilian Scout's lab. The Science computers are lifted right out of the bridge Science station. Tricorder is recolored from Sickbay, PADDs are re-uses, etc. Trek re-purposing at it's finest. ;) The only other thing that's really new is the telescope on that upper level looking out the windows. And yes, I know the windows wouldn't be comfortable to look out standing up. It's designed to be enjoyed from a lounge chair or couch, which never got delivered to the Science Lab. Built in Truespace Rendered in DAZ Studio Figures are Genesis 3 Uniforms are V4 Courageous and M4 Valiant Uniform textures by JamesJAB