I like the original idea. A cruiser with a Lt. Commander science slot is currently something you can only do with the Odyssey. I'd make the ensign a universal.

It's not necessarily a ship I would fly, but it would make a better support cruiser than the Star Cruiser. Better turn rate than a SC or Oddy, so more fun to fly.

In keeping with the Enterprise-C tradition, I'd make its special ability sort of a cross between Goes Down Fighting and Ramming Speed.

"Heroic Sacrifice", can be used when hull is 25% or less, causes a large stacking damage buff for ten seconds, followed by a warp core breach.