1. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause a service specific virtual topology base, positioned in a network stratum, to: receive a virtual service negotiation initiation message from an application stratum component, wherein the virtual service negotiation initiation message comprises a plurality of network source addresses, a plurality of network destination addresses, and a service specific objective; obtain a plurality of computed network paths that traverse a network stratum of a network via a plurality of Network Elements (NEs), the plurality of computed network paths extending between a plurality of network source nodes associated with the network source addresses and a plurality of network destination nodes associated with the network destination addresses and meeting the service specific objective; and calculate a service specific virtual topology that abstractly represents the computed network paths, wherein calculating the service specific virtual topology comprises: deriving a service specific network topology that includes the plurality of computed network paths; and replacing all transit degree-2 nodes in the derived service specific network topology with virtual links.