HYPERION CLASS HEAVY CRUISER
The development started in 2161, Earth Force began a project to field its first jump-capable cruiser.
This prove to be the source of dispute for decades to come. The rapid production of 5 designs in less than 30 years sounded alarm bells in the Earth senate.
Several senatorial factions became alarmed at what they saw as the increasing ability of Earth Force to wage wars of aggression and propose that funds should be diverted into areas more beneficial to their constituents and other backers.
The consequences for Earth Force were serious and development slowed drastically. Ironically, the delay had allowed Earth Force to make several breakthroughs in structural engineering that allow the production of a more capable design.
Finally in 2205, the go-ahead was given for a brand new class of cruiser, the Hyperion.
The first prototype was fielded in 2208 by Karma-Tech at the Neue Hanse Orbital Shipyard in Earth orbit and was a major success.
These Hyperions were a rude surprise for the Dilgar in the war of 2232.
Like most Earth Alliance ships of the period, the Hyperion lacked the capability to generate artificial gravity, either through the use of rotating sections or the later, more advanced gravitic drive systems. Though rotating sections were within Earthforce's technical capabilities of the time, they greatly reduced a ship's speed and effectiveness. As such the crew had to operate in a completely zero gravity environment, requiring the use of seat straps and handholds to work effectively.
At a length of some 1025 meters, the ships are hardy, well-armoured, and have a wide array of variants built for whatever purpose is required. The ship operate with a crew of 356 officers and was capable of transport another 200 troops. The ship was powered by 3 fusion reactors and require maintenance every 12 months.
The armament consisted of:
1 Heavy Plasma Cannon,
8 Medium Plasma Cannons,
2 Fusion missels launchers.
The ships defense consisted of:
6 to 8 meter armored hull,
10 mark 1 Defense Grid Energy Projectors.
4 mark 1 Interceptors.
This array of interceptors guns protects the vessel from incoming fire, but this defensive arrangement is nowhere near as sophisticated as that found on the more modern Omega class.
The ship was fitted with:
6 Aurora Starfuries,
2 Standart Shuttles,
2 Breaching Pods.
The troop transport variant could store:
12 Assault Shuttles,
30 Ground Vehicle.
Sadly, they had little chance against the Minbari during that war, and were destroyed in huge numbers.
The task force that made the disastrous first contact with the Minbari included several hyperion heavy cruisers.
EarthForce ships had enough firepower to destroy a Minbari ship, but the stealth systems prevented weapons from loooking on to their ships. Ships were forced to fly in dense formations to come into firing range for a manual lock.
Unfortunately, Hyperion's were crippled far before they could get into range to do any real damage.
The Earth-Minbari war saw many new ships designs, since there were no longer funding problems for earth Force to contend with. Several hyperion variants were produced including: anti-fighter, troop transport, command, missele, pulse cannon and railgun varieties.
Thousands of these ships were produced, working together with the Nova class dreadnought in the war. Large numbers of Hyperion Heavy Cruisers survived the war to see action in the final Battle of the Line.
After the war the alliance need to shore up earth defenses against opportunistic neighbours.
An upgraded variant of the ship was produced to increase earth defenses.
The armament of the most common Hyperion today, also know as the midwinter variant consisted of:
1 Heavy Plasma Cannon,
2 Heavy laser Cannons,
8 Medium Pulse Cannons,
2 Fusion missels launchers.
For several decades, the hyperion class formed a solid core to the EA fleet. Hyperion have been a part of virtually every Alliance military engagement since the turn of the century. Only within the last few years have the more advanced Omega Destroyers begun to supplant them in the naval inventory, but there seem to be no plans to completely cancel the reliable, proven hyperion design.
Instead, they continue to operate both independently and alongside the more expensive and powerful Omegas.
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5 окт 2024
