OMEGA-X CLASS DESTROYER

Class:Omega-X [?]
Type:Advanced Destroyer
Length:1,720 meters
Mass:50 million metric tons
Crew:850
Troop:18,000
Fighter:36
Power:4 Fusion Reactors
Duration:18 months
Weapon:6 Fusion Beam cannons
12 Light Fusion Beams
Fusion missiles [2 launchers]
Defense:8 to 10 meter armored hull
- Shadow Bio-Armor
18 Mk. III Defense Grid Energy Projectors

A byproduct of the Earth Civil war, and by far the most infamous war machine in the Earthforce Navy was the Omega-X class Advanced Destroyer. This vessel was armed with revolutionary weapons and fitted with Shadow technology derived from Shadow vessels uncovered on Mars and Ganymede. At the time of her debut, the Omega-X was the most devastating war machine produced in earth history and, while based on the same structural design as the Omega Class Destroyer, their physical similarities end there.

It is worth noting that many of the technological advances seen implemented on the Omega-X were not intended to be used on a starship of the Omega design. Almost all the technologies seen on the Omega-X, from new stealth systems to Shadow bio-armor had been intended exclusively for the upcoming Warlock class Destroyer. What is now referred to as the "Omega-X" was simply the test vehicles used by the "Warlock Project" development team to test their new discoveries.

Much of the Shadow technology researched at the Ganymede dig site was far beyond humanity's understanding. Science teams found they couldn't understand a tenth of the systems on the Shadow vessel, earth's greatest scientific minds only able to comprehend the most rudimentary sciences at work on Shadow vessels. Still, what was seen and understood of the Shadow's technology pushed Earthforce R&D in directions they had not thought of or explored previously. The sciences created during the Shadow research project were placed upon an Omega frame for testing and research purposes at a top-secret design station at Uranus in the SOL system.

Systems slatted for testing on the Omega-X were the new Fusion Beam cannons and stealth technology, inspired by Minbari designs and based loosely on discoveries made during the Ganymede dig. Bio-Armor and the completed stealth device, as well as some modifications to sensor, computer and targeting systems derived from Shadow vessels uncovered on Mars and Ganymede, were also slated for simulation in fall of 2261.

It was following the development of the Fusion beam cannons and the first successful partial cloning of Shadow Bio-Armor that President Morgan William Clark ordered the Warlock development team to bring the new Warlock class Destroyer into service. Unfortunately, at this time the "Warlock Project" development team had not yet completed a single starship, the endoskeletons for the Warlock class Destroyer "Titans, Sorcerer, Necromancer and Enchantress" still months from completion.

Unwilling to accept excuses, Clark demanded that his new Destroyer fleet be put into service immediately, under threat of death. The head researcher explained to President Clark that there was simply no way for them to get all the Warlocks' up and running in the President's stated time frame of three months, but might be able to get the Titans operational. There is little information concerning what happened next.

With assistance from Shadow Thralls, the final design element of the Warlock class Advanced Destroyer was completed - Shadow Bio-Armor. While this watered down, synthetic version of Shadow Bio-Armor was no not as resilient as the original material it was based upon, the Bio-Armor skin proved to be virtually invulnerable to conventional weapons. In addition, so long as it was provided with a power source for food, was able to regenerate its self after being damaged.

Construction of the new Warlock fleet was proceeding on schedule when without warning Captain John Sheridan's forces began attacking and seizing earth territories, in an attempt to drive President Clark from office. Work teams on the "Warlock Project", who were already working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, were ordered to step up development of the prototype Warlock class Destroyers. Unfortunately, nothing in heaven or Earth could move the process of getting a new class of starship out of the dock along any sooner. Soon design flaws began to creep up and accidents lead to several delays. Furious, Clark gave word that if his new Destroyers were not ready before December, he would begin the execution of the development team's families.

In a meeting with President Clark, the project leader explained to the President that there was no way to get the Warlocks' in service in his stated time frame. The project leader also noted that, even if they could, they would be sending a handful of untested and unprepared vessels, who's crews knew nothing of their ship's limitations or workings, out into combat against seasoned veterans who knew their ships inside and out. Thus the "Warlock Project" development leader offered Clark a second option - they could graft many of their new discoveries onto existing frames of Omega class Destroyers, and get some twenty modified Omega class Destroyers, or OMEGA-X class Destroyers as they were called, into service by Clark's deadline.

Following the successful testing of the Omega-X destroyers, which proved to Clark the viability of the design leader's plan, Clark ordered the "Warlock Project" team to begin the refit and deployment of as many Omega-X class Advanced Destroyers as possible. Once prepared for launch, the Advanced Destroyer group was dispatched to engage Captain Sheridan's forces and destroy all the Earth starships who had joined with Sheridan's campaign, thus destroying the rebels credibility should they attempt to challenge President Clark's rule.

The Destroyer groups that faced Commander Susan Ivanova's Whitestar fleet in late December of 2261 were incomplete upon entering battle for the first time, but all were armed with Fusion beam cannons and Shadow Bio-Armor. Despite the problem of not being complete, some Omega-X class ships lacking several key systems designed to make the new weapons and armor work at peak efficiency, the Omega-X proved almost a match for Ivanova's Whitestar attack group.

Energy blasts from the Whitestar's main battery, which were able to easily rake through standard Earthforce armor, barely cut into the bio-armored hulls of the Omega-X fleet. The Omega X's offensive weapons proved to be just as impressive as their defensive systems - able to punch the shields and armor of a Whitestar with sustained/multiple hits and destroy them. President Clark's Advanced Destroyer group destroyed many of Commander Ivanova's Whitestar forces during this infamous battle. Of the twenty or so Whitestars that faced the Omega-X fleet only a handful survived, all suffering moderate to heavy damage. Some of the surviving ships were capable of joining Sheridan´s forces during the attack on Mars, while others were too badly damaged.

Armament for the Omega-X class Destroyer is as follows: Rear defenses include four aft firing Fusion beam Cannons. Forward firing weapons include two Fusion beam Cannons. Along the ship's sides are twelve omni-directional phalanx defense pods, outfitted with light Fusion beam Cannons. Omega-X class Advanced Destroyers are also armed with what is believed to be a newer plasma cannon similar to those added to the Babylon 5 station in 2259, believed to be helium based.

There are no Omega-X class starships currently in service of Earthforce, as all of them were destroyed. Given that the new Warlock class Destroyers are coming into service, it is very doubtful another Omega-X class Destroyer will EVER be produced.