The Hyperion-class heavy cruiser was an Earthforce warship manufactured by KarmaTech, primarily at the Neue Hanse Orbital Shipyard in Earth orbit.
Technical Capabilities[]
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.[2] Though rotating sections were within Earthforce's technical capabilities of the time, they greatly reduced a ship's speed and effectiveness.[3] As such the crew had to operate in a completely zero gravity environment, requiring the use of seat straps and handholds to work effectively. Several decks are dedicated to crew quarters and facilities. Crew were often granted leave time after a tour to adapt to gravity again. Ships of this class ranged from 8-10 decks not including the command deck. In later years, ships such as the Clarkstown were seen upgraded with newer weaponry such as the 52 mm plasma pulse cannon used on the Omega class Destroyer. Presumably as the Warlock class destroyer was able to generate a gravity field, this feature was added to the Hyperions as they were still operating in 2281.[4]
Service History[]
Before the introduction of the Omega and Warlock-class destroyers, the Hyperion-class heavy cruisers served as Earth's front line warships, often supported by the heavily armed Nova-class dreadnought. Hyperion heavy cruisers made up a proportion of the fleet that was assembled for the Battle of the Line and though a great many were destroyed, the ones that survived continued to serve alongside their successors as the workhorses of the Earthforce fleet. Even though the design was far past its prime it continued to be in service as late as 2281.[5]
Ships of the Class[]
- EAS Aegean[6]
- EAS Amundsen[4][7]
- EAS Clarkstown (Destroyed) [8]
- EAS Hyperion[9]
- EAS Lexington[4]
- EAS Prometheus[4]
- EAS Trafalgar (Destroyed) [4]
Behind the Scenes[]
The Hyperion was designed by animator Mark Kochinski, based on a napkin sketch by Ron Thornton.[10]
Appearances[]
- TV/DVD Movies
- Babylon 5
- "A Voice in the Wilderness, Part II"
- "Point of No Return"
- "Severed Dreams"
- "Atonement" (Retrospective)
- "The Exercise of Vital Powers"
- "The Face of the Enemy"
- "Between the Darkness and the Light"
- "Endgame"
- "Rising Star"
- "Sleeping in Light"
References[]
- ↑ Babylon 5: Into the Fire (Game) - NOTE:The Official Guide to Babylon 5 (CD ROM) states they're "9000A", same as the Omega and the Explorer Classes, this appears to simply be an error.
- ↑ JMS post rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated - 02/04/1995
- ↑ Rising Star
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 In the Beginning
- ↑ Sleeping in Light
- ↑ Endgame
- ↑ JMS compuserve post - 3/3/1997
- ↑ Severed Dreams
- ↑ A Voice in the Wilderness, Part II
- ↑ B5Scrolls
Other Sources[]
Earthforce Ship Classes | ||
Capital Ships | ||
Olympus-class corvette · Hyperion-class heavy cruiser · Nova-class dreadnought · Omega-class destroyer · Advanced Omega-class destroyer · Warlock-class destroyer | ||
Fighters | ||
SA-23E Starfury · SA-32A Thunderbolt · Stealth Starfury · Heavy Starfury · Badger-class Starfury | ||
Transports | ||
Earthforce One · Magnum heavy lifter · Breaching pod · Troop Transport · Kestrel Class Atmospheric Shuttle · Crew Shuttle | ||
Other | ||
Aegis orbital defense platform · Life pod · Work pod · Gunship · Explorer class ship · Cotten class Deep Penetration Tender · Shadow Hybrid · Shadow hybrid fighter |