ZENITH CLASS
The Zenith Class Assault ships are units developed by the
E.F.N.I. and by the Earth Force Navy. It is officially classified
as "Frontal Assault Vector".
The hull is the smallest frame able to hold the internal systems,
the overall structure is sturdy, compact and heavily armored. The
main engines are eight Gravitic Enhanced Plasma Engines of the same
type used on the most recent Earthforce warships, with the
"Waverider II" gravitic drive used in the Gladium and
Centurion Warships. The whole rear block (engines+reactors) is a
simple modification of the power module of the Gladium Assault
Vectors. The main energy grid includes eight gravitic enhanced
fusion reactors, and a Quantum Singularity Gravitic Reactor,
developed with Kirishiac technology, that offers a power vastly
superior to the Victory class Heavy destroyers. The Engine system
enables accelerations and speed of the same level of the Victory
destroyers.
The Weapon system is conceptually simple: the main weapon is a
Quantum Discharge weapon, of the same type used on the Victorys
and conceptually similar to the Vorlon Discharge cannon, but,
while the weapon of the ISA destroyers is a watered down variant
of Minbari design of the original Vorlon model, the weapon
installed on the Zenith Assault Ships is a twelve years more
advanced project, developed by the Earthforce, and with
proprietary technology, developed thanks to the informations
gathered in these years and with the significative technologychal
enhancements allowed by the Kirishiac technologies now available
to the Earth Alliance. The Quantum Discharge Cannon is the reason
of existence of
these units, and all the other systems are structured exclusively
to allow the best performances of this weapon, fed by the Quantum
singularity rector. So was made the choiche to eliminate both the
fighter line and the missile launchers, to spare room and allow a
more compact design, while the conventional artillery system is
exactly the same of the Omega Epsilon
destroyers, and has been chosen because of his excellent
interceptor/anti fighter capability, essential in the defence
from the incoming fire of the Thirdspace fighters and warships,
coupled with a good saturation capability (antimatter focal
beams), that should inflict heavy damage in the time required to
the ship to front an enemy, power up and fire his main weapon. A
strong emphasis has been placed in the frontal arc protection.
The armor protection, particularly in the frontal arc, is thick
and effective, and the interceptor/energy web grid is powerful
and proven. Sensor and communication suites are the same of the
Warlock Beta Destroyers, except for the long range EGAD main
antenna, that is ythe large Mk1 instead of the more common but
less powerful Mk6.
The ship is unable to cover the dreadnought/battleship role, but
has speed, armor, and, mostly, firepower enough to successfully
actuate two main combat tactics: sneaking attacks against single
ships or small TSA formations, and to pursue and force to fight
TSA task force: this is extremely important, because in fact the
E.A. fleet, even if sufficiently powerful to face a TSA menace,
has not the overall mobility to force the combat in favourable
circumstances, while cuold be made to fight against unfavorable
odds. The presence of a comparatively small number of these
units, in conjunction with the Nike Cruisers and with the Gladium
Assault vectors is essential to change this factor of the power
equation against the TSA Aliens. The units actually in service
are: E.A.S.Zenith, E.A.S.Equinox, E.A.S.Meridian, E.A.S.Eclipse,
E.A.S. Sunrider, E.A.S. Phoenix, E.A.S.Sunbird, E.A.S.Firebird, E.A.S.Starwind,
E.A.S.Starstorm, E.A.S.Starblazer, E.A.S.Starblade, E.A.S.Fireflash,
E.A.S.Lightsabre, E.A.S.Fireblade, E.A.S.Firesword. The actual
(Dec.31,2281) production rate have been 10 units/year, with a
prospected rate of 15-16 ships/year from the beginning of 2282.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Class: Zenith
Type: Assault Vector
Length: 1,940.6 meters (overall - hull: 1405 meters)
Mass: 96.5 million metric tons
Acceleration: 14.42 G
Crew: 78
Troop: None
Fighter: None.
Power/Propulsion:
8*Westinghouse "Event Horizon" Gravitic Enhanced Fusion
Reactors.
1*Lockheed ZQ -1 "Dark Star" Quantum singularity
Gravitic Reactor.
1*Lockheed-Mitchell GWR-2 "Waverider II" Gravitic
Drive.
8*Lockheed-General Electric I-110LGE900 gravitic enhanced plasma
engines.
2*Lockheed-Mitchell M185 Jump engines.
Weapons:
1*E.F.N.I. Arsenals Mk I Quantum Singularity Discharge Cannon.
4*Raytheon SUPEROMEGA
Antimatter beam streamers/Heavy IonPulse turrets.
4*Raytheon SUPEROMEGA Antimatter beam streamers (rear firing)
12*Westinghouse-OTO Melara WM
203 Ion pulse twin turrets.
Defense:
28 to 45 meter armored hull, Multi-layer composite armour, CARBONAT
VI-A, with anti-neutron ablative
layer and intermediate nanotechnologycal
layer. localized layers of nanotechnologycal
armor .
20*Interceptor Mk. III Defense Grid Energy Projectors.
8*Neural disruptors.
E.A.S. EQUINOX
FRONTAL ASSAULT VECTOR