Expoletian Command Vessels: Phalanx

The Dreadnought Phalanx is smaller than its father vessel, Ultimate, but is by no means less dangerous. 13km long, and weighing 300 tonnes, the Phalanx has never seen a battle in its life, due to the underwhelming ability of the vessel.

While most regard the Phalanx as a failure, the vessel was never designed to be a front line combat vessel, with Kodekai opting instead for a stealth destroyer. This is evidenced as the 2m thick reflective titanium plating masks the energy signature of the vessel, disguising the profile of the vessel. The Phalanx uses the standard issue Herculean Shield system, which forms a barrier over the entire hull of the vessel, and can absorb ten minutes of sustained firepower, although the shield can only recharge if engine power is rerouted, rooting the vessel while it regenerates shielding. Featuring less firepower than a standard Expoletian Guard ship, the Phalanx, while lacking in sheer numbers, has upgraded versions of the Type XIV turret, using piercer rounds as opposed to the standard shredder bolt. This makes the Phalanx well suited to attacking unshielded craft, and often intercepts military grade cargo transports.

In order to intercept military grade transports, the Phalanx requires a powerful engine that can also mask any energy signature it creates. Kodekai used the Shadow Hawk made Obelisk Engine core to power the 2km long, 15 tonne Haven Engine block, attached to the Whirlwind thruster port. The Obelisk enables the Haven to produce 1.25 million tonnes of power, which is translated into 10 million tonnes of thrust by the Whirlwind. In order to mask the heat signature of the engine, the Whirlwind is equipped with heat vents that dissipate the heat generated over a long path, and this heat is then recaptured to power the Super Fusion generators that power the Obelisk core. The heat signature of the Phalanx is reduced to an area of 500m at most, making the vessel one of the stealthiest ever created.

While the 4 Haven Engine blocks provide the movement ability for the Phalanx, the true might of the vessel lies in its spine. Running the length of the vessel is the dreaded Phalanx cannon, which weighs around 140 tonnes. The weapon, which is shrouded in secrecy, is a smaller, less powerful version of the Ultimate's Civilian. The inner machinations and power requirements are unknown, but given the size of the Phalanx, speculations are that the Phalanx cannon can cause incredible damage. To defend the weapon, the Phalanx has 5 hangar bays spanning the 2km wide vessel, and each is capable of holding 300,000 fighters. Only 10,000 fighters are assigned to the vessel however, and the Phalanx is unlikely to see combat for a long time.

The Phalanx bridge, built towards to front of the vessel, is inline with the hull of the vessel, and composes mainly of a viewing window and the 120 crewmen that operate the systems around the vessel. Since the vessel is classified and hasn't seem combat, the full capabilities of the Phalanx can't be determined, but the vessel is assumed to be quite capable in combat, even if it doesn't show.