X12

X12
Manufacturer	Vanduul Clans
Model	See section 'Model Identification'
Sub-Classification	Carrier/Nomadic Transport
Faction Affiliation	Vanduul
Sub-Faction	Goran Horde
Crew Count	1400
Ship Count	300 Scythes

X12 is the codename given to the Vanduul warship found dead in Garron in 2942 that revealed new insights about the Vanduul. The tonnage of X12 is likened to a UEE Indefatigable-class battleship.

Specification

X12 carried a crew of approximately 1,400 Vanduul including what are believed to have been the "captain", "first officer" and four ace pilots granted personal quarters, while the bulk of the crew would have been packed in densely around the ship's engine, each in possession of a well honed knife, each seemingly made by the owner. A room was found appearing to be a Vanduul recreational room, complete with gym equipment and a swimming area. X12 was heavily armored, a layered system capable of protecting against an estimated three to four torpedo strikes. Internally, she carried an air wing more impressive than even a Bengal-class carrier: roughly three hundred Scythe fighters, although barely one hundred of these were combat ready; the rest were kept below decks as spares. During a full scramble, only a third of the total complement could be used.

History

It's unknown how a ship as big as a Kingship could reach Garron unnoticed. The only known large jump route from Vanduul space goes through major UEE systems including Elysium, a represented world. Garron is however in close physical proximity to Vanduul space, so a single undiscovered jump is all it would take to explain X12's arrival. Analysis suggests that the warship suffered a disastrous engine failure which flooded much of the crew quarters with deadly anti-matter radiation and left the survivors unable to follow the standard Vanduul protocol of self-destruct when threatened with capture. A detachment from the 8th UEE Marine division boarded the ship and was able to subdue the remaining crew with relative ease. No Vanduul survived for interrogation. The warship was examined then towed to Centauri Roads Naval Testing Station for further study, determining that the damage was too great to consider returning the ship to service. Per Senate request, the majority of the Scythes found onboard have since been sold off to private enterprise to finance an important public works project, although Naval Intelligence continues to maintain a squadron for maneuver testing and potential covert operations.

Model Identification

The X12 has long been identified by fans as a Kingship, though this is not stated by the source materials, including in older versions. At time of publication, the Kingship was the only Vanduul capital-class ship known to backers, and thus the natural point of identification. Since this time, the Driller has been unveiled, which also could match the description of X12.

Of particular note is the comparison of X12 to Indefatigable-class battleships; as the Retribution is supposedly the largest ship ever constructed by the UEE, and was developed to counter the Kingship, it seems incongruous for X12 and the Indefatigable to match either in size.

The exact specification of X12 remains ambiguous.