3125 Scale Chlorophon Birch Destroyer (DD) MGL

The Omega Octant is east of the Alpha Octant empires seen in the Star Fleet Universe (beyond the Inter-Stellar Concordium), on the other side of a galactic void. That void is a dead zone where life is impossible and ships fall apart, marking a separation between Octants. The Chlorophon Association is comprised of two mutually co-dependent species: the tree-like Chlorophons (or Phons for short) and the anteater-like Keepers. Each Phon has a central spherical “body” which grows from pea-sized for new buds to more than two kilometers in diameter for the largest and oldest individuals. Beyond this lies a web of thick vines and branches which always extends 10 times the body’s diameter in length; these can be used for fine manipulation but not for lifting. The Keepers use their long snouts and tongues to feed from the sap of a Phon and to clean it healthy and free of parasites. Indeed, they have become so specialized in this role that the sap of a Phon is their only food source.

This symbiosis between Phon and Keeper biology greatly defines the nature of Association society. While Phons have an average lifespan of 2,200 years, they are only capable of spaceflight during a specific window in which they are mature enough to master a starship yet small enough to physically fit within one. Only a single Phon can fit inside a Chlorophon ship or base at a time; since it is too large to embark (or disembark) via shuttle or transporter, each Phon commander has to be physically removed from the hull in order to be “relieved,” or perhaps to be “promoted” to command of a larger hull size. For their part, the Keepers are capable of functioning as a ship’s crew (including as Marine boarding parties), yet they lack the independent ability to function as fighter pilots or as gunboat crews; even Chlorophon admin shuttles are “unmanned” and are controlled remotely. This keeps the overall number of ships in the Association navy relatively low and lacking in attrition units, which encourages them to avoid risking their fleet in large-scale military operations so long as this can be avoided. Chlorophon ships are armed with quantum phasers, energy howitzers, and subspace coagulators.

The Birch destroyer was intended to host Phon captains who were too large to fit in a Chlorophon frigate, but who were not yet large enough (or perhaps experienced enough) to move up to a cruiser. The ship was armed with six quantum phaser-1s, two energy howitzers, and two subspace coagulators. However, with the exception of a pair of prow-mounted quantum phaser-1s, most of the ship’s firepower was oriented to either side, though it could still be concentrated along the forward centerline. An escort variant was later developed, in response to the deployment of other Omega empires’ fighters.  

The ship is available in a variety of materials. Ships are unpainted, use standard flight stands available from many sources, and, while designed for gaming, make fine display pieces.