Designed during the early 2020s, the original version of the Phoenix-class was a self-sufficient exploration vessel which could make in-depth studies of locations selected after scout ships examined a system. The Phoenix-class had long loiter time, broad sensory capability, expansive communications systems to coordinate scouts, and a full complement of colonists ready to form the initial core of a new colony. Weapons were an afterthought, only a few pulse laser arrays and nanomissile systems were installed for debris defense. Expansive bays stored modular colony systems which could be dropped from orbit to form the infrastructure of new colonial locations. At least, that’s what it was all designed to do.
The lead ship of the class, the Phoenix, was a finicky, troubled hull. Delays in construction, metal fatigue, and ultimately an instance of the event now referred to as the “Phoenix Anomaly” led to its launch and commissioning being delayed, while her sister ship the Feng-Huang became the first ship of the class out of dock. Eventually the Phoenix joined her sister in colonizing the Alpha Centauri system, and she eventually moved on to Barnard’s Star while the Feng-Huang remained focused on Alpha Centauri.
With the devastating attack on and destruction of the New Geneva colony in Barnard’s Star in 2029 and the destruction of the Phoenix, naval planners realized they needed a dedicated command and control vessel to coordinate large battle groups. Deciding it would be easier to retrofit an existing design rather than design, test, and build something from the ground up, the Feng-Huang was called back to Neptune for retrofitting and the Benu, still under construction at the time, underwent a drastic internal redesign. The first thing to go was the internal bow-stern rapid transit system – the space that this occupied was gutted and filled with the equipment for a dual light gas gun battery in an off-the-shelf armament upgrade using systems designed for the Lagos and Conqueror-class battlecruisers. Naval planners initially wanted to mount an Atemis-class bombardment laser into this space as well, however on the Feng Huang and Benu designers were unable to work the laser systems in without extensive gutting and supplemental power systems, neither of which were feasible. Hull numbers PC03 (Firebird) and onward will have the Artemis-class bombardment laser installed, whereas hull numbers PC01 and PC02 instead have larger auxiliary craft and torpedo capacity.
The Colonial Coordination Chamber, an expansive room with holoprojection capability used for briefing crew and colonists was retained and re-purposed. Now referred to as the Command Coordination Chamber (“TriSee”), the holoprojection capability allows for unprecedented insight into battlefield operations for the officers who work inside the dimly-lit room. Initially the room had contained enough inertial field capability to make it a null-inertia area, however after several mock power failures which led to injuries during testing this capability was scrapped.
Weapons loadout comprises two Northtech-Microstellar 400mm methane combustion light gas guns in a spinally-mounted battery, 50 Pandyne Integration 1-megawatt pulse laser systems in flush emplacements divided roughly equally between Class VI AI-controlled and man-operated (each emplacement is capable of both), 5 torpedo tubes (2 fore, 1 aft, 1 port, 1 starboard), 50 missile tubes mounted in distributed batteries for broad coverage, 4 Turov-Barker Corporation Andromeda-type 128-megajoule railgun turrets, and a nanomissile array comprising 10,000 tubes capable of holding nano-missiles, decoys, sensor probes, and other specialized loads. Hull numbers PC01 and PC02 mount an additional 4 fore-mounted torpedo tubes, while hull numbers PC03 and higher mount one Artemis-class bombardment laser instead.
‘Command standard’ auxiliary craft includes four flights of fighters (7 per flight – one flight of attack craft, one flight of bombers, and two flights of interceptors) and two flights of swift assault craft (one flight of 5 Octopus-class assault craft, and one flight of 3 Incursion-class assault craft and two Striker-class marine assault craft). Additional hangar space exists for three Ferry-class Swift Cargo Vessels, five general purpose transport shuttles, two vehicles of up to the size of a Hecate-class runabout, and a dedicated hangar bay designed for Hermes-class couriers – however the hangar space for these vehicles is not considered to be on combat alert and requires more time to prep a vehicle for launch.
Functionally, the Phoenix-class Command Ship is actually difficult to integrate into a naval doctrine that is not built around the ship. It has less armaments than a dedicated battlecruiser, carries less auxiliary craft than a dedicated carrier, and carries less assault troops than a mobile marine base or amphibious warfare ship, yet its sheer presence as a capital-class vessel means that it is still a potent force on the battlefield. Its primary purpose is to function as a flagship for a fleet, coordinating numerous other vessels into a single, unified fighting force.
Crew complement aboard a Phoenix-class is dependent on how many staff Fleet Command includes. Without Fleet Command, the crew of a Phoenix-class comprises 7 command officers (ranked O-4 through O-6), 51 junior and warrant officers (ranked O-2 through O-3 and W-3 through W-5), and 360 enlisted crew (296 navy and 64 marine corps). Fleet Command comprises a bare minimum of two flag officers (traditionally an Admiral and a Vice Admiral, though any O-8 and O-7 ranked officers can serve in this role), though it usually also includes a range of support staff as well.
Phoenix-Class Command Ships
PC00: Phoenix (NVY-203) – While technically a Phoenix-class Colony Vessel, the Phoenix is still considered to be the lead ship of this class (even though she was the second ship that launched). Progenitor of the Beta Prime and New Geneva colonies. Destroyed defending the New Geneva colony in 2029.
PC01: Feng-Huang (NVY-202) – The first vessel of the craft to make it off the production line and the progenitor of the Alpha Prime colony. Currently to the Feng-Huang Combined Fleet (“Wings of Fire”), Feng-Huang serves as the flagship for Admiral Jim Jones and Vice Admiral Nakamura Rin.
PC02: Bennu (NVY-303) – Bennu had been far enough along in construction to be commissioned when the New Geneva attack happened, and it was pulled back into dock for retrofitting in short order. There was an attempt to finish the retrofit ahead of schedule, but the diversion of assets to support the Battle of Lalande 21185 led to the expected retrofit completion date to be pushed back to December 2030.
PC03: Firebird (projected NVY-600) – Firebird is at this point still a non-spaceworthy hulk inside Dock 4 at the Yang Enterprise Neptune Astroconstruction Facility, but naval planners have set aside the NVY-600 registry number for her. Expected launch date is August 2031. Firebird was undergoing initial spaceframe completion in November 2029 as a Phoenix-class Colony Vessel, and was quickly switched over to the Command Ship blueprint when it was finalized.
PC04: Angha (projected NVY-700) – Angha is at this point still a non-spaceworthy hulk inside Dock 5 at the Yang Enterprise Neptune Astroconstruction Facility, but naval planners have set aside the NVY-700 registry number for her. Construction began in January 2030, with an expected launch date of December 2031.
PC05: Kokko (projected NVY-800) – Firebird is at this point still a non-spaceworthy hulk inside Dock 6 at the Yang Enterprise Neptune Astroconstruction Facility, but naval planners have set aside the NVY-800 registry number for her. Construction began in January 2030, with an expected launch date of December 2031.