Interstellar Alliance Valen Class Fast Cruiser Interstellar Alliance Valen Class Fast Cruiser The Valen class Fast Cruiser was the first attempt at cooperation between the members of the Interstellar Alliance at building a ship type with systems and design aesthetics of different species. The Earth Alliance and the Minbari Federation were the primary designers of the class. The Valen class was built using some of the lessons learned from recent ship building projects of both nations. The Minbari brought their experience with the White Stars. These ships were fast, well armed, and durable. The EA, on the other hand, excelled in survivability, defense systems, and a certain flare for aesthetic design. The resulting ship that was designed by the two governments was fast, well armed, defended, and was ugly as sin. The blending of EA and Minbari design cues did not work, and everyone agreed, but chose not to say anything about it. The ship was built more to be a diplomatic cruiser. The Valen carried two Minbari combat fliers, as well as six EA shuttles. Its engine was so powerful, some called the ship the fastest ship in space, even faster than a White Star. The ship itself is a small capital ship that was atmospheric capable. It was equipped with a Gravitic drive, jammer, and small jump drive supplied by the Minbari. The Earth Alliance provided Heavy Interceptor Batteries (minus the e-web capability), as well as smaller Interceptor Mk II's (also lacking the e-web capability). A total of two heavy and three Mk II Interceptors were installed. The Minbari weapons were of the same time found on the White Star. Four Improved Neutron Cannons were installed on the ship, two firing forward and two firing aft. This really didn't provide the ship with anything more than a few long range weapons to discourage attackers from getting too close. An interesting feature of the Valen is the addition of two gravity nets on the sides of the ship. Since the Valen herself was to be a diplomatic cruiser built to showcase the cooperation between member nations of the IA, the ship wasn't supposed to be too heavily armed. The weapons put onto the ship would be able to get it out of trouble against smaller enemies, but up against most capital ships, the Valen could only run. The Gravity Nets were installed to give the Valen a little bit of extra help when trying to exit a combat area. The thought was that if the Valen's escape route was blocked, the gravity nets would more the obstacles out of the way to allow the Valen by. As it turned out, the prototype of the class, the IAS Valen, was destroyed while on its maiden voyage. It turned out that the power systems were more easily disrupted during combat than had been anticipated. In the opening moments of a battle with a new force in space known simply as "The Hand," the Valen's weapon systems were disabled. She was destroyed when her captain ordered her to ram one of the attacking vessels. The Valen class has since been shelved, and a new joint project is rumored to be well underway to replace it. Estimates are that this new project, sometimes called "Victory," will not be ready before 2268. IAS Valen Class Fast Cruiser (Prototype)