Automaton Fleet Destroyer

The Automaton fleet destroyer is a faster-than-light capable warship built by the Automatons, which were first seen during the Reclamation campaign when a massive fleet of them warped in from deep space, overrunning the Valdis Sector in a matter of hours.
They are notable for their surprisingly distinctive but boring brutalist look, which has been mockingly referred to as "flying power bricks" or "cargo containers with FTL capabilities" (the cargo of course being bots). Even so these vessels remain capable warships, with the Super Earth Navy unable to completely halt the fleet's advance through direct means, necessitating the Helldivers to slow them as much as possible through other means...
== General ==
The exact size of an Automaton fleet destroyer is currently up for debate, though from what can be seen, they are likely larger than Super Earth's own Super Destroyers. The Automaton fleet destroyer is also capable of FTL travel, though whether they make use of the Alcubierre Drive or some other method of interstellar flight is unknown. However it is likely that they are using inferior FTL drives, given that these ships can't navigate to any planet in the galaxy like the Super Destroyer can, instead resorting to shorter range 'planet to planet' jumps, which has slowed the Automatons advance considerably.
=== Exterior ===
Automaton fleet destroyer maintains the monolithic design seen in Automaton facilities and war machines, though is visually distinguished by it's two hexagonal hull sections (the forward "Muzzle" connecting to a central "body"), which then connects to a rectangular bank of engines. What the automaton warship lacks in aesthetics, the design likely makes up for in utility, by maximizing the thrust to weight and cargo ratio, whilst also presenting as few structural weaknesses as possible.
=== Interior ===
Though no Helldiver has been ordered to board an Automaton fleet destroyer (yet), pictures of the vessel captured during the Automaton's conquest of Cyberstan show that the upper part of the central body of the Automaton fleet destroyer can open up like a pair of "wings", revealing a large cargo and hangar bay. This has been used to store smaller automaton craft, such as the Dropship and gunship, which are then deployed from orbit. This was first seen during the reclamation, which was also the first time these space borne warships were sighted in large numbers.
Everything else about the interior of the vessel is unknown, though it's safe to assume that the inner works of the ship are radically different from Super Earth's own designs. In any case, the Ministry of Science would no doubt love to get their hands on an intact Automaton fleet destroyer for further study, though for now that remains a pipe dream.
=== Armament ===
The primary armament of the Automaton fleet destroyer (as well as the likely the source of one of it's nicknames: "The Stingray") is a single large rail cannon directly connected to the engine block, which is then slung under the main body and runs the entire length of the ship. Presumably this cannon is based on the same weapons used by Automaton ground forces to shoot super destroyers out of orbit, likely with similar destructive effect. The ship also has 26 (13 per side) broadside guns mounted on either side of the "Muzzle" of the vessel, meant for more close range engagements.
== Gallery ==
File:Automaton Destroyer 2.jpg
File:Automaton Destroyer 1.jpg
File:Automaton Destroyer 3.jpg
== Trivia ==
* The Automaton fleet destroyer somewhat resembles a stripped down Halcyon-class light cruiser from the Halo series.
* The first official appearance of the Automaton fleet destroyer was during the reclamation campaign, however data-miners had managed to find the model of the Automaton fleet destroyer in the game files prior to this.
Category:Automatons
Category:Spaceships
Category:Helldivers II