Ark Royal (Warship)

"It looked like a gawdam turtle." - Lexington KeelerArk Royal was an ancient Nephilum-Class battleship that fought in the Ninth Crusade in during the Thousand-Years War. Ark Royal was commanded by Admiral Lexington Keeler, who was given command after his privateer, Red Jacket, was destroyed in an earlier battle. 
Ark Royal served as Keeler's flagship for the remainder of the war, culminating in a final assault against the Last of the Dark Lords, Enoch. Facing defeat, Enoch abandoned his forces and fled the galaxy in his own flagship, The Basilisk. Defying orders, Keeler gave chase in the Ark Royal. Most of the ship's crew evacuated leaving behind only a skeleton battle crew. Far outside the galactic rim, Ark Royal engaged Lord Enoch in battle, ultimately destroying his ship, but crippling their own in the process. 
Ark Royal returned to the galaxy, requiring over 300 years to return in its damaged state. Its crew survived in stasis and were revived to settle on different colonies of the Commonwealth. Lexington Keeler migrated to the Perseus Quadrant, settling on the planet Sapphire, and founding an artist's colony and university. 
==== Description and Specifications ====
Ark Royal was a typical ship of the Nephilum class. These ships were designed as command and control ships, command centers for fleet operations. They were well-armed, with a panoply of the Galactic Commonwealth's most advanced weaponry. Their hyperdrive engines were believed capable of sustaining velocities well over 1000c. 
Nephilum class ships were expected to be the focus of enemy attacks as their destruction would degrade the ability of fleets to coordinate battle operations. They were survived with survivability foremost in mind. The ships' dorsal structure consisted of an enormous armored shell, capable of sustaining heavy attacks for a long period of time. The superstructure hanged on the ventral side of the ship. In combat, Nephilum helmsman endeavored to keep their dorsal shell facing the enemy so that the sensors, weapons, and communication links in the superstructure could maintain command and control of fleet assets. 
On their own, Nephilum class ships like the Ark Royal, were formidable combatants. They carried multiple squadrons of attack ships in their fighter bays. Their missile batteries contained an array of heavy weapon, up to and including "Planet Smasher" weaponry. code named "Seventh Seal" capable of obliterating entire planets.