Species 8472 energy focusing ship

The Species 8472 energy focusing ship was a type of organic starship used by Species 8472. Similar in configuration to the more numerous bio-ship, it was also capable of crossing between normal space and fluidic space by means of quantum singularities.
The energy focusing ship could utilize the energy weapon discharges of eight other bio-ships to fire a powerful beam capable of destroying a planet. During Species 8472's invasion of the Milky Way Galaxy in 2374, bio-ships and energy focusing ships were used to systematically annihilate Borg planets. () During the course of their war against the Borg, hundreds of planets were destroyed in this manner. ()
File:Species 8472 bio-ship weapon.jpg|Energy focusing ship working in tandem with bio-ships
File:Species 8472 energy focusing ship, Scorpion.jpg|Close-up of energy-focusing ship
File:Species 8472 planet killer, stage 1.jpg|The energy-focusing ship's beam reaches a planet
File:Species 8472 planet killer, stage 2.jpg|The planet's crust begins to split open
File:Species 8472 planet killer, stage 3.jpg|The plant's crust breaks apart
File:Species 8472 planet killer, stage 4.jpg|The planet's crust breaks opens, destroying it
File:Species 8472 planet killer, stage 5.jpg|The planet's remains scatter through space
In 2375, the energy focusing ship was displayed on "Valerie Archer"'s desktop monitor. ()
== Appendices ==
=== Background information ===
Dialogue in did not distinguish between the energy focusing ship and the more common bio-ship, simply referring to them both as "bio-ships".
The manner in which this ship fires – multiple beams of energy converging into one large planet-destroying beam – bears a striking resemblance to that of the Death Star from the Star Wars films. When creating the weapons effect for however, Visual Effects Supervisor Ronald B. Moore was interested in doing something slightly different than the Death Star, finding the solution of the vessels converging and then cumulatively focusing their firepower to be "more interesting." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 29, No. 6/7, p. 95)
While Steve Burg was designing the Species 8472 bio-ships, the producers notified him about the scenes demonstrating swarms of the ships. As a result, the bio-ships had to look good in formation. (Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection issue 43, p. 12)
After Moore and Visual Effects Coordinator Cheryl Gluckstern devised the converged beams, they were animated by Greg Rainoff at Digital Magic, via Harry animation. (Cinefantastique, Vol. 29, No. 6/7, p. 95)
=== Apocrypha ===
In Star Trek: Armada II, this type of vessel is classified as a 'frigate', and it is capable of using its energy focusing ability while grouped with anywhere from four to eight other ships.
In Star Trek Online, this vessel is identified by name as the Dactylus-class, a variant of the Nicor-class bioship.
===External link===
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Species 08472 energy focusing ship
Category:Species 8472