Eternity-class battleship

Season 2 refit:

* x4 1500mm Fixed Artillery Rifles
* x5 400mm Vanquisher Batteries
* x2 400mm Demolisher Batteries
* x5 400mm Assault Turrets
* x1 400mm Casemate Cannon
* x10 220mm Missile Batteries
* x14 43mm Rotary Autocannons

***Eternity's Advent*** (**BB-07**) is the lead ship of the sixth-generation Eternity-class battleships. Assembled by Ganymede Fleetyards at the Serapis Forge, she was launched on December 3rd, 2220, and commissioned the following year. *Eternity's Advent* is the largest warship ever built for the Earth Federal Navy.

*Eternity's Advent* is the result of Earth's increasing need to expand its influence over its colonized star systems. Several major civil wars, including the Ganymedian Revolutionary War and the 11th Fleet Rebellion, have not only diminished Earth's fleet reserve, but also displayed the ineffectiveness of Earth's combat doctrines. Thus, *Eternity's Advent* incorporates many new features into her design: sharing shield generation and forcefield technologies with her sixth-generation cousins, *Eternity's Advent* also features system-spanning scanners, relay-grade communications suites, and integrated holographic training rooms, among other technologies. Approximately 20% of the ship's interior volume is unused, an intentional feature to allow for future expansion.

On April 23rd, 2221, *Eternity's Advent* was a primary target of the Earth Separatist Movement. Launched before many of her systems and auxiliary craft were delivered, *Eternity's Advent* was ordered to travel through the Earth Jump Gate. Although she safely escaped, *Eternity's Advent* became marooned—understrength and understaffed—in the Pioneer System.

*Eternity's Advent* is the main perspective of *Space Engineers: Outlands*.

## History

### Construction

#### Earth In Decline

The rebellion of the 11th Expeditionary Fleet left the Earth Federal Navy in ruins. Older 5th-generation ships were pulled from reserves, but many of these vessels were barely functional. The Earth Federal Navy began construction efforts on new sixth-generation ships to regrow their fleet numbers, but these vessels were expensive to produce; Earth's crippled industries limited the acquisition of sixth-generation ships to only one per every few months.

#### Changing Doctrines

Earth's admiralty envisioned an armada of sixth-generation warships; squadrons of capital ships and their escorts, flagged by fleet battleships. With sixth-generation subcapital ships slowly trickling out of Earth's shipyards, the admiralty was eager to test their new doctrine. And thus, the first plans were drawn.

Naval engineers desired a battleship class with a primary battery; two weapons arrays—one dorsal, and one ventral—would make up the bulk of the class' firepower. Dotted across the hull would be secondary weapons meant to engage close-range targets, as well as secondary sensors, cameras, and other utilities. The plans had options for expansion, including resource processing, large storage rooms, manufacturing bays, fixed axial weapons, and more. Several of these options were likely to be considered, but at the cost of others. This program was assigned the designation ***Project 4242-07***.

However, there was a more pressing issue; Earth's remaining shipyards were already at full capacity. Most shipyards were incapable of building such a colossal vessel, and most of those large enough were occupied with other projects. Until Earth was able to rebuild or replace its lost shipyard facilities, the Earth Federal Navy would not receive its battleships.

#### Helping Hand

With Earth's industries at capacity, the Earth Federal Navy was forced to take *Project 4242-07* elsewhere. Only one other world in the Sol System possessed both the shipbuilding capability, as well as the experience, for such a monumentous task; despite their mutual animosity, Earth needed battleships, and the Republic of Ganymede was eager to acquire Earth's more exotic developments.

Once Serapis Forge was sufficiently expanded, Ganymede Fleetyards began accepting orders from the Earth Federal Navy. Two vessels of *Project 4242-07* were ordered, but Ganymedian engineers encountered significant problems in its original design. Ganymede redesigned almost the entire ship, but retained all the key features Earth mandated, as well as the optional additions. The first order, *4242-07-1*, was renamed *Eternity's Advent* at only 19% completion.

Captain Ace, an officer of the Earth Federal Navy, supervised *Eternity's Advent's* construction.

#### Commissioning

*Eternity's Advent* was commissioned in early-2221. During April of that year, *Eternity's Advent* was stationed at Victoria Shipyard, Earth, to receive various Earth-developed technologies.

### Service History

#### Outlands: Season 1

##### Earth's Own Rebellion

Captain Gage was selected as *Eternity's Advent's* first commanding officer. Captain Gage knew his posting would be temporary, and worked with the Navy to select *Eternity's Advent's* next captain. Other crew members included Commander Doffen as chief engineer, Ensign Tiberiosity as gunnery trainee, and Ensign Link as helmsman.

In October of 2221, *Eternity's Advent* was scheduled to depart for the Pioneer System as flagship of the 6th Squadron of Earth's Home Fleet. This followed the detection of a critical reactor detonation in Pioneer, which Earth had lost contact with over 70 years prior. *Eternity's Advent* would be escorted by various other warships, including cruisers, destroyers, and auxiliary vessels.

This plan would never manifest. While stationed at Victoria Shipyards, *Eternity's Advent* would become a primary target of the Officer's Rebellion. This rebellion launched a coup d'etat against the Earth Federation, taking over strategic assets, civilian media outlets, and military warships, all in one swift stroke.

Captain Gage ordered Brock, Captain Ace, and all personnel accompanying them to board *Eternity's Advent*, then launch for the Earth Jump Gate. While initially hesitant, Brock and Ace pushed against rebel forces aboard Victoria Shipyards, and secured *Eternity's Advent*. Captain Ace, however, refused to take command of *Eternity's Advent*. He assigned Brock as commanding officer, and moved to return to Ascendant, the Dawn-class heavy cruiser under his command.

*Eternity's Advent* diverted course to assist Ascendant, which was engaged with the rebel heavy-cruiser Providence. However, Ascendant initiated her self-destruct sequence, destroying herself and Providence. *Eternity's Advent* was then pursued by three rebel ships, flagged by the heavy-cruiser Pluto. Initially complying with orders to surrender, Captain Brock ordered *Eternity's Advent's* main batteries to fire their full salvos against Pluto, crippling the cruiser. Pluto's escorting cruisers turned to engage *Eternity's Advent*, but were met with overwhelming fire from *Eternity's Advent's* secondary weapons. *Eternity's Advent* was free to push for the jump gate, and escape the Sol System.

##### Pioneer

Arriving in the Pioneer System, *Eternity's Advent* was immediately ambushed by unidentified ships. These ships did not respond to hails, and did not flash any familiar IFF protocols. When ordered to identify the hostile ships, Ensign Tiber reported that they belonged to a faction calling themselves The Riders. Although identifying themselves as "honorable outlaws," the crew of *Eternity's Advent* believed them to be mere pirates, and engaged the Riders.

During the incursion, another squadron of ships arrived. The flagship of this squadron hailed *Eternity's Advent*, and identified itself as a vessel of the Civilian Defense Force, or *CDF*. *Eternity's Advent* accepted assistance from the CDF, eventually driving off the Rider flotilla. The CDF was initially distrusting of *Eternity's Advent*, but both parties eventually negotiated an alliance; *Eternity's Advent* would help remove the threat of the Riders, and the CDF would assist *Eternity's Advent* in constructing a new jump gate.

When asked about the status of the 1st Expeditionary Fleet, CDF Admiral Mallard reported that the 1st Fleet dissolved decades prior. However, the sensors aboard *Eternity's Advent* detected a Cerberus-class cruiser, named *Alysium*, flashing an authentic 1st Fleet IFF. Captain Brock led an expedition to board the Cerberus, and discovered Captain Roberts, an officer in the 1st Fleet. This encounter coincided with both CDF and Rider elements attempting to capture the ship for themselves. When CDF vessels drove off the smaller Rider force, Captain Brock announced his presence to Admiral Mallard directly. Relations between the CDF and *Eternity's Advent* grew tense, but both agreed to continue the alliance.

[PH]

## Trivia

* Behind the scenes, what would become *Eternity's Advent* was originally known as *Project: Oatmeal*. This name was sometimes used interchangeably with Space Engineers: Outlands as a whole.
* *Eternity's Advent's* original design takes heavy inspiration from the pre-refit UNSC *Pillar of Autumn* featured in the Sins of a Solar Empire mod *Sins of the Prophets*.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Eternity's Advent* on Steam Workshop
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Space Engineers: Origins" on Youtube
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Space Engineers Outlands: Pilot" on Youtube
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Space Engineers Outlands: Back At It Again" on Youtube
5. ↑ "Space Engineers Outlands: Here We Go Again" on Youtube
6. ↑ "Space Engineers Outlands: Conflict With The CDF?" on Youtube
7. ↑ "Outland Primer: How do I join the series?" on Youtube