POLYPHEMUS CLASS STAR TANK:

CLASSIFICATION: Star Tank (Aircraft Carrier/Star Tank)
LENGTH: 500 metres
TONNAGE: 30 million tonnes
MANOEUVERABILITY: Class B
CREW: 80
TROOPS: 0
FIGHTER(s): 8 Internal Docking Mechanisms
POWER SOURCE: 6 Tokamak Corp. Ultima 3000 Gravimetric Fusion Reactors - 1,000,000 Terawatts
DURATION: 24 months before refuelling
WEAPONS: 2 Heavy GED Laser Cannons - 16 Helios class Ion Plasma Cannons
DEFENCES: 10 to 15 metre Advanced Daemon Re-Enforced Armour - EM/Gravimetric Field Defence Grid - FLAK Anti-starfighter Grid - IMPS Defence Satellites

The Polyphemus is such a unique ship that it called for a completely new classification of ship. It is extremely heavily armoured and carries enough weapons power to take down most capital ships on the space ways (being inhibited by the charging time of the Heavy GED Laser). This ship was most reminiscent of the ancient technology known as the tank.

The Polyphemus uses an adaptation of the Millipede Manoeuvring Grid, which is less manoeuvrable. It uses fewer graviton emitters, so it can dedicate more power to defensive and offensive systems. The Polyphemi also use several other scaled down systems to maintain high power levels to the systems that make them unique.

The Polyphemi use collective power and defensive systems. Using the MPX system, they can transfer power to Polyphemi with a greater chance of delivering a deadly blast. The Polyphemi set themselves up in massive firing lines to allow their gravimetric defensive grids to be interconnected and provide a better defensive position with the lower per ship output, much like the Greek Phalanx and Roman Testudo.

The Polyphemus also has extremely thick armour, comparable to that of the Gemini class Strike Dreadnought, which allows them to take a great deal of damage before being destroyed. Combined with the self repair systems of the Advanced Daemon Re-Enforced Armour, the Polyphemus is only vulnerable (in one-on-one battle) to the most powerful of weapons.

The Polyphemus is also outfitted with several Helios class Ion Plasma Cannons to defend itself when engaged in short range battle. Though there are 16 of them, under no circumstance can all be fired while maintaining the standard 0.5 pulse/barrel/s firing rate. Most of these weapons are rear facing to protect its more vulnerable flank.

Because the Polyphemus' main Heavy GED Lasers are critical to its strategic effectiveness, large armour plates (10-15 metres thick) can be dropped to close off the fore section. If fighters need to withdraw to the ship, the forward facing section can open an independent blast door to allow access to the fighter bays.

The Polyphemus, if severely damaged, also makes an effective ramming tool. The heavily armoured fore section (in combination with the mass of the ship) would provide a very effective ramming capability. The fore section is specially designed to, if necessary, ram another ship without destroying the ship. It can be set up to break off of the ship after a heavy collision.

The Polyphemus' aft section (hammer and engines) can be separated from the fore section. That way, the massive front section can do a lot of damage while the more valuable rear section (containing reactors, crew, jump engines, etc.) can escape to have a new fore section attached for another battle. Though the fore section lacks a reactor, it still has a significant amount of power in capacitance and can receive power via the MPX system. It can also use the MMG to manoeuvre itself, though at a decreased rate. This allows it to fight independently, though not very effectively. This system is specialized to allow the fore section to ram while firing all weapons. The fore section is also equipped with several high yield fusion warheads that are detonated upon collision, sending the shockwave of the blast through the target ship's armour.

Pictured is the EAS Telemachus, the first Polyphemus put into service.