Bioship

In starship classification, a bioship was 24th century Federation Starfleet designation for organic, living creatures that operated as spacecraft and starships. Bioships from fluidic space were organisms piloted by Species 8472 in the 2370s decade. (ST video game: Armada II mission: "Tutorial: Species 8472")

History and specifics[]

Gomtuu was a sentient, organic starship who was thousands of years old by the 24th century. In the year 2366, Gomtuu encountered Starfleet and the Romulan Star Empire at Beta Stromgren. Gomtuu bonded with the Betazoid Tam Elbrun in a symbiotic manner to dispel their mental issues by living together. (TNG episode: "Tin Man")

In the 2370s, Borg from multiple alternate realities invaded fluidic space, a universe filled with an organic liquid. The native Groundskeepers, designated Species 8472 by the Borg, used bioships to invade the Milky Way galaxies and eradicate their attackers. (VOY - Myriad Universes - Infinity's Prism novella: Places of Exile)

During the Borg-Species 8472 War from 2373 to 2374 in the primary universe, the bioships proved powerful in combat with Borg cubes. USS Voyager, a Starfleet vessel that briefly allied with the Borg Collective, was taken into fluidic space by the Borg and developed a nanobot weapon that destroyed bioships. At the time, several Nicor-class bioships working in conjunction could destroy a planet. (VOY episode: "Scorpion")

In 2377, bioships of a variety of classes beyond the original Nicor-class battleship and Species 8472 frigates were involved in an invasion of the Alpha and Delta Quadrants, coming into conflict with the Borg Collective and the Federation. (ST video game: Armada II)

In 2379, an analysis of the Species 8472 bioships and organic space stations were part of a training simulation by Lieutenant Commander Carey at Starfleet Academy. (ST video game: Armada II mission: "Tutorial: Species 8472")

Calling themselves the Undine, Species 8472 returned with their bioships to the Milky Way galaxy in the late 24th and early 25th century and was involved in a series of conflicts with various powers, including the Long War. (STO novel: The Needs of the Many)

In the 2400s, the Undine deployed dedicated Undine planet killer bioships. Undine bioships fired fluidic antiproton beam arrays and bio-plasmic warheads. (STO - Solanae Dyson Sphere mission: "Fluidic Destruction")

In the 2410s, the Khitomer Alliance acquired Undine bioships and deployed them, including the Nicor-class bio-warship. (STO website: A New Accord: The Undine Lock Box)

In 2410, Psi Lord Eric Cooper attempted to defeat Admiral Tuvok with a unique Command Bioship. This vessel was sentient, absorbed Cooper and ended the conflict between the Undine and the Khitomer Alliance powers. (STO - Delta Quadrant mission: "Mindscape")

Subtypes[]

Bio-cruiser[]

The cruiser was a mass-produced medium-sized bioship. It was larger and more powerful than cheaper units but outclassed by dreadnought- and capital ship-sized vessels. In the 2370s, the Species 8472 cruiser was based on the Voth Palisade-class starship, resulting in a compact hull that did not resemble other long, spiked bioships. Bioships of this era were operated by a single pilot. The cruiser was equipped with both conventional weaponry and a special weapon. (ST video game: Armada II)

In the 25th century, the bio-cruiser was the larger counterpart to the bio-warship. The tier 5 Dromias- and tier 6 Kiwavi-class bio-cruisers resembled the smaller bioships but featured larger, more aggressive spikes. Typically for cruisers of the 2400s and 2410s, both classes were equipped with cruiser command arrays, which aided coordination with nearby vessels during task force and fleet engagements. These bioships could house, and be operated by, crews of typical starship complement size. Undine bio-cruisers were equipped with conventional weapons and special weapons that could be shared with other bioship classes. (STO website: Legacy: Undine Ships Slide into the Infinity Lock Box!)

Bioship classes[]

class name	bioship classification	original faction	special weapon	service periods	ship image
Active embryo	larva	Species 8472	transformation into bioships	2370s	Active embryo.
Behemoth	science vessel	Species 8472	nebula generation, nebula flux, transient rift	2370s	Behemoth.
Cheirax-class	bio-warship	Species 8472	fluidic energy focusing array	2410s
Collector	mining vessel	Species 8472	resource extraction beam	2370s	Collector.
Cruiser (Palisade-class)	cruiser	Species 8472	psionic disruption	2370s	Palisade-class cruiser.
Dactylus-class	bio-warship	Species 8472	fluidic energy focusing array	2400s-2410s	Dactylus-class.
Dactylus-class	frigate	Species 8472	bio-pulse conduit	2370s	Dactylus-class Species 8472 frigate.
Dahut-class	frigate	Species 8472	bioship regeneration	2400s-2410s
Defender	construction ship	Species 8472	workbees	2370s	Defender.
Defiant-class	dreadnought	Species 8472	starship imitation	2409	USS Poseidon-U.
Destroyer	destroyer	Species 8472	clairvoyant link	2370s	Destroyer.
Dromias-class	bio-cruiser	Species 8472	bioship regeneration, fluidic phase jump	2400s-2410s
Launcher	artillery ship	Species 8472	artillery	2370s
larval ship	larva	Species 8472		2410s	Undine larval ship.
living ship	starship	Gomtuu	energy wave	thousands of years ago-2360s	Gomtuu.
Mother	mothership/starbase	Species 8472	onboard shipyard	2370s	Mother.
Nicor-class	battleship	Species 8472	psionic insanity	2370s	Nicor-class battleship.
Nicor-class	bio-warship	Species 8472	fluidic energy focusing array	2400s-2410s
Nicor-class	frigate	Species 8472	bioship regeneration	2400s-2410s	Nicor-class frigate bioships.
passive embryo	larva	Species 8472	transformation into bio-space stations	2370s
planet killer	planet-killer	Species 8472	fluidic energy focusing array	2400s-2410s
Scout	scout ship	Species 8472	clairvoyance	2370s	Scout (bottom center).
Tethys-class	bio-dreadnought	Species 8472	bioship regeneration, fluidic conduit projector	2400s-2410s
Transmuter	mobile mining station	Species 8472	biomatter transmutation	2370s
Vila-class	heavy bioship	Species 8472	bioship regeneration, fluidic conduit projector	2400s-2410s	Vila-class heavy bioship.