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The '''''Drala Fi''''' ('''''Black Star''''' in English) was a {{Sharlin}} that served as flagship of the [[Minbari Federation]] during the [[Earth-Minbari War]]. ''Drala Fi'' employed hit-and-run tactics, destroying dozens of [[Earth Alliance]] ships in a matter of weeks which gained the ship the reputation of "Ace Cruiser" among [[Earthforce]] personnel. The ''Drala Fi'' was destroyed by the crippled {{EAS1|Lexington}} in the [[Earth]] year [[2247]] giving Earthforce a much needed victory. The tactics used by [[John Sheridan]] to destroy the ship was still controversial amongst many [[Minbari]] as late as [[2259]] when [[Ashan]] of the [[Third Fane of Chudomo]] attempted to assassinate him.
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The '''''Drala Fi''''' ('''''Black Star''''' in English) was a {{Sharlin}} that served as flagship of the [[Minbari Federation]] during the [[Earth-Minbari War]]. It employed hit-and-run tactics, destroying dozens of [[Earth Alliance]] ships in a matter of weeks, which gained the ship the reputation of "ace cruiser" among [[Earthforce]] personnel. The ''Drala Fi'' was destroyed by the crippled {{EAS1|Lexington}} in the [[Earth]] year [[2247]], giving Earthforce a much needed victory. The tactics used by [[John Sheridan]] to destroy the ship were still controversial among many [[Minbari]] as late as [[2259]], when [[Ashan]] of the [[Third Fane of Chudomo]] attempted to frame him for murder.
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
In April [[2247]], the ''Drala Fi'' ambushed an Earthforce task group led by the ''Lexington'', by luring them into an asteroid field with a [[Minbari flyer]] playing possum and opening a jump point in the middle of the fleet. The ''Lexington'' was severely damaged in the opening barrage and left for dead while the ''Drala Fi'' pursued the retreating Earth ships. First officer [[Commander]] John Sheridan took command, as [[Captain]] [[Roger Sterns]] had been killed when a support strut collapsed into his command chair. Knowing that the Minbari would accept no surrender and would even pursue and destroy a crippled ship, Sheridan devised a strategy that used the surrounding asteroid field to his advantage, mining several of the nearby asteroids with thermonuclear warheads. With the trap set, the ''Lexington'' broadcast a distress signal, knowing full well it would attract the attention of the Minbari. The ''Drala Fi'' fell into Sheridan's trap and took two proximity blasts from the warheads before being completely destroyed, giving Earth a much-needed victory and propaganda coup in the process.<ref>[[In the Beginning]]</ref>
In [[2247]], the ''Drala Fi'' destroyed dozens of [[Earth Alliance]] ships in hit-and-run attacks in a period of just a few weeks, gaining a reputation among [[Earthforce]] personnel as an "Ace Cruiser".
 
   
In April, the ''Drala Fi'' ambushed an [[Earthforce]] task group led by the [[EAS Lexington|EAS ''Lexington'']] by luring them into an asteroid field with a [[Minbari flyer]] playing possum and opening a jump point right in the middle of the fleet. The ''Lexington'' was severely damaged in the opening barrage and left for dead while the ''Drala Fi'' pursued the retreating Earth ships. First officer [[Commander]] [[John Sheridan]] took command, as [[Captain]] [[Roger Sterns]] had been killed when a support strut collapsed into his command chair. Knowing that the Minbari would accept no surrender and would even pursue and destroy a crippled ship, Sheridan devised a strategy that used the surrounding asteroid field to his advantage, having several of the nearby asteroids mined with thermo-nuclear warheads. With the trap set, the ''Lexington'' broadcast a distress signal, knowing full well it would attract the attention of the Minbari. The ''Drala Fi'' took two proximity blasts from the nukes before being completely destroyed, giving Earth a much-needed victory and propaganda coup in the process. <ref>[[In the Beginning]]</ref>
 
 
[[Image:Black star 03.png|The [[Drala Fi]] wounded.|thumb|250px|left]]
 
[[Image:Black star 03.png|The [[Drala Fi]] wounded.|thumb|250px|left]]
Though the Minbari considered the destruction of the ''Drala Fi'' a despicable act of cowardice, and labeled Sheridan the "[[Starkiller]]," Earth justified the desperate tactic by pointing out that the Minbari were attempting to murder the crew of a crippled and helpless ship. Even a decade later, Sheridan refused to apologize for the incident, citing it as the only victory they had in the war. <ref>[[Points of Departure]]</ref> <ref>[[There All the Honor Lies]]</ref><ref>[[GROPOS (episode)|GROPOS]]</ref><ref>[[A Day in the Strife]]</ref><ref>[[Babylon 5 Security Manual]]</ref> Among those killed when the vessel was destroyed were family members of [[Lennier]], of the [[Third Fane of Chudomo]].<ref>[[There All the Honor Lies]]</ref>
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Though the Minbari considered the [[Battle with the Black Star|destruction of the ''Drala Fi'']] a despicable act of cowardice, and labeled Sheridan the "[[Starkiller]]," Earth justified the desperate tactic by pointing out that the Minbari were attempting to murder the crew of a crippled and helpless ship. Even a decade later, Sheridan refused to apologize for the incident, citing it as Earth's only victory in the war.<ref>[[Points of Departure]]</ref><ref name="TATHL">[[There All the Honor Lies]]</ref><ref>[[GROPOS]]</ref><ref>[[A Day in the Strife]]</ref><ref>[[Babylon 5 Security Manual]]</ref> Among those killed when the vessel was destroyed were family members of [[Lennier]], of the [[Third Fane of Chudomo]].<ref name="TATHL" />
   
In [[2259]], Sheridan was the center of a revenge plot by the Third Fane of Chudomo because of the ''Drala Fi''. <ref>[[There All the Honor Lies]]</ref> Sheridan was given a piece of the ''Drala Fi'' as a Christmas present by [[Susan Ivanova]]. <ref>[[The Fall of Night]]</ref>
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In [[2259]], Sheridan was the center of a revenge plot by the Third Fane of Chudomo because of the ''Drala Fi''.<ref name="TATHL" /> Sheridan was given a piece of the ''Drala Fi'' as a Christmas present by [[Susan Ivanova]].<ref>[[The Fall of Night]]</ref>
   
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
* There is a continuity issue regarding the destruction of the ''Drala Fi'': When Captain Sheridan explains the incident to [[Susan Ivanova]] when he takes command of Babylon 5 in [[2259]], he states that the nukes took out the ''Drala Fi'' and three of her heavy cruisers. When the engagement is actually depicted in "In the Beginning", only the ''Drala Fi'' is seen to be destroyed.
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* A continuity issue exists regarding the destruction of the ''Drala Fi'': when Captain Sheridan explains the incident to Susan Ivanova upon taking command of Babylon 5 in [[2259]], he states that the nuclear warheads destroyed the ''Drala Fi'' and three of its heavy cruisers. However, when the engagement is depicted in "In the Beginning," only the ''Drala Fi'' is seen to be destroyed.
   
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Image:Black star 02.png|The [[Drala Fi]] ambushes the [[EAS Lexington]]'s task force.
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Image:Black star 02.png|The ''Drala Fi'' ambushes the ''Lexington'''s task force.
 
Image:Black star 04.png|The final blow.
 
Image:Black star 04.png|The final blow.
 
Image:Black star 05.png|See you in Hell.
 
Image:Black star 05.png|See you in Hell.

Revision as of 01:43, 11 January 2019

Black star 01
Drala Fi
Owner: Minbari Federation
Class: Sharlin-class warcruiser
Status: Destroyed (2247)

The Drala Fi (Black Star in English) was a Sharlin-class warcruiser that served as flagship of the Minbari Federation during the Earth-Minbari War. It employed hit-and-run tactics, destroying dozens of Earth Alliance ships in a matter of weeks, which gained the ship the reputation of "ace cruiser" among Earthforce personnel. The Drala Fi was destroyed by the crippled EAS Lexington in the Earth year 2247, giving Earthforce a much needed victory. The tactics used by John Sheridan to destroy the ship were still controversial among many Minbari as late as 2259, when Ashan of the Third Fane of Chudomo attempted to frame him for murder.

History

In April 2247, the Drala Fi ambushed an Earthforce task group led by the Lexington, by luring them into an asteroid field with a Minbari flyer playing possum and opening a jump point in the middle of the fleet. The Lexington was severely damaged in the opening barrage and left for dead while the Drala Fi pursued the retreating Earth ships. First officer Commander John Sheridan took command, as Captain Roger Sterns had been killed when a support strut collapsed into his command chair. Knowing that the Minbari would accept no surrender and would even pursue and destroy a crippled ship, Sheridan devised a strategy that used the surrounding asteroid field to his advantage, mining several of the nearby asteroids with thermonuclear warheads. With the trap set, the Lexington broadcast a distress signal, knowing full well it would attract the attention of the Minbari. The Drala Fi fell into Sheridan's trap and took two proximity blasts from the warheads before being completely destroyed, giving Earth a much-needed victory and propaganda coup in the process.[1]

Black star 03

The Drala Fi wounded.

Though the Minbari considered the destruction of the Drala Fi a despicable act of cowardice, and labeled Sheridan the "Starkiller," Earth justified the desperate tactic by pointing out that the Minbari were attempting to murder the crew of a crippled and helpless ship. Even a decade later, Sheridan refused to apologize for the incident, citing it as Earth's only victory in the war.[2][3][4][5][6] Among those killed when the vessel was destroyed were family members of Lennier, of the Third Fane of Chudomo.[3]

In 2259, Sheridan was the center of a revenge plot by the Third Fane of Chudomo because of the Drala Fi.[3] Sheridan was given a piece of the Drala Fi as a Christmas present by Susan Ivanova.[7]

Notes

  • A continuity issue exists regarding the destruction of the Drala Fi: when Captain Sheridan explains the incident to Susan Ivanova upon taking command of Babylon 5 in 2259, he states that the nuclear warheads destroyed the Drala Fi and three of its heavy cruisers. However, when the engagement is depicted in "In the Beginning," only the Drala Fi is seen to be destroyed.

Gallery

References