Editing EAS Hyperion

{{ShipSidebar
|image       =Hyperion.JPG
|name        =EAS ''Hyperion''
|owner       =[[Earth Alliance]]
|operator    =[[Earthforce]]
|class       ={{Hyperion}}
|registry    =IAK 21494
|hullmark    =21
|status      =Active
|statusdate  =2258
}}
The '''EAS ''Hyperion''''' was an [[Earthforce]] vessel, prototype for the {{Hyperion}}, that was constructed and launched in the [[2240s]].  The ''Hyperion'' is notable for being part of the task force that made the disastrous [[Earth-Minbari First Contact|first contact]] with the [[Minbari]] in the year [[2245]].  ''Hyperion'' is also notable for being present at the [[Battle of the Line]], and ultimately being among the few Earthforce warships to survive the [[Earth-Minbari War]].  In the years following the war, the ''Hyperion'' took part in the [[Battle for Epsilon III]] and by [[2261]], had joined the [[Earth Alliance Resistance]].

==History==
===Earth-Minbari war===
The ''Hyperion'' was one of the ships that formed the convoy with the mission of exploring the Minbari frontier to gather information. Other ships included the {{EAS1|Prometheus}}, the {{EAS1|Amundsen}}, and some other ships. The convoy encountered a [[Minbari]] convoy, and the captain of the Earth fleet panicked and ordered all ships to fire. When the Minbari ships returned fire the ''Hyperion'' was hit hard, and its observation bridge and upper plasma turret were damaged. It nevertheless managed to escape to hyperspace along with the rest of the fleet.<ref>[[Atonement]]</ref><ref name=ItB>[[In the Beginning]]</ref>

The ''Hyperion'' fled with the fleet to the [[Vega]] space outpost for repairs. It is not clear whether the ''Hyperion'' was only slightly damaged or was put into drydock on Earth for the repairs, but it was not at the Vega outpost when the Minbari fleet destroyed the outpost in retaliation. There is no information of the ''Hyperion''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s performance during the war apart from the fact that it survived and was present at the [[Battle of the Line]] surviving it too.<ref name=ItB/>

===The Great Machine ===

In [[2258]], [[Babylon 5]] crew discovered the [[Great Machine]] underneath the surface of Epsilon III, the planet the station was in orbit of. Varn, who served as the CPU for the machine was dying. Commanders Sinclair and Susan Ivanova rescued him. As [[Jeffrey Sinclair]], [[Susan Ivanova]], and [[Varn]] were returning, the ''Hyperion'' came through the jumpgate. The ''Hyperion'' was en route to the outpost on [[Vega]], when a set of new orders were issued to go to Babylon 5.

Captain [[Ellis Pierce]] was determined to secure the planet and its technology for the Alliance. Pierce attempted to assert his authority over Babylon 5's sector of space, despite the fact that Sinclair had final authority over the region. Due to riots on [[Mars]], Sinclair was unable to contact President [[Luis Santiago]] to confirm his authority.

Captain Pierce sent a team of [[Starfury|Starfuries]] in an attempt to go down to the surface of the planet, but was stopped by planetary defenses. At least four Starfuries were disabled. The crew on Babylon 5 learned that if the correct safeguards were not used the planet would automatically self-destruct, which would also destroy the station. They also learned that Varn would soon die, and that the planet would explode following his death. Shortly afterwards, Commander Sinclair found that Pierce was going to send an expedition down to the planet. Pierce was unwilling to believe that the planet would self-destruct. To keep the ''Hyperion'' from sending anyone down, Sinclair had the defense grid activated and aimed it at the ''Hyperion''. Realizing that Sinclair was fully willing to destroy his ship, Pierce stood down.

After these tense moments, an alien vessel jumped into Babylon 5 space. The ship was crewed by people from Varn's race who were criminals and had been banished years ago. The alien ship downloaded the language banks so they could communicate with Babylon 5. They ordered the station and the ''Hyperion'' to leave within 10 hours. Afterward, Pierce came on and told the aliens they had nine hours to leave.

The aliens then began to attack Babylon 5 and the ''Hyperion''. Meanwhile, the Minbari [[Draal]] and Ambassadors [[Delenn]] and [[Londo Mollari]] took Varn back to the machine. [[Michael Garibaldi]] joined them on the surface. Draal then proceeded to bond with the machine as Varn's replacement.

In the space above the planet, the alien ship had split into three component pieces, and had outflanked the Earth Alliance forces. Draal then appeared to Commander Sinclair, Captain Pierce, and the alien commander. Draal announced that the Great Machine was off limits, and that any who approached would be destroyed. The aliens ignored the warning, and Draal easily eliminated them.

President Santiago confirmed that Sinclair had final authority over Babylon 5 and the surrounding area of space. This fact was made clear to Captain Pierce, and Pierce and the ''Hyperion'' departed from the area.
[[image:Hyperion.jpg|thumb|right|275px|The Hyperion in 2261]]

The ''Hyperion'' left through the [[Jumpgate]] to go to [[Earthport]] for repairs, which was a nine day transit. <ref name="vitw2">[[A Voice in the Wilderness, Part II]]</ref>

===Earth Alliance Civil War===
In [[2261]], the ''Hyperion'' was a part of [[John Sheridan]]'s forces during the [[Earth Alliance Civil War]]. <ref>[[The Exercise of Vital Powers]]</ref>

==Notes==
* [[Matthew Gideon]], who would become captain of the ''[[Excalibur]]'', served on the ''Hyperion'' after his former ship, the {{EAS1|Cerberus}} was destroyed.
* The small registry number visible on the side of the ship "IAK 21494" is in fact the initals and date of birth of animator [[Mark Kochinski]]'s eldest son.<ref>[http://themadgoner.com/B5/B5Scrolls/B5Scrolls.htm#Screen2_01_2 B5Scrolls]</ref>

==Apocrypha==
{{ShadowWithin}}
The non-canon portion of the novel mentions that in [[2256]], the ''Hyperion'' engaged in war games against the {{EAS1|Agamemnon}} and won.

== References ==
<small>{{Reflist|2}}</small>
<br clear="all"/>
{{EarthforceShips}}
{{HyperionClassCruiser}}

[[Category:Ships|Hyperion]]
[[Category:Earthforce ships|Hyperion]]
[[Category:Hyperion class heavy cruisers|Hyperion, EAS]]

[[de:EAS Hyperion]]