The Model CY78.3 Affiance–class U extended range colony ship was a type of colony ship manufactured by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. A well–known design among the general public, the Affiance–class was made famous by a number of far–ranging colony missions in the early 2100s.
Overview[]
The Model CY78.3 Affiance–class U extended range colony ship was a type of colony ship manufactured by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Measuring 1,200 meters in length, the Affiance–class featured solar sails that could be extended to harness stellar energy and recharge the ship at regular intervals; the system was implemented to obviate extra fuel storage, thus maximizing cargo space. Recharges took at least thirty days, and the sails were retracted during normal flight.
Cargo space on the vessel was geared towards its complement of Weyland-Yutani 6x6 Terra-Trucks and colonial construction vehicles, along with a botanical garden and supply storage. In addition, the Affiance–class was equipped with two Class E Lander-Type Drop Shuttles and a WY-37B cargo lifter sled for transporting personnel and equipment.
The crew complement for the Affiance–class numbered fifteen individuals, as well as one synthetic working in tandem with the vessel's MU/TH/UR 6000 mainframe. The ship also carried 2,000 colonists, and 1,400 second–generation embryos. The crew slept in a forward hypersleep bay, while the embryos and colonists were ensconced in a lengthy compartment dubbed the "nursery".
For travel, the Affiance–class was propelled by an array of plasma engines, each with a dedicated engine room. The first set of engines was placed between the bridge and the hypersleep nursery, while the second was located at the rear of the vessel, immediately astern of the terraforming module.
Additionally, the vessel toted four hexagonal compartments, dubbed Hex One to Four; these were arranged in twos astern of the nursery, with two linear rows of supply containers between each pair. Crew quarters were located therein. Although similar in configuration, the terraforming module maintained its own designation.
The Affiance–class could be dismantled and repurposed to provide materials for the establishment of the relevant colony. As of 2186, the vessel would set a buyer back a billion United American dollars.
History[]
One of the most widely publicised colony ship designs, the Model CY78.3 Affiance–class U extended range colony ship was developed by the Weyland–Yutani Corporation at the turn of the twenty–second century. The Affiance and the Covenant were the first two vessels built for a series of far–ranging colony missions organized by Weyland–Yutani, Hyperdyne Systems, and the newly–formed United Americas to increase the reach of the UA.
The Covenant was the first to launch Trailward in 2104, with the Concordat launching Rimward in 2105, and the Arceon, the Affiance, and the Allegiance all following in 2106. The Concordat was able to establish its colony in the Hyades Cluster for Hyperdyne, and the Arceon was also successful; both were disassembled and used as building materials.
Meanwhile, en route to the planet Origae-6, the Covenant was struck by a cosmic event in 2104 and thereafter deviated from its course to investigate a mysterious world. Shortly after, it was hijacked by the rogue synthetic David and eventually declared overdue. The Affiance and Allegiance missions were likewise recorded as lost.
By 2186, Affiance–class ships were common sights at colonies on the Frontier, with the class having undergone various engine upgrades in the intervening years. Scavenger Lenny Pope kept several model spacecraft, including an Affiance–class, in his quarters on Guelph Station.
Appearances[]
- Alien: Covenant x Audi lunar quattro
- She Won't Go Quietly
- The Last Supper
- Alien: Covenant/novel
- Alien: Covenant - Origins
- Advent
- Alien: The Blueprints
- Alien: The Roleplaying Game (mentioned only)
- Colonial Marines Operations Manual (mentioned only)
- Building Better Worlds
- Alien: Seventh Circle (mentioned only)