A Sphere was a type of starship vessel used primarily for combat by the Kaylon species. There are two known classes of spheres: the large Cruiser and the smaller Interceptor.[1] Each Cruiser was equipped with one Interceptor, which served as an auxiliary craft.[2]
All spheres were equipped with highly advanced technology, a single central cannon with incomparable firepower and a hull that resisted target-locking from conventional targeting scanners. Cruisers are capable of sustained quantum travel at 35 lightyears per hour.[3]
Description[]
Kaylon spheres were constructed on the planet Kaylon 1 in the southern hemisphere. Construction generated "massive" levels of theta-radiation normally observed in large-scale particle weapons.[n 1] Spheres were capable of quantum drive speeds which surpassed those of the Planetary Union's exploratory-class vessels,[2] meaning at their fastest spheres travelled well over 10 light years per hour.[4] Having been built on the surface of Kaylon, Kaylon spheres were suited to landing on other worlds.[5]
A lesser Sphere.
There were two kinds of spheres: the greater Cruiser-class, which was an extremely large spacecraft capable of enormous destructive power, and the lesser Interceptor-class, which had weaker fire power. Each cruiser carried a single Interceptor which could be detached to act as a scout.[2]
The fire power of any sphere was far more destructive than the armaments of Union vessels. Several shots from multiple interceptors could destroy a Union Science-class vessel, and a cruiser could destroy a Leviathan-class Heavy Cruiser in just one shot.
Construction of the Spheres on Kaylon 1 as observed from the USS Orville.
As with the ships of biological lifeforms, spheres were manned by a complement of Kaylon units. It is possible that the commander of a Sphere was a Primary-designated Kaylon unit.[5]
Spheres are organized and named by number, for examples "15," "29," and "31."[6]
Kaylon units disembark from an Interceptor on the surface of Sarin IV.
An Interceptor-class sphere is capable of acting as a shuttle for the Kaylon and landing in a Union Science-class vessel's docking bay.[7]
History[]
During late 2420 and early 2421, the Kaylon built many interceptors and cruisers in preparation for war with the Planetary Union.[8] The ships accompanied the USS Orville, captured from the Union, to Earth as part of a large war armada. During the journey, spheres 29 and 31 destroyed the USS Roosevelt. Most spheres were destroyed in the Battle of Earth, though some retreated to Kaylon 1. However, 15 had pursued a Union shuttle into Krill space and was destroyed in battle with three Krill destroyers.[6]
Two Kaylon cruisers launch their interceptors.
After their first appearance at the Battle of Earth, Union ships sporadically encountered spheres in the galaxy. The Orville hid from two spheres near the Vendek system in mid-2421 and avoided confrontation.[2]
A pair of Kaylon cruisers approach Vendek 2.
In 2422, 61 Kaylon spheres attacked Xelaya, only to be destroyed by the Orville using a new weapon designed by Isaac and Charly Burke. The weapon was later deployed twice to destroy a number of spheres guarding Kaylon 1 until Kaylon Primary called them off and allowed the Union delegation to land.[7]
A massive fleet of Kaylon spheres, commanded by Kaylon Secondary while Primary accompanied a Union ground team, fought alongside the Union fleet in the Battle of Draconis 427. As Charly sacrificed herself to overload the Moclan super quantum core, the combined fleet retreated from the planet together. Charly's sacrifice to save the Kaylon from a Krill-Moclan genocide caused the Kaylon to re-evaluate their opinion on organics and permanently end the conflict.[7]
A fleet of 4,000 spheres, carrying the entire Kaylon race aside from a reduced defensive contingent left behind to protect their homeworld, later surrounded the Orville. However, Isaac explained that they were merely his wedding guests, having invited his entire race to attend Isaac's wedding to Doctor Claire Finn. The Orville quickly alerted Union Central that it was not in fact an invasion force and, as the billions of Kaylon would not fit into the Environmental Simulator, broadcast the wedding to the ships while Kaylon Primary and a small contingent were allowed to attend in person.[3]
Alternate timeline[]
In an alternate timeline where Ed Mercer never became captain of the Orville, the Kaylon fleet won the Battle of Earth and proceeded to cleanse the Earth of all life before wiping out half the known galaxy, including Moclus,[5] the Epsilon Eridani Station, and Outpost 73,[9] in less than nine months.[5]
Production[]
Kaylon spheres were designed as "interconnected modules, linking and unlinking as needed."[10]
Surprisingly, spheres were originally far smaller. At the last minute of creating the Battle of Earth, creator Seth MacFarlane increased their size by six times.[11]
Appearances[]
- Episode 2x08: Identity, Pt. 1
- Episode 2x09: Identity, Pt. 2
- Episode 2x13: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
- Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken
- Episode 2.5x05: Digressions, Pt. 1
- Episode 2.5x06: Digressions, Pt. 2
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ @megamanex. "It’s called a Kaylon Cruiser. The smaller ones are Interceptors.". Twitter. April 9, 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Episode 2x13: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Episode 3x10: Future Unknown
- ↑ Episode 1x05: Pria
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Episode 2x09: Identity, Pt. 2
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Episode 3x09: Domino
- ↑ Episode 2x08: Identity, Pt. 1
- ↑ Digressions, Pt. 2
- ↑ Oullette, Jennifer. "Go behind the scenes of The Orville as series embarks on a new season". Ars Technica. March 26, 2020.
- ↑ Vineyard, Jennifer. "EMMY CONTENDER: HOW THE ORVILLE'S VFX TEAM FOUGHT A SPACE BATTLE AND SETH MACFARLANE BROKE A SHIP". SyFy. Aug. 28, 2019.