Orion

From SGCommand

The Orion was an Aurora-class warship constructed by the Ancients during their time in the Pegasus Galaxy. The Orion is largely identical to the Aurora itself, though it may be a slightly upgraded variant.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Discovery on Taranis 1.2 Escape from the Super volcano 1.3 Loan to Atlantis 1.4 Destruction 2 Notes 3 References and notes

[edit] History

[edit] Discovery on Taranis

Originally named Hippoforalcus after a Lantean general of that name, the ship suffered damage and was berthed in a subterranean hangar on Taranis. It was never fully repaired, however, and remained in the hangar after the Ancient outpost was evacuated. Eventually, the native Taranians discovered the ship, but lacked the scientific knowledge to repair or operate it. Taranian Chancellor Laikos showed the ship to Lt. Colonel John Sheppard, who offered the Atlantis expedition's help in repairing it.

[edit] Escape from the Super volcano

The ship quickly found itself needed, as the formerly dormant super volcano in which the Ancient outpost had been placed showed itself to be near a massive eruption. Sheppard evacuated several Taranian refugees onto the ship, which he rechristened Orion. Although the ship's sublight engines were inoperable at the time, Dr. Rodney McKay did manage to activate the ship's shields and, briefly, the hyperdrive, escaping into planetary orbit just as the volcano erupted. (ATL: "Inferno")

[edit] Loan to Atlantis

In gratitude for the Atlantis expedition's help in evacuating their people, the Taranians agreed to loan the Orion to the expedition, who proceeded to affect repairs. These efforts, however, went slowly. Under Sheppard's command, the ship joined the Daedalus to defend against an approaching Wraith hive ship three weeks later, positioned outside sensor range so as not to reveal its existence. However, Dr. McKay remained skeptical about the ship's hyperdrive capabilities, and doubted the weapons would work in any case, rendering it of questionable usefulness. (ATL: "Allies")

[edit] Destruction

Though the Orion was not needed in that encounter anyway, Dr. Elizabeth Weir did order its deployment after two Wraith hive ships discovered the location of Earth and modified their hyperdrives in order to get there. Commanded by Major Lorne, the Orion accompanied the Daedalus to intercept the hive ships in the void outside the Pegasus Galaxy. Dr. Radek Zelenka managed to activate the ship's drones, destroying one hive ship. However, in using the drones forced the Orion to sacrifice its shields, and further damage rendered it incapable of firing on the second hive ship as well. The Orion was destroyed by the second hive ship, shortly after its crew was evacuated to the Daedalus. (ATL: "No Man's Land")

[edit] Notes

Though largely identical to its sister ship, the Aurora, the Orion's bridge featured several seats of the type used on puddle jumpers, whereas the Aurora had only one chair for the captain. (Peter DeLuise, who directed the episode "Inferno," explained that he wanted the characters to be sitting when the ship was thrown out of the volcano, and justified the change by dubbing Orion a "luxury edition" of the class.)

Since it managed to almost keep pace with the Daedalus in this episode, the Orion's hyperdrive system was probably also capable of intergalactic travel. Although it's unclear why the Orion would be so equipped whilst the nearly identical Aurora was not, the crew of the Aurora was at least under the impression that their own engines could be modified in this way as well.

[edit] References and notes

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Stargate Atlantis: The DVD Collection 76