Graphic Artwork, delivered direct to your eyes.
This year’s TrekAdvent project has come to an end, and I hope you all found some enjoyment in it. Don’t forget to check out the Star Trek Holiday Projects page to see the sets from 2019, 2020 and 2021. And let me know what you’d like to see as the theme for 2024’s project by leaving a comment or sending an email to scott@planetrisecreative.com.
Happy Holidays everyone!
For untold years the name Star Destroyer has been synonymous with the Galactic Empire and its unending reign over a galaxy far, fa….you know that bit. But now, after the cruel devastation of Cardassia Prime in the closing hours of the Dominion War, the survivors of Cardassia have made the decision to change how the Alpha Quadrant views this ship and its name. With their Basestar Class vessels taking on the role of transporting combat craft, the new Star Destroyer Class cruiser has been upgraded with modern warp engines and the original hangar bays housing scores of fighters, shuttles, troop transports and walkers have been converted to living quarters. This massive starship is now capable or relocating tens of thousands of displaced Cardassians whose homes were razed by the Jem’Hadar on the final, diabolical orders of the Founders. The ship that claimed to destroy stars is now given a new purpose, to create new homes.
Having gotten a glimpse of Starfleet’s attempt to curry favor with kind-hearted brigands in the form of their new Firefly Class ships, the Klingons are taking a cue and constructing an analogous vessel intended for use by bounty hunters and soldiers of fortune. Inspired by the ship used by a fighter of great skill and cunning, the Razorcrest Class will bring honor to the empire through the exploits of lone warriors seeking their own glory.
The Dominion has grown and thrived for over 10,000 years according to certain Vorta, and has gathered information on many ancient civilizations. It is no surprise that The Ancients would be one of them. Deciding that the Dominion would best be served by quietly seeding itself across the stars, the Founders drew inspiration from the Ancients and recreated one of their Seed Ships, originally used to plant Stargates across this and other galaxies. The Dominion’s Destiny Class starship deposits cloning facilities for Vorta and Jem’Hadar along with the necessary materials to construct Ketracel White refineries and shipyards. Within a year there will be a battle-ready detachment of ruthless soldiers with ships to command, minded by loyal Vorta patiently waiting for their gods to return with instructions.
“Victory is life.”
-Jem’Hadar
“Victory or death.”
-The Star League
Although their motivations and philosophies may be polar opposites, the Jem’Hadar and Star League seem to place similar values on emerging from battle through the defeat of one’s enemies. It is through this thin kinship that the warriors of the Dominion pay homage to the Starfighters by fashioning their newest line of battle cruisers after the Gunstars that once secured the Galactic Frontier against the Kodan Armada. With each manned by one pilot, one gunner and equipped with the formidable Death Blossom weapon system, these vessels cast a fearsome shadow over all the Alpha Quadrant races whose sleep is fraught with terror at the thought of the Founders once again seeking to topple the Federation, the Klingon Empire and any who stand with them.
TrekAdvent Day 9, fresh like pine, classy as wine, making the day fine. I don’t know how or why I started incorporating rhymes into my posts so we’ll see if it sticks around. While we wait, let’s have a peek at the newest craft rolling off the Dominion assembly line. After the defeat of the Shadows at the hands of the Vorlons and an alliance of the younger races, the ancient race of insect-like manipulators wouldn’t have much need for their ships. That’s where the Jem’Hadar come in. Having recently acquired their new fleet of converted TIE fighters they need someplace to dock them, and this Shadow Dreadnought (as Sheridan called it) fits the bill. Along with the massively powerful weaponry and durability common to Shadow vessels the Jem’Hadar develop a deep respect for their First Principles, chaos through warfare, evolution through bloodshed, perfection through victory. And as we all know, Victory is Life.
We revisit the Star Wars franchise here on Day 4 of TrekAdvent as the Galactic Empire’s ubiquitous TIE Fighter gets a glow up from the Dominion as it becomes the newest weapon in the Jem’Hadar’s arsenal. The enemies of the Founders will see scores of fighters crashing upon them as “Victory is Life” echoes across the stars.
Imperial TIE pilots will be heard asking why they never got a cool battle cry.
PlanetRise Creative