Species 8472 - Technology

Technology

Species 8472 uses a type of organic spacecraft known only as a bioship composed of the same organic material as their pilots and typically controlled by a single pilot. Despite Species 8472's use of telepathic communication, it is not clear whether the Bioships themselves are controlled telepathically as Species 8472 has been witnessed to operate a console in order to pilot a bioship. A bioship explored by members of the Voyager crew contained an atmosphere breathable by humanoids; however as it was in atmospheric contact with the inside of a Borg cube at the time, it is possible the original atmosphere of the bioship had been displaced by the internal atmosphere of the Borg vessel.

Each bioship possesses an electrodynamic fluid circulatory system presumably for the distribution of power, a neurological computer core, an incredibly powerful biogenic energy weapon system, and warp capability. The hull can change shape to attach to other ships, melting through the hull, and can rapidly heal damage. The vessel can function effectively in both normal space and fluidic space. The bioship's main weapon is powerful enough to destroy a Borg cube in only a few shots. Likewise, when a Borg cube rammed a bioship to destroy it, both vessels were annihilated despite the comparatively smaller mass of the bioship. The weapons of eight bioships (referred to in Star Trek: Armada II as "Species 8472 battleships") can be linked with that of a larger ninth bioship of modified design (referred to in Armada II as a "Species 8472 bio-frigate"); the collective weapon thus formed can destroy an entire planet in seconds.