Ha'tak
Overview
The ha'tak class vessel has been the iconic combat vessel for the Goa'uld for thousands of years. While it has become severely underestimated by the Tau'ri due in part to a combination of Goa'uld arrogance and Alliance technology, the ha'tak is a formidable warship that was integral in the subjugation of the Milky Way galaxy.
Ha'tak are extremely versatile having not only powerful weapons and shields but also massive space for gliders, al'kesh, supplies, and troops. They may serve as command centers, warships, supply ships, carriers, troop transport, or landing craft. Or they may serve all these roles at once. This has earned them the moniker 'mothership'.
Motherships can operate alone or as part of a fleet. Much of their design is to have them serve as flying temples. The interior of the ship is ornate often with torches and hieroglyphics. However much of this is simply cosmetic as the lights mostly come from glowing gems and not the torches. Each Goa'uld would attempt to design their ha'tak to their liking, usually having the central structure reflect their tastes. However, if a ha'tak is captured in battle, it would be incorporated into the fleet regardless of their appearance. Because of this and the fact the Goa'uld that founded Egyptian mythology such as Ra, Heru'ur, Apophis, Sokar, and Anubis were among the most prominent and powerful, a vast majority of ha'tak have a pyramid as its central structure. The interior of the ship also varies by design. Sometimes the design is more pragmatic with simplistic hallways and dedicated computers. Other more boastful Goa'uld will have their walls adorned with hieroglyphics and have the doors be controlled by them.
Great pyramids are often built as landing pads for these ships. The number of sides on the pyramid does not truly matter as long as the structure is pyramidal or even conical in shape, a ha'tak can land on it. Even a mountain top will do.
Appearance
The main structure of the ha'tak is the temple in the center. The most common temple design is a gold pyramid. But the temple may be a take on other appearances such as stepped pyramids, domed coliseums, or even something akin to a Chinese temple. Surrounding the temple structure is a large black triangular frame. If a pyramid temple is used then the pyramid will be three sided and the frame will be aligned with the pyramid. On each side of the triangle are two pylons that extend out.
Combat Analysis
Immensely powerful warships, a single ha'tak has the power to wipe out all life on the surface of a planet in a matter of hours. 60 heavy staff cannons are positioned around the superstructure to cover all angles of the ship with equal levels of fire and are meant to engage capital ships. An additional 12 light staff cannons surround the temple and are used as point defense. They also come with powerful shields to increase survivability. These shields can absorb enormous amounts of energy to the point it can allow a ship to sit in the inner chromosphere of a blue giant for ten hours. Despite their large size they are very maneuverable.
They are also crewed by hundreds of jaffa. However, they have the potential of carrying tens of thousands of jaffa. Their hangars hold hundreds of gliders and al'kesh. Often for the sake of precision and to preserve as much as possible, these will be sent to attack a planet rather than open fire with staff cannons.
The concept of the ha'tak being weak is a misconception. The Tau'ri have always had trouble engaging these ships. Railguns have proven useless except for precision strikes against unshielded ha'tak. Naquadah-enhanced nuclear missiles are only effective if the shields are down. However, ha'tak are little more than soap bubbles in the face of the Alliance and its technology. And with the Asgard beam weapons, Tau'ri ships are now more than a match for them. And Ori beam can destroy a ha'tak in a single shot. While not completely destroyed, two shots from an Asgard beam weapon will neutralize a ha'tak and leave a flaming shell.
Culture
Along with being warships, the ha'tak is, or rather was, a place of worship. During the reign of the Goa'uld, these were flying temples and both human and jaffa would go to a ha'tak to worship their god. During the reign of the System Lords, there would be an atrium where slaves and jaffa could worship with the hall leading there decorated with statues in honor of their god. The Goa'uld master would have a custom chair on the bridge to reflect their personal tastes.
Now that the dark era of the System Lords is over, anything hearkening back to them have been torn down. There are no more statues in the hall. The atrium is now used for cargo. And all chairs on the bridge have been torn down and replaced with a more standardized seat.
Conclusion
The might of the ha'tak has been forgotten by the Tau'ri who never had to witness a single ship lay waste to an entire planet. However, their destructive capabilities and power remain fresh in the minds of the human and jaffa. Their power combined with the vast roles they fill, these have truly earned the name Goa'uld Mothership.
