In a society as rife with political intrigue as the Breen Confederacy (formerly the Breen Imperium), few secrets exist. The N'eg'chav is one of only a few exceptions to the rule. The ship was designed, built, and operated entirely under a shroud of secrecy--only a handful knew of the vessel's existance. Being the secret that it is, only a few details are known about the ship and its history, most of which come from dubious sources.

The design phase was believed to be instituted by the Breen intelligence agency known as the Stoi'tilaka somewhere around late 2364. It is believed that a Thot by the name of Varus C'rakl'mus instituted the project under the direction of the Breen Emperor after the covert acquistion of several advanced technologies. Reports as to the nature of these technologies are contradictory, but the general theme conforms to the idea that both Borg and technology acquired from the future were to be implemented in the design.

Design proceeded at a maddeningly slow pace, as constant attacks by pirates, Cardassians, Miradorn, and Romulans led to several determental losses to the program, including at one point over half of the design team. New life was breathed into the project in late 2372 when Thot Neeron X'Ro'us was given full control.

Despite the astronomical cost of the project it still remained a secret, and in early 2374 construction began. Further hampered by the loss of the prototype craft, the project was supposedly abandoned a mere six months later.

With a zero-point energy-based transwarp drive, superior bio-technology, and photonic weaponry, the N'eg'chav is probably the most sophisticated craft developed by any major Alpha Quadrant power. The beam weaponry is divided between a more effecient plasma-based disruptor and the revolutionary photonic energy cannon. Photonic energy, by its very nature is extremely volatile, although very powerful--it passes through most shielding systems and hull armors as if they were nothing. The ability to harness the energy source (which in and of itself is difficult to produce) as been the goal of the Federation, Tholians, and Romulans for years. Photonic energy is further utilized in the torpedoes of the N'eg'chav, of which there are two classes--charges (equal to a photon torpedo in yield) and warheads (about three times the strength of a tri-cobalt device in yield). For a ship of its size, the firepower is unbelievable--most battleships don't even have comprable strength.

The Zero-Point Energy source is another technology that many of the Alpha Quadrant powers have struggled to mastered. And while the Federation is [supposedly] the first to develop any form of Transwarp, the Transwarp capabilities of the N'eg'chav are clearly superior. The ZPE drive is so effecient that the only other power source needed onboard is for the photonic energy of the cannons--otherwise it powers (and enhances) every ship system.

While it has not yet demonstrated its full manueverability capability in any recorded engagements, the N'eg'chav puts even the Fearless -class to shame. SIF and IDF generators of immense power along with a staggering amount of thrusters provide the ship with maneuverability [previously] thought impossible.

Though reportedly unbelievably easy to maintain, the cost to build a N'eg'chav-class is staggering--almost a years' worth production of any other starship class in production. Not even the Federation would have the resources to field this vessel on more than an extremely limited scale. The original N'eg'chav is therefore almost 100% likely to remain unique, especially so since the only copy of the schematics are within its own databanks.

Reports of this vessel's existance were only conclusively proven recently when it came into conflict with the USS Phantom. Prior to that, reports of the ship are sketchy at best, but it is believed to have plagued Romulan and Breen shipping on more than one occasion. Currently, the vessel is reported to be operating under the direction of the Orion Syndicate.