The Manticore

The Manticore is a human ship made for torture, imprisonment, and testing on other species. It became a symbol of fear and hostility towards humans and caused panic and outrage when seen from planets. It became a symbol of oppression, and enticed nations to join the Pact of Solaris Aversion. The Federation created mass propaganda, painting it as a scientific ship discovering new diseases, cures, and species.
The Federation tested many biological weapons and man-made viruses on captives kidnapped from their homes. One of the most known viruses is Engut's Bane, being tested on the Manticore before the Makelans.
Genetic manipulation was another dark frontier explored by the Manticore, scientists spliced DNA from multiple species, creating grotesque hybrids that often were shot down when not needed. Psychological torture was a significant component of the Manticore’s array of torture. Non-human subjects were thrust into nightmarish simulations, experiencing sensory deprivation followed by sensory overload, designed to shatter their sanity. Extreme environmental conditions tests saw subjects frozen, scorched, crushed, or left to suffocate in vacuum chambers, all to measure their limits and responses.
The construction of the Manticore was a grim testament to the cruelty of its creators, built using forced labor rather than skilled artisans. Slaves, coerced or captured from various corners of the Federation's reach, toiled under harsh conditions to assemble the vessel. Each layer of pure Ivoryum was forged not with expertise, but with the sweat and suffering of those enslaved. Driven by fear and desperation, the slaves worked under constant surveillance and brutality, overseen by overseers who cared little for their well-being. The construction process was a relentless march, where lives were expendable in the pursuit of completing the Manticore.