Death Egg/Pre-SGW

The Death Egg was a massive airborne weapon created by Dr. Ivo Robotnik in 3235. Capable of roboticizing all life on Mobius, the Death Egg was one of Robotnik's largest and most destructive weapons. Although it was successfully made airborne, the Death Egg met with destruction when Tails set it to self-destruct while Robotnik was distracted battling Sonic. Years later, Robotnik's successor and counterpart from another dimension, Dr. Eggman, created a second Death Egg. While it too served as a mobile base for the mad doctor with mass Roboticization capabilities, it also had the ability to launch a powerful, reality-altering Genesis Wave when powered by one or more Chaos Emeralds.

Dr. Robotnik's Death Egg
The Death Egg's development began some time in mid 3235. Production of the super weapon fell behind schedule when Robotropolis was struck by a massive earth quake. Shortly afterwards however Robotnik ensured that his SWATbot work force picked up the pace and completed the Death Egg on schedule. Following the Mecha Sonic fiasco, the Death Egg was ready to ascend into the sky. Dr. Robotnik left his nephew Snively in charge of the city's reconstruction efforts (the city was almost completely destroyed when Mecha Sonic and Mecha Knuckles smashed into it causing a mini nuclear blast) while he personally oversaw the Death Egg's launch. (StH: #37, SMM, SQM: #1)

While Sonic and Tails were searching for Power Rings to reverse the crystallization effect King Max was suffering from, Tails was pulled on board the Death Egg when it sucked up the remaining Power Rings from the Ring Grotto. Sonic on the other hand was searching out Carl Condor for help, only to be attacked by the roboticized Carl and brought to the Death Egg as a prisoner. Sonic managed to escape Carl Condor's grip and grab onto the Death Egg through the garbage bay doors, whilst Tails disguised himself as a SWATbot that had ironically been sent to the trash for causing Tails to get suctioned onboard along with several tonnes of debris, which the disguised Tails (unknowingly) dumped on Condorbot. (SQM: #1, #2)

Because the SWATbot who had the Ring Grotto sucked up also brought up a large amount of debris, the Death Egg's ascension into the sky was slower than expected. Additionally, Robotnik needed the power of a Chaos Emerald to power the Death Egg's massive roboticizer. Thus, Dr. Robotnik sent a contingent of Burrobots to the Floating Island to obtain a Chaos Emerald while the excess debris was jettisoned. The Burrowbots were destroyed by Knuckles and the Chaotix, much to Robotnik's disappointment. However, by this point the debris was jettisoned, and thus Robotnik decided to sink the Floating Island by pressing it under water with the Death Egg. (SQM: #1, #2)

Just before the Floating Island was submerged, Sonic and Tails, neither knowing that the other was aboard, independently planned to challenge Robotnik. This caused the two to temporarily duke it out before they realized their error. Sonic then charged towards Robotnik, and was caught between two plexiglass walls and nearly choked to death. Luckily, Tails used the SWATbot's still-working jet boots to smash through the glass "eyes" of the Death Egg and used the SWATbot's also-still-working weapons to destroy the control panels. This enabled Sonic to escape from a Plexiglas confinement and saved him from suffocating, and also caused the Death Egg to automatically ascend upwards towards the upper atmosphere. Robotnik still had some backup plans, unleashing the massive Silver Sonic to safeguard the Death Egg. Sonic decided to fight the robo-replica himself while he sent Tails to find a way to destroy the Death Egg. Although Sonic was no match for Silver Sonic physically, he used active electrical cables to short circuit the massive doppelganger after Silver Sonic had punched Sonic through the floor, making the cables accessible. Robotnik then used his Eggsoskeleton battle suit to fight Sonic, but was evenly matched when Sonic went inside the body of Silver Sonic and personally controlled it. The fight came to an abrupt end when Tails informed Sonic the Death Egg was rigged to explode and Sonic sent Robotnik flying out of the massive super weapon. Sonic managed to grab a large number of Power Rings from a storage box and escape just before the Death Egg exploded. Sonic wondered if Robotnik perished in the blast, but even at that moment, Robotnik had safely returned to the renamed Snivopolis. (SQM: #3)

Eggman's Death Egg
In the aftermath of Enerjak's decimating attack on New Megaopolis, the EggDome was the only structure left relatively intact. With the Death Egg's lower levels concealed below ground, Eggman made use of it as an emergency bunker and operation center for himself and his Dark Egg Legion. While the doctor did put a concentrated effort into building up the EggDome, his obsession with Sonic the Hedgehog and his increasing decline in sanity had an obvious impact on the structure as it became more sloppy overall and left unfinished. Even after the EggDome was invaded by the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix, Eggman's breakdown, the Iron Queen's occupation, and numerous investigations by Sonic, the true nature of the structure being the Death Egg was kept a well-hidden secret to all but Dr. Eggman himself. (StH: #183, #192, #197, #199, #200, #201, #205, #212, FCDS: #4)

The Death Egg Returns

 * See also: Operation: Clean Sweep

Once Eggman escaped and regained control of his Eggman Empire, he went into hiding with Snively and his Legionnaires in the lower levels of the EggDome and sealed them off. They then began working at a feverish pace over the following weeks, repairing the EggDome and preparing it to be flight-worthy. At the same time, the doctor mobilized other Dark Egg Legion chapters with orders to construct giant refueling stations for his airship. After the structural repairs were finished, Dr. Eggman and Snively used the last remaining power from New Megaopolis' ruins to venture into the Special Zone and retrieved a Chaos Emerald for its primary power source. With the preparations complete, Dr. Eggman launched the Death Egg Mark 2, destroying the last remnants of his city doing so. (FCDS: #4,StH: #212, #215, #218, #223, #224)

While Sonic battled Ixis Naugus, the Death Egg appeared above New Mobotropolis to everyone's shock. Naugus agreed to a truce with the Freedom Fighters, and then attacked the Death Egg by trying to crystallize and control it, only to be surprised when it resisted his magic via an internal matrix of Power Rings lining the hull. While the Tornado and Freedom Fighter Special were kept back by its laser array, Dr. Eggman allowed Sonic and Sally to infiltrate the ship where they were then attacked by Silver Sonic v3.0. After realizing Eggman was just stalling them, Sally went to find him but was shot dead by a hidden cannon. Dr. Eggman then fired his new weapon, starting Operation: Clean Sweep. (ASB, StH: #224, #225)

Genesis
In the altered reality, the Death Egg hovered over Mobius just outside of the atmosphere. Though Eggman and Snively continued with their plan, they could not immediately remember what the first part of it was or the Death Egg's purpose. Eventually, Eggman realized that firing the weapon that caused Operation: Clean Sweep drained most of the battle station's power, and required they use all seven Chaos Emeralds to recharge it. In addition, Eggman remembered that once recharged, the Death Egg Mark 2 would be able to "robotize" the whole planet in one shot, which would make everything his robot slave and the current reality shifts permanent. (StH: #226, #228, #229)

When Eggman retreated from the Metropolis Zone, Sonic chased him back to the Death Egg and confronted his Giant Mech on the lower decks. During the battle, they did severe damage to the Death Egg until not even its "robotizing weapon" could prevent reality from breaking down. This forced Super Sonic to access as much energy from the Chaos Emeralds as possible, and performed Chaos Control in order to turn back time and reset the world again. (StH: #229).

=Weapons Of Mass Destruction= With the world restored, the "Cosmic Reset Button" that launched Operation: Clean Sweep failed to work due to Sonic, who also rescued Sally. Once in the lower levels of the Death Egg, they found a Roboticizer that Robotnik planned to use on the whole planet and either roboticize everyone, or destroy everything mechanical including G.U.N., the entire United Federation, New Mobotropolis, and all the Dark Egg Legion. Sonic soon found himself fighting Metal Sonic and Silver Sonic again, acting as a distraction for Sally and Nicole while they tampered with the Roboticizer's firing. Left with no other options, Sally inverted the beam to her exact spot as Robotnik ordered the weapon to fire. (StH: #230)

This resulted in an explosion that rocked the battle station, leaving it severely damaged and the Roboticizer destroyed. The most shocking developments however, were Sally's roboticization and the mysterious disappearance of Eggman's Chaos Emerald. Robotnik then ordered the Death Egg to withdraw, and deployed Project "Titan" and Project "Deadly Cuddles" as distractions while readying a parting shot from the Egg Annihilator Beam in a last attempt to destroy the city. Unfortunately, Project Titan was crystallized by Naugus' magic and was used to block the beam, destroying it in the process. Project Deadly Cuddles however, was picked up by Cream in the confusion in New Mobotropolis. With the attacks nullified and no Chaos Emerald left, the crippled and low-powered Death Egg Mark 2 made a slow retreat. (StH: #230, #231)

The Death Egg returned just days later and ambushed Elias Acorn's family while relocating from New Mobotropolis, with the remaining Knothole Freedom Fighters acting as their escorts. Drop-pods filled with Egg Swats were released from the airship, and Eggman then launched Metal Sonic along with an upgraded and weaponized Mecha Sally. During the battle, the ex-king's Mobo-Cruiser was left undefended, and the Death Egg fired upon it with it's ventral lasers, but missed due to a targeting scrambler, whereupon Eggman ordered Metal Sonic to latch on and self destruct. After Antoine took the brunt of the blast, Eggman was thrilled at finally downing one of the Freedom Fighters and withdrew all his forces despite the fact Elias' family escaped. (StH: )

Terror Abroad
Shortly after, Eggman found himself locked out from the Death Egg's computer system by Snively after he caused much confusion with his Infiltrators and faked a video message to the Grandmasters, claiming Eggman had been killed by Sonic and that the Dark Egg Legion was officially disbanded, before fleeing in the Egg Jet. After hosting an emergency meeting with his Grandmasters to keep them in line, Eggman launched the Egg 'Stache Flyer in pursuit of his treacherous lackey and left Lien-Da in charge of the station in his absence.(SU: #37)

Once Eggman finished his business with Snively and returned, the Death Egg Mark 2 attacked Furville and captured the population for Roboticization and Legionization. As his Egg Swats and Mecha Sally wreaked havoc, Team Fighters arrived and inspired the civilians to fight back for their town. With the Death Egg now losing forces as well as fuel and supplies, Eggman furiously retreated to reach the DEL base in Shazamazon. The airship landed none too soon, as the power situation worsened en route, and the communications had to be cut for the oxygen feed to stay running. The Death Egg briefly stopped at the Shazamazon base for refueling and repairs, but was forced to depart prematurely as Team Fighters arrived with reinforcements from the local Felidae and Wolf Pack. From there it headed towards New Mobotropolis for another attack, dropping off a strike force in Feral Forest on the way. It then dropped forces in New Mobotropolis, but the attack was beaten off by Team Freedom and the Secret Freedom Fighters. (StH: #236, #237, #238, #239, #240)

Once again fleeing Team Fighters, the Death Egg flew across the ocean towards Mercia, deploying attack forces to slow down the pursuers. In the midst of this, Eggman discovered that a sprig of the Krudzu Hybrid Hydra had survived aboard the ship, and combined it with a Titan Metal Sonic to slow down Team Fighters. Thanks to this delay, the Death Egg reached the Echidna homeland of Albion before Team Fighters, and managed to drop off its Dark Egg Legion crew and depart before the heroes could arrive. (StH: #241, #242, #243)

Preparations for a New Reset
After his Albion DEL troops where lost to an unknown alternate zone, Eggman demanded a holographic video conference to his forces to berate them for their failures in taking over the planet and finding the elusive blue Chaos Emerald: only for the message to be interrupted by an incoming signal from a scientist in an alternate reality, who was able to do so with the power of the very Chaos Emerald Eggman had been searching for. Eggman quickly discovered that this scientist, Dr. Wily, had much in common with him, and the two arranged to meet in a pocket zone created using the Emerald's power. Combining their resources, the pair created a new mobile battle fortress, the Wily Egg, to serve as their base in the Skull Egg Zone, though initially Eggman wanted to call the vessel the Death Egg Mark 3. Back on Mobius, Eggman finally docked at the Northern Tundra Egg Bunker, and some time later was alerted to reports of Team Fighters, the Arctic Freedom Fighters, and Silver the Hedgehog engaging Akhlut's Legion. Rather than try to escape by launching the Death Egg, Eggman deployed Mecha Sally and then departed for the Interdimensional Gateway. Shortly thereafter, he and Wily launched the second Genesis Wave across Mobius. (StH: #244, #247, MM: #24)

Capabilities
The Death Egg Mark 2 is the largest airship ever created by Dr. Eggman, and comes with weaponry and features to match. It is designed to run off the energy of either a Chaos Emerald or other fuels, and is equipped with Power Ring "chain mail" underneath its hull, features it shares with the original Death Egg. While presumably able to run indefinitely with a Chaos Emerald providing it power, the use of other fuels forces it to refuel at intervals. The Power Ring matrix protects the Death Egg from magical assaults, as well as helping to hold the craft together. The Death Egg was also built with two devices meant to globally affect Mobius: the Cosmic Reset Button, which reset all of reality, and the World Roboticizer, a device capable of covering the entire planet in a Roboticization wave. However, the reset button was later rendered useless after Super Sonic used Chaos Control to undo most of its effects, while the Roboticizer was badly damaged by Sally Acorn's sacrifice in inverting the beam so that it would only target her aboard the Death Egg.

In terms of armament, the Death Egg has numerous weapons installed, both for outward and inward defense. These include laser beams and missiles, the most powerful weapon being the Egg Annihilator Beam, which has immense destructive capability. The Death Egg also carries a substantial force of Eggman's robots and weaponry, including Egg Swats, Turtloids, and Egg Mites. It has also carried at least two Titan Metal Sonics and various other robots of the Metal Series, as well as Silver Sonic v3.0. At least one section of the Death Egg can also split off from the main body to become a separate aircraft known as the Egg 'Stache Flyer.

Background Information

 * The Death Egg is a blatant parody of the Death Star from Star Wars.
 * The Death Egg was first featured in the video game Sonic 2 and later reappeared Sonic 3 and again in Sonic & Knuckles, with a second version appearing in Sonic the Hedgehog 4, and the same craft or new ones appearing in subsequent games.
 * As far as abilities go, the Death Egg had a precedent in the comics in the Pre-Super Genesis Wave Timeline. Robostorm was a space platform capable of launching powerful rays capable of roboticizing anything within a 100-mile radius of whatever they hit. Unlike Robostorm, the Death Egg was never known for jamming television airwaves with endless infomercials.
 * Despite the Death Egg was different in design than the original, the original Death Egg appears on the cover of the Mk 2's debut appearance.
 * The Death Egg Mark Two has a striking resemblance with the Death Egg from Fleetway's Sonic the Comic.