Pirate Fighters
Contents
Assault Gunboat
*Class: Starfighter - Independent
*Corporation: Cygnus Spaceworks
*Hyperdrive: x1
*Sublight: 90 MGLT
*Weapon(s): 2xLaser cannon
*2xHeavy ion cannon
*2xConcussion missile tube
*Length: 15 m
*Hull (RU): 28
*Shields (SBD): 100
*Crew: 1
*Passengers: 1
*Cargo: 100 kg
The Alpha-class Xg-1 Star Wing Assault Gunboat is an Imperial starfighter constructed by Cygnus Spaceworks. It is 15 meters long and it has one pilot. It is armed with two Taim & Bak KX5 medium laser cannons under the nose, two Borstel NK-3 ion cannons above the cockpit and two warhead launchers (8 missiles each, 6 torpedoes each, or 4 heavy rockets each) on each side of the fuselage, with an ion engine behind each. The ship has been given a speed rating of 90 MGLT (roughly the same as a B-Wing Fighter.) It is notable for being the Empire's first general-use starfighter with shields (both ray and particle), ion cannons or a hyperdrive. The combination of all three makes it a formidable strike fighter, escort and (thanks to its ion cannons) even a convoy raider able to disable enemy ships. Lastly, the Gunboat is durable even without shields as it has a much stronger hull than TIE fighters, although this hampers its manuverability making it less suited for dogfights. Imperial Star Destroyers carry 5 Assault Gunboats to complement their TIE squadrons.
Aesthetically it looks like a smaller, slimmer Lambda-class shuttle made by Sienar Fleet Systems, but has two additional, diagonal wings on the engines/launchers that also fold upward, intended to aid atmospheric flight thus the name "Star Wing". Based upon the Assault Gunboat, Cygnus Spaceworks developed the faster and more powerful Missile Boat.
Cloak Shape Starfighter
*Class: Starfighter - Independent
*Corporation: Kuat Systems Engineering
*Hyperdrive: -
*Sublight: 93 MGLT
*Weapon(s): 2xLaser cannon
*2xConcussion missile tube
*Length: 15 m
*Hull (RU): 28
*Shields (SBD): 96
*Crew: 1
*Passengers: -
*Cargo: 40 kg
The CloakShape fighter is a craft produced by Kuat Drive Yards. The CloakShape is one of the most enduring fighter designs ever developed by a single company. Designed decades before the Clone Wars and used more or less ever since, the CloakShape fighter was originally intended to serve as an atmospheric and short range space fighter craft. Armed with 2 medium laser cannons and a concussion missile launcher, they are adequate assault craft but best for planetary defence. They have no deflector shield generator or hyperdrive systems, however.
The CloakShape enjoys such widespread popularity because it is an incredibly easy craft to modify and upgrade to almost any specifactions. Capitalising on this design feature, Kuat Drive Yards has introduced several upgrade kits intended specifically for the starfighter. These include one that adds on a maneuvring fin at the back to increase handling in atmosphere - this has become so popular that many people believe that it was part of the original design specifications. Many others include ones that improve such systems as the sensors, targeting computer or power generator. Like the Delta-7 Jedi Starfighter and Eta-2 Actis Interceptor also produced by Kuat Drive Yards or its subdsidiaries, the CloakShape can also dock with a specially designed hyperdrive ring.
The CloakShape's main drawback is its small power generator. It is too small to keep the craft running for extended periods of time, especially during battles. However, due to the easiness of the upgrading of this craft, even novice mechanics can fit a larger generator, more weapons, better engines or a deflector shield generator to allow this craft to seve as part of many militaries and mercenary group's space starfighter services for years to come.
Planetary Starfighter
*Class: Starfighter - Independent
*Corporation: SoroSuub Corporation
*Hyperdrive: x1
*Sublight: 138 MGLT
*Weapon(s): 2xLaser cannon
*1xConcussion missile tube
*Length: 17.4 m
*Hull (RU): 14
*Shields (SBD): 40
*Crew: 1
*Passengers: -
*Cargo: 110 kg
The Planetary Fighter by SoroSuub is a large four engined design which, although fast, is fairly unmanueverable and poorly armed. The fighter was designed for the planetary defence market, and has sold relatively well though never challenging the popularity of the Y-Wing or Z-95 Headhunter. Planetary Fighters are often used by pirates and mercenaries as well as planetary governments because of thier cheap price and easy maintanence. The pilots themselves like the fighter for its fast strike capabilities, usually upgrading the poor energy weapon capability of the fighter to more standard, and more damaging, laser cannons. The vessels designed role means that it has no Hyperdrive, which has led to some unique modifications, but more usually the fighters are based on some kind of carrier to carry it from star system to star system.
Preybird Attack Starfighter
*Class: Starfighter - Independent
*Corporation: SoroSuub Corporation
*Hyperdrive: x3
*Sublight: 100 MGLT
*Weapon(s): 2xLaser cannon
*2xIon cannon
*1xConcussion missile tube
*Length: 21 m
*Hull (RU): 18
*Shields (SBD): 48
*Crew: 1
*Passengers: 1
*Cargo: 15 kg
The Preybird-class Starfighter was a SoroSuub project that ended up not bearing any fruit. During the prototype stage of the project, a smuggler named Mazzic got an early look at this starfighter through his connections at SoroSuub and he immediately took a liking to the design. However, due to disputes over the weapons systems, the project went substantially over budget and was discontinued. As a result the production line was shut down only after a few production models. And due to this, literally most persons do not know what this fighter is; one must scour the galaxy to locate one. The twin engine Preybird was marketed by SoroSuub nearly a decade before Grand Admiral Thrawn's campaign to restore the Empire to its former glory. These competent escort fighters can be found in common use by pirates and bounty hunters. This design is also favoured by mercenaries and anyone else who might favour the swooping, intimidating lines of this fighter.
After Endor - Ten years after Grand Admiral Thrawn's untimely death it came to light that a group of private investors, namely the Cavrilhu Pirates purchased the Preybird production line and restarted it. It must be noted that the manufactured fighters did show the traditional SoroSuub level of quality. Due to shortages of TIE Fighters, the Imperial Remnant was forced to utilize this fighter, which was considered to be a quite capable mid-sized starfighter. Even Imperial Star Destroyers at the time carried Preybirds as part of their complement
R-41 Starchaser Starfighter
*Class: Starfighter - Independent
*Corporation: FreiTek Incorporated
*Hyperdrive: x1
*Sublight: 100 MGLT
*Weapon(s): 2xLaser cannon
*2xIon cannon
*Length: 11 m
*Hull (RU): 14
*Shields (SBD): 30
*Crew: 1
*Passengers: -
*Cargo: 35 kg
An outdated form of starfighter, the R-41 Starchaser is a favorite among pirates, but is still in limited use among the New Republic. These insectile ships are sleek, 15-meter-long fighters armed with 2 laser cannons and 2 ion cannons, with minimal 30-SBD shields protecting a 14 to 15-RU hull. These weak defenses and low maneuverability make the R-41 an easy target for most current starfighters.
Similiar to the Z-95 Headhunter, it is inexpensive and can be found throughout the galaxy. Ion cannons and slightly higher shield strength are the R-41's slight advantages over the Z-95. The R-41 is not normally equipped with a warhead launcher, although they can be installed to increase the R-41's firepower tremendously. The R-41 was a favorite starfighter of the Rneeki Pirates and was the mainstay of their small fleet. The ion cannons served them well since the Rneeki could use them to capture ships, their primary means of aquiring their fleet. The Rneeki were known to lay Type-B ion cannon mine fields around hyperspace nav bouys with the intent of disabling ships for capture.
Razor Starfighter
*Class: Starfighter - Independent
*Corporation: Sienar Fleet Systems
*Hyperdrive: x1
*Sublight: 98 MGLT
*Weapon(s): 2xLaser cannon
*2xIon cannon
*1xProton torpedo launcher
*Length: 13.6 m
*Hull (RU): 20
*Shields (SBD): 38
*Crew: 1
*Passengers: -
*Cargo: 80 kg
The Razor Starfighter was the last produced by the Starypan/SunHui Spaceworks before the destruction of Alderaan, and thought by many to be one of the finest fighters of its period, equalling the X-Wing in most areas. If history had gone slightly differently, with Incom not defecting, and spares not being so rare after Alderaans destruction, then the Razor could have become the standard fighter of the Rebel Alliance. Most Razors have had to be adapted to use non-standard parts, and although this increases their down time for maintanence, these fighters still have a very good record for reliabilitys, and their use of non-military restricted weaponry (eg their use of Concussion Missiles rather than Proton Torpedoes), means that they are often cheaper to keep operational than other front-line military fighters.
Raven Starfighter
*Class: Starfighter ﾖ Old Republic
*Corporation: Republic Sienar Systems
*Hyperdrive: x2
*Sublight: 96 MGLT
*Weapon(s): 2xLaser cannon turret
*Length: 12.3 m
*Hull (RU): 20
*Shields (SBD): 23
*Crew: 1
*Passengers: -
*Cargo: 40 kg
T-Wing class Starfighter
*Class: Starfighter ﾖ Independent
*Corporation: Republic Engineering Corporation
*Hyperdrive: x1
*Sublight: 111 MGLT
*Weapon(s): 2xLaser cannon
*1xProton torpedo launcher
*Length: 10 m
*Hull (RU): 15
*Shields (SBD): 20
*Crew: 2
*Passengers: -
*Cargo: 35 kg
The T-wing Starfighter is somewhat equivalent to the TIE Fighter in the original Imperial Navy. It has only two weapsons and the shields, if any, are incredibly fragile, more so that that of the A-wings. Where some people think riding around in a TIE is suicide, this is about as close as you're going to get for anything outside of it other than a Planetary Fighter. It's only plus side is its top speed, which measures up to be 110 MGLT. This makes it a little under the VEN Tie Interceptors, but it's also the pilots only chance of making it out of the battle alive. The T-wing starfighter also goes by the nicknames "the poor man's A-wing" and "the flying coffen."
Z-95 Head Hunter Fighter Craft
*Class: Starfighter - Independent
*Corporation: Incom Corporation
*Hyperdrive: -
*Sublight: 105 MGLT
*Weapon(s): 2xTriple blaster cannon
*1xConcussion missile tube
*Length: 11.8 m
*Hull (RU): 14
*Shields (SBD): 20
*Crew: 1
*Passengers: -
*Cargo: 85 kg
The Z-95 Headhunter is a starfighter that was designed jointly by Incom Corporation and Subpro Industries several decades before the Clone Wars. Considered one of the most capable fighters of its day, it boasted a distinctive bubble canopy and two sets of blasters mounted at the ends of its two wings. Its sleek, yet rugged, design was attributed to Seti Ashgad, an engineer in Incom's Hyperdrive Design Division.
The Z-95 is smaller in size than its successors: the ARC-170, designed during the Clone Wars; and the T-65 X-wing, designed shortly before the outbreak of the Galactic Civil War. While the Z-95 still enjoyed considerable use in the years following the establishment of the New Republic, it was clearly outclassed by fighters developed in the decades since its original release. When compared to the T-65, it is slower, less-maneuverable, has lighter armor and shielding, and is not as heavily armed. Yet it is fairly inexpensive and reliable, making it a favorite amongst smugglers, Outer Rim organizations, local system defense forces and bright-eyed youngsters with dreams of becoming fighter jockeys.
Owing to its longevity, it is not surprising that many variants of the Z-95 have come into existence due to the efforts of starship mechanics and hotrod pilots throughout the galaxy; these include a split-wing version, a courier version that can accommodate a single passenger, variants with various alternative weapons loadouts, and a trainer version that was commonly used by the Rebel Alliance until replaced by the T-65X. Weapons systems vary among the different models, but most Z-95s are equipped with two wing-mounted triple-blasters, which are fire-linked. Another common weapon systems are a bank of concussion missiles. The dedicated missile platform Z-95s, of course, had increased payloads.
A common model featured twin Taim & Bak KX5 fire-linked laser cannons, and twin Krupx MG5 concussion missile launchers. These weapons are controlled through a Fabritech ANq 2.4 tracking computer and SI 5g8 "Quickscan" vector imaging system. Sensor systems include a Fabritech ANS-5c unit with long-range Phased Tachyon Detection Array #PA-9r and one short range Primary Threat Analysis Grid model #PG-7u.
Lastly, Z-95 Headhunter is notorious for being able to take brutal punishment before falling apart, though as starfighter weapon technology has progressed, Headhunter pilots would rather trust their flying than their armor and shields. Z-95s have respectable armor plating, but their shielding tends to be very light. Near the end of the product line, Z-95s could boast a titanium alloy hull and XoLyyn shielding.
