Darth Strelok
- Intent: To create a Mass-Produced Heavy Starfighter
- Image Source: https://www.deviantart.com/slingblade87/art/Kal-class-Starfighter-696869824
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: Delta-7 Aethersprite class Light Interceptor
- Manufacturer: Kuat Systems Engineering (Original Source)
- Affiliation: Kuat Systems Engineering (Any who can reasonably acquire it)
- Market Status: Open-Market
- Model: N/A
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material: Durasteel hull, Starfighter Electronics
- Classification: Starfighter
- Length: 5 meters
- Width: 2.8 meters
- Height: 14 meters
- Armament: High (Average if power is diverted to engines)
Heavy Laser/Ion Cannons (4)
- Defenses: High (Average if Power is diverted to engines, deflector shield only)
J-4 Deflector Shield
Ion Shield (Weak)
Targeting Jammer
- Squadron Count: Average | 12
- Maneuverability Rating: Low (Average if power is diverted from Weapons and shields)
- Speed Rating: Low (Average If Power is diverted from Weapons and shields)
- Hyperdrive Class: Average | 2.0
- Epsilon-7 Communications Array
- Standard Hyperdrive
- J-44 Jetforce Sublight Engines (2)
- Standard Life Support Systems
- Epsilon-7 Navigational Systems
- Standard Repulsorlift Engines
- Epsilon-7 Sensor Array
- Redundant Power Plants
- Standard Targeting Systems
- Can Enter Atmosphere and Land
- Powerful heavy starfighter with extremely accurate weapons capable of switching between standard laser or ion damage independantly of each other
- Power can be diverted from weapons and shields to increase speed and agility
- Extremely rugged and long lasting
- Hammerhead: Its got eight cannons, four heavy and four light, both versions capable of switching between standard laser or ion damage independantly of (One set of cannons can fire ion while the other can fire standard, or both can fire the same damage type). the light laser cannons fire faster and have less range while the heavy cannons fire slower but have longer range. Both sets are incredibly accurate due to electromagnetic coil focusing elements built into the barrels
- Aegis: It's got great shields and armor, as well as a targeting jammer. It can be stored for incrdibly long periods without the need for repair or tune up
- Balance: If power is diverted to engines, it becomes a jack of all trades star fighter
- Master of none: it can only fire its light laser cannons if power is diverted to engines and both cannons overheat if fired for more than 20 seconds
- Maintainance: three times the repair time of an average starfighter
- Slug: Its primary mode means its not outrunning or flying anyone
- Shape: Its unusual shape means its difficult to store on capital ships
- Slow Recharge: Its shields recharge slower than normal
Had history played out differently, The Epsilon-7 might have become famous like the fighter it was created to compliment, the Delta-7, aka The Jedi Starfighter. But a combination of terrible marketing, rushed prototypes, the unusual shape of the starfighter in question, disinterest from the Jedi Order and the short sighted decisions of KSE Upper Management all combined into a perfect storm that served to prevent the Ironsprite from ever achieving the heights of popularity and sales its predecessor did.
Sensing the winds of change grimly approaching in the aftermath of the invasion of Naboo, certain enterprising KSE engineers petitioned their employers for the funds to work on a heavy starfighter project. They were able to get it approved on the promise it would share at least 90 percent commonality in parts with the Delta-7 and possess power diverting functions to its engines (In the hopes that if all else failed they could market it as an average starfighter that could be a heavy starfighter in an emergency). The final requirement was possessing a hyperdrive
However, the cost of developing the power diverting systems as well as the barrel focusing elements for the cannons soon began to go into cost overrun, as they had been much harder to develope than previously anticipated. When the calls for a proof of concept finally grew too loud, the Engineers pushed out a fan shaped starfighter that, while performing competently, its unusual shape was immediatly looked at as a disadvantage. Nonetheless, ten successful test demonstrations occured before the eleventh resulted in power plant failure and the death of the pilot from the resulting crash. All further tests were cancelled for the next five months while engineers struggled to find the source of the error. Two more crashed prototypes which also resulted in the death of the pilots, led to it nearly being scrapped. Only the last minute efforts of the team prevented it from being sent to the dustbin by producing a fully functional proof of concept. Marketing was no better, either constantly making lame puns about fanning the flames of war, or downplaying its odd, almost Firespray 31 type shape.
Needless, to say, the Jedi Order was far from interested, feeling the Delta-7 perfectly covered all their needs, and unable to see why they should be so excessively armed when there wasn't even going to be a war. While some Jedi did occasionaly obtain one, it was not anywhere near the levels KSE would have wanted. The Galactic Republic had not yet developed much interest for powerful starfighters either, which ended up relegating them to private, individual sales to various bounty hunters, criminals, and pirates. To top it off, a final failing of the design was the engineers stressed that it would have been best to just do away with landing struts altogether and make it a docking ring affair only, but KSE Executives insisted on the ability to land in atmosphere. This greatly made maintainance much more awkward, along with developing the proper balance so the fighter wouldn't tip over a herculean task.
If it had ever found mainstream acceptance, it would have entered full production a decade ahead of the Belbullab-22. Alas, it was so obscure in the era it was invented that when the Galactic Empire began sweeping away all signs of the old order, they completely missed this one. As a result, many Ironsprites from that era survived intact and operate almost as well as when first made. The modern era has been far more generous to its design qualities, which have undergone intense proliferation. Finding a genuine example made by KSE is like trying to find a needle in an asteroid field.
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