I-5 "Starfire"

[Barkt Melan]

Image Credit: http://www.wcnews.com/ships/wcptigershark.shtml
Intent: To try and push the limits of starfighter technology and create a new, nimble starfighter for use in the CIS navy. (Kind of making a Star Wars Zero)
Development Thread: In the works
Manufacturer: Heofon Industries
Model: I-57 "Starfire" class Inteceptor
Affiliation: CIS
Modularity: Armaments only
Production: Limited (About Fourteen ever made)
Material: Durasteel, Transparasteel.
Description: As Heofon Industries began to grow, so did Barkt's ideas and planning. The Starfire was his first attempt at making a truly unique, and high-quality interceptor to serve the aspiring pilots of the CIS. The basic frame of the ship resembles the X-57, but the systems are drastically different.

For starters, while the X-57 had good engines, but an emphasis on shields, the Starfire boasts the fastest engines that Heofon Industries could build. However, to fit these engines, most of the shields that defined the X-57 were removed, replaced with fuel and engines. The ion trail created by them is also massive, meaning that if one of the ships were to be modified with a cloaking device, the ion trail would be easy enough to pick up to detect where they were.

A similarity that the Starfire shares with the X-57 is the complete lack of armor on either ship. Unlike the X-57, however, the Starfire doesn't rely on it's shielding to survive. Instead, Barkt is banking on the speed of the ship, saying, "if you can't hit it, you can't kill it." To this end, as much power in the ship as possible was directed to the engines.

The ship, again like it's predecessor, the Starfire has no torpedo tubes or warheads of any kind. Barkt figured that it would slow the ship down with the extra weight. However, the weight would probably have been a good thing, as the ship's speeds make it hard to control once it gets going.

With the addition of a pair of HI-AMD-1 engines, the ship's speeds are near-impassible, but it needs time to cool off the engines to prevent them from exploding.

Classification: Elite Interceptor
Role: Fighter Fighter support
Height: 2 m
Width: 4 m
Length: 12 m
Power Core Generator/Reactor: Solar Ionization Reactor
Hyperdrive Rating: None
Minimum Crew: 1
Optimal Crew: 1

Armaments:
x2 laser cannons (Firearc: Front)

Hangar:
None

Non-Combative Attachments:
Communications Array
Holonet Transceiver
Basic Deflector Shield Generator
Standard Life Support Systems
Standard Navigational Systems
Standard Sensor Array
Advanced Targeting Systems

Passenger Capacity: None
Cargo Capacity: None
Consumables: 1 day
Sublight Speed and Maneuverability: 0.5