Well-Known Member
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Intent: To sub an updated version of a canon starfighter for future submissions and role-playing.
Image Source(s): [X]
Canon Link(s):
Primary Source(s): N/A
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
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Manufacturer: Visanj T’shkali / Sienar-Janus Fleet Systems / Incom Corporation / Vrotoa Industries / Locke and Key Mechanics / Segroth Materials Corporation
Affiliation: Visanj T’shkali
Model: Solseha Etsed-class Starfighter
Production: Unique
Material(s): HISS, Reinforced Stygian Triprismatic Polymer Duraplast, Reflec-based Shadowskin, Solarium Glasteel, Malreaux Lacquer, Segroth PGA Coating, various starfighter and electronic components.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
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Classification: Starfighter
Length: 7.3m
Width: 10m
Height: 3.8m
Armament: Moderate
- Taim & Bak IX4 Laser Cannons (4x)
- SJFS Lb-14 Dual Heavy Laser Turret
- SJFS L-s9.6 Laser Cannons (2x)
- KDY Missile Launcher
- Payload: 2x ST7 Concussion Missiles; 2x Mag-Pulse Warheads; or, 2x Torpedoes
Squadron Count: None: 1
Maneuverability Rating: Very High
Speed Rating: Very High
[SIZE=10pt]Hyperdrive Class: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Average[/SIZE]
STANDARD FEATURES:
- Photon Absorbers
- Trace Thrust Dampeners
- Sound & Vibrational Baffling
- Socketguards
- Standard Life Support
- Standard Hyperdrive Unit, Miniaturized
- Standard SJFS P-sz9.7 Twin Ion Engines (2x)
- Standard Incom 4j.4 Fusial Thrust Engines (4x)
- Standard SJFS T-sj1a Targeting Computer
- Long-Range Communications/Sensor Antenna
- Standard Maneuvering Thrusters
- Inertial Dampeners
- Ejector Seat
- Gravitic Amplitude Modulator
- Gelieg 20m-c/p Strobe/C-Beam Lamp (forward-mounted)
- Repulsorlift Engines (For take-off and landing)
- KALI A.I.
- Wight ECM Suite
- Ghost Hunter Sensor Array
- Hermes Communications System
- XZ-77 “Buster”, miniaturized
- LK O.N.N.
- Crystal Memory System
- Padlocke
- Mithril Security Software
- Exceptionally fast and maneuverable, the M1A is a top-notch starfighter for aerial combat, fast-raiding, and special missions.
- Stealth package makes this vessel incredibly hard to detect and / or target by enemy ships.
- Variable weapons array allows for wide spectrum of combat options, each with their own advantages and disadvantages, making it a deadly ship in the hands of a skilled and savvy crew.
- Powerful onboard sensors, communications, and ECM suite further expand this craft's capabilities, making it ideally suited to reconnaissance, scouting, and combat missions.
- Unique ship uses the Ghost Hunter Sensor Array, capable of detecting stealth technology and cloaked ships up to 2000m.
- 4j.4 Fusial Thrust Engines can be used as speed boosting engines for short-term periods, however they cannot be used as such during aerial combat without sacrificing the use of the four wing-mounted cannons and shields entirely due to power management constraints.
- Weapons systems (See Description Below) have varying power and rate-of-fire abilities, and pilots and gunners must know and understand these to use them effectively. For example, all four wing-mounted cannons can be fired on a target simultaneously for a powerful volley, however this lowers the firing rate considerably. Inversely, they can be fired alternatingly, with rapid rates of fire, but lose their ‘hitting power’ by fifty percent.
- “Defender’ shield systems are relatively underpowered when compared to more contemporary shield systems, and will not sustain too many direct hits from today’s more powerful weapons, and thus pilots must rely on their skills and the exceptional maneuverability and speed of their fighters to compensate or risk lowering survivability.
- The XSF-series are not meant for novice pilots, and in the hands of less experienced or skillful pilots, much of the advantages offered by these ships are nullified if not outright wasted, as due to the complexity and nuance of handling them a less capable pilot significantly lowers their effectiveness and survivability rates.
- Designed for Humans or Near-Humans only, and most other alien species cannot use them due to design constraints.
- Due to design configuration, unarmored/unprotected crew using the ejector seats may be severely injured and will not have life support available upon ejection in space.
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Armament:
The XSF-M1A, again being a showcase fighter, is quite well-armed. The four wing-mounted Taim & Bak IX4 laser cannons are average-powered but can fire simultaneously or alternating, providing either a more-powerful single shot with a slower rate of firing, or less powerful but fast firing lasers useful in tracking fast-moving enemy craft. The slower-firing twin L-s9.6 laser cannons mounted forward-facing on the main fuselage are more powerful, and while lacking the range of the wing cannons, offer a substantially more lethal option for close-range combat. The Lb-14 heavy turret, a notable feature of the original TIE/sf, offers powerful cannons (ranged much the same as the front-facing guns just described) which can provide full 360-degree firing capabilities, together with a KDY missile launcher system. Although limited to two missiles, torpedoes, or mag-pulse warheads due to size constraints, this additional punch helps make the M1A a formidable opponent. Not as highly-powered as other starfighters, the XSF-M1A relies on varying options with regards to range, rate of fire, and power scale, to emerge as a well-balanced if moderately-armed starfighter that relies on expert piloting, speed, and exceptional maneuverability to make it the incredible fighting platform it is.
Defense:
Due to space constraints and power management concerns, sacrifices were made regarding the M1A’s shielding. The older Chempat “Defender” shield generator system was used instead of more powerful contemporary shields due to its stability and low-power draw to performance ratio. As a result, the defensive suite here is average at best, and while superior to many starfighters, still leaves some measure of vulnerability against more serious threats. Again, the M1A relies on speed and maneuverability as well as expert piloting to make up the difference, holding to the old philosophy that the very best shield is not being hit in the first place!
Countermeasures:
The M1A has a small array of countermeasures, most notably a compact high-performance ECM suite which is part of the ship’s overall stealth package.
Propulsion Systems:
The M1A’s main propulsion derives from the P-sz9.7 twin ion engines mounted on either side of the “Eyeball”. Noted for their terrific speed capabilities, these comprise the main engines of the starfighter. The four 4j.4 fusial thrust engines generally serve to act as supplemental power plants, however – for short-term use only – they can be utilized to provide incredible speed boosting capabilities, similar to the effect of a SLAM system, only without the dangerous risks of over-taxing the engines and causing burnout scenarios, due to the improved power management efficiency of the XSF design. Overall, the M1A is a terrifically fast starfighter, easily outpacing most standard starfighters in use today.
Maneuverability:
Where the M1A truly shines is its extraordinary maneuverability. Enabled for both deep space and atmospheric flight, the presence of the S-foils ensures better stability and allows for a great range of aerial acrobatics. The hyper-efficient power management systems permit skilled pilots to virtually stop on a dime, roll, and take off once more, reversing direction almost instantaneously even at high speeds, and the craft’s agility is honestly second to none, able to nimbly ‘dance’ and move through crowded battlespace effortlessly.
Onboard A.I. and Computer Systems:
A special A.I. was developed for these new ships, which would not only assist in piloting and navigation, but also act as a battle computer, aiding the crew in all facets of combat. With heuristic programming, the A.I. could also ‘learn’ a specific crew’s strengths and weaknesses, adjusting to maximize performance over time. In addition, the onboard computer’s overall space requirements were greatly reduced by utilizing several components aimed to this end. Notably, the ship uses a variety of advanced avionics and navigational systems, targeting systems, and power management components to enable maximal performance, turning a small starfighter into a versatile and potent platform capable of extraordinary feats. Powerful long-range sensors and communications arrays enable secure, encrypted hyperwave communications and precision target acquisition and exploitation capability, simultaneously using the overall stealth package to avoid detection and targeting by enemy ships and systems, making it an ideal platform for raiding, aerial combat, and bombing missions.
Designed as a prototype for the XSF-series of starfighters, the M1A stands as a proof of concept, a showcase platform to illustrate the possibilities and capabilities of the XSF-series. Future variations and models would combine various elements here with other, model-proprietary design aspects to create a complete range of starfighter models within the XSF family. But for this, the M1A would be the zenith, its unique design and cross-model sampling make it a versatile and extraordinary multi-role starfighter, and the tantalizingly perfect preview of the upcoming XSF-series!
Once an "Ugly", built out of necessity, the ancient "Deathseed" blooms again as a production-model starfighter, more than capable of revolutionizing the modern battlespace!
Minimum Crew: 1
Optimum Crew: 2
Cargo Capacity: 25kg (Including survival equipment and medkit)
Passenger Capacity: N/A
Consumables: 1 week
