Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
Intent: Killing interceptors. Also, a more common 'elite starfighter' than the Rassilon, which is more for very rich individuals than elite squadrons.
Development Thread: No
Manufacturer: Silk/EDY
Model: Terminus-class
Affiliation: Levantine Sanctum, open market
Modularity: No
Production: Minor
Material: Alusteel hull, glasteel viewports
Description:
The guiding star of this vessel's design is field of fire. The quasi-conical hull and the forward-mounted gunnery station allow one gunner, with a full three-degrees-of-freedom rotational capacity (roll, pitch, yaw), to apply some proportion of weapons capacity to a target in virtually any direction. Not counting engine protrusions, only about ninety degrees of lateral field of fire is off limits to all of the vessel's three forward gun pods, and all three pods can fire at targets within roughly ninety degrees of lateral field in front of the vessel. Each gun pod is ball-mounted and heavily armored, and contains one composite beam weapon. Safeties prevent a weapon from firing when a target transitions into an invalid zone (IE, where a gun would damage the vessel, protruding engine pods included). As a target transitions from zone to zone, since targeting for the composite beams is entirely centralized, beams add or subtract their fire from the total automatically. Thus, if a hypothetical target started to the vessel's port, crossed in front of it, and reached the vessel's starboard, it would take fire from two beams, then three, then two, with seamless transitions between each phase and continuous fire from the underslung forward beam. Targets above can be engaged by the two rear high pods; any targets below, with a very slight roll, can take fire from the forward beam pod as well as one of the two rear pods, and many targets below can even be engaged by all three pods at once.
Warhead capacity is limited to two proton torpedo launchers, each with six torpedos. The launchers are also capable of firing mag pulse torpedos. The launchers, maneuvering control, navigation, and systems concerns are all managed by the second crew member, the copilot or SIO (Sensor Intercept Officer). Closer operational connection and coordination between the SIO and pilot is best achieved through long shared experience, though the Force and cybernetic implants have also been used.
In the event of serious damage or the incapacitation of one crewer, reduced but significant functionality can be maintained. For example, the targeting systems available to the SIO can handle the composite beams if necessary, though performance would suffer proportional to deviation from the ship's course; in other words, if the SIO flies the ship alone, the weapons' targeting and firing arc will remain comparable to a normal fighter with weapons tracking ability, such as a TIE Advanced x1. Likewise, if the SIO was disabled, the gunner would be able to pilot the ship in a limited way, though the secondary helm controls are rudimentary. On balance, loss of the SIO would be far more detrimental to performance and survival.
Classification: Elite starfighter
Role: Anti-fighter escort
Height: 15m
Width: 18m
Length: 20m
Power Core Generator/Reactor: Solar ionization
Hyperdrive Rating: 1
Minimum Crew: 2
Optimal Crew: 2
Armaments:
- 3 composite beam ball turrets
- 2 proton torpedo/mag pulse warhead launchers (6 warheads each)
Hangar: N/A
Non-Combative Attachments:
- Communications Array
- Encryption Network
- Holonet Transceiver
- Standard Deflector Shield Generator
- Standard Life Support Systems
- Standard Navigational Systems
- Standard Sensor Array
- Advanced Targeting Systems
- Tractor Beam
Passenger Capacity: N/A
Cargo Capacity: 200kg
Consumables: 1 week
Sublight Speed and Maneuverability: 2
