gryphon@world.std.com (Acolyte of Skuld) The Wedge Defense Force Technical Readout--2417 Updated last: 10 November 2417 STARSHIPS OF THE WDF AS OF 10.2417 NOTE: All vessels of Federation, WDF, or GENOM design currently under construction or operational are listed here. Those still in the design stages are listed in the experimental listings further on in this document. SUPER DIMENSIONAL FORTRESS Zor Class WDF Wayward Son, SDF-17, was the only operational Zor class Super Dimensional Fortress in known space from her completion in 1992 until her destruction in 2289. The mightiest starship in space at the time, she boasted the only operational Reflex weapon, and the only Reflex furnace power source. Other advancements first pioneered in Wayward Son's design were the detachable fighter carrier and assault ships Prometheus and Daedalus, the Pinpoint Barrier system, and the Reflex Shield. The Zor class is notable in having been the largest vessel, at the time, capable of atmospheric operation and planetfall. Urotsukidoji Class The Urotsukidoji class is the only operational Super Dimensional Fortress class currently in Wedge Defense Force service. Only one exists, WDF Wandering Child, SDF-23, the current WDF flagship. At nearly eight thousand meters long, she is over double the size of her predecessor, and incorporates many design improvements over the Zor class, to which she bears a strong family resemblance. Her improvements include tandem Reflex furnaces, more powerful impulse drive, faster fold computers, and the Mark II Reflex cannon. Not only can the Urotsukidoji class perform atmospheric operations and planetfall, she is also equipped to function as a wet-navy vessel, both surface and submersible. STAR DESTROYER Dreadnaught Class The GENOM Star Dreadnaught is the largest capital ship type known to exist. Measuring nearly seventeen kilometers from stem to stern, a Star Dreadnaught is more of a city in space than a vessel. Crew complements over 200,000 preclude the usual crew-cohesiveness, replacing it with a strange sense of civic pride, again very similar to that found in a city. Sections of Star Dreadnaughts tend to be near-autonomous, acting on orders which filter down the chain of command from the Captain; nevertheless, their reaction times tend to be speedy, thanks to the vessels' integrated communications systems. Dreadnaughts lack a true Class-Omega weapon, but they are equipped with over five thousand heavy turbolaser mounts, and massed fire from said laser batteries can readily simulate such a weapon. With their near-impenetrable armor, heavy shielding and shattering firepower, as well as their many wings of fightercraft and mecha, Star Dreadnaughts are forces to be feared. The WDF assigns its five Dreadnaughts to the hottest trouble spots, where their awesome power is most needed. Imperial Class The backbone of the GENOM Combined Fleet, the Imperial class Star Destroyer has become common in the WDF as well since the mass concession of war materiel to the WDF after the Reunification War. They are operationally similar to Battlestars, but are slightly bigger, and equipped with standard energy shields as well as their impressive armor. The Star Dreadnaught is basically a grand-scale expansion of this ship's successful design paradigm: compartmentalized, integrated-communication internal design, large fighter and mecha complement, and massive batteries of turbolasers on a heavily armored and shielded hull. Victory Class The smallest Star Destroyer, the Victory class is basically a smaller Imperial class. Victory class Star Destroyers are roughly equivalent to the Confederation class dreadnaught-carrier in size, and have the same design paradigm as the other two Destroyers. Interdictor Class While not technically Star Destroyers, the Interdictors are mentioned here due to their GENOM origins and the distinct family resemblance they bear to their Destroyer cousins. An Interdictor is slightly smaller than, and not as heavily armed as, a Victory-class Star Destroyer; nor does it carry as large a complement of fightercraft or ground forces. Much of an Interdictor's central section is taken up by the massive interdiction system, a device which produces a pseudo-gravitic mass shadow and localized space warping effect. Within one astronomical unit of an operational Interdictor, the three major methods of FTL travel (warp drive, fold/jump drive, and hyperdrive) are all useless. Additionally, any craft in hyperspace or traveling under warp power which enters an Interdictor's area of influence will be forced back to sublight speeds. DREADNAUGHT Federation Class Only one Federation class dreadnaught currently exists: WDF Indomitable, NCC-2100. The Federation class is a large design modification of the reliable Constitution class heavy cruiser, and externally bears a strong resemblance to a Mark 9 Constitution class. The Federation class, however, is 50% larger than her cruiser predecessor, and equipped with a third warp nacelle on the saucer section (primary hull); also, saucer separation procedures for the dreadnaught are designed to be non-destructive and reversible without the aid of a shipyard. Thus, the vessel can separate into two combat craft, if need be. The larger shuttlebay of the Federation class is equipped for use as a fighter flight deck as well, enabling the vessel to carry its own five-craft fighter escort. In addition to standard phaser and photon torpedo armaments, the Federation class mounts one Tycho Naval Mass Driver, laid as the keel of the secondary hull. Kallisti Class The Kallisti class is another unique vessel class, as most of the larger WDF vessels tend to be; WDF Leif Eriksson is the flagship of the Silent Service and serves double duty as the flagship of the Discordian Confederation Navy. She is powered by a Wave Motion Engine and mounts a Wave Motion Gun for main armament, along with torpedo tubes, phasers, missile racks, and point-defense turbolasers. The Eriksson is equipped with a Chang Phase-Cloaking System and has the capability for both fold and warp-speed travel; she can also operate as a wet-navy submarine. Confederation Class While technically a carrier, the Confederation class' sheer power demands that it be categorized as a dreadnaught. Her armored hull is equivalent to many smaller vessels' shields; her lesser weaponry equals that of an entire operational group of Constitution class ships; and her main gun, the awesome Phase-Transit Cannon, is second in sheer destructive power only to the Mark II Reflex Cannon aboard the Wandering Child. She carries a full complement of nearly one hundred fightercraft. At present only one Confederation class ship is operational, WDF Concordia (CVS-65), but her sister ship, WDF Discordia (CVS-66) is rapidly nearing completion. The Confederation class was the second design of Admiral Benjamin D. "Gryphon" Hutchins, WDF (Ret.), former Chief Engineer of the Utopia Planitia Naval Shipyards and former captain of the Concordia. Olympus Class The prototype Olympus class, WDF Olympus, is not yet in service. The vessel looks remarkably like a streamlined, upscaled version of the Federation class, with the third warp nacelle on the primary hull and extended fantail; the Olympus class is the Tactical Fleet's platform for the Phase-Transit Cannon, which is mounted longitudinally in the secondary hull, in the same general location as the Federation class' Tycho Mass Driver. The Olympus class is almost double the size of her predecessor and is crammed full of the latest WDF technology; ultrawarp drive, collimator-ring phasers, improved phase-resonant shields, artificially intelligent FTL computer core, the works. The Olympus class is another of the designs of Gryphon. BATTLESHIP Excelsior Class The Excelsior class shares her role as the backbone of the fleet with the Constitution class heavy cruiser and the Bengal class carrier. She is a solid, reliable, very sturdy vessel, with a long history of valiant service for the United Federation of Planets Starfleet, for whom Utopia Planitia first produced it, during the WDF's years of dysfunction. The class vessel, USS (now WDF) Excelsior, was the first operational vessel equipped with transwarp drive. UP found near-complete designs for the Excelsior, Constitution and Miranda classes in a databank once owned by Gryphon; they were three of his earliest designs, never realized, from the Golden Age. Alaska Class The Alaska class is one of Gryphon's designs, an extrapolation of the Excelsior class, which she was intended to supplement and someday replace. Another fine, sturdy, reliable vessel, the Alaska class was originally equipped with transwarp drive, but some have been converted to Mark 3 standard, with the new ultrawarp drive. Iowa Class Another Gryphon design, the Iowa class is a supplement and eventual replacement for the Alaska class. Her design is a blend of the Constitution Marks 2 and 9, the Excelsior, and the Alaska, and contains elements which foresee the design of the Olympus class dreadnaught. The Iowa class ships are highly prized by their commanders, who praise their endurance under fire, speed, maneuverability, and firepower greatly. They were the first operational WDF vessels equipped with ultrawarp drive. NOTE: All Alaska and Iowa class ships are named for states in the United States of America, on Earth. Yamato Class A naval-design ship of the Old School, the Yamato class was envisioned by Lord Wolfgang Amadeus Fahrvergnugen during the WDF's original existence, but never constructed. She is a powerful ship, armored and tough, and mounts a Wave Motion Gun as primary armament and, as a very decisive secondary, three sets of Helix Cannons, a sort of lesser Wave Motion Gun. The Yamato class can operate as a wet-navy surface or submersible vessel. CRUISER Constitution Class Mark 2 The first operational type of Constitution class cruiser was the Mark 2, the first of which, UGS Constitution, sailed from Utopia Planitia on 21 October 2305. There were thirteen vessels in the original order; of those, only four, Constitution, Intrepid, Defiant, and Enterprise, returned from their first five-year galaxy exploration mission as part of the United Galactica Navy. They converted to UFP Starfleet service in 2350, following the collapse of the United Galactica and subsequent reorganization into the Federation, and the Enterprise and Constitution were upgraded to Mark 9 standard in 2360. All four entered Wedge Defense Force service in 2387. The only operational Mark 2 Constitution class vessel today is WDF Defiant. Mark 2A Only one Mark 2A Constitution class cruiser exists, the WDF Intrepid (NCC-1708). She is the personal property (although still a registered WDF vessel) of Gryphon. Details are given later in this readout. Mark 8 The next operational redesign of the Constitution class (Marks 3 through 7 were either minor operational changes or drawing-board ideas that never took off) was the Mark 8. In 2373, the decision was made to convert the existing Constitution class vessels, and all those which were under construction or on order, for use with the new FWG-1 warp engine design. The changes wrought by that one design modification changed Enterprise, the first vessel refitted, so much that some said she should become the head ship of an entirely new class of vessel, but the decision was made to retain the classification of a new mark of Constitution class instead. Due to time and budgetary constraints, Defiant and Intrepid were never converted. Mark 9 The Mark 9 came about in 2373, when the decision was made to convert all existing Constitution class vessels to transwarp drive. A nacelle design was produced which necessitated no changes to the spaceframe itself; in fact, there is no difference, externally, between the Mark 8 and 9. The difference cannot be told visually unless the vessel is moving under warp power. All Mark 8 Constitution class vessels were converted to Mark 9 standard by 2380. The Mark 9 has the honor of being the most numerous starship design in the fleet, and the Constitution class as a whole has the longest and most shining operational record of any starship class in history. New Mark 9s are still being produced today. Miranda Class The Miranda class light cruiser is another numerous and faithful WDF vessel, popular with commanders and crews and nearly as famous as the Constitution class. There is one stain on the class's reputation, though; a United Federation of Planets Starfleet vessel, USS Reliant, NCC-1864, was in 2371 stolen and destroyed by the twentieth-century madman Khan Singh, after a brutal and very nearly successful attempt at destroying Enterprise. Skywalker Class Only one Skywalker class cruiser, WDF Skywalker, exists. Skywalker was a diplomatic gift from the Mon Calamari of Calamarus VI, an ancient spacefaring race whose starships are each an individual work of art. Exeter Class The Exeter Class is another of Wolfgang Fahrvergnugen's navalesque designs, designed as a support cruiser for the Bengal class carrier. They are not stunningly fast, but rather heavily armed for their class, with phasers, photon torpedoes, point-defense turbolasers and a startling amount of antispacecraft missiles for fighter defense (which is their primary role). Centurion Class The Centurion class is a supplement/replacement for the Exeter class, a Fahrvergnugen design which draws directly from the design of, of all things, the Predator class cloakscout. It has the capability to support a half-size fighter division and similar armament to its predecessor. DESTROYER Gilgamesh Class The Gilgamesh class is currently the WDF's only operational destroyer class. Her primary role is cloakship detection and destruction; as such, she is equipped with an abnormal amount of sensors for a combat craft, and mounts anti-matter timer charge ("depth charge") launchers. The Gilgamesh class ships are not stunningly speedy, but they are the smallest capital ships to mount fold drives. They are capable of planetfall and wet-navy operations. CARRIER Bengal Class The Bengal class carrier is the backbone of the Strategic Fleet. The standard spacecraft carrier of the Kilrathi Wars, the Fahrvergnugen design has proven its worth time and time again. The lead ship in the class, WDF Tiger's Claw, is slightly different than all the rest of the class, due to design modifications implemented in the next ship in the class, WDF Lexington. The Bengal class mounts heavy naval phasers, photon torpedoes, point-defense turbolasers and a wide variety of missiles, and carries a standard fighter detachment. They are capable of planetfall and wet-navy operations. Kiev Class The Kiev class is the first type of "escort carrier" produced by the Utopia Planitia Naval Shipyards; the concept is new and relatively untried. The idea behind the escort carrier concept is simple: a small carrier, capable of supporting perhaps half a standard detachment, which is armed and equipped to function as a destroyer as well. So far the combination seems an uneasy wedding at best; but while the Bengal class is a superior carrier and the Gilgamesh class a superior destroyer, the Kiev seems to combine the two functions well. Kiev class vessels are often found as escort ships in Tactical and Strategic Fleet joint operations. They are capable of planetfall and wet-navy operations. Battlestar The battlestars are a departure from standard WDF design procedures. Most Wedge Defense Force ships are either the sweeping, multisectioned Gryphon designs or the slab-sided naval-type ships of the Fahrvergnugen school (although both designers have produced vessels of the other's trademark type); the battlestars are neither. This is because no UPNS personnel designed the battlestar. It was created centuries ago by the people of Caprica, one of twelve "colonies" of a humanoid race who believed themselves (erroneously) to be descendents of colonists from Earth. Their homeworlds destroyed by the Cylon Empire, the Colonial refugees fled across the stars, led by the only surviving battlestar, Galactica. Seeking Earth, they instead found the Zeta Cygni/Utopia Planitia Dyson sphere, in 2381, only eleven months after Gryphon had been cleared and taken command of the WDF. The Colonials were being pursued by Cylon forces and requested assistance. Although the WDF had only three complete and operational vessels at that time, and fully qualified crew for only one, Gryphon promised it, and then set about a crash redesign program. He and his crews tore down Galactica, stripping out archaic technology such as the vessel's liquid-fueled Tylium turbine propulsion in favor of fusion impulse power and wave-fusion spacefold like that on Concordia. The weapons systems were also upgraded. Thus rearmed, and with the three skeleton-crewed WDF vessels (Enterprise, Trafalgar, and Tom Servo) backing them up, the Colonial Warriors of Galactica met the Cylons outside the sphere, and completely routed them. To this day the Cylons will not risk rousing the WDF's ire, and the Colonial Armed Forces have become an official division of the Wedge Defense Force. In order to serve aboard a battlestar or operate VLI's upgraded Colonial Viper starfighter type, WDF personnel must pass the Colonial Warrior's tests of strength, skill, and courage. Once one's Warrior clusters are earned, one is a Warrior forever, and can come and go between Colonial and conventional postings as freely as duty transfers will allow. Battlestars are huge battle platforms, almost equating the Zor class Super Dimensional Fortress in dimensions; each of their two fighter bays is the equivalent of a Bengal class carrier. Unlike most of the larger WDF vessels, though, the battlestars do not mount Omega-class weapons. Instead they are richly supplied with phaser arrays (the under-construction battlestar Atlantia, replacing the original Atlantia lost in the Second Battle of Zeta Cygni, is equipped with collimator phasers), photon torpedo tubes, and conventional missile launchers, overpowered shield generators, armored hull structures, and massive impulse thrusters. Battlestars travel between star systems using integral warp torus systems like those fitted to Typhoon class cloakships (the modification was made in 2389, at Colonial commanders' requests; their tactics are more suited to direct-line FTL capability than instant folding), their armored hulls are studded with hundreds of fighter-defense turbolaser emplacements. As star system shock assault vessels or static or running defense machines, battlestars are unmatched. They are probably the most war-oriented vessels in the WDF manifest. By no stretch of the imagination are battlestars capable of planetfall or wet-navy operations. CLOAKSHIP Typhoon Class The Typhoon class cloakship is best described as the space navy equivalent of a ballistic missile submarine. Typhoons are the only WDF vessels equipped with launchers for the AM-22X Terminax heavy missiles, the only Omega-class missile weapon in WDF listings. Ionic exhaust emissions and subspace distortions created by the Typhoon class are minimal, making the vessel very hard to detect when cloaked; the Terminax launchers, requiring very little power of their own, can be fired while the vessel is cloaked, although all higher-energy weapons (phasers, torpedoes, etc.) require decloaking to fire, and the subspace trace from the Terminax targeting system is very detectable with the proper instruments. Typhoon class vessels are equipped with integral warp torus drives and, while not the fastest vessels in space, are quite speedy for their size. Typhoon class vessels are capable of making planetfall and operating as wet-navy submarines. Alfa Class The Alfa class attack cloakship is perhaps the fastest cloakship in known space. Her integral warp torus and impulse thrusters are oversized deliberately, for the Alfa has only one purpose: to intercept and destroy strategic missile cloakships before they can get to firing position. As such, they are not the stealthiest of cloakships (although by shutting down most systems they can become virtually undetectable, if blind and immobile), but they are fast, packed with sensors keyed to detect cloaked vessels, and heavily armed for their tonnage, with six torpedo tubes and three heavy phaser banks. They are capable of planetfall and submarine operation. Type 212 U-boat The Zardons hold the distinction of being the first people in the known universe to develop a vessel capable of cloaking itself effectively for any length of time. The first Uvteknischbat ("unseen boat"), aptly designated U-1, put to space in the Standard year 1965. It was a cramped, uncomfortable and marginally reliable ship, but it accomplished its goal -- U-1 torpedoed and destroyed the Salusian battleship Kalanear and slipped away unnoticed in the chaos that followed. The four decades that followed saw the Zardons develop their U-boat forces into a respected and feared force, becoming experts at the dangerous game of hide and shoot. The end of the Zardon Wars did not mean the end of Zardon's feared U-boat forces. Determined to make their comparatively small but elite military forces a respected part of the United Galactica's defense forces (and later, those of the Federation), the Zardons have continually improved their unique cloak ships, despite the fact that other, arguably superior, techniques of cloaking have arisen in the interim. When Baroness Leeanna Zard'al joined the Experts of Justice in 2412, she donated two of the newest type U-boats to the WDF. Type 212 U-boats are equipped with four torpedo tubes which can fire any Federation-standard torpedo, two medium naval phasers, a heavy laser cannon, and a light laser cannon. The lasers are used for point defense. The great liability of the Zardon U-boat philosophy is the limited time they may remain cloaked (or, as the Zardon U-boat crews, rooted deeply in their wet-nevy traditions, call it, "submerged"). Zardon has no natural obscurium resources, and during the Zardon Wars they could not obtained useful quantities of this substances from anywhere; as such, the U-boat cloaking system uses a less efficient quandite baffle. The quandite system, while arguably a more effective system in terms of actual invisibility (it does not show the slight visual distortion that poorly made or tuned obscurium devices show), produces a large quantity of waste heat. Here again, the lack of obscurium is a hindrance; only with obscurium can a thermal reclamation system be made without enough efficiency to eliminate this problem. The upshot of all this is that, when cloaked and fully secure, a U-boat will experience an increase in cabin temperature of approximately five Standard degrees per hour. The default cabin temperature is 70 degrees; regulations specifically prohibit commanders from exceeding 120 except in dire emergencies. Additionally, the cloaking systems consume such a great amount of power that all the power produced by the ship's main reactor must be diverted to it, leaving life support, motive power, and sensors to run from a small secondary plant. This reduces the vessel's maximum speed significantly when submerged, and prohibits faster-than-light cloaked travel completely. On the other hand, a cloaked and properly rigged U-boat is even harder to spot than a Mark 14 GENOM spy probe, and can still maneuver. Additionally, U-boats can fire their torpedo tubes, although not their energy weapons, while cloaked. Predator Class The Predator class is a design that looks and feels Klingonese, and is in fact in widespread use throughout both the Klingon Republic (through purchase and lend/lease) and the Klingon Empire (through capture and reconstruction). It is in fact an early Utopia Planitia design, the first starship type ever designed by UP's former chief engineer, Admiral Benjamin D. Hutchins, WDF (Ret.) and predates the collapse of the United Galactica by a good two centuries. The first of its type was the WDF Lovely Angel (3WA-261), the first vessel besides the SDF-17 Wayward Son ever to be commissioned a Wedge Defense Force vessel. Predator class vessels are fast, maneuverable, have a moderate stealth profile, and are equipped with a photon torpedo tube and two medium phaser banks. They are capable of atmospheric operation and planetfall. Barrett Class The Barrett class cloakscout is an unusual case. The basic layout is drawn from the lone ship found in the vicinity of Betelgeuse. This vessel later became WDF Crazy Diamond, SDS-2000. Most elements of the Barrett's internal systems technology are based on the unknown alien technology of the original vessel. Theories abound as to who constructed the original ship -- some say it was the Atlanteans, others point to the inhabitants of ancient Kaitain, and still others claim that it is from beyond our galaxy. Whatever its true origins, it proved simpler than expected for the UPNS technicians to decipher its secrets, and although most of its technologies are now equalled or surpassed by homegrown equivalents, Barretts continue to be produced with their forerunner's original systems. FLEET LISTINGS, WDF STARFLEET AS OF 1.11.17 FLAGSHIP NAME: WDF Wandering Child REGISTRY NUMBER: SDF-23 CLASS: Urotsukidoji class Super Dimensional Fortress COMMANDING OFFICER: Fleet Admiral Noriko R. Takaya (CINCWEDGE) TACTICAL FLEET FLAGSHIP NAME: WDF Enterprise REGISTRY NUMBER: NCC-1701 CLASS: Constitution class cruiser COMMANDING OFFICER: Admiral James T. Kirk (CINCTAC) OTHER VESSELS NAME REGISTRY NO. CLASS WDF Indomitable NCC-2100 Federation class dreadnaught WDF Lukushion SDD-1001 GENOM Star Dreadnaught WDF Elysium SDD-1002 GENOM Star Dreadnaught WDF Excelsior NCC-2000 Excelsior class battleship WDF Invulnerable NCC-2001 Excelsior class battleship WDF Columbia NCC-2003 Excelsior class battleship WDF Challenger NCC-2004 Excelsior class battleship WDF Discovery NCC-2005 Excelsior class battleship WDF Atlantis NCC-2006 Excelsior class battleship WDF Endeavour NCC-2007 Excelsior class battleship WDF Chekov NCC-2010 Excelsior class battleship WDF Alaska NCC-2250 Alaska class battlecruiser WDF Arkansas NCC-2251 Alaska class battlecruiser WDF Maine NCC-2257 Alaska class battlecruiser WDF Virginia NCC-2260 Alaska class battlecruiser WDF Avenger SDI-1200 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Vengeance SDI-1201 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Retribution SDI-1202 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Peter Gunn SDI-1210 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Richard Jury SDI-1211 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Morse SDI-1212 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Adam Dalgliesh SDI-1213 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Iowa NCC-2310 Iowa class battleship WDF Wisconsin NCC-2307 Iowa class battleship WDF Missouri NCC-2318 Iowa class battleship WDF New Jersey NCC-2319 Iowa class battleship WDF Kentucky NCC-2321 Iowa class battleship WDF Pennsylvania NCC-2317 Iowa class battleship WDF Yamato BBS-100 Yamato class battleship WDF Musashi BBS-101 Yamato class battleship WDF Haruna BBS-102 Yamato class battleship WDF Nagato BBS-103 Yamato class battleship WDF Nagumo BBS-104 Yamato class battleship WDF Argo BBS-110 Yamato class battleship WDF Bismarck BBS-113 Yamato class battleship WDF Tirpitz BBS-114 Yamato class battleship WDF Constitution NCC-1700 Constitution class cruiser WDF Constellation NCC-1017 Constitution class cruiser WDF Stargazer NCC-1722 Constitution class cruiser WDF Victory NCC-1714 Constitution class cruiser WDF Invincible NCC-1717 Constitution class cruiser WDF Potemkin NCC-1721 Constitution class cruiser WDF Kasimar NCC-1784 Constitution class cruiser WDF Halley NCC-1812 Constitution class cruiser WDF Malkavian NCC-1244 Constitution class cruiser WDF Galileo NCC-1728 Constitution class cruiser WDF Tchaikovsky NCC-1873 Constitution class cruiser WDF Ramius NCC-1780 Constitution class cruiser WDF Merrimack NCC-1745 Constitution class cruiser WDF Monitor NCC-1746 Constitution class cruiser WDF Kirov NCC-1747 Constitution class cruiser WDF Unforgiving NCC-1748 Constitution class cruiser WDF Indefatigable NCC-1749 Constitution class cruiser WDF Unfailing NCC-1751 Constitution class cruiser WDF Arc-Royal NCC-1752 Constitution class cruiser WDF Apollo NCC-1753 Constitution class cruiser WDF Artemis NCC-1754 Constitution class cruiser WDF Orion NCC-1756 Constitution class cruiser WDF Defiant NCC-1707 Mark-2 Constitution class cruiser Defiant is an outdated vessel, the old-standard Mark-2 Constitution configuration, dating back nearly a century to the formation of the United Federation of Planets and the reorganization of the United Galactica Navy into Starfleet. In fact, Defiant is an ex-Starfleet vessel, transferred to the WDF from Starfleet Training Command. WDF Defiant serves as part of the Zeta Cygni Perimeter Patrol Group. WDF Miranda NCC-1850 Miranda class cruiser WDF Swarzchild NCC-1853 Miranda class cruiser WDF Hawking NCC-1854 Miranda class cruiser WDF Hertzsprung NCC-1855 Miranda class cruiser WDF Russell NCC-1856 Miranda class cruiser WDF Pulsar NCC-1857 Miranda class cruiser WDF Nebula NCC-1858 Miranda class cruiser WDF Nova NCC-1859 Miranda class cruiser WDF Muramasa NCC-1860 Miranda class cruiser WDF Firebrand NCC-1861 Miranda class cruiser WDF Frostbrand NCC-1862 Miranda class cruiser WDF Stormbringer NCC-1863 Miranda class cruiser WDF Reliant NCC-1864-A Miranda class cruiser WDF Excalibur NCC-1865 Miranda class cruiser WDF Mjolnir NCC-1866 Miranda class cruiser WDF Aesculapius NCC-1867 Miranda class cruiser WDF Snickersnee NCC-1868 Miranda class cruiser WDF Nietzche NCC-1869 Miranda class cruiser WDF Jean-Paul Sartre NCC-1870 Miranda class cruiser WDF Skywalker CGS-045 Skywalker class cruiser WDF Exeter CGS-157 Exeter class cruiser WDF Concord CGS-159 Exeter class cruiser WDF Ashigari CGS-160 Exeter class cruiser WDF Centurion CGS-444 Centurion class cruiser WDF Legionnaire CGS-445 Centurion class cruiser WDF Gladiator CGS-447 Centurion class cruiser WDF Nike SDV-1440 Victory class Star Destroyer WDF Warwind SDV-1441 Victory class Star Destroyer WDF Stormhammer SDV-1442 Victory class Star Destroyer WDF Diogenes SDV-1443 Victory class Star Destroyer WDF Gilgamesh DDS-122 Gilgamesh class destroyer WDF Heracles DDS-125 Gilgamesh class destroyer WDF Thor DDS-126 Gilgamesh class destroyer WDF Ummagumma SDS-004 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Childhood's End SDS-005 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Palladium SDS-006 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Guinness SDS-007 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Tull SDS-014 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Usagi SDS-015 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Damn Yankee SDS-020 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Tejas SDS-021 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Wintermute SDS-024 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Oni SDS-025 Barrett class cloakscout STRATEGIC FLEET FLAGSHIP NAME: WDF Concordia REGISTRY NUMBER: CVS-65 CLASS: Confederation class carrier COMMANDING OFFICER: Admiral Saavik (CINCSTRAT) OTHER VESSELS NAME REGISTRY NO. CLASS WDF Galactica BS-1 Battlestar WDF Pegasus BS-2 Battlestar WDF Perseus BS-3 Battlestar WDF Cerberus BS-5 Battlestar WDF Ophiuchus BS-6 Battlestar WDF Centaurus BS-7 Battlestar WDF Gemini BS-8 Battlestar WDF Canis BS-9 Battlestar WDF Ironfist SDI-1204 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Warspite SDI-1205 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Twilight SDI-1206 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Unrelenting SDI-1207 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Ardent SDI-1208 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Breetai Tul SDI-1209 Imperial class Star Destroyer WDF Tiger's Claw CVS-07 Bengal class carrier WDF Lexington CVS-13 Bengal class carrier WDF Yorktown CVS-14 Bengal class carrier WDF Hornet CVS-17-A Bengal class carrier WDF Forrestal CVS-20 Bengal class carrier WDF Nimitz CVS-21 Bengal class carrier WDF Kitty Hawk CVS-22 Bengal class carrier WDF Hiryu CVS-23 Bengal class carrier WDF Soryu CVS-24 Bengal class carrier WDF Akagi CVS-25 Bengal class carrier WDF Kaga CVS-26 Bengal class carrier WDF Shokaku CVS-27 Bengal class carrier WDF Zuikaku CVS-28 Bengal class carrier WDF Shoho CVS-29 Bengal class carrier WDF Yamamoto CVS-30 Bengal class carrier WDF Acheron CVS-31 Bengal class carrier WDF Betelgeuse CVS-32 Bengal class carrier WDF Wolf CVS-33 Bengal class carrier WDF Polaris CVS-34 Bengal class carrier WDF Sirius CVS-36 Bengal class carrier WDF Kiev CVE-115 Kiev class escort carrier WDF Petropavlovsk CVE-121 Kiev class escort carrier WDF Chernobyl CVE-122 Kiev class escort carrier WDF Moskva CVE-124 Kiev class escort carrier WDF St. Petersburg CVE-127 Kiev class escort carrier WDF Murmansk CVE-128 Kiev class escort carrier WDF Vladivostok CVE-129 Kiev class escort carrier WDF Graffin SDV-1447 Victory class Star Destroyer WDF George Lucas SDV-1448 Victory class Star Destroyer WDF Starfall SDV-1449 Victory class Star Destroyer WDF Maxwell Grant SDV-1450 Victory class Star Destroyer WDF Andy Bell SDV-1451 Victory class Star Destroyer WDF Vincent Clarke SDV-1452 Victory class Star Destroyer WDF Inigo Montoya DDS-127 Gilgamesh class destroyer WDF Siegfried DDS-130 Gilgamesh class destroyer WDF Siegmund DDS-131 Gilgamesh class destroyer WDF Spartacus DDS-133 Gilgamesh class destroyer WDF Armitage SDS-008 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Case SDS-009 Barrett class cloakscout WDF William Gibson SDS-010 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Bruce Sterling SDS-011 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Richard Marcinko SDS-012 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Charlie Beckwith SDS-013 Barrett class cloakscout WDF El Loco SDS-022 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Great Gig SDS-023 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Kappa SDS-026 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Xavier SDS-027 Barrett class cloakscout SILENT SERVICE FLAGSHIP NAME: WDF Leif Eriksson REGISTRY NUMBER: DCS-001 CLASS: Kallisti class cloaknaught COMMANDING OFFICER: Hagbard Celine (CINCSUB) OTHER VESSELS NAME REGISTRY NO. CLASS WDF Typhoon SCBS-177 Typhoon class cloakship WDF Hurricane SCBS-178 Typhoon class cloakship WDF Tornado SCBS-180 Typhoon class cloakship WDF Tempest SCBS-183 Typhoon class cloakship WDF Torment SCBS-184 Typhoon class cloakship WDF Thunder SCBS-185 Typhoon class cloakship WDF Cyclone SCBS-187 Typhoon class cloakship WDF Kronos SCS-200 K'tath'ka class cloakship WDF Kantor'e SCS-201 K'tath'ka class cloakship Kronos and Kantor'e are Republican Klingon vessels by construction; they were gifts of the Republican Klingon government and are crewed by entirely Klingon volunteer crews. The class name, K'tath'ka, translates to "Silent Death"; official Klingon records denote the class as D-7C, a variant of the very successful and highly popular D-7 K't'ing'a (which has no direct translation. although one translated approximated it with "Hosement") class. WDF Alfa SCS-1341 Alfa class cloakship WDF Gamma SCS-1343 Alfa class cloakship WDF Delta SCS-1344 Alfa class cloakship WDF Ninja SCS-1347 Alfa class cloakship WDF Nautilus SCS-1348 Alfa class cloakship WDF Lightning SCS-1350 Alfa class cloakship WDF Konovolov SCS-1351 Alfa class cloakship WDF Tupolev SCS-1352 Alfa class cloakship WDF Politovskiy SCS-1353 Alfa class cloakship WDF Predator SSCS-1700 Predator class cloakscout WDF Bounty SSCS-1701 Predator class cloakscout WDF Ishmael SSCS-1703 Predator class cloakscout WDF Ahab SSCS-1705 Predator class cloakscout WDF Bartolomeo Mancuso SSCS-1706 Predator class cloakscout WDF U-238 U-238 Type 212 Zardon U-boat WDF Vaughan SDS-016 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Worcester SDS-017 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Yojimbo SDS-018 Barrett class cloakscout WDF Trident SDS-019 Barrett class cloakscout KILRATHI FLEET (BASTARD SONS OF KILRAH) FLAGSHIP NAME: WDF K'tithrak Mang REGISTRY NUMBER: KVS-213 CLASS: Sivar class dreadnaught COMMANDING OFFICER: Khor'ak "Bill the Cat" Redclaw OTHER VESSELS NAME REGISTRY NO. CLASS WDF Snakeir KVS-500 Snakeir class carrier WDF Ghatak K'an KVS-505 Snakeir class carrier WDF Grimalkin KVS-506 Bengal class carrier Grimalkin was a WDF carrier, WDF Midway, captured by a Kilrathi strike force near Albor V in 2404; she was later recaptured by the Kilrathi Fleet and re-registered as a prize of war. WDF Gamlor Gan KVS-334 Fralthra class cruiser WDF N'takh Gher KVS-335 Fralthra class cruiser WDF Aegis KVS-36 Fralthi class cruiser WDF Ghorah Khar KVS-413 Ralatha class destroyer WDF Enigma KVS-422 Ralatha class destroyer WDF Ralgha KVS-423 Ralatha class destroyer WDF Thrakh'ra KVS-44 Ralari class destroyer WDF Kilrah'ra KVS-45 Ralari class destroyer NOTE: The Kilrathi Fleet, bannered by their commander as "The Bastard Sons of Kilrah", is a smaller fleet than the three front line WDF fleets, and less publicly known. It is composed entirely of renegade Kilrathi soldiers who have rejected the totalitarian ways of the Empire of Kilrah and sided with the Wedge Defense Force in the long and ofttimes bloody history of periodic conflict between the two forces. Fleet Captain Redclaw, once one of the Empire's most acclaimed fighter pilots, was personally captured by Commander (now Admiral) Benjamin D. Hutchins of the WDF over three hundred years ago; bolstered by a Kilrathi strain of Omega-2, he has built his fleet in secret. It now numbers a dozen ships. Fleet Captain Redclaw's flagship is none other than the infamous IKS Sivar, captured intact by the Gamlor Gan in the Battle of K'tithrak Mang, 14 August 2214 TSC; thumbing his nose as his former emperor, Redclaw renamed the vessel after the battle in which it was captured. (K'tithrak Mang is the only known operational vessel besides the WDF Concordia to carry the Phase Transit Cannon; Kilrathi science seems incapable of duplicating the weapon. WDF science, on the other hand, is not. Admiral Benjamin D. Hutchins, WDFN (Ret.), a former commander of Concordia and former UP Chief Engineer, theorizes its creation was, originally, an accident.) EXPERIMENTAL FLEET FLAGSHIP NAME: WDF Red October REGISTRY NUMBER: SCBX-300 CLASS: Variant Typhoon class cloakship COMMANDING OFFICER: Engineering Admiral Robert E. Mandeville (CINCX) Red October is an experimental modification to the basic design of the Typhoon class strategic cloakship. Its technical advancements are many. It is the only cloakship in the fleet besides Leif Eriksson to be equipped with a fold drive as well as standard warp drive systems. It incorporates the new, experimental, and very secret Chang Phase-Cloaking System, which will, if successful, allow Red October to remain cloaked while moving at warp speeds, powering up for fold operations, and firing weapons. Most important, however, is the experimental Caterpillar Drive with which October is equipped; if it works, the Caterpillar will allow Red October to almost completely eliminate traceable ionic emissions and subspace trace distortions, rendering it truly invisible when cloaked at impulse speeds. This vessel is currently in testing; it has not yet been decided whether, should the design prove successful, this will be a new mark of Typhoon or an entirely new class of cloakship. OTHER VESSELS NAME REGISTRY NO. CLASS WDF Olympus NX-3000 Olympus class dreadnaught Currently in testing phase. The Olympus class, if placed in production, will be the Tactical Fleet's foundation for the Phase Transit Cannon, currently found only in the Strategic Fleet's WDF Concordia. WDF Samuel Beckett SSTX-1953 Quantum class timescout The conceptual brainchild of Captain John Trussell of the Tactical Fleet, the Beckett is an experimental design in the true sense of the word. A small, not terribly powerful, but fast and maneuverable vessel with a flexible and quickly adaptable role, the Beckett contains one of the most highly guarded secrets of the Wedge Defense Force Technical Division: the Quantum Leap Accelerator Drive. The drive system, if it works, will enable the Beckett and other ships of the type to travel the time stream, visiting periods in history not before seen by humans away from Earth. The drive, inexplicably, cannot travel into the future, however, at least on paper. Indeed, it remains to be seen if it will work at all. WDF Starwolf SCX-400 Starwolf class cloakship The Starwolf class, currently in preliminary planning, is the next generation of fast attack cloakship, seeking to supplement and eventually replace the Alfa class. The Starwolf displays (on paper and in preliminary testing) extreme advances in cloaking performance at high speeds, and is equipped with the experimental Chang Phase-Cloaking System. WDF Asgard NX-3500 Asgard class carrier The Asgard class is nothing but a drawing-board dream at this point. Brainchild, like its predecessor, of Gryphon, the Asgard class is a proposed radical modification to the Tactical Fleet's existing Excelsior class battleship platform. In short, the design modification entails installing a larger, heavier, more powerful drive core to provide power for the added systems, increasing the vessel's sensor capabilities, and adding a flight deck, with flight-deck systems and hangar facilities taking up most of the primary hull aft of the bridge module and the five-bay launch deck extending back between the warp drive nacelles. The Asgard class has a projected fighter complement of 100; 10 P-64D Super Ferret patrol fighters, 20 each of the F-54C Epee, F-44G Rapier, and F-57A Sabre light, medium, and heavy fighters, and 10 A-17D Broadsword bombers, as well as twenty other miscellaneous fighters. The keel for the Asgard prototype is scheduled to be laid at Utopia Planitia Naval Shipyards, in the same bay where Concordia was built, early next year. WDF Lovely Angel SSCX-261 Predator class cloakscout Lovely Angel is an experimental Predator variant (Predator-M) equipped with the Chang Phase-Cloaking System and an improved photon torpedo delivery system designed to track the ionic emissions of cloaked starships. It is also heavily modified from its class, with a larger powerplant, heavier phaser arrays, and concealed missile racks, as well as a bay capable of accommodating one VF-1, VF-2, or Legios Veritech fighter, or any of the regular WDF starfighter designs. Although officially a WDF X-Fleet ship, Lovely Angel is, and has been for over two decades, assigned to 3WA Trouble Consultant Team #261, replacing their previous vessel, also a Predator class. WDF Steel Fury CSX-911 Predator class cloakscout Another of the three currently extant Predator-M's, Steel Fury is assigned to 3WA Trouble Consultant Team #911. OTHER VESSELS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION NAME REGISTRY NO. CLASS EST. COMPLETE WDF Discordia CVS-66 Confederation 8/2418 WDF Massachusetts NCC-2255 Alaska 11/2417 WDF Hobbes NCC-1799 Constitution 12/2417 WDF Picard NCC-1422 Constitution 12/2417 WDF Garrett NCC-1756 Constitution 3/2418 WDF Durkheim NCC-1880 Miranda 11/2417 WDF Durrenmatt NCC-1881 Miranda 12/2417 WDF Mestrovic NCC-1882 Miranda 1/2418 WDF Rio de Janeiro NCC-1883 Miranda 1/2418 WDF Seydlitz CVS-25 Bengal 12/2417 WDF Canopus CVS-26 Bengal 1/2418 WDF Kochab CVS-27 Bengal 1/2418 WDF Castor CVS-28 Bengal 2/2418 WDF Pollux CVS-29 Bengal 3/2418 WDF Roberts DVS-131 Gilgamesh 12/2417 WDF Ronald Jones SCS-1354 Alfa 4/2418 WDF Sardaukar SSCS-1710 Predator 2/2418 WDF Fedakyn SSCS-1711 Predator 4/2418 WDF Atlantia BS-4-A Battlestar 7/2418 WDF Lister SDS-029 Barrett 11/2417 WDF Rimmer SDS-030 Barrett 11/2417 WDF David Stirling SDS-031 Barrett 12/2417 WDF Arleigh Burke SDS-032 Barrett 12/2417 VESSELS ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT WDF Tom Servo MST-3000 Predator class cloakscout Servo, under the command of Captain Derek Bacon, is an oddity. Officially, the vessel is part of WDF Training Command. Technically, it belongs in the Silent Service (and, indeed, her human crew wear the uniforms thereof). Its configuration (Tom Servo is the third Predator-M) makes it appear part of the Experimental Fleet. The crew (predominantly volunteer Klingons) and operational parameters match that of the Tactical Fleet. In truth, Servo is all of these. The vessel is the companion of WDF Pennsylvania (NCC-2317), and where one vessel is found, the other is certain to be. Servo is an example of high-level string-pulling at its finest. WDF Peacemaker SDD-1003 GENOM Star Dreadnaught Peacemaker is the mobile headquarters of the Special Fighter Tactics and Weapons Group, a joint WDF/GENOM design, testing and training group intended to keep the starfighter forces of both organizations beyond the cutting edge of equipment and personnel. The Group functions as a combination joint development project, constantly working and reworking starfighter equipment and design, and Top Gun-style training school. Members of the GENOM Iron Cross Squadron and the WDF's Rogue and Screaming Blue Electric Death Squadrons form most of the semi-permanent pilot staff, with the best and brightest from both organizations' academies and young front-line pilots rotating in and out for six-month training and feedback stints. It is aboard Peacemaker that most of the pilot-suggested revisions to existing starfighter designs are conceived and later tested. WDF Intrepid NCC-1708 Constitution class cruiser variant Intrepid is another very special vessel. Formerly a Federation Starfleet vessel, Intrepid predates the WDF's reformation by almost seventy years. She was sold to Gryphon in late 2887, less than a year before the reformation, and put into dock; he had originally planned to refit her to Mark 9 (Enterprise) standard, until the Halstead Station mission came up. In short, a special vessel was needed to go to the Halstead system and disable the automatic defenses of GENOM Corporation's corporate headquarters, the space station called Halstead Station. Admiral Hutchins wished to command the mission himself, but WDF Concordia, his command, was unsuited to the task, lacking any form of stealth whatsoever. The defense systems would throw every erg of power they had at her, and the prognosis for success was not good. However, Intrepid, being an almost century-outdated vessel, was not in GENOM's database of threat vehicles, and the defense net's sensor probes could only assess unknown targets' threat rating through observation. A vessel of Intrepid's configuration could get almost all the way to the station, all the way to the inner defense perimeter, before triggering any response at all from the defense net. The problem was simple: the WDF's two vessels meeting those criteria, Defiant and Intrepid, were not powerful enough to achieve the objective (destroy the station after downloading all data in its computer core). Admiral Hutchins and his fellow engineer, Captain Robert E. Mandeville, came up with a solution that was elegant and equally simple. They gutted Intrepid and filled her antiquated hide with the cutting edge of WDF technology. The result was a vessel which preserved (inside as well as out) the nostalgic, antiquated feel of the old Mark 2 Constitution class, but which had power equivalent to that of an Alaska class battlecruiser, and sensor and computer resources on par with the Grissom class of exploratory science vessels (which serve only with the Federation Starfleet's Exploration Command, and thus are not listed in this readout). After partially achieving her mission (Halstead Station's data was downloaded, but the station itself was not destroyed), Intrepid was placed in dock. She is only used for the most special of missions. (The conversion is not cost-effective enough to be performed on any other WDF vessel; Hutchins and Mandeville paid for most of the conversion out of their own pockets.) To date, the vessel has never been captained by anyone else, and she has left dock only four times; once for the mission to Halstead, once to investigate the disappearance of the Pennsylvania in the Triangle, once to track the SDF-23, WDF Wandering Child, after her disappearance near Theta Arigula, and once on a secret mission deep within Kilrathi space, the details of which have not yet been declassified. FLEET WEAPONS AS OF 10.2417 Mark I Reflex Cannon The Mark I Reflex cannon was the main gun mounted by the original WDF vessel, WDF Wayward Son (SDF-17). Since the destruction of Wayward Son, no further Mark I cannons have been built or deployed. Mark II Reflex Cannon The Mark II Reflex cannon is the main gun of the current WDF flagship, WDF Wandering Child (SDF-23). It is much like the original Reflex cannon, firing a focused beam of charged particles including electrons, protons, positrons, antiprotons, and gravitons, but has a much lower recharge time, so much lower to be on the order of negligibility, thanks to the obscurium/fusion capacitors used in its charge cycle. This renders the Mark II Reflex cannon effectively fully automatic; it can keep up a sustained barrage of fire for up to ten hours before the ship's Reflex furnace shuts the cannon down to recharge. (NOTE: The cannon's mechanisms and capacitance systems would overheat and cause automatic safety shutdown long before this; maximum practical safe sustained fire time is rated at five minutes between five-minute cooling periods.) Phase Transit Cannon The Phase Transit Cannon is a recent innovation, a weapon second in power only to the Mark II Reflex cannon, and possessing an advantage the Reflex cannon does not; the PTC is the only beam weapon that can successfully traverse tuned phase shielding and damage (read: annihilate) the vessel equipped with said shields. As of yet, only two Phase Transit Cannons are operational in the WDF Starfleet; the prototype PTC-2 forms the keel of WDF Concordia (CVS-65), and the Kilrathi Fleet's flagship, WDF K'tithrak Mang, mounts one as well (the original Kilrathi prototype, PTC-1, which is operationally virtually identical). Another is being constructed as the keel of the experimental WDF Olympus (NX-3000). Wave Motion Gun The Wave Motion Gun is the third most powerful weapon in the WDF arsenal, after the Reflex cannon and the Phase Transit Cannon. Useful only in vessels powered by Wave Motion Engines, the Gun amplifies engine particle output and fires it as a coherent stream. The principal difference between the Wave Motion Gun and the Reflex cannon is the waveicle nature of the WMG's output, making it less able to penetrate shields, but commensurately more destructive against matter. Also, the WMG's output is thought to contain tachyons, charged particles which travel in small warp fields at speeds greater than c. The Yamato class battleships and WDF Leif Eriksson (DCS-001) are equipped with Wave Motion Guns. AM-22X Terminax Missile The Terminax Missile is the only Omega-class missile weapon in WDF inventories. Roughly the size of an ancient Terran Saturn V rocket, the AM-22X utilizes a forced quantum singularity power source and a small integral warp torus and fusion impulse drive, as well as a subspace target tracking system. The very classified "ripshard" warhead is capable of penetrating any known shield, armor plate, or planetary crust. The Terminax is phase-transit capable. Tycho Naval Mass Driver The Tycho Naval Mass Driver is the ultimate point-defense or point-assault weapon. Firing a massive projectile of undisclosed composition at nearly .5 c, these weapons are devastatingly powerful and accurate, although useless against phase shields. The Tycho Mass Driver is so accurate it can shoot down a single fightercraft. There are drawbacks to the weapon, however; it causes tremendous power drain, as well as a localized electromagnetic pulse in the firing vessel, requiring either outboard mounting (bulky) or heavy shielding (increasing the size of the power core needed). In addition, the Newtonian recoil is immense, requiring heavy inertial dampening equipment. The Tycho Mass Driver is only found on the SDF-23 (there were four on the SDF-17 as well), save for the single driver laid as the keel of WDF Indomitable (NCC-2100) at the request of her commanding officer (Captain Erik A. Swimm). Naval Phasers Phased energy emitters are standard beam weaponry aboard all WDF vessels. Naval Lasers Laser energy emitters are standard beam weaponry aboard all WDF vessels smaller than cruiser-size. Turbolasers, megalasers, and other large laser weapons can be found on the battlestars, SDF-23, and the Olympus, Bengal, and Confederation classes. Photon Torpedo Tubes Most WDF vessel classes are equipped with at least one, usually more, photon torpedo tubes. These tubes can deliver any of a number of torpedo types, including standard anti-matter warheads, phase-transit warheads, anti-missile (chaff and ECM) types, probes, and buoys. Missile Launchers All vessels of the Bengal, Confederation, Federation, Olympus, Typhoon, and Yamato classes, as well as SDF-23 and the battlestars, are equipped with a wide variety of conventional missile launchers for anti-fighter purposes. FLEET FIGHTER WEAPONS AS OF 10.2417 Fightercraft-mounted weapons can be broken into two categories: fixed repeating arms and expendable stores. There are several subclasses of both types, but these two definitions take into account over 95% of all existing weapons systems for fightercraft, and all which are currently used by the Wedge Defense Force Navy's Tactical Fighter Command. Many of these weapons also turn up in the WDF Marine Corps' Aviation Wing and on its Destroid forces as well. FIXED REPEATING ARMS Laser Cannons Similar to the naval lasers mounted on capital starships, laser cannons of various manufacture are time-honored starfighter weapons. Reliable, accurate, possessed of medium (one-kilometer) range and striking power, lasers are the mainstay of most GENOM and Incom fighter designs. Some heavy attack craft, including the Virtual Labs Viper attack fighter, mount actual naval turbolasers. Ion Cannons First designed by Zardon's Koensayr Weapon Works, the starfighter ion cannon is another capital-ship weapon scaled down to fighter proportions. Possessed of shorter range than a laser cannon (about 500 meters) and trickier to hit with, ion cannons cause no damage to armored targets' physical armor. Instead, the ion charges disrupt most projected energy shields and shipboards systems, knocking down a target's shields and disabling its flight systems. Ion cannons are used mainly in capture and recovery operations. Neutron Cannons A development of the ion cannon, a neutron cannon is a powerful but short-ranged destructive weapon, and is just as tricky to hit with as its non-lethal cousin. Their hard-hitting close-in power makes them the weapon of choice for close-defense turret emplacements on larger fighters and bombers. Particle Cannons The third step in the ion-neutron-particle pyramid, the particle cannon is a hard-hitting projected energy weapon like the neutron cannon, but with improved accuracy and greatly extended range (out to about 1.5 km). Although powerful, particle cannons consume a great amount of power and create a great amount of waste heat, making them unsuitable for many applications and most light fightercraft. Heavier particle guns than the standard fightercraft type can be found on defense turrets of capital ships, many small starships (the Predator-class cloakscout, for example, is equipped with two particle cannons), and several types of Destroids, including the famed Warhammer. Mass Drivers Also known as induction cannons and railguns, mass drivers use magnetic induction to propel a ferrous projectile at high speeds. Accurate, powerful, and possessed of about the same median range as a laser, the mass driver produces very little heat and consumes very little power. Its only drawback is that it requires an ammunition supply. Autocannons Once the second mainstay of the starfighter's arsenal after its lasers, the autocannon has fallen out of favor in recent years, and today they have been largely replaced by mass drivers. However, the traditional autocannon, an electrically or chain-driven weapon firing chemically-powered ammunition, can still be found on many operational Destroids, and the WDF's fleet of older fighters, including the Valkyrie, still use them. Many, such as the GU-11 gun pod used by the Valkyrie, require no external power source at all, making them more useful than the critics of their weight and ravenous appetite for ammunition would like to believe. Warhead Launchers Differentiated from expendable stores hardpoints by the fact that they are self-contained units containing fire control and loading equipment and are generally capable of repeated fire, warhead launchers come in several flavors. There are proton and micro-photon torpedo launchers, which are basically miniature starship torpedo tubes; there are concussion missile launchers, which fire small, high-speed, smart homing projectiles similar to GPM-17 Thorn missiles with expert targeting gear; and there are universal models which can be fitted before launch with whatever warhead is needed for the mission at hand. GENOM Corporation has developed most of the fielded versions of the last type. EXPENDABLE STORES AIM-91A "Reaper II" Aerospace Intercept Missile The standard fighter-to-fighter missile mounted by WDF starfighters; also used in capital ship missile launchers for point defense. Tracking: Expert system using infrared, active and passive radar, and image recognition sensor suite Warhead: High explosive armor piercing (Illudium PEW 36 shaped charge) Primary Purpose: Anti-small-craft Secondary Purpose: Although the AIM-91A has no official secondary purpose, pilots and WSOs often find its expert-tracking system capable of guiding the missile to almost any non-standard target, and show a special fondness for using them against light ground vehicles. GIM-02B "Hedgehog" Ground Intercept Missile Commonly mounted only by those craft engaging in surface attacks, for obvious reasons. Tracking: Expert system using specialized terrain following, active and passive radar, and magnetic anomaly tracking Warhead: HEAP (IP36 shaped charge) Primary Purpose: Anti-Destroid/Anti-armor Secondary Purpose: Can be used against light installations SIM-11 "Shrikebat" Special Intercept Missile Often found on stealth craft like the VASF-1 and VBSF-1, and also commonly carried by the VEA-1 and EA-11C. Tracking: Expert system with specialized magnetic anomaly detection and homing Warhead: HE (IP36) Primary Purpose: Destruction of sensor installations and sensor-specialized vehicles Secondary Purpose: Again, the SIM-11 has no officially documented secondary purpose. However, WSOs and pilots have had some success using the Shrikebat to attack actively homing enemy fightercraft. GAM-01 "Spike" Ground Assault Missile Mounted on ground-attacking craft, and occasionally used in anti-shipping missions if more specialized munitions are unavailable. Tracking: Expert system using specialized visual image recognition Warhead: Wedge Heavy Armament Munition Primary Purpose: The GAM-01 is a very specialized weapon based on the old US Air Force "Durandal". When locked on and launched at a target, the Spike cancels its launch impulse at a range of 100 meters and approaches rather slowly; in space it uses minimal thrust impulse, and in an atmosphere/gravity well it descends on a parachute until it is within critical assault range (25 meters). At that point it engages its main thruster and accelerates to a speed of nearly 4,000 miles per hour before impact. Its WHAM warhead is a specially designed, armored IP36 warhead which will not detonate until its armor is stripped away by impact. It is designed to destroy heavily shielded installations and underground bunkers. Secondary Purpose: The Spike can also be used against slow-moving capital ships, wet-navy and space. AIM-666-XL3 "AntiChrist III" Heavy Anti-Shipping Torpedo A monstrous weapon carried by the B-17F, VA-1, VF/B-3 series and A-11A. The F-57A can also be fitted to carry them. The current XL3 is the successor to the XL2 and even earlier XL, and is differentiated from its predecessors by its more advanced target tracking system, quicker time to lock on, and longer range. Tracking: Expert system using infrared, active and passive radar, magnetic anomaly detection, and image recognition sensor suite Warhead: 10-kiloton thermonuclear device. An alternate type, the AIM-666-XLC, has a conventional Illudium PEW 36 warhead. Primary Purpose: Anti-starship Secondary Purpose: The AIM-666-XL has no secondary purpose listed in any official documentation. However, if it is used against a ground target, a kill is almost assured. Since using nuclear weapons in ground conflicts is a violation of the Saenar Convention, this is extremely rarely authorized. However, the AIM-666-XLC has had some limited success as an air-launched cruise missile. HGM-19 "Touchdown" Heavy Gravity Munition Uncommon weapons, carried only by the VA-1 and VF/B-3 series under normal circumstances. Tracking: Operator-guided by subspace signal (tracking is laser-guided), using airfoil control surfaces; or freefall Warhead: HE (IP36) Primary Purpose: Anti-installation Secondary Purpose: Anti-infantry NOTE: An incendiary variant, the HGM-19I "MatchLite", is also available. GPM-17 "Thorn" General Purpose Missile The standard "little missile" of the WDF, the Thorn replaces the venerable "General Hosement" of the Golden Age. These units are mounted by the VF/A-4 series, VF-1 and VF-2 in Super configuration, all Cyclones, and can be found on many Destroids. Tracking: Configurable for dumb fire, infrared, or MAD Warhead: HEAP (IP36) Primary Purpose: General anti-small-things NOTE: Two variants, the incendiary GPM-17I "Firethorn" and smoke-screen-laying GPM-17S "Oscurido", are available. AIM-177X "Hornets' Nest" Special Air Strike Missile This missile operates much like an AIM-91A Reaper in selection, targeting, and launch operations, but, five seconds after launch, its warhead separates from the main body and breaks up into ten sub-weapons similar to GPM-17 Thorn missiles, which then attack the locked target as one, spreading out the damage. Tracking: Expert system using infrared, active and passive radar, and image recognition sensor suite Warhead: HEAP (IP36) Primary Purpose: Wide area assault, anti-personnel Secondary Purpose: Area denial NOTE: A primary-area-denial variant, the AIM-177M, scatters small mines instead of deploying sub-munitions. NOTABLE FIGHTERCRAFT AS OF 10.2417 VERITECH FIGHTERS VF-1 VALKYRIE Although officially retired from frontline service in 2387 and replaced by the VF-2 Victory fighter, the Valkyrie, the first Veritech fighter and one of the most famous starfighters of all time, is still found serving in many capacities in the WDF. Valkyries are used by the Tactical Training Command, as short-range armed courier craft, by rear-echelon patrol units and local garrisons, and as sub-light shuttlecraft escorts. Also, Valkyries still serve with frontline combat units of other military forces, including the Imperial Salusian Guards. PERFORMANCE MANUFACTURER: British-AnimeTech, Limited POWER SYSTEM: ExoSalusia FR.4c power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Two Rolls-Royce AF-14C axial fusion turbines (rated at 400 KTU) SPEED RATING: 120 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: British-AnimeTech V-1a Veritech Control Suite MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 70 DPF NAVIGATION: British-AnimeTech NavStar-II computer system FTL: None SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 50 SBD) Composite reinforced titanium steel hull (rated at 35 RU) DESCRIPTION Veritech Fighter; Veritech Aerospacecraft using V-1 Transformation Paradigm. Standard three-mode variable-configuration geometry. MASS FULLY LOADED (standard armaments): 18.5 tons MASS EMPTY: 14.34 tons DIMENSIONS FIGHTER CONFIGURATION LENGTH: 14.23m WING SPAN (EXTENDED): 12.52m BATTROID CONFIGURATION HEIGHT: 12.68m ROLE The VF-1 was created to serve as an all-conditions interceptor. Its fully aerodynamic construction means it is completely capable in or out of an atmospheric envelope, making it equally at home at land bases and operating from space carriers. The Veritech transformation, originally conceived simply as a landing and takeoff aid, was carried through by the original designers into a full three-way transformation, creating a Destroid-like mode which can be used for light support and also permit the Valkyrie to continue to fight after being rendered incapable of flying. Its toughness, speed, maneuverability, stability, and flexibility all combined to make the Valkyrie the most popular, successful, and useful aerospace fightercraft of the Golden Age. Its four centuries of shining service with the WDF, RSAF, and the other forces which used it saw the Valkyrie perform not only its intended mission, but also aerospace superiority jobs, surface attack missions, and even anti-shipping strikes. CREW One pilot. The trainer model, designated VT-1, seated two, with the pilot trainee in front and the instructor behind. ARMAMENTS Fixed Repeating Arms FPG-19 Fusion Pulse Lasers Number: Four (4) Mount: Fixed; either side of nose cone and intakes Tracking: None Primary Purpose: Air-to-air Secondary Purpose: Ground assault (strafing) GU-11 Gun Pod Number: One (1) Mount: Ventral fuselage center line [fighter configuration]; hand-held [gerwalk and battroid configurations] Tracking: None in fighter configuration; full hand-held tracking in gerwalk/battroid configurations Primary Purpose: Air-to-air Secondary Purpose: Point defense NOTE: The GU-11 is sometimes replaced with a GX-19 particle projector cannon pod. In this configuration the primary purpose of the weapon is anti-installation/ground attack. GPL-2A General Purpose Lasers Number: Varies by model. VF-1A has one, VF-1J has two, VF-1S has four. Mount: Head in battroid configuration; undercarriage (coaxial with GU-11) in gerwalk/fighter configurations Tracking: 200 degrees plus head rotation in battroid configuration; ~120 degrees in gerwalk/fighter configurations Primary Purpose: Close-quarters defense Secondary Purpose: Air-to-air Expendable Stores Hardpoints Wing Pylons Each wing is equipped with two standard munitions pylons, each capable of mounting three standard-rail munitions, for a total of twelve weapons. The typical weapon distribution for these pylons, for a standard interception or patrol mission, follows: AIM-91A "Reaper" Medium Range Air Intercept Missile Number: Eight (8) Mount: All pylons, side rails SIM-11 "Shrikebat" Special Intercept Missile Number: Four (4) Mount: All pylons, center rail SPECIAL ORDNANCE The VF-1 can be fitted with special equipment to aid it in space combat missions, and when it is deployed in space, it almost invariably goes out fitted with this equipment. A Valkyrie fitted with the Special Space Combat Equipment Package is commonly referred to as a "Super Valkyrie", despite the fact that the fighter inside the conformal armor, weapons pods, and booster packs is an entirely ordinary Valkyrie, leading to the common misconception that there are two kinds of Valkyrie, the regular and the "Super". The SSCEP (pronounced "Skep") provides the Valkyrie it is fitted to with an additional 20 MGLT to its top speed, and contains supplementary verniers which augment the Valkyrie's already impressive maneuverability rating to 85 DPF in vacuum. Note that the bulky, non-aerodynamic armor actually hampers the Valkyrie's atmospheric performance, reducing its maneuverability rating to 50 DPF. The main booster thrusters also make the Valkyrie capable of attaining escape velocity from one Standard G, permitting it to go transatmospheric or ex-atmospheric from planetside bases on most M-class planets. The shield booster it contains boosts the VF-1's shield rating to 100 SBD, and the armor plates add 25 RU to its hull strength rating. The booster pods of the SSCEP contain launch bays for two dozen GPM-17 Thorn general purpose missiles, with two more housed on each undercarriage guard (forearm plate in gerwalk/battroid modes). The entire SSCEP, or single areas of it, can be jettisoned at the pilot's discretion. A variant of the SSCEP, the Special Space Strike Equipment Package, replaces one of the booster pod missile bays with a PPC-04B "Tomahawk" particle gun, a slightly smaller variant of the particle gun found on the WHM-6R Warhammer Destroid. Valkyries equipped with the SSSEP ("Sep") are commonly called "Strike Valkyries", and are usually employed in a surgical strike capacity. VF-2 VICTORY The VF-2 Victory Veritech fighter is a natural evolution from the original VF-1 Valkyrie series. It incorporates modern design features, some redesigns born of long experience with its parent craft, newer materials and manufacturing processes, and modern powerplant technology to bring the time-honored Valkyrie up-to-date. The VF-2 is truly a cutting-edge starfighter. PERFORMANCE MANUFACTURER: British-AnimeTech, Limited POWER SYSTEM: ExoSalusia FR.9g power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Two Rolls-Royce AF-20A axial fusion turbines (rated at 500 KTU) SPEED RATING: 150 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: British-AnimeTech V-2 Veritech Control Suite MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 85 DPF NAVIGATION: British-AnimeTech NavStar-V computer system FTL: Incom GBk-585 motivator drive unit (hyperdrive) SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 80 SBD) Composite reinforced titanium steel hull (rated at 50 RU) DESCRIPTION Veritech Fighter; Veritech Aerospacecraft using V-1 Transformation Paradigm. Standard three-mode variable-configuration geometry. MASS FULLY LOADED (standard armaments): 19.75 tons MASS EMPTY: 15.00 tons DIMENSIONS FIGHTER CONFIGURATION LENGTH: 15.12m WING SPAN (EXTENDED): 13.20m BATTROID CONFIGURATION HEIGHT: 14.45m ROLE The VF-2 was designed specifically as the replacement for the VF-1 Valkyrie. As such, it was created with its predecessor's designed mission in mind: that of an all-conditions interceptor. However, its designers, chief among them then-Captain Benjamin D. Hutchins of the WDF (the former commander of the Eight-Ball Valkyrie squadron and a man with over a million hours in Valkyries), kept in mind at all times the amazing array of missions for which the VF-1 was never designed, but for which it was pressed into service, and how well it did at these assignments. The VF-2 takes its predecessor's flexibility as an object lesson, and so there is perhaps no mission which the VF-2 cannot attempt. CREW One pilot. The trainer model, designated VT-2, seats two, with the pilot trainee in front and the instructor behind. ARMAMENTS Fixed Repeating Arms FPG-25 Fusion Pulse Lasers Number: Four (4) Mount: Fixed; either side of nose cone and intakes Tracking: None Primary Purpose: Air-to-air Secondary Purpose: Ground assault (strafing) GU-23 Particle Cannon Pod Number: One (1) Mount: Ventral fuselage center line [fighter configuration]; hand-held [gerwalk and battroid configurations] Tracking: None in fighter configuration; full hand-held tracking in gerwalk/battroid configurations Primary Purpose: Air-to-air Secondary Purpose: Point defense GPL-2A General Purpose Lasers Number: Varies by model. VF-2A has one, VF-2J has two, VF-2S has four. Mount: Head in battroid configuration; undercarriage (coaxial with GU-11) in gerwalk/fighter configurations Tracking: 200 degrees plus head rotation in battroid configuration; ~120 degrees in gerwalk/fighter configurations Primary Purpose: Close-quarters defense Secondary Purpose: Air-to-air Expendable Stores Hardpoints Wing Pylons Each wing is equipped with two standard munitions pylons, each capable of mounting three standard-rail munitions, for a total of twelve weapons. The typical weapon distribution for these pylons, for a standard interception or patrol mission, follows: AIM-91A "Reaper" Medium Range Air Intercept Missile Number: Eight (8) Mount: All pylons, side rails SIM-11 "Shrikebat" Special Intercept Missile Number: Four (4) Mount: All pylons, center rail SPECIAL ORDNANCE The VF-2 can be fitted with special equipment to aid it in space combat missions, and when it is deployed in space, it almost invariably goes out fitted with this equipment. A Victory fitted with the Special Space Combat Equipment Package is commonly referred to as a "Super Victory", following the tradition laid down by the Super Valkyrie. The Victory's version of the SSCEP provides its host with an additional 20 MGLT to its top speed, and contains supplementary verniers which augment its maneuverability rating to 95 DPF in vacuum. Note that the bulky, non-aerodynamic armor, although redesigned for less atmospheric interference, still hampers the Victory's atmospheric performance, reducing its maneuverability rating to 65 DPF. The main booster thrusters, like those of the Valkyrie SSCEP, give the Victory one-G escape capabilities. The shield booster it contains boosts the VF-2's shield rating to 130 SBD, and the armor plates add 30 RU to its hull strength rating. The booster pods of the SSCEP each contain two PA-12 phaser arrays, at the forward corners, to supplement the fighter's pulse lasers and gun pod in strafing and dogfighting. There is a project ongoing at British-AnimeTech to develop a SSCEP with collimated phaser arrays on the boosters, but this has not yet left the drawing board. Also, the undercarriage (forearm) plates contain, instead of the VF-1 SSCEP's paired missiles, General Electric single-barrelled 20mm autocannon. Like the VF-1's, the entire VF-2 SSCEP, or single areas of it, can be jettisoned at the pilot's discretion. The VF-2 can also be fitted with a variant SSCEP called the Heavy Armor, Weapons, and Advanced Tactical suite. The HAWAT functions similarly to a standard SSCEP, but instead of the phasers, it contains a pair of PPC-04F Improved Tomahawk particle cannons. The power drain from the HAWAT's huge guns reduces the speed of a Victory so equipped with to 80 MGLT and cuts its maneuver rating to 55 DPF, but the shield generator boosts the onboard shields to 160 SBD to partially compensate for the lack of agility -- as if the increased firepower is not compensation enough. HAWAT-equipped Victories are, in keeping with the Valkyrie tradition, called "Strike Victories", and are used for surgical strikes. VA-1 JUDICATOR The Judicator was the third Veritech fighter to be produced. It is an evolution of the Valkyrie, and was preceded by its smaller cousin and by the Lockheed-Allied Alpha Legios, which was introduced just days before the VA-1 prototype rolled off the line. (The Beta Legios was held up for some weeks by project delays.) It has seen service with the WDF, the Royal Salusian Armed Forces, and the Imperial Salusian Guards and, despite its advanced age, has not been retired in favor of a newer craft for the simple reason that no newer craft has proven itself more effective than the Judicator. PERFORMANCE MANUFACTURER: British-AnimeTech, Limited POWER SYSTEM: ExoSalusia FR.4g power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Two Pratt & Whitney FJ-60A axial fusion turbines (main engines); two Rolls-Royce AF-22A axial fusion turbines (booster engines). Full suite rated at 675 KTU. SPEED RATING: 145 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: British-AnimeTech V-1b Veritech Control Suite MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 37 DPF NAVIGATION: British-AnimeTech NavStar-II computer system FTL: None SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 100 RU) Composite reinforced titanium hull (rated at 80 RU) DESCRIPTION Veritech Attack Fighter; Veritech Aerospacecraft using V-1 Transformation Paradigm. Standard three-mode variable-configuration geometry. MASS FULLY LOADED (standard armaments): 45.25 tons MASS EMPTY: 35.00 tons DIMENSIONS FIGHTER CONFIGURATION LENGTH: 20.00m WING SPAN (EXTENDED):18.75m BATTROID CONFIGURATION HEIGHT: 18.79m ROLE The VA-1 Veritech Attack Fighter is intended for use as a high-speed close-attack craft. Its armaments are capable of disabling any known capital starship or fortified ground installation; additionally, the VA-1 is capable of performing pinpoint attacks on smaller targets and aggressors such as enemy ground units, armor and Destroids. With its exceptionally high expendable-stores loadout, the VA-1 is a flying armory, and almost all of its expendable stores must be used or jettisoned in order for the craft to transform. This, more than any other feature, betrays the VA-1's "flight first" design philosophy; its other two modes are secondary in importance to its primary fighting mission. The VA-1's secondary role is that of a support Destroid; by assuming battroid configuration, the VA-1 is capable of functioning as a light attack Destroid suitable for flanking support. CREW Two; one pilot and one Weapons System Officer, seated inline. The pilot is seated forward of (battroid mode: below) the WSO. ARMAMENTS Fixed Repeating Arms HPC-1A "Tomahawk IV" Heavy Plasma Cannon Number: One (1) Mount: Fixed, dorsal port-side, forward of port-side dorsal thruster Tracking: +-10 degrees azimuth and elevation from center line Primary Controller: Pilot Primary Purpose: Anti-installation/Anti-Destroid Secondary Purpose: Anti-spacecraft FPG-19 Fusion Pulse Lasers Number: Eight (8) Mount: Fixed; four clusters of two, either side of nose cone and intakes Tracking: None Primary Controller: Pilot Primary Purpose: Ground assault (strafing) Secondary Purpose: Air-to-air GU-11 Gun Pod Number: One (1) Mount: Ventral fuselage center line [fighter configuration]; hand-held [gerwalk and battroid configurations] Tracking: None in fighter configuration; full hand-held tracking in gerwalk/battroid configurations Primary Controller: Pilot Primary Purpose: Point defense Secondary Purpose: Air-to-air NOTE: The GU-11 is sometimes replaced with a GX-19 particle projector cannon pod. In this configuration the primary purpose of the weapon is anti-installation/ground attack. GPL-2A General Purpose Lasers Number: Varies by model. VA-1A has one, VA-1J has two, VA-1S has four. Mount: Head in battroid configuration; undercarriage (coaxial with GU-11) in gerwalk/fighter configurations Tracking: 200 degrees plus head rotation in battroid configuration; ~120 degrees in gerwalk/fighter configurations Primary Controller: Weapon Systems Officer Primary Purpose: Close-quarters defense Secondary Purpose: Air-to-air Expendable Stores Hardpoints Wing Pylons Each wing is equipped with three (3) standard munitions pylons, each capable of mounting three (3) standard medium-range missiles or one (1) special-class heavy munition, for a total of eighteen (18) standard MRMs or six (6) special HMs. The typical weapon distribution for these pylons, for a standard flexible assault mission, is as follows: AIM-91A "Reaper II" Medium Range Air Intercept Missile Number: Eight (8) Mount: Conformal leg armor rails, four (4) per side Primary Controller: Weapon Systems Officer GIM-02B "Hedgehog" Ground Intercept Missile Number: Eight (8) Mount: Outboard and central wing pylons, side rails Primary Controller: Weapon Systems Officer SIM-11 "Shrikebat" Special Intercept Missile Number: Six (6) Mount: All pylons, bottom rail Primary Controller: Weapon Systems Officer GAM-01 "Spike" Ground Assault Missile Number: Four (4) Mount: Inboard wing pylons, side rails Primary Controller: Weapon Systems Officer UNDERCARRIAGE PYLONS The VA-1's undercarriage is equipped with a number of weapon mounts. Four of these, located under the engine intakes, are the same as the wing pylons. The remaining two, which run along the lower edges of the engine pods (legs), are special heavy mounts designed for the AIM-666-XL "AntiChrist" heavy anti-shipping torpedo. AIM-666-XL "AntiChrist" Heavy Anti-Shipping Torpedo Number: Two Mount: Engine pod rails Primary Controller: Weapon Systems Officer CONFORMAL LEG PYLONS The VA-1's conformal leg armor is equipped with two standard missile pylons, like those on the wings, and two special drop-points for gravity-powered bombs, on each side. HGM-19 "Touchdown" Heavy Gravity Munition Number: Four (4) Mount: Conformal leg armor hardpoints, inboard, two (2) per side Primary Controller: Weapon Systems Officer VF/A-4C ALPHA LEGIOS The Alpha was the second operational Veritech fighter, and although it has long labored in the shadow of its larger and more stylish cousin, the Valkyrie, it has nevertheless proved so potent a weapons system that it and its brother the Beta have not yet been removed from service. PERFORMANCE MANUFACTURER: Lockheed-Allied POWER SYSTEM: Lockheed NT-6 power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Two Pratt & Whitney FJ-54 axial fusion turbines (rated at 250 KTU) SPEED RATING: 95 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Allied VnA-4 Veritech Computer Control System MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 80 DPF NAVIGATION: Allied Navitron-3c Navigation Computer FTL: None SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting XoLyyn shields (rated at 40 SBD) Titanium alloy hull (rated at 20 RU) DESCRIPTION Veritech Attack Fighter; Veritech Aerospacecraft using Alpha Transformation Paradigm. Standard three-mode variable-configuration geometry. MASS FULLY LOADED (standard armaments): 16.40 tons MASS EMPTY: 11.00 tons DIMENSIONS FIGHTER CONFIGURATION LENGTH: 10.3m WING SPAN: 6.7m BATTROID CONFIGURATION HEIGHT: 8.75m ROLE The VF/A-4C Alpha Legios is intended for use both as part of the Legios system and as a stand-alone attack craft. With its small profile and high agility, it is intended, when used alone, to accomplish light attack missions through subtlety and finesse rather than the brute-force technique used by its large cousin, the VA-1 Judicator. It also possesses sufficient agility and firepower to hold its own as a light fighter, especially in space, where its stubby wings are not the hindrance they prove in an atmospheric situation. Combined with the larger VF/B-3D Beta Legios to form the completed Legios unit, the Alpha serves as the command center for a flexible and speedy light bomber platform. The WDF High Command have frequently considered retiring the Legios system, which has been in service since the WDF's beginning, but each time, the craft is saved by the testimonials of its loyal flight crews, who refuse to give it up. CREW One pilot. ARMAMENTS Fixed Repeating Arms GU-20 Blaster Pod Number: One (1) Mount: Ventral fuselage center line, just outboard of engine [fighter configuration]; hand-held [gerwalk and battroid configurations] Tracking: None in fighter configuration; full hand-held tracking in gerwalk/battroid configurations Primary Purpose: Point defense Secondary Purpose: Air-to-air Expendable Stores Hardpoints The Alpha is equipped with internal mounting points for a number of missiles, to make up for its lack of external hardpoints. These internal missile bays have armored covers which close over them to protect the missiles when they are not in use. Scattered throughout the Alpha's superstructure are mounting points for fifty GPM-17 Thorn general purpose missiles. NOTE: There exists a variant of Alpha designated VF/A-4S. This is the famed "Shadow Alpha", which is equipped with what was, at the time, the smallest effective cloaking device in the galaxy. While incapable of rendering the craft invisible to visual sensors, the Shadow Alpha's cloak can prevent it from being spotted by any other active or passive sensing system known, and its dark standard coloration makes it hard to spot in the darkness of space. The Shadow Alpha is usually paired only with the VF/B-3S Shadow Beta, obviously. VF/B-3C BETA LEGIOS PERFORMANCE POWER SYSTEM: Two Lockheed NT-6 power converters and fusion reactors PROPULSION SYSTEM: Three Pratt & Whitney FJ-60B axial fusion turbines (rated at 430 KTU) SPEED RATING: 145 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Allied VnA-5 Veritech Computer Control System MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 45 DPF NAVIGATION: Allied Navitron-3c Navigation Computer FTL: None SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting XoLyyn shields (rated at 40 SBD) Titanium alloy hull (rated at 30 RU) DESCRIPTION Veritech Fighter-Bomber; Veritech Aerospacecraft using Beta Transformation Paradigm. Standard three-mode variable-configuration geometry. MASS FULLY LOADED (standard armaments): 18.50 tons MASS EMPTY: 14.00 tons DIMENSIONS FIGHTER CONFIGURATION LENGTH: 9.7m WING SPAN: 19.5m BATTROID CONFIGURATION HEIGHT: 10.7m ROLE The VF/B-3 Beta Legios series is intended primarily as a manned array of booster thrusters, extra fuel, and heavier stores for the VF/A-4 Alpha. It is almost never deployed alone. On these rare occasions, it functions primarily as a light bomber, although in the hands of the right pilot, it can survive as a somewhat unmaneuverable medium fighter in emergencies. With an Alpha attached, the Beta fulfils its true potential, making the converted Legios a speedy medium bomber capable of anti-shipping and anti-installation missions. The craft's Veritech nature gives it an advantage which offsets its relative lack of agility as a fightercraft, as well as providing it with a limited ground-support capability. CREW Two; one pilot and one bombardier. A single pilot can perform all operational functions, but two people provide the most efficient work structure. The cockpit can seat up to three persons. ARMAMENTS Fixed Repeating Arms GU-20I Internal Gun Pods Number: Three Mount: Fixed; forward-firing in echelon [fighter mode]; upper legs and center lower torso, not used [gerwalk, battroid modes] Tracking: None Primary Controller: Pilot Primary Purpose: Air-to-air Secondary Purpose: Ground assault (strafing) FPG-19 Fusion Pulse Lasers Number: Six Mount: Fixed; two clusters of three, rear-facing at wingroots [fighter mode]; forearms [gerwalk, battroid mode] Tracking: None in fighter mode; full arm tracking in gerwalk and battroid mode Primary Controller: Bombardier/Navigator [fighter mode]; Pilot [gerwalk, battroid mode] Primary Purpose: Air-to-air Secondary Purpose: Ground assault (strafing) Expendable Stores Hardpoints The Beta is equipped with an enclosed bomb bay. Within this bay, there are three specialized munitions rails, each of which can support either a single AIM-666-XL3 AntiChrist III anti-ship torpedo or eight standard-rail munitions, controlled by the bombardier/navigator. The Beta is the only other WDF craft besides the VA-1 Judicator to commonly carry HGM-19 gravity bombs for use in ground assault situations. NOTE: There exists a variant of Beta designated VF/B-3S. This is the famed "Shadow Beta", which is equipped with what was, at the time, the smallest effective cloaking device in the galaxy. While incapable of rendering the craft invisible to visual sensors, the Shadow Beta's cloak can prevent it from being spotted by any other active or passive sensing system known, and its dark standard coloration makes it hard to spot in the darkness of space. The Shadow Beta is usually paired only with the VF/A-4S Shadow Alpha, obviously. FIXED CONFIGURATION STARFIGHTERS The fixed-configuration starfighters of the allied forces of the WDF, GENOM Corporation, and the major governments have changed greatly in the last few years. Each common type is detailed below. THE WEDGE DEFENSE FORCE SUPER FERRET The P-64D Super Ferret is the newest of the Curtiss P-64 Ferret line, and is not much different from the C-model Ferret. The only major differences are a slightly more powerful shield generator, and the addition of the four heat-seeking missiles to increase the ship's long-range firepower. In addition to serving in the WDF's Zeta Cygni Patrol Command, where the Super Ferret squadrons form the first line of defense and the first eyes and ears of the Zeta Cygni Dyson Sphere, Super Ferrets are also found on most WDF Tactical Fleet carriers as perimeter security craft, and serve with the Royal Salusian Armed Forces and United Federation of Planets Starfleet in the same capacity. The craft's similarity in appearance to the Incom T-65 and the Virtual Labs F-19 Viper is coincidental, although it may have been influenced by the T-65's predecessor, the Z-95 Headhunter. NAME/MODEL#: P-64D Super Ferret DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Curtiss Aerospace COMBAT DESIGNATION: Patrol fighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: MPS BPr-90 power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Four Rolls-Royce AF-9A axial fusion turbines (rated at 250 KTU) KTU) SPEED RATING: 110 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Torplex Rq8.Z flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 75 DPF NAVIGATION: Convergent Technologies Ministar-G computer system FTL: None WEAPONS: Two Capstone Arms MD.3a mass drivers (fire-linked) Four standard munition rails SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Chempat shields (rated at 25 SBD) Titanium alloy hull (rated at 15 RU) EPEE DeHavilland's Epee, introduced in 2385, was designed to compete with GENOM's TIE starfighter and the Kilrathi Sartha light fighter, and did the job admirably. Today, however, the craft is becoming obsolete; too slow to compete with the new light fighters like the Sarthakhi and TIE Interceptor, and not heavily armed or shielded enough to go up against the bigger new fighters who approach its performance bracket, such as the Drakhati, the Epee is being retired from front-line service in the WDF and appearing in smaller organizations such as the Federation Home Guards, who are snapping them up due to their low cost and maintenance requirements. A popular and resilient little craft, the Epee may well become the next Headhunter in terms of endurance in non-front-line units. NAME/MODEL#: F-54C Epee DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: DeHavilland COMBAT DESIGNATION: Light attack fighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: Thiodyne O7-X cryogenic power cells and ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Two Pratt & Whitney FJ-54 axial fusion turbines (rated at 250 KTU) SPEED RATING: 100 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: DeHavilland G14 flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 80 DPF NAVIGATION: Included in DH-G14 avionics package FTL: None WEAPONS: Two ArMek SW-7 Particle Cannons (fire-linked) Four standard munition rails SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Chempat shields (rated at 25 SBD) Titanium alloy hull (rated at 20 RU) RAPIER II The ExoSalusia F-44 Rapier's basic spaceframe design was given a new lease on life in 2381, when the reforming WDF sought to flesh out its new Tactical Division with cutting-edge starfighter equipment. The Rapier had been popular with WDF pilots before the Collapse, and those veterans who remembered them wanted them back. North American, hearing of this interest, bought the old design from ExoSalusia and then approached the WDF Armory with the intent of revamping it with modern technology, and that is exactly what they did. Tough, fast, and heavily armed, the Rapier II shares its position as the mainstay of the WDF's fixed-configuration starfighter arsenal with Incom's versatile T-65 Dragonfly. NAME/MODEL#: F-44G Rapier II DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: North American/WDF Armory COMBAT DESIGNATION: Medium attack fighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: Novaldex O4-Z cryogenic power cells and ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Two Novaldex J-77 "Event Horizon" engines (rated at 400 KTU) SPEED RATING: 100 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Torplex Rq8.Y flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 80 DPF NAVIGATION: Convergent Technologies Ministar-G computer system FTL: None WEAPONS: Two ArMek SW-7 particle cannons (fire-linked) Two Taim & Bak KX5 laser cannons (fire-linked) Six standard munition rails SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Novaldex Shields (rated at 40 SBD) Ferroceramic Reinforced Titanium Hull (rated at 40 RU) SABRE Halfway between fighter and bomber, the Sabre performs both jobs admirably. It is the main heavy fighter of the Royal Salusian Armed Forces, and serves with many WDF front-line units as well, although the WDF is phasing out its Sabres slowly, in favor of the new Fairchild-Republic Crusader. NAME/MODEL#: F-57A Sabre DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: ExoSalusia Astronautics COMBAT DESIGNATION: Heavy attack fighter-bomber CREW: 1 pilot, 1 gunner POWER SYSTEM: ExoSalusia FR.3a power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Two Pratt & Whitney FJ-60E axial fusion turbines (rated at 300 KTU) SPEED RATING: 90 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: ExoSalusia FA.4 flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 75 DPF NAVIGATION: ExoSalusia FN.2r computer system FTL: None WEAPONS: Two ArMek SW-7a particle cannons (fire-linked) Two Capstone Arms MD.5 mass drivers (fire-linked) Eight standard munition rails NOTE: Launch rails for AIM-666-XL3 torpedoes can be mounted in place of the standard rails, each XL3 rail replacing two standard rails. Two Taim & Bak NX2 neutron guns, aft turret SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Chempat shields (rated at 75 SBD) Ferroceramic Reinforced Titanium Hull (rated at 60 RU) BROADSWORD Boeing's B-17F Broadsword shares many qualities with the more famous Boeing craft which shares its designation -- the Earther World War II bomber aeroplane called the "Flying Fortress". When the design was accepted by the WDF in 2387, Gryphon, who was then in charge, wanted to designate it as such, but he was overridden by the Tactical Command top seats, who wanted to continue the sword motif created by the Epee, Rapier II and Sabre. Slow and not very maneuverable, the Broadsword survives its missions because it bristles with deadly neutron gun turrets and boasts shields and hull armor rivaling that of a small starship. In fact, with its microfold drive, it could be considered a small starship in its own right. Broadswords serve with Starfleet, the WDF, the RSAF, and any other organization which can afford them. Its pilots, showing a greater sensitivity to history than the WDF Planning Board, ignore the craft's official designation and call it "Fortress", after its predcessor. NAME/MODEL#: B-17F Broadsword DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Boeing COMBAT DESIGNATION: Heavy bomber CREW: 1 pilot, 3 gunners POWER SYSTEM: Thiodyne O9-A cryogenic power cells and ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Four Rolls-Royce AF-15R axial fusion turbines (rated at 600 KTU) SPEED RATING: 70 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Subpro NH-8 flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 40 DPF NAVIGATION: Convergent Technologies Starframe-1a computer system FTL: British-AnimeTech, Limited MF.1 microfold drive WEAPONS: Three Capstone Arms MD.3a mass drivers (fire-linked) Three standard munition rails Four WDF Armory AIM-666-XL3 AntiChrist III phase-transit anti-warship torpedoes Two Taim & Bak NX2 neutron guns in each of three turrets, aft, port, and starboard SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 120 SBD) Ferroceramic reinforced titanium hull (rated at 65 RU) CENTURION The Centurion is a heavy attack fighter design built under contract by the Doraemon Base Aerospace Corp. with ExoSalusia as a subcontractor in the late 2280's as a replacement for the Salusian Navy's aging Raptor heavy fighter. The tragic events of 2288 prevented any mass production beyond the twenty preproduction models delivered to the ISN for evaluation purposes. As of the time of Doraemon Base's startling return in 2393, eight of these prototypes were still in service, flown by senior pilots who stubbornly refused to give them up. DBA is considering updating the design with current technology and producing it for organizations allied to the WDF. The Salusian Ministry of Naval Procurement has expressed interest in the project, as has the UFP Starfleet. The Centurion is, like almost all designs from DBA, a sturdy and solid design that reflects a philosophy of maximum survivability and ease of maintenance. The spacecraft takes the KISS principle to heart, having an almost completely modular design that allows replacement of almost any system with a minimum of effort and time. This allows levels of modification and upgrading unheard of in standard fighter designs. The extremely heavy armor and shields, combined with a very heavy weapons loadout and the massive thrust of its four large fusion turbines make the Centurion a very attractive choice for front line combat units operating away from sophisticated maintenance facilities. The Centurion also posesses a surprising level of agility for a fighter of it's size, outperforming many fighters in its class. This 2288 model is roughly equivalent to the A-11A Crusader in performance, and, if upgraded with new technology, may set the standard for heavy attack fighters for some time to come. There are also other versions available by substituting mission-specific pods in place of several of the weapon pods. NAME/MODEL#: DBA-33 Centurion DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Doraemon Base Aerospace COMBAT DESIGNATION: Heavy attack fighter CREW: 1 pilot, 1 gunner POWER SYSTEM: ExoSalusia FR.1h power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Four DBA FE-11 axial fusion turbines (rated at 575 KTU) SPEED RATING: 105 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: ExoSalusia FA.2 flight control avionics package MANUVERABILITY RATING: 55 DPF NAVIGATION: ExoSalusia FH.4j computer system FTL: DBA HE-2 motivator drive unit (hyperspace) WEAPONS: Varies due to modular design. Standard loadout below: Four DBA TL-9 naval turbolaser cannons (single or fire linked) Two DBA ML-15 rotary missile launchers (ten WDF Armory missiles or four antiship torpedoes each) Two DBA PC-5 particle cannons in rear turret SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/rear projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 140 SBD) Titanium/ferroceramic composite hull (rated at 125 RU) VIPER The Virtual Labs Viper is a redesign of the classic Colonial starfighter type. It is a special purpose fighter designed primarily as an anti-warship attack craft; the Viper lacks missile weapons, which limits its fighter-to-fighter capabilities, and is not very maneuverable. However, its heavy shielding and armor enables it to weather an enemy vessel's cover long enough to make an attack run; its powerful naval turbolasers (the same weapons found in most heavy starship turrets) give it the punch it needs to make the run count; and its incredible speed and the brute thrust of its huge afterburners gives it the ability to escape quickly from tight situations and the impending detonation of enemy ships. Vipers are only found aboard battlestars unless specially requested by a fighter wing commander on another vessel, and cannot be piloted by anyone who has not passed the Colonial Warrior classification tests. NAME/MODEL#: F-19A Viper DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Virtual Labs, Inc. COMBAT DESIGNATION: Heavy fighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: VLI CC-1 power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Three Rolls-Royce AF-15R axial fusion turbines (rated at 450 KTU) SPEED RATING: 150 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: VLI HotStick-III flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 40 DPF NAVIGATION: VLI NavStar-IV computer system FTL: None WEAPONS: Two Gyrhil R-9X naval turbolaser cannons (fire-linked) SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 75 SBD) Titanium-polyalloy hull (rated at 50 RU) DRAGONFLY [X-WING] Incom based the T-65 (which the company's engineers always called simply "the X-wing" based on its cruciform s-foils) partially on its most successful co-creation, the infamous Z-95 Headhunter, and partially on the design philosophy of the Colonial Viper. It was originally conceived as a fast attack craft designed to fare better against enemy fighter cover and get the job done. The micro-photon torpedo launchers lack the devastating punch of the Viper's turbolasers, but the tradeoff in maneuver power is worth it in many pilots' opinions, as is the fire-and-forget nature of the torpedoes, which permits the Dragonfly to hang back from enemy ships' guns. The final design ended up being so versatile that the ship was reclassified as a general purpose space superiority fighter, and today is rapidly becoming the mainstay of WDF medium fighter forces. It is enormously popular among pilots, who also tend to refer to it as the X-wing rather than by its official name. NAME/MODEL#: T-65C A2 X-Wing (WDF designation: F-61D Dragonfly) DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Incom COMBAT DESIGNATION: Space Superiority Fighter CREW: 1 pilot, 1 astromech droid POWER SYSTEM: Novaldex O4-Z cryogenic power cells and ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Four Incom 4j.4 fusial thrust engines (rated at 300 KTU) SPEED RATING: 100 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Torplex Rq8.Y flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 75 DPF NAVIGATION: Industrial Automaton R-series astromech droid FTL: Incom GBk-585 motivator drive unit (hyperdrive) WEAPONS: Four Taim & Bak IX4 laser cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two Krupx MG7 micro-photon torpedo launchers (3 torpedoes each) SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Chempat shields (rated at 50 SBD) Titanium Alloy Hull (rated at 20 RU) SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES: S Foil wings, adjustable for atmospheric flight CRUSADER [B-WING] The Crusader has just come out of the experimental stage. Named for its cruciform s-foil design and overall resemblance to a straight sword, the Crusader is on the borderline between heavy fighter and light bomber, and like its predecessor the Sabre, it seems to do everything well. Its two torpedoes and three turbolasers, as well as heavy armor and shielding, give it enough power that the wise capital ship commander will not overlook it; its surprising nimbleness, particle cannons, fire-and-forget missiles and sheer speed enable it to handle fighters. This hot new heavy fighter is fast becoming a pilot favorite, and is often found in WDF units alongside the Incom T-65. Perhaps in some spirit of friendly rivalry with the Dragonfly pilots, the Crusader pilots have taken to calling their craft "the B-wing" -- the reason for this is largely open to speculation, as the craft looks nothing like the letter B. NAME/MODEL#: A-11A Crusader DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Fairchild-Republic COMBAT DESIGNATION: Heavy assault starfighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: Vinop O2 K cryogenic power cells and ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Four Slayn & Korpil JZ-5 fusial thrust engines (rated at 290 KTU) SPEED RATING: 90 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Narmox HG6.w flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 65 DPF NAVIGATION: Microaxial LpM-549 computer system FTL: Slayn & Korpil HYd-997 microjump drive unit WEAPONS: Three Gyrhil R-9X naval turbolaser cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two ArMek SW-7a Particle Cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two Krupx MG9 Medium Missile Launchers (2 missiles each) Two WDF Armory AIM-666-XL2 AntiChrist III antiwarship torpedoes SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Sirplex Zr-41 shields (rated at 125 SBD) Titanium alloy hull (rated at 60 RU) SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES: S Foil wings, adjustable for atmospheric flight JAEGER The X-1 Jaeger was an experimental light starfighter created by a joint design team of Bell Aerospace, Incom, and GENOM Corporation engineers. The team's Bell component was responsible for the F-47A Starcobra medium starfighter currently used by the Royal and Imperial Salusian Navies; the Incom engineers worked on that company's revolutionary T-65 Dragonfly series used by the Wedge Defense Force and Imperial Salusian Navy; and the GENOM team was the driving force behind that corporation's highly successful TIE Fighter line. Upon completing its rounds of testing and becoming an operational starfighter, the X-1 was permitted to keep its now incorrect 'X' designator out of deference to its history (see below). The X-1 incorporates elements of both prevailing starfighter design philosphies into one deadly package. Armored and shielded with the finest available equipment and possessed of an airframe design which is equally at home in space or an atmosphere, the X-1 is propelled by GENOM's incredible Twin Ion Engine propulsion system. A light fighter, the X-1 is not very heavily armed, but with its amazing speed and maneuverability, it is able to stick with almost any opponent until that opponent is finished. The craft's rather unusual styling is the result of the Bell team's input -- externally, the craft is virtually identical to the original Bell X-1, a rocket-powered aeroplane which was the first Earther aircraft to travel at supersonic speeds. The X-1 prototype (WDF starfighter number 46-062), completed preliminary flight testing with the Wedge Defense Force/GENOM co-operative testing facility at Zeta Cygni in 2409, with excellent results, and the X-1 can now be found with operational fighter wings on over a dozen WDF Tactical Fleet vessels, twenty GENOM Star Destroyers, and at least ten of the Royal Salusian Navy's carriers. Testing is under way for an improved-atmospheric-performance variant, the X-1A. NAME/MODEL#: X-1 Jaeger DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Bell/Incom/GENOM COMBAT DESIGNATION: Light fighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: GENOM I-s3a solar ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: GENOM P-s5.6 Twin ion engines (rated at 175 KTU) SPEED RATING: 115 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Torplex Rq8.Y flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 115 DPF NAVIGATION: GENOM N-s6 Navcon computer system FTL: None WEAPONS: Two Taim & Bak IX4 laser cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two Krupx MG7 micro-photon torpedo launchers (3 torpedoes each) SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear projecting Chempat shields (rated at 50 SBD) Titanium alloy hull (rated at 15 RU) NIGHTWIND The Nightwind and its sister ship, the Nighthawk, are the result of a very similar test engineering project to that which created the X-1 Jaeger light fighter. An Earther aerospace contractor, in this case North American Aerospace (creators of the F-44 Rapier series in use by the WDF, Salusian armed forces, and a number of other allied forces), together with the Joint Starfighter Research Team created by Incom and GENOM Corporation, has created a starfighter based on conventional fusion-thrust starfighter design ideas and GENOM's revolutionary Twin Ion Engine propulsion and maneuver system. The styling, in answer to Bell's X-1, is that of North American's own original X-15, which was, in its original form, a high-altitude and high-speed test aircraft. Unlike the Jaeger, the X-15 is a heavy fighter, designed to slug it out with other heavy fighters and even small capital ships. It carries a large load of ordnance and heavy guns, is very well-armored and shielded, and is not as fast or maneuverable as its small orange counterpart. The craft is so heavy that it requires two TIE units to optimize its speed and maneuver power, and even that level of power shows what the team engineers see as room for improvement. To that end, a new High Output TIE system was specifically devised for the spaceframe. In view of the success of the X-15A-2 prototypes in testing, it is expected that the X-15 will be changed from a fighter to an attack fighter when the X-15A-2 reaches production. The X-15 was made an operational class earlier this year, and is now in use aboard five WDF Tactical Fleet ships, one Tactical Fleet vessel (the Star Dreadnaught Exelion), and the GENOM Star Destroyer Warwind. NAME/MODEL#: X-15 Nightwind DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: North American/Incom/GENOM COMBAT DESIGNATION: Heavy fighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: Two GENOM I-s3a solar ionization reactors PROPULSION SYSTEM: Two GENOM P-s5.6 twin ion enignes (rated at 350 KTU) SPEED RATING: 105 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Torplex Rq8.Y flight control avionics system MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 80 DPF NAVIGATION: GENOM N-s6 Navcon computer system FTL: None WEAPONS: Two Taim & Bak KX5a laser cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two ArMek SW-7a particle cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two ExoSalusia Arms II-2 ion cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two Krupx MG12 micro-photon torpedo launchers (7 torpedoes each) SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 55 SBD) Titanium-polyalloy hull (rated at 35 RU) GENOM CORPORATION MILITARY ARM/WDF-GENOM COOPERATIVE COMMAND TIE STARFIGHTER The backbone of the GENOM starfighter fleet is the TIE Starfighter. This versatile craft performs all operations including fleet escort, reconnaissance, space patrol, planetary guard, and hunter/destroyer. Pilots of the TIE Starfighter enjoy a speed and maneuverability advantage over almost any spacecraft currently in operation, although recent advances by the Kilrathi and Cardassians have brought them close, or even superior, to the TIE. The TIE Starfighter matches well with the Kilrathi Dralthi and shows some superiority to the Cardassian Chandik. However, most enemy starfighters support more weaponry and have deflector shields, making them dangerous foes in one-on-one combat. Fortunately, GENOM's TIEs generally enjoy superiority of numbers, making even the most talented and stubborn of enemy pilots run away or jump to hyperspace to escape. NAME/MODEL#: TIE Starfighter DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: GENOM Corporation COMBAT DESIGNATION: Space Superiority Fighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: GENOM I-a2 solar ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: GENOM P-s4 Twin ion engines (rated at 150 KTU) SPEED RATING: 100 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: GENOM F-s3.2 flight avionics system MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 100 DPF NAVIGATION: GENOM N-s6 Navcon computer system FTL: None WEAPONS: Two GENOM L-s1 Laser Cannons (single or fire-linked) SHIELDS/ARMOR: No shields; Titanium hull with Quadanium Steel armored solar panels (rated 15 RU) TIE INTERCEPTOR At the turn of the century, there was concern on the part of some of the leaders of the GENOM Corporate Military Arm that their TIE starfighters were no longer distinguished as the most advanced starfighters in the galaxy. The enemy, particularly the Cardassians, had managed to crate a highly versatile and dangerous series of starfighters, led most notably by the Shantak. Therefore, the R&D division conceived a new starfighter, based on the TIE designs, but faster, more powerful, and even more maneuverable. That craft was the TIE Interceptor. The TIE Interceptor is based on the custom bent-wing TIE fighter designed by General Rayna Tangril. Its twin ion engines have been enlarged with added power coming from the greater surface area of the solar panels. At the time, the TIE Interceptor was the second fastest starfighter in existence, after the Virtual Labs F-19A Viper. Visibility problems with the oversized solar panels are solved by the dagger shape of the front panels, and firepower has been increased by the addition of four laser cannons mounted in the fronts of the solar panels, at the points of the "daggers". The twin chin-mounted cannons have been removed from the fuselage. To improve accuracy, the targeting software for the weapons has also been enlarged. Today, the Interceptor is slowly phasing out the original TIE Starfighter as the primary SSF in GENOM's inventory. Thanks to the sheer numbers of TIEs in service, however, this is expected to take several more years. NAME/MODEL#: TIE Interceptor DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: GENOM Corporation COMBAT DESIGNATION: Space Superiority Fighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: GENOM I-s3a solar ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: GENOM P-s5.6 Twin ion engines (rated at 175 KTU) SPEED RATING: 110 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: GENOM F-s4 flight avionics system MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 125 DPF NAVIGATION: GENOM N-s6 Navcon computer system FTL: None WEAPONS: Four GENOM L-s9.3 Laser Cannons (single or fire-linked) SHIELDS/ARMOR: No shields; Titanium hull with Quadanium Steel armored solar panels (rated 20 RU) TIE BOMBER The TIE Bomber is one of the newest of the TIE series. Featuring a double-hull, this fighter/bomber can carry a lethal load of proton torpedoes, guided missiles, orbital mines, or free-falling thermal detonators. The TIE Bomber excels at surgical placement of ordnance, picking out small targets on planetary surfaces or on enemy ships. In contrast with full-scale naval bombardment which leaves only rubble behind, the TIE Bomber can selectively destroy military targets while leaving commercial or military assets untouched. With its small size and high speed, the TIE Bomber can often slip past defense systems set up to watch for larger craft. NAME/MODEL#: TIE Bomber DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: GENOM Corporation COMBAT DESIGNATION: Space Bomber CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: GENOM I-a2b solar ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: GENOM P-s4 Twin ion engines (rated at 125 KTU) SPEED RATING: 80 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: GENOM F-s3.2 flight avionics system MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 75 DPF NAVIGATION: GENOM N-s4 Navcon computer system FTL: None WEAPONS: Two GENOM L-s1 Laser Cannons (single or fire-linked) Two GENOM M-s3 Universal Ordnance Launchers SHIELDS/ARMOR: No shields; Titanium hull with Quadanium Steel armored solar panels (rated 50 RU) ASSAULT GUNBOAT The Military Arm's newest spacecraft is the Cygnus Alpha Class Xg-1. After developing the beautiful Executive Shuttle, Cygnus was awarded the contract to develop an assault vehicle, and the Xg-1 is the result. Due to its unique five-wing design, the Xg-1 is commonly known as the Star Wing. Equally at home in vacuum or atmosphere, the unique wing design can adjust to conditions, thanks in part to a revolutionary new computer system from Miradyne. The Star Wing is designed for offensive strike missions against enemy convoys and fleet craft. Its firepower and heavy shielding make it ideal for escort roles as well, and as an assault vehicle in combination with the Stormtrooper Transport, it is unmatched. NAME/MODEL#: Alpha Class Xg-1 Star Wing DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Cygnus Spaceworks (a subsidiary of GENOM Corporation) COMBAT DESIGNATION: Assault Fighter/Gunboat CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: Iotek 9j ion power cells and ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Cygnus 4K7 Dual Line ion engines (rated at 300 KTU) SPEED RATING: 90 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Miradyne RCS-6 flight avionics system MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 90 DPF NAVIGATION: GENOM N-s8.6 Navcon computer system FTL: Cygnus HD7 Hyperdrive Motivator Unit WEAPONS: Two Taim & Bak KX5 Laser Cannons (single or fire-linked) Two Borstel NK-5 Ion Cannons (single or fire-linked) Two GENOM M-s3 Universal Ordnance Launchers SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Novaldex Shields (rated at 100 SBD) Quadanium Steel armored titanium hull (rated at 50 RU) TIE ADVANCED The most deadly fighter GENOM has produced to date, the TIE Advanced is based on a design by Rayna Tangril. Equipped with fast-recharging shields and an extended Twin Ion Engine capacity, this new ship should out-speed the Cardassian Shantak and will provide safety for its pilot within the shield array. In addition, the production models of the TIE Advanced feature a hyperdrive motivator -- the first of the TIE fighter line to have this capability. The superiority of this newest TIE starfighter is such that TIE pilots are already giving it the nickname "TIE Avenger", as it is widely held that the TIE Advanced represents an opportunity for the GENOM Military Arm to clear its reputation of the stains of the Exile. Production of TIE Advanced units has been increased due to its excellent performance in trials and selected missions. NAME/MODEL#: TIE Advanced DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: GENOM Corporation COMBAT DESIGNATION: Space Superiority Fighter/Interceptor CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: GENOM I-3a solar ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: GENOM P-sx7.4 Twin ion engines (rated at 230 KTU) SPEED RATING: 145 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: GENOM F-s5x flight avionics system MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 150 DPF NAVIGATION: GENOM N-s6 Navcon computer system FTL: GENOM ND9 Hyperdrive Motivator Unit WEAPONS: Four GENOM L-s9.3 Laser Cannons (single or fire-linked) Two GENOM M-g2 General Purpose Warhead Launchers SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Novaldex Shields (rated at 100 SBD) Titanium hull with Quadanium Steel armored solar panels (rated 20 RU) IMMORTAL CLASSICS MYRMIDON [Y-WING] The prestigious Koensayr Weapon Works of Zardon's last design before the Zardon-Salusian War claimed their corporate headquarters in 1985, the Myrmidon's incredible longevity is a testament to both the resilience of the design and the stubbornness of the Zardons. At the time it was the hottest fighter anywhere in the galaxy -- faster, tougher and more heavily armed than anything the Salusians could field. It was in response to the threat of the Myrmidon that Salusia's Subpro Space Armaments, with the clandestine aid of a small Earther electronics company named Incom, produced the Z-95 Headhunter. (This was to cause quite a stir when Incom's participation in the project was revealed at Salusia's official First Contact with Earth, which took place in 1999 -- they had been contacted over a decade earlier, but surprisingly, no one on the Incom end of the project leaked the news or the technology.) The Myrmidon can still hold its own in combat today, especially in the hands of the right pilot, and is found in service in the elite Zardon Guards units and many independent military organizations. Earther pilots still refer to it by the nickname given it by the Incom engineers given threat-analysis reports of it during the Z-95's design, "Y-wing". NAME/MODEL#: BTL-A4 Starfighter (Zardon Guards designation: Myrmidon) DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Koensayr COMBAT DESIGNATION: Long Range Fighter/Bomber CREW: 1 pilot, 1 astromech droid POWER SYSTEM: Thiodyne O3-R cryogenic power cells and ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Two Koensayr R200 ion fission engines (rated at 250 KTU) SPEED RATING: 80 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Subpro NH-7 flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 50 DPF NAVIGATION: Industrial Automaton R-series astromech droid FTL: Koensayr R300-H motivator drive unit (hyperdrive) WEAPONS: Two Taim & Bak KX5 laser cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two ArMek SW-4 Ion Cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two Arakyd Flex-Tube proton torpedo launchers (4 torpedoes each) SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Chempat shields (rated at 75 SBD) Titanium-reinforced Alusteel Alloy Hull (rated at 40 RU) Z-95 HEADHUNTER Although outmoded and outclassed by every other starfighter in the galaxy, the Z-95 still remains in service with many local militia throughout the Federation, as well as with numerous pirates, other criminal elements, and mercenary military organizations. This durability can only be explained by the Z-95 Headhunter's structural toughness, easy availability, and low maintenance needs. So robust is the Headhunter, in fact, that in over four centuries of operation, it has only one infamous "problem", and even this is merely a minor inconvenience. The Headhunter was the first fighter in the United Galactica to be equipped with a pilot-retaining ejection seat rather than the old-style eject-and-separate system. This seat, originally nicknamed "the Easy Chair" for its comfort and size, was supposed to have limited directional flight capability, allowing a pilot to get out of harm's way or move toward rescue craft. However, in practice, this system is often partially burned out by the ejector charge, causing it to fly uncontrollably, changing directions randomly until it runs out of fuel. This tendency quickly caused its nickname to be changed to "the Crazy Chair", and even today, the pilots of all starfighters often refer to ejection as "riding the Crazy Chair." In the hands of the right pilot, the Z-95 is still a deadly combatant despite its long-since outdatedness and comparatively low performance stats. Headhunters have proven, time and time again, that it is the man more than the machine which makes the difference in starfighter combat, in exercises such as the WDF's Tactical Superiority School, GENOM's Red Flag and the Imperial Salusian Navy's Top Gun competition. Instructors at these exercises, flying Headhunters as the "bad guys", still routinely splash younger pilots flying the hottest modern military equipment. So many Headhunters were manufactured by Incom and Subpro over several decades that it is estimated more Z-95s are actually still in service than any other starfighter, with the possible exception of GENOM's standard TIE Starfighter. The engineers at Incom used the Z-95 as the initial model for the renowned T-65 Dragonfly series. NAME/MODEL#: Z-95 Headhunter DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Incom/Subpro COMBAT DESIGNATION: Starfighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: Novaldex O3-R cryogenic power cells and ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Four Incom 2a ion fission engines (rated at 275 KTU) SPEED RATING: 85 MGLT bFLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Vudyne CF-30 flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 60 DPF NAVIGATION: Narmox Zr-390 computer system FTL: Incom GBk-435 motivator drive unit (hyperdrive) WEAPONS: Two Taim & Bak KX5 laser cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two Krupx MG5 Medium Missile Launchers (4 missiles each) SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting XoLyyn shields (rated at 20 SBD) Titanium Alloy Hull (rated at 15 RU) STARCHASER Some starfighters, like the Z-95 and the Myrmidon, survive long after they should, by rights, have faded into obscurity through a combination of toughness, flexibility, solid design, quality components, pilot loyalty and technical creativity, with a good Helping of luck thrown in. Others simply refuse to go away. The R-41 Starchaser is one of those. When the Salusian Empire made contact with Earth in 1999, a number of Earth aerospace companies sought to capitalize on this new alliance by building starfighters for the Salusian-Zardon War effort. Companies, some of them on their last legs, scrambled to field prototypes for the Salusian Armed Forces to test, gambling that the venture would pay off hugely. Some, like Lockheed, were correct; the Lockheed SF-23 Starvenger became the most successful starfighter designed solely by Earthpeople in the early 21st century. Some, however, were not, and paid heavily for their miscalculation. One of the corporations which paid was Britain's Supermarine Aerospace. Supermarine was more desperate than most of its competitiors at the time, and thus their entry into the field was more rushed than most. That entry, the R-41 Starchaser, was poorly tested, and a great deal of bugs emerged once the type was made operational. The flight control system had a tendency to fail, causing the craft to wander mindlessly across the sky out of control; the shield generator was plagued with an intermittent shutdown-reactivate problem which technicians could never track down; the targeting computer had little regard for IFF signals, making the pilots rely on visual identification or risk blowing up their allies. Worse, the life support system could be knocked out by a swift kick to the hull, leaving the pilot to rely on his vac-suit and backup systems for the duration of battle. Repairing any of these problems was almost impossible, given the Starchaser's ridiculous level of internal complexity and the rather sketchy details provided in the shop manuals. Despised by pilots and ground crews alike, the Starchaser should have vanished into oblivion with Supermarine, which was bought out by GENOM after the Starchaser's initial failure cost them bankruptcy. Unfortunately, GENOM re-instituted Starchaser production under the auspices of their puppet company, BudgetArms, and millions of them were sold, thanks to one of the oldest of business axioms: "worthless" equals "dirt cheap". Every ratpack mercenary outfit, pirate fleet, and tin-hat dictatorship in the known universe bought Starchasers by the droves, and even today there are hordes of them out there, waiting to be blown away by anybody with half a brain and a poorly-tuned Headhunter with one laser missing. NAME/MODEL#: R-41 Starchaser DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: BudgetArms or Supermarine COMBAT DESIGNATION: General purpose starfighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: Lucas Electric F.1 cryogenic power cells and ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Five Supermarine n2 ion fission engines (rated at 150 KTU) SPEED RATING: 75 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Lucas Electric FC01 flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 35 DLF NAVIGATION: Lucas Electric SC01a computer system FTL: Lucas Electric FG4 motivator drive unit (hyperdrive) WEAPONS: Two Lucas Electric LC1 laser cannons SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Lucas Electric shields (rated at 10 SBD, when they work at all) Fiber-composite reinforced aluminum hull (rated at 5 RU) EXPERIMENTAL AND UNUSUAL GUNSTAR The experimental Gunstar is a product of Virtual Laboratories, Incorporated. Its revolutionary two-man design incorporates a pilot, responsible for the long-range piloting of the craft as well as certain engineering functions, and a commander, who acts as short-term pilot (combat only) and gunner. The ship's vast array of weapons are cyberlinked directly to the commander's conscious mind, instantly selectable and targetable. All are mounted with a great deal of freedom, and the commander's station can turn to face almost any position. With large fuel reserves and limited warp capability, the Gunstar seems destined to be the starfighter of the future. It functions well in testing, but it remains to be seen how this visionary craft will stand up to actual combat. NAME/MODEL#: GN-1AX Gunstar DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Virtual Labs, Inc. COMBAT DESIGNATION: Experimental heavy fighter CREW: 1 pilot, 1 gunner POWER SYSTEM: VLI CC-2 power converter and anti-matter reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Four VLI IT.1a ion impulse thrusters (rated at 350 KTU) SPEED RATING: 120 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: VLI Gunstar advanced avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 80 DPF NAVIGATION: Included in VLI Gunstar avionics package FTL: British-AnimeTech, Limited MW-1.a microwarp drive WEAPONS: Six Taim & Bak XK7 laser cannons (custom fire) Four Taim & Bak NX4 neutron guns (custom fire) Four ArMek SW-9 particle cannons (custom fire) Four Capstone arms MD.6 mass drivers (custom fire) Eight racks of ten WDF Armory GPM-17 Thorn missiles SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 75 SBD) Titanium-polyalloy hull (rated at 40 RU) GENOM TIE DEFENDER The next generation of TIE starfighter, the TIE Defender is in preliminary prototype testing. Designed by Rayna Tangril, the TIE/d takes the advances of the TIE Advanced to their logical conclusion. The TIE/d is performing well in preliminary prototype tests, but it will be some time before the design is viable for mass production. NAME/MODEL#: TIE Defender DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: GENOM Corporation COMBAT DESIGNATION: Fleet Defender CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: GENOM I-s4d solar ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: GENOM P-sz9.7 Twin ion engines (rated at 230 KTU) SPEED RATING: 155 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: GENOM F-s5x flight avionics system MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 175 DPF NAVIGATION: GENOM N-s6 Navcon computer system FTL: GENOM ND9 Hyperdrive Motivator Unit WEAPONS: Four GENOM L-s9.3 Laser Cannons (single or fire-linked) Two Borstel NK-3 Ion Cannons (single or fire-linked) Two GENOM M-g2 General Purpose Warhead Launchers SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear projecting Novaldex Shields (rated at 100 SBD) Titanium hull with Quadanium Steel armored solar panels (rated 20 RU) DODONNA/BLISSEX STINGER [A-WING] A collaborative effort by a Salusian and a Zardon weapons-maker, the Stinger (nicknamed "A-wing" by the Incom engineers who were consulted for the contract-build hyperdrive motivator) is slated to be the new frontline fighter for the unified Salusia-Zardon Mutual Defense Coalition, which will begin operations next year. The WDF has also expressed interest in obtaining a Stinger prototype for testing, to see how it stacks up to their new X-1 Jaeger light fighter. The Stinger is a new combination of time-tested starfighter components, in large part; its "Event Horizon" engines power the larger WDF Rapier II to good effect, and its avionics system is an advanced version of the one found in the Incom T-65. Its weapons and shields are all quite standard, making replacement and repair easy. Prototype testing has shown the Stinger to be a flexible and powerful fighter well-suited to its stated task; it is scheduled to enter mass-production later this year at facilities on both Salusia and Zardon. NAME/MODEL#: RZ-1 Starfighter (Imperial Salusian Navy designation: Stinger) DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Dodonna/Blissex COMBAT DESIGNATION: Long Range Fighter/Interceptor CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: MPS BPr-99 power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Twin Novaldex J-77 "Event Horizon" engiens (rated at 400 KTU) SPEED RATING: 120 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Torplex Rq9.Z advanced flight control avionics package MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 100 DPF NAVIGATION: Microaxial LpL-499 computer system FTL: Incom GBk-785 motivator drive unit (hyperdrive) WEAPONS: Two Borstel RG9 laser cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two Dymek HM-6 Universal Medium Missile Launchers (6 missiles each) SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Sirplex Z-9 shields (rated at 50 SBD) Titanium alloy hull (rated at 15 RU) NORTH AMERICAN/INCOM/GENOM X-15A-2 NIGHTHAWK The Nighthawk is the second generation X-15, and has not yet been made operational. It is a modified, redesigned X-15 spaceframe fitted around GENOM's new High Output Twin Ion Engine thruster/maneuver system, which was designed specifically for this project. The HO-TIE system has proven successful beyond its designers' anticipations in the testing of the X-25A-2 prototypes, and so the NA/I/G team has begun preliminary designs for the next generation, the X-15A-3 Nightshark, which is intended to function as a heavy-gun, low-warhead fighter-interceptor and companion to the original X-15 Nightwind in its attack fighter-bomber role. Three X-15A-2 prototypes are in testing, two at Zeta Cygni and one at a classified Worlds Welfare Work Association testing facility. NAME/MODEL#: X-15A-2 Nighthawk DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: North American/Incom/GENOM COMBAT DESIGNATION: Experimental heavy fighter CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: GENOM I-z7x solar ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: GENOM P-x1H High Output twin ion engine (rated at 650 KTU) SPEED RATING: 140 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: GENOM F-s5x flight avionics system MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 140 DPF NAVIGATION: GENOM N-s6 Navcon computer system FTL: Incom GFc-878 motivator drive unit (hyperdrive) WEAPONS: Three Taim & Bak MX2 laser cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two ArMek SW-7r particle cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two ExoSalusia Arms II-2a ion cannons (single fire or fire-linked) Two Krupx MG13 micro-photon torpedo launchers (9 torpedoes each) SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 160 SBD) Titanium-polyalloy hull (rated at 45 RU) WDF GROUND MECHA AS OF 10.2417 DESTROIDS The Wedge Defense Force still fields the largest Destroid force known. All other military organizations, including GENOM Corporation's Military Arm, lag behind in this department, although GENOM has superior numbers of armored land vehicles. THE WEDGE DEFENSE FORCE LIGHT DESTROIDS The WDF currently fields four types of light Destroid: two space models and two ground-based models. LOCUST The venerable Locust is the second oldest Destroid still in production and service in a front-line military organization. Small, spindly, difficult to hit and fleet of foot, the Locust is still the closest thing to an ideal all-terrain scouting vehicle to be found. Its design has been updated time and again over the years, and few Locusts in service today are factory stock; the design is not particularly open to modification, but it is so well-known by mecha technicians everywhere that it can nevertheless be modified with comparative ease. There are reports of modified Locusts mounting mortars, target-designation gear for orbital assault satellites, even small tactical nuclear missiles. The description below is for a "typical" Locust. NAME/MODEL#: LCT-3V Locust DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: WDF Armory COMBAT DESIGNATION: Scout Destroid CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: ExoSalusia CV-202 power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Bipedal locomotors (legs) CRUISE SPEED: 105 kph MAXIMUM SPEED: 180 kph CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic interface and auto-balancer MANEUVER RATING: 5 WEAPONS: One Taim & Bak KX5 laser cannon Two WDF Armory GU-11A "Vulcan II" 25mm autocannons SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 40 SBD) Ferroceramic reinforced titanium hull (rated at 20 RU) INGRAM The Ingram has what may be the longest and most colorful history of any WDF Destroid. It has gone through many retrofits since its first run off the assembly line in 2058, when it was introduced as a limited-run police patrol Destroid on New Japan. The first major refit occurred just after the infamous Ark of Babylon incident in 2059: what was at the time new polymer technology was used to totally replace the existing armor as well as the armor portions damaged during the conflict. This new armor, which was fitted to look precisely as before, was 50-70% tougher, and admittedly more belonged on military mecha than one designated for civilian police; then again, with the mecha crime situation on New Japan being what it was, the SV2 police organization was, for all intents and purposes, a military force. Unfortunately, the refit had barely finished when SV2 was cancelled under rather mysterious circumstances. As the project split, Shinohara Heavy Industies (SHI), whose reputation was tarnished in the Ark affair, continued to produce the AV-98 as the civilian defense model for a brief time, but slowly developed new models, most for orbital construction and defense. It sold relatively well, and the Ingram-style "Hardhat" became a common sight among the more well-heeled general contractors of the galaxy. Its civil-defense cousin faded into obscurity. After the WDF's reconstruction began in 2280, the two surviving Ingrams from the original production run were transferred to the WDF Armory facility in New Avalon for "uses in experimental mecha research". Improvments for heavier Destroids and even some variable configuration mecha were tested and debugged, due to Ingram's relatively easy disassembly and re-assembly. Shinohara Industries, after seeing the results, decided to produce the retooled Destroid as a versatile militia/home defense mecha. The WDF took out an exclusive contract on some of the alterations -- the improved armaments they added, for example -- but the modifications to the Destroid's superstructure were left unchanged in the general-production model. The statistics below are those of a WDF-type AV-98A-1 Ingram II. NAME/MODEL#: AV-98A-1 Ingram II DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Shinohara Heavy Industries/WDF Armory COMBAT DESIGNATION: Light attack Destroid CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: SHI Icarus Mk III illudium-modulated fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Bipedal locomotors (legs) CRUISE SPEED: 55 kph FLANK SPEED: 100 kph CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic interface and auto-balancer MANEUVER RATING: 4 WEAPONS: One SHI 35mm "revolver" cannon (6 APFSDS projectiles) One WDF Armory T.a3 90mm Tesla rifle (20 plasma warheads) One WDF Armory focused particle beam saber SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Chempat shields (rated at 50 SBD) One WDF Armory focused local force shield (forearm mount) SHI 98-I Durallex Custom armored hull (rated at 55 RU) MACHINE WEAPON The Machine Weapon is perhaps the only Destroid never to be given a catchier nickname. Designs for the original Machine Weapon, the venerable RX-7, were recovered from the remains of Noriko Takaya's wrecked Buster Machine shortly after her rescue by UPNS personnel in 1989; the Yards' Armory (to become the WDF Armory on the Wedge Defense Force's formation in 1992) produced several thousand unmodified RX-7s before changing to the improved RX-7A-1 standard, which was the WDF's standard light space Destroid for most of the Golden Age, superceded near the end by the RX-8. The current Machine Weapon, RX-9, was developed during the Reconstruction, using data gleaned from the WDF Armory and Shinohara Heavy Industries' cooperative Project Ingram. NAME/MODEL#: Machine Weapon RX-9 DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: WDF Armory COMBAT DESIGNATION: Light space Destroid CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: ExoSalusia CV-202 power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM, GROUND: Bipedal locomotors (legs) PROPULSION SYSTEM, AEROSPACE: Two Rolls-Royce AF-9A axial fusion turbines (rated at 125 KTU) CRUISE SPEED, GROUND: 50 kph FLANK SPEED, GROUND: 95 kph SPEED RATING, AEROSPACE: 90 MGLT CONTROL SYSTEM: WDF Armory W-4 positive/negative body feedback system with cybernetic weapons-control link; optional tunable cybernetic interface MANEUVER RATING, GROUND: 4 MANEUVERABILITY RATING, AEROSPACE: 45 DPF NAVIGATION: Convergent Technologies Ministar-G computer system FTL: None WEAPONS: Two Taim & Bak KX5 laser cannons Two WDF Armory AIM-34-A Javelin heat-seeking missiles SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Novaldex shields (rated at 20 SBD) SHI 98-I Durallex Custom armored hull (rated at 45 RU) GUNDAM F91 The Gundam F91 is the latest model of Gundam Improved Destroid to come from the independent Destroid Improvement Group. The DIG specializes in taking standard Destroid chassis and fitting them out with the finest available equipment, making the most effective platform possible with the available technology. Their legal division excels in persuading disparate corporate entities to allow their proprietary technologies to be used in their products, and the result is a high-quality product -- but one which is extremely expensive, and both difficult and costly to repair. The WDF is one of the few organizations with the funding and desire to purchase such specialty products, although the DIG doesn't seem to mind their narrow market share -- they appear to be motivated simply by the technology itself. The F91 is based on the chassis of the standard Machine Weapon RX-9, just as the previous Gundams were based on the RX-7, RX-7A-1, and RX-8. It incorporates a number of cutting-edge technologies into a package which is powerful, reliable, and compact -- if mystifying to technicians. The F91 is also a temperamental machine which requires a good deal of skill to operate well, and as such is found only in the hands of the most qualified of the WDF's space Destroid pilots. It is the only light space Destroid currently in service to be equipped with a hyperspace motivator. NAME/MODEL#: Gundam Improved Destroid F91 DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Destroid Improvement Group COMBAT DESIGNATION: Light space Destroid CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: GENOM I-3a solar ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM, GROUND: Bipedal locomotors (legs) PROPULSION SYSTEM, AEROSPACE: GENOM P-sx7.4 twin ion engines (rated at 230 KTU) CRUISE SPEED, GROUND: 55 kph FLANK SPEED, GROUND: 105 kph SPEED RATING, AEROSPACE: 130 MGLT CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic interface with auto-equalizer MANEUVER RATING, GROUND: 4 MANEUVERABILITY RATING, AEROSPACE: 75 DPF NAVIGATION: GENOM N-s6 Navcon computer system FTL: Incom GBk-585 motivator drive unit (hyperspace) WEAPONS: One ArMek SW-5GP particle cannon gun pod Two GENOM M-g2 General Purpose Warhead Launchers One WDF Armory focused particle beam saber SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Novaldex shields (rated at 80 SBD) One WDF Armory focused local force shield (forearm mount) Ferroceramic reinforced titanium hull (rated at 30 MEDIUM DESTROIDS REXTRON The RexTron was commissioned by Gryphon as a birthday present to Dr. Andrew Petrarca. It is named after, and resembles, an imaginary giant robot hero invented by Dr. Petrarca and his brother in their childhood. After the initial ceremony in which the RexTron prototype was presented to Dr. Petrarca, JMDSI put the RexTron into general production; the silly, whimsical names of its weapons make it a favorite among Salusian pilots in the WDF and Imperial Salusian Guards, who like to shout them out in combat. The RexTron has staggering firepower and amazing toughness for its size, but is slow and unmaneuverable compared to other medium Destroids, despite its jump jets. NAME/MODEL#: RT-99 RexTron DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Joe Martin Destruction Systems, Interstellar COMBAT DESIGNATION: Medium assault Destroid CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: CoreTech 299 fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Bipedal locomotors (legs) Four AFA limited-burn turbojets CRUISE SPEED: 45 kph FLANK SPEED: 80 kph JUMP RANGE, 1 G: 300 m CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic interface with auto-balancer MANEUVER RATING: 2 WEAPONS: Two JMDSI-667 Particle Space MASER Plasma Beams One JMDSI-668 Particle Space MASER Plasma Beam Saber One JMDSI MIM-111 Nuke-O-Matic WonderMissile (tactical nuclear warhead) SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting JMDSI-669 Anti Particle Space MASER Plasma Beam Deflector Shields (rated at 100 SBD) Polymer-ceramic reinforced durasteel hull (rated at 75 RU) SHADOW HAWK The Shadow Hawk is another venerable design, dating back to the early 2080s, when it was introduced as a heavy Destroid. Later advances, such as the MHP series and the never-constructed but fully-designed Tetsujin, caused it to be downrated to a medium Destroid during the 2100s, but all during the Golden Age the Hawk served as one of the mainstays of the WDF's Destroid fleet. Equally adept at defense and offense, maneuverable and fast enough to perform some reconnaissance work and yet mounting enough firepower and armor to slug it out with other medium units, the Shadow Hawk is an excellent and flexible design, which accounts for its longevity. There is also a model of Shadow Hawk, the SHD-2C, which lives up to the name, as it is equipped with a 'shadow' cloaking device similar to that of the Shadow Legios Veritech system. This model is identical in performance, but lacks the K-model's laser cannon. NAME/MODEL#: SHD-2K Shadow Hawk DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Kandowsky Enterprises COMBAT DESIGNATION: Medium all-purpose Destroid CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: CoreTech 275 fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Bipedal locomotors (legs) Two Pratt & Whitney J-90.a3 limited-burn incandescent compressors CRUISE SPEED: 60 kph FLANK SPEED: 100 kph JUMP RANGE, 1 G: 400 m CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic interface with auto-balancer MANEUVER RATING: 3 WEAPONS: One Browning/WDF Armory AC.5 55mm cannon (20 rounds APFSDS ammunition) One Magna HellStar particle cannon One Martell ML-1 laser cannon Two Zippo FCF-20 heavy flame throwers Two racks of 2 WDF Armory GPM-17 Thorn missiles SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Novaldex shields (rated at 65 SBD) Ferroceramic reinforced polycarbide hull (rated at 55 RU) SABRE The Sabre, introduced in 2340, marked the return to operation of Zardon's famed, and long-defunct, Koensayr Weapon Works. Most famous for the BTL-4A "Myrmidon" fighter-bomber, KWW had been just beginning to experiment with Destroids when it disappeared into corporate oblivion following the bombing of its corporate headquarters in 1985. Upon its reformation (financed by Arrek Koensayr, then the latest of the Koensayr line, who remade his family's fortune in the arenas of Solaris VII), the company performed a number of decisive moves: it recovered the production rights to the Myrmidon and resumed production, which had ceased at the last contract-building factory two years before, thus extending the craft's already-stupendous 350-plus-year production run indefinitely; and it began producing a Destroid, the personal design of the company's refounder. The Sabre prototype was constructed two years -before- Koensayr's refounding, built by the hands of Arrek Koensayr and his crew chief, Gary "Gut" Gorman, in the tech-pits of Solaris. It fought well, and won its pilot the money he needed to recreate his ancestors' corporation; placed in production, it became popular with the Zardon Guards and Royal Salusian Armed Forces alike. Its gladiatorial roots are obvious in its equipment and the fighting style most Sabre pilots adopt. NAME/MODEL#: SSB-1A Sabre DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Koensayr Weapon Works COMBAT DESIGNATION: Medium Destroid CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: Slayn & Korpil Mm.9A power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Bipedal locomotors (legs) Two Slayn & Korpil Ta-9 limited-burn turbojets CRUISE SPEED: 65 kph FLANK SPEED: 115 kph JUMP RANGE, 1 G: 375 m CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic interface MANEUVER RATING: 3 WEAPONS: One Fusigon Razor particle cannon Four Machiko Z.3 15mm autocannons One ArMek TzG-1 focused particle beam saber SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Novaldex shields (rated at 55 SBD) One ArMek TzG-2 focused local force shield (forearm mount) Polymer-ablative-reinforced quadanium steel hull (rated at 65 RU) SUPER SABRE The Destroid Improvement Group saw great potential in the Koensayr SSB-1A, and so approached the corporation in 2345 with their standard request of permission to modify the machine's design along their usual lines. Koensayr refused, but offered a counterproposal: a joint project between the two design groups, with final production rights going to Koensayr with a revenue percentage directed to the DIG. The project was delayed by a number of factors: though the joint project was agreed to in principle, the particulars took quite a while to hammer out, and when they were, both the DIG and Koensayr had to fight off takeover bids by GENOM Corporation in the early fifties. As a result of the massive reorganization of the DIG which resulted (the group was essentially destroyed as a corporate entity and had to be rebuilt from the ground up), the joint Sabre development project was not kicked off until 2387. The result of this long-awaited meeting of the minds, unveiled in early 2390, was the Super Sabre, a Sabre-based medium space Destroid with impressive qualities. Very recognizably a member of the Sabre family, the Super Sabre displays excellent aerospace potency while sacrificing only a bit of its ground-based power. It is commonly found teamed with the DIG's Gundam light space Destroids in operational units. NAME/MODEL#: SSB-4 Super Sabre DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Koensayr/DIG COMBAT DESIGNATION: Medium space Destroid CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: Korbal M.19 power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM, GROUND: Bipedal locomotors (legs) PROPULSION SYSTEM, AEROSPACE: Two Pratt & Whitney FJ-60E axial fusion turbines (rated at 300 KTU) CRUISE SPEED, GROUND: 50 kph FLANK SPEED, GROUND: 95 kph SPEED RATING, AEROSPACE: 90 MGLT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic interface with auto-equalizer MANEUVER RATING, GROUND: 3 MANEUVERABILITY RATING, AEROSPACE: 50 DPF NAVIGATION: Koensayr CC.4 computer system FTL: Slayn & Korpil XG5 motivator drive unit (hyperdrive) WEAPONS: One Fusigon LongTooth extended-range particle cannon Four Taim & Bak KX2 laser cannons One WDF Armory focused particle beam saber SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Novaldex shields (rated at 60 SBD) One WDF Armory focused local force shield (forearm mount) Polymer-ablative-reinforced titanium steel hull (rated at 50 RU) TREBUCHET/CATAPULT/BALLISTA General Dynamics, an Earth-based corporation which was the original producer of the M1 main battle tank, entered the Destroid field in 2104 with its moderately successful TG-1 series. The two TG-1 Destroids, both missile-carriers, are still found in some independent organizations and garrison forces today. To commemorate the return of the WDF (and, say the cynics, cash in on it), GD introduced the TG-2 series of missile-carriers in 2382, and they quickly became favorites of commanders favoring strategic bombardments. The TG-2 series Destroid is available in three varieties, which are differentiated by a single letter in their designation and their operational nickname. All share a common chassis and many standard components, differing in their armament layouts (and the targeting systems therefore) and in the fact that one of them, the TG-2C Ballista, is a space Destroid. Slightly hampered by their lack of jump jets, the ground-based TG-2 Destroids are nevertheless agile and speedy enough to avoid most harm, and tough enough to survive whatever scrapes they might encounter; the TG-2C has similar space performance. NAME/MODEL#: TG-2A Trebuchet / TG-2B Catapult / TG-2C Ballista DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: General Dynamics COMBAT DESIGNATION: Medium missile-carrying Destroid (TG-2C: medium space Destroid) CREW: 1 pilot, 1 astromech droid optional POWER SYSTEM: GD A.404 fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Bipedal locomotors (legs) TG-2C AEROSPACE PROPULSION SYSTEM: Two Rolls-Royce AF-9C axial fusion turbines (rated at 275 KTU) CRUISE SPEED: 60 kph FLANK SPEED: 95 kph TG-2C AEROSPACE SPEED RATING: 80 MGLT CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic interface with auto-balancer MANEUVER RATING: 4 TG-2C AEROSPACE MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 45 DPF WEAPONS: TG-2A: Two racks of fifteen WDF Armory standard-rail munitions Two Taim & Bak KX4 laser cannons TG-2B: Two racks of twenty WDF Armory GPM-17 Thorn missiles Two Taim & Bak KX4 laser cannons TG-2C: Two Krupx MG7.a micro-photon torpedo launchers (10 torpedoes each) Two Taim & Bak KX4 laser cannons SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Chempat shields (rated at 55 SBD) Ferroceramic reinforced polycarbide hull (rated at 50 RU) HEAVY DESTROIDS WARHAMMER The Warhammer holds the distinction of being the oldest Destroid design still in production today. When it was introduced by the Royal Salusian Armory (now ExoSalusia Industries' arms division), it was the heaviest Destroid ever seen in civilized space, massing a then-incredible seventy tons and mounting more weapons than any other mobile weapon platform available. Heralded as the first assault Destroid, it was downrated to a heavy unit in 2002 with the introduction of the WDF Armory's stupendous MHP-2 "Monster". Like its contemporaries, the Locust and the Shadow Hawk, the Warhammer is very rarely found in factory-stock condition. The stats below are, again, for a "typical" Warhammer. NOTE: The Imperial Salusian Guards designate their WHM-6R Destroids "Tomahawk" rather than "Warhammer". NAME/MODEL#: WHM-6R Warhammer DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: ExoSalusia Industries COMBAT DESIGNATION: Heavy Destroid CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: Startron 280 fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Bipedal locomotors (legs) CRUISE SPEED: 45 kph FLANK SPEED: 85 kph CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic linkage MANEUVER RATING: 2 WEAPONS: Two Fusigon Razor particle cannons Two Taim & Bak KX5 laser cannons Two Taim & Bak KX1a laser cannons Two WDF Armory GU-11A "Vulcan II" 25mm autocannons Six WDF Armory standard-rail munitions SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 115 SBD) Polymer-ceramic reinforced quadanium steel hull (rated at 90 RU) RIFLEMAN Incom's Rifleman is in an interesting position; although not a space Destroid, it is most commonly found stationed aboard spacecraft. Light for a heavy Destroid at sixty-one tons, the Rifleman rarely enters combat directly. It serves to this day in the role for which it was initially designed in 2011: anti-aircraft defense. Special emplacements on the decks of most WDF carriers, including the Bengal class, Confederation class, the SDF-23, and the Battlestars hold Riflemen as a kind of manned hyper-turret; such emplacements are being retrofitted to many GENOM and WDF-operated Star Destroyers as well. Being posted to a ground-based Rifleman is an often dull and always unglamorous job. When serving in its designated role, however, the Rifleman is still an unmatched defensive weapon. Its specialized sensor suite can pick out an airborne target miles away, and its heavy laser cannons and autoguns can destroy even the toughest fightercraft or flying bomb in seconds, often before the pilot, if there is one, even realizes he is being tracked. These powerful weapons can be devastating when used against ground targets, but it takes considerable gunnery skill to convince the air-target tracking system to work effectively against such targets. The Rifleman's relatively weak armor is also a disadvantage in combat, as the machine does not have additional maneuverability to make up for it. NOTE: The Imperial Salusian Guards designate their RFL-3N Destroids "Raidar X" (pronounced "Radar Ten") rather than "Rifleman". We don't know why. NAME/MODEL#: RFL-3N Rifleman DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Incom COMBAT DESIGNATION: Heavy anti-aerospacecraft Destroid CREW: 1 pilot (RFL-3C: 1 pilot, 1 weapon-systems officer) POWER SYSTEM: Incom 240 MGc cryogenic power cells and ionization reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Bipedal locomotors (legs) CRUISE SPEED: 42 kph FLANK SPEED: 90 kph CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic interface MANEUVER RATING: 2 WEAPONS: Two BlasTech CG-4 naval turbolaser cannons Two Sperry AA-12 45mm autocannons Two Martell ML-1 laser cannons SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting XoLynn shields (rated at 75 SBD) Titanium steel hull (rated at 40 RU) ARCHER Introduced in 2125 as the heavy counterpart to the TG-1 medium missile Destroid series, the General Dynamics ARC-2R Archer heavy Destroid has outlived its smaller counterparts in terms of production. Heavily armored and sturdily constructed, the Archer can hold its own in short-range combat despite its limited close-range firepower. The machine has surprising agility, and woe to any enemy who gets within range of the Archer's enormous fists. At range the Destroid's power is nothing short of devastating, with its sophisticated targeting system and enormous payload of heavy missiles which can rain destruction from miles away. Archers are often found matched in heavy combat teams with Warhammers. NOTE: The Imperial Salusian Guards designate their ARC-2R Destroids "Longbow" rather than "Archer". NAME/MODEL#: ARC-2R Longbow DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: General Dynamics COMBAT DESIGNATION: Heavy Destroid CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: GD D.190 fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Bipedal locomotors (legs) CRUISE SPEED: 45 kph FLANK SPEED: 80 kph CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic interface with indirect-fire targeting co-lock MANEUVER RATING: 2 WEAPONS: Two racks of 20 WDF Armory standard-rail munitions Two racks of 50 WDF Armory GPM-17 Thorn missiles Four Borstel RG4 laser cannons SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 120 SBD) Ferroceramic-laminate-reinforced titanium steel hull (rated at 100 RU) BLACK KNIGHT In the early 2200s, a corporation called Dynatech Systems exploded onto the interstellar arms scene with its first and only Destroid offering, the legendary Black Knight. Possessed of stunning maneuverability and speed for a machine of its size, the Black Knight made up for its relatively light weapons load with its agility and physical power. As a hand-to-hand combat machine it was unmatched, and its long-range main gun gave it considerable punch for its assigned purposes. Dynatech marketed the Knight as a 'Mech for all seasons: reconnaissance was not outside its speedy grasp, nor were its massive strength and heavy main gun unsuited to the task of one-on-one combat with any other Destroid. As part of a combat team the Knight could provide long-range support fire or close-action cover; alone, it made an excellent sneak and saboteur. It sold wildly and made Dynatech's owners rich. Unfortunately, there was a fatal flaw in the original Black Knight: its revolutionary cybernetic control system, which, when combined with its oversized engine and revolutionary actuator design, gave it such amazing speed and maneuverability, was a gated-neural-flow system, and as such could feed back into the pilot's neurological matrix. In the heat of battle this sometimes led to various unusual forms of brain damage -- Knight pilots became paranoid, berserk, or worse: outright psychotic. When this flaw was discovered, Dynatech scrambled to find a fix for the problem. That was the easy part; bringing in all the defective units for repair was more difficult. To track down the crazier of the Knight pilots, Dynatech appealed to the WDF, who sent a special unit out in 2214 to catch them. Dynatech was bankrupted and ruined by the debacle, but most of the Black Knights were repaired and put back into service. Despite their rather ominous reputation and the difficulty of obtaining parts for them, many are still found in service today thanks to their still-impressive capabilities. Recently, the WDF Armory has been looking into the possibility of obtaining production rights to the design from their current holder, which is none other than GENOM Corporation (who absorbed the remains of Dynatech and used their neural-net research in other control-system projects). NAME/MODEL#: APD-1(A) Black Knight DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: Dynatech Industries COMBAT DESIGNATION: Heavy multi-purpose Destroid CREW: 1 pilot POWER SYSTEM: GENOM R-44A power converter and fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Bipedal locomotors (legs) Three Pratt & Whitney LJ-2a limited-burn turbojets CRUISE SPEED: 60 kph FLANK SPEED: 125 kph JUMP RANGE, 1 G: 350 m CONTROL SYSTEM: Dynatech 2000a cybernetic gate interface MANEUVER RATING: 3 WEAPONS: One Capstone Arms TR.3 150mm Tesla rifle Two Martell ML-2a laser cannons SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Chempat shields (rated at 100 SBD) Dynatech FerroFibre laminated composite hull (rated at 80 RU) ASSAULT DESTROIDS MONSTER The WDF Armory Monster is probably the most famous Destroid in the universe. Part Destroid, part mobile command center, and part artillery station, the MHP-2 (insiders at the Armory claim the designation's acronym stands for "Mobile Hosement Platform") is the slowest, least maneuverable Destroid ever constructed, but in the face of its staggering firepower and legendary toughness, few opponents can stand for long. Outflanking a Monster does little good, since its shielding and armor is equally strong front and rear, and at least one of its deadly weapon arms can be brought to bear on any facing. No Monster has ever been brought down by anything less than an overwhelmingly superior force. Monsters are used as defensive turrets on starships, much like their smaller cousin the Rifleman. Additionally, they perform static defense of ground installations as well as their originally-concieved ideal mission: inexorable destruction of an enemy line or fortress. With their Rheinmetall helix cannons, the heaviest beam weapons ever mounted on a Destroid and the only Destroid energy weapons capable of indirect fire, they can even be used as fire-support machines, showing a surprising amount of versatility. There exists, also, a variant of Monster, the MHP-2A-1, which sacrifices one of its four main guns in order to open up space inside the cavernous torso for an eight-man infantry/commando squad. NAME/MODEL#: MHP-2 Monster DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: WDF Armory COMBAT DESIGNATION: Assault Destroid CREW: 1 pilot, 1 gunner, 1 commander (optional) POWER SYSTEM: Thiodyne GZa.4a fusion reactor PROPULSION SYSTEM: Bipedal locomotors (legs) CRUISE SPEED: 25 kph FLANK SPEED: 55 kph CONTROL SYSTEM: Tunable cybernetic interface with auto-balancers and manual backup controls; optional W-4 positive/negative body-feedback control system. Gunnery control is cybernetic-assisted manual with Cyberdyne 14-A target assist computer. MANEUVER RATING: 1 WEAPONS: Four Rheinmetall NG-44A 250mm helix cannons Six Fusigon LongTooth extended-range particle cannons Eight Martell ML-4a.1 laser cannons SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 350 SBD) Ferroceramic-laminated quadanium-steel hull (rated at 225 RU) ARMORED VEHICLES The WDF ground forces still field three types of non-Destroid armored fighting vehicle, or tank, and one all-purpose utility vehicle. The remaining WDF tankers live with a constant but largely imagined fear that they will eventually be phased out entirely in favor of Destroids, and fight with a sort of fierce pride that they're down in their bellies in the mud, not fighting from on high like a Destroid jockey. MM-93 "NAPOLEON" SCOUT TANK The MM-93D "Napoleon" scout tank is, kilo for kilo, the fastest, toughest armored vehicle currently in service. Its short tread base, oversized power plant and heavy-duty independent suspension make it the most agile as well. The Napoleon shines in urban reconnaissance and combat, the arena in which it was originally intended to fight, and has also adapted well to jungle, hill-country, and even desert fighting. Not intended to stand and fight, the Napoleon mounts comparatively light armament -- a single 120mm gun and a 5.56mm point-defense chain-laser -- and the main gun's short barrel renders it all but useless at ranges exceeding 100 meters. The Napoleon excels at outmaneuvering its enemy, rushing in under the guns of heavier foes, and disabling them from the sides or rear. In the hands of a skilled crew, a Napoleon can outmaneuver and defeat even the legendary Locust scout Destroid, and there are confirmed reports of Napoleons destroying Cardassian heavy armor, including grav-tanks, and medium Destroids. The MM-93D is based on the designs of a 3WA Trouble Consultant, Leona Ozaki; the prototype, known as "Bonaparte", still serves with her TC team today. NAME/MODEL#: MM-93D Napoleon DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: British-AnimeTech, Limited COMBAT DESIGNATION: Scout Tank CREW: 1 gunner/commander, 1 driver POWER SYSTEM: AnimeTech AT-2 axial fusion turbine (rated at 200 KTU) PROPULSION SYSTEM: Traction Plus twin-set tread system CRUISE SPEED: 100 kph FLANK SPEED: 170 kph MANEUVER RATING: 5 WEAPONS: One AnimeTech Arms Mini-Rhein 120mm smoothbore cannon One Taim & Bak MPX3 rotary point-defense chain-laser SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 50 SBD) Dalekenium reinforced titanium-steel hull (rated at 20 RU) M1A3 "ABRAMS" MAIN BATTLE TANK The M1A3 is a direct linear descendent of the famed M1 and M1A1 main battle tanks of the late 1900s and early 2000s. That tank, also named "Abrams", was designed and built on Earth some years before First Contact, and saw action in several planetary conflicts in that time. After First Contact, Abrams tanks saw action on Salusia and her territories in the final stages of the Zardon Wars, and on United Galactica frontier worlds in several of the Kilrathi Wars, serving under the banner of the United Nations of Earth, the Royal Salusian Armed Forces, the United Galactica Army and the Wedge Defense Force. The design was finally retired in 2190, over two centuries after the first Abrams was fielded. During the Reconstruction, the WDF Armory resurrected the design with several modern technological advancements to produce the externally identical M1A2, a fusion-powered juggernaut of a tank. The M1A2, however, was somewhat undergunned, as its main gun was still a smoothbore cannon. It was not until the M1A3 was first deployed in 2392 that the Abrams again became a truly potent battlefield weapon. Today, the M1A3 is acknowledged as the premier tracked battle tank: fast, agile, nearly indestructible, and hard-hitting, it can outmatch Destroids of similar tonnage and go almost anywhere its walking cousins can go. NAME/MODEL#: M1A3 Abrams DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: WDF Armory COMBAT DESIGNATION: Main battle tank CREW: One driver, one gunner, one commander POWER SYSTEM: AnimeTech AT-7a axial fusion turbine (rated at 650 KTU) PROPULSION SYSTEM: SuperTrac Ft-03 tread system CRUISE SPEED: 75 kph FLANK SPEED: 120 kph MANEUVER RATING: 3 WEAPONS: One Rheinmetall NG-44A 250mm helix cannon Two Martell ML-4a laser cannons Two standard munition rails One Taim & Bak MPX3 rotary point-defense chain-laser SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Chempat Shields (rated at 105 SBD) Composite-reinforced quadanium steel hull (rated at 100 RU) M1B "PATTON" MAIN BATTLE GRAV-TANK The next development of the classic M1 platform, the M1B has the same hull and weapons layout as its immediate predecessor, the M1A3, but is equipped with a grav-drive system instead of the classic tread drive of the previous models. This modification makes the Patton faster and more agile than the Abrams, but it is also trickier to control, requiring more skill and concentration from the driver. In addition, the reaction from firing the main gun can cause the tank to change course abruptly if the driver is not warned and adequately prepared to compensate. NAME/MODEL#: M1B Patton DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: WDF Armory COMBAT DESIGNATION: Main battle grav-tank CREW: One driver, one gunner, one commander POWER SYSTEM: AnimeTech AT-7b axial fusion turbine (rated at 670 KTU) PROPULSION SYSTEM: XoLyyn gL-A5b gravitic levitation drive CRUISE SPEED: 85 kph FLANK SPEED: 140 kph MANEUVER RATING: 4 WEAPONS: One Rheinmetall NG-44A 250mm helix cannon Two Martell ML-4a laser cannons Two standard munition rails One Taim & Bak MPX3 rotary point-defense chain-laser SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting Chempat Shields (rated at 105 SBD) Composite-reinforced quadanium steel hull (rated at 100 RU) UV-460 "MEERKAT" UTILITY VEHICLE The original concept for the UV-460 was developed in 2397 by MegaZone, who was then Fleet Admiral and WDF Commander in Chief. His call for proposals to the military vehicles industry, released that year, requested proposals for "a wheeled or tracked ground vehicle capable of operating in all L, M, and N-class environments and transporting a squad of infantry (ten standard humanoids, each with the usual equipment). This platform should be adaptible to specialized assignments, perhaps with a modular interior, and should be armored sufficient to protect the personnel inside from harm in battlefield situations." The winning proposal was for the ExoSalusia UV-460, a six-wheeled, all-wheel-drive, fusion-powered vehicle whose comfortably appointed interior and crew-safety features made it an instant favorite of the WDF's soldiers. They were quickly nicknamed "staff cars" by the soldiers who rode in them, and are seen today at almost all WDF installations and encampments, ubiquitous and unstoppable. NAME/MODEL#: UV-460 Meerkat DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: ExoSalusia Industries COMBAT DESIGNATION: Combat utility vehicle CREW: One driver; up to eleven soldiers as passengers POWER SYSTEM: ExoSalusia GVT-3 axial fusion turbine (rated at 150 KTU) PROPULSION SYSTEM: ExoSalusia Surefoot-2 all-wheel-drive CRUISE SPEED: 70 kph FLANK SPEED: 150 kph MANEUVER RATING: 4 WEAPONS: None, although crews have been known to mount a light machinegun or laser cannon on one of the side panels or the centerline of the engine hood. SHIELDS/ARMOR: Composite reinforced titanium hull (rated at 30 RU) CYCLONES The old VR-0XX Cyclone series was retired in 2382, during the WDF's reunification planning stages and replaced with the new VR-200 series. The primary differences between the VR-0XX and VR-200 series are armor strength and motive power potential. The following performance statistic apply to the entire 200 series, except the VR-238. DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER: British-AnimeTech, Limited CREW: One POWER SYSTEM: British-AnimeTech J-14 microfusion turbine PROPULSION SYSTEM: AnimeTech 84a-VR5 fixed-rotor magnetic drive CRUISE SPEED: 120 kph FLANK SPEED: 315 kph AEROSPACE SPEED RATING: 45 MGLT MANEUVER RATING: 1 AEROSPACE MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 50 DPF SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 30 SBD) Composite reinforced alloy armor (rated at 30 RU) NOTE: VR-200 series Cyclones are intended for use with CVR-5 personal armor. If used with the older CVR-3, the shield rating is 20 SBD, and the armor rating is 25 RU. WEAPONS: VR-252 Warrior Cyclone The Warrior is the standard-mode Cyclone, replacing the old VR-052 Battler Cyclone. It is armed with a dozen GPM-17 Thorn general purpose mini-missiles under the front fairing and a pair of GPM-17I "Firethorn" incendiary missiles in each forearm housing. VR-241 War-Ax Cyclone The War-Ax is the replacement for the VR-041 Sabre Cyclone, and replaces two of the Warrior's four Firethorn missiles with a CADS-5 "battleax" vibrating molecular forcefield blade weapon. VR-241 Cyclones are usually used by elite commando units. VR-229 Panther Cyclone This is the long-awaited replacement for the VR-029 Predator Cyclone, and is used only by the Shadow Security Squad. Like its predecessor, the VR-229 is equipped with a personal cloaking device, the improved PC-3, which has better image-suppression and motion-detector elusive capabilities than its predecessor. The VR-229 can only be cloaked if used in conjunction with CVR-7 or CVR-7A Personal Body Armor. Its onboard armament is comprised of a CADS-1 saber (which may be replaced with a CADS-5 battleax), twelve fairing-mounted Firethorn missiles, and one ranged, arm-mounted weapon (which is usually a Phaser Mk 4B in a modified housing, but may be replaced with either a Remington AutoAssault-44 plasma shotgun or a Walther M-96 sniper rifle). VR-238 Firefly Cyclone The VR-238 replaces the VR-038 Light Combat Cyclone. It is smaller and lighter than the standard designs, and has the following performance differences: CRUISE SPEED: 150 kph FLANK SPEED: 350 kph AEROSPACE SPEED RATING: 60 MGLT MANEUVER RATING: 1 AEROSPACE MANEUVERABILITY RATING: 60 DPF SHIELDS/ARMOR: Forward/Rear Projecting ExoSalusia shields (rated at 20 SBVD) Composite reinforced alloy armor (rated at 20 RU) PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT OF THE WDF AS OF 10.2417 Currently, there is only one standard-issue body armor type in the Wedge Defense Force. All WDF uniforms are made of a composite armor fabric which gives them limited impact, ballistic, and ablative protective capabilities, but all personnel entering serious combat conditions are outfitted with CVR-5 Personal Body Armor. CVR-5 is completely compatible with all mecha systems, just as CVR-3; any Cyclone of the VR-100 or VR-0XX series may be used with CVR-5. CVR-5 Personal Body Armor CVR-5 is a self-contained armored environment suit. It is unpowered, but lightweight and well-engineered so as not to interfere with the wearer's motions. A suit of CVR-5 is equipped with enough atmospheric reserve to function in hostile environments for up to twelve hours, and can withstand temperature and pressure extremes from outer space (hard vacuum) to a depth of approximately 2,000 feet and from 100 to 500 Kelvin. Its outer structure is rated at 10 RU (twice as strong as the old CVR-3 suit) and capable of resisting most known light battlefield weapons; it is bulletproof, impact-resistant, and reflective/semi-ablative. Over time, its defensive capabilities will diminish as the armor absorbs damage and weakens; the WDF follows a strict policy of replacement after 100 logged combat hours. CVR-5 is also equipped with an ExoSalusia microshield generator rated at 10 SBD. The forearm guards of CVR-5 armor are equipped with supplementary power packs and mounting brackets similar to a Starfleet Armory Phaser Mk 2B, such that a Phaser One can be mounted in each forearm guard and used as Phaser Two. Both phasers are tied to the Tactical Helmet Virtual Reality system. The helmet of a suit of CVR-5 is equipped with a full Tactical Helmet Virtual Reality generator, enabling the wearer to sense as if he or she were not wearing a helmet at all. In fighter variants, this device can be tied directly to the fighter's tactical sensor suite, enabling the pilot to see the outside world without intervening cockpit structures to cause blind spots. In Veritech fighters, a battroid-mode P.O.V. simulator is currently being tested for those pilots who hardlink their craft. CVR-5 is fully equipped for cyberjack interface, with optional plug sites in all popular locations and external jacks in the back of the helmet unit and on both forearm guards. An optional onboard cybermodem variant for combat decking is available. CVR-7A Personal Body Armor CVR-7A is to CVR-7 as CVR-5 is to CVR-3; it is a strengthened version of the old Shadow CVR, with a Tactical Helmet Virtual Reality, all cybersystems optional, and mounting brackets for phasers, in addition to an improved cloak coprocessor to be used with the VR-129's PC-3 cloak. Note that, while CVR-7 and CVR-7A may be used with any Cyclone, only the VR-129 or VR-029 will enable the wearer to cloak. The CVR only possesses the coprocessor, not the actual field generator, although it is equipped with a cooperative-field 10-SBD shield generator like CVR-5's. The reason for this division of cloak components is a security measure. CVR-7A's hull strength is also rated at 10 RU. PERSONAL WEAPONRY OF THE WDF AS OF 10.2417 SIDEARM: ElectroMax 520 The Continuity Technologies ElectroMax 520 is a powerful, easy-to-use particle projector pistol with sixteen parallel power coils for a heavy, yet compact discharge, rapid discharge rate, and high penetrating power. It is the general issue sidearm of the WDF Tactical Division and can be outfitted with all the standard accessories of the old and time-honored ElectroMag 112 (flash suppressor, silencer, laser converter, etc.). SIDEARM: Starfleet Armory Phaser Mk 2B This weapon, more commonly known as "Phaser Two" for short, is a phased-energy weapon, and is the standard sidearm of the WDF Navy and Naval security forces, including the Wedge Defense Force Marine Corps. It consists of a power-amplifying handgrip assembly with a smaller, less powerful, but more compact weapon, the Phaser Mk 1B ("Phaser One") locked into its mechanism. Phaser One can be removed from Phaser Two and used independently, in situations where its more concealable size or the fact that it is not obviously a weapon is an asset. SIDEARM: PlasmaTronix 2000 The PlasmaTronix 2000 is the secondary sidearm, chosen by those WDF personnel who desire a more powerful weapon. It is much more powerful than the ElectroMax 520, but has a much more limited range, and tends to be a lot more obvious than its predecessor when in use, since it is a projected plasma weapon rather than a small particle gun. CARBINE: GENOM D.4A The D.4A blaster carbine, standard-issue weapon of the stormtroopers of GENOM's White Legion, has begun to creep into service with WDF Marines and naval security personnel. It is a sturdy, reliable, powerful weapon capable of functioning as a somewhat oversized sidearm or as a shoulder-fired longarm with its collapsible stock, and can fire semi- or fully-automatic. LONGARM: MorganArms/Thompson Model 2127A1 This is the standard-issue longarm of the Tactical Division. Externally a replica of the famous M1927A1 "Tommygun" (right down to the drum powerpack), the M2127A1 is a rapid-firing, very accurate, powerful laser weapon. Note that the M1927A1 is still available as well, its effectiveness revolutionized with gravitic penetrator ammunition. LONGARM: Starfleet Armory Phaser Mk 4B This is the famous "phaser rifle", issued on demand to WDF Navy personnel and carried by the Marines. Its design is, aesthetically, somewhat silly-looking, but it is a very powerful weapon indeed. LONGARM: Remington AutoAssault-44 Plasma Shotgun This weapon fires a burst of supercharged, superheated plasma in a scattering pattern. It is designed for close-in work and room sweeping. It is not generally issued and is, in fact, just on the border of being a heavy weapon. LONGARM: Walther M-96 Sniper Rifle A powerful and nearly-undetectable weapon, the M-96 is a favorite with the "Black Watch" tac squads which are operated by the Strategic Fleet--there is always at least one member of each "Watch" team equipped with one--and popular with 3WA agents as well. The M-96 is a laser weapon without a visible refractory beam, relying instead on conventional teleoptical sights and its operator's skill, and is very nearly silent. It can be broken down and hidden in a very small case. HEAVY: Starfleet Armory MicroTorp The MicroTorp is just that, a micronized photon torpedo launcher, shoulder-fired or from a bipod/tripod assembly, with a clip of five micro-torpedoes. Good for storming installations, heavy static defense, or breaching the hulls of enemy vessels (which is why the Marines love them so). HEAVY: MorganArms Model 44X Wave Motion Rifle This evil weapon, based on a long-discontinued ExoSalusia Arms design, is in fact a miniaturized, shoulder-fired wave motion gun, drawing from a small, cryogenic wave motion storage cell good for eight shots before recharge. Its use is very rarely authorized. GRENADE: "Mark Two" standard plasma grenade Basically, the power pack from a PlasmaTronix 2000, modified with an overload capacitor, a small electronic timer, and the traditional pin, spoon, and handle. Powerful, compact, and reliable, and if the grenade accoutrements are stripped off, it can even be used to power a sidearm. GRENADE: ExoSalusia Arms Division Model 14 Pacification Grenade The "P-G" is a stun grenade, operating on the same neural-disruption principle as a phaser on stun, except with a thirty-meter-radius field effect. The big advantage here is that, unlike previous, often-ineffective "flash-and-bang" styles, Model 14s work on all known forms of life (though some particularly strong species require repeated hits to go down), and can be retrieved, recharged, and reused almost indefinitely. They usually produce a bright red flash and a discharge noise, but the Model 14A is silent and produces no visual charge (the effects are for the thrower's reference, but are unpopular with the more stealthy WDF personnel). PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES OF THE WDF AS OF 10.2417 There are two personal communications devices in general use by the WDF at this time. The first, and most common, is the Model 1 commbadge, a miniaturized subspace transceiver crafted into the shape of a WDF symbol and affixed to the uniform tunic where the chest badge belongs. This device is actuated by tapping it, and has an effective range of 40,000 km direct. The second, and much less common, communications device in use in the WDF is the old Cybergenix Mark IV communicator, the familiar device with the flip-open antenna grille. The Mark IV has some advantages over the commbadge: its larger power cell means it can maintain low-level transmission (suitable for transporter lock) at all times; it is somewhat more durable; and its signal strength is greater (allowing it to cut through more interference and even, in some cases, active jamming). However, the commbadge is more likely to be taken as part of the uniform by a hostile, and thus left in the custody of the WDF officer, and the Mark IV can be dropped or lost. The Mark IV is usually found only on the persons of antiquarians like Admiral Benjamin D. Hutchins, commander of the Concordia (CVS-65), and his command staff, and some 3WA operatives. (Admiral Hutchins re-instituted production of the Mark IV when he decided he didn't like the commbadge. It should be noted that he wears one anyway, and has, grudgingly, admitted the device's efficacy after it saved him a time or two.) WDF SUPREME COMMANDER RITCHIE, FIELD MARSHAL DAVID (also known as Daver) DESCRIPTION: Supreme Commander in Chief of the entire Wedge Defense Force; Commanding Officer, WDF Tactical Corps CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Office of the Supreme Commander, WDF Wandering Child (SDF-23) FIELD OPERATIONS: 90%+ of operational time NOTES: Field Marshal Ritchie's time as a Veritech pilot has left him with an affinity for the fighter pilot and Destroid jockey alike. He is a popular commander who is known to care about his troops. WDF ADMIRALTY TAKAYA, FLEET ADMIRAL NORIKO DESCRIPTION: Fleet Admiral, WDF Navy CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, WDF Wandering Child (SDF-23) FIELD OPERATIONS: 90%+ of operational time NOTES: Fleet Admiral Takaya is the most senior of the High Command, having joined the Wedge Defense Force three years before the people commonly considered the "core" of the original officer corps. She is the owner of the Experts of Justice headquarters ship Exelion. KIRK, ADMIRAL JAMES T. DESCRIPTION: Commander in Chief, WDF Navy Tactical Fleet CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, WDF Enterprise (NCC-1701) FIELD OPERATIONS: 75% of operational time NOTES: Admiral Kirk is perhaps the Federation Starfleet's most honored and decorated officer. When his superiors made him Chief of Starfleet Operations in 2379 and refused to allow him to continue his field command at the same time, he retired, and joined the Wedge Defense Force three years later, when the WDF purchased the Enterprise, his old command, from Starfleet (which was retiring her) and offered him her center seat. SAAVIK, ADMIRAL DESCRIPTION: Commander in Chief, WDF Navy Strategic Fleet CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, WDF Concordia (CVS-65) FIELD OPERATIONS: 80% of operational time NOTES: Admiral Saavik is the protege and hand-chosen replacement of Admiral Hutchins, her predecessor in Concordia's center seat and the CINCSTRAT position, and was Concordia's Executive Officer before her promotion. MANDEVILLE, ADMIRAL ROBERT E. (also known as ReRob) DESCRIPTION: Commander in Chief, WDF Navy Experimental Fleet; Chief Engineer and Master of the Yards, Utopia Planitia Naval Shipyards; Chief Operating Officer, Virtual Laboratories, Inc. CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, WDF Red October (CCX-300) FIELD OPERATIONS: 15% of operational time NOTES: Admiral Mandeville personally commands each example of a new or revised ship type on its maiden shakedown voyage; his current command is the first of the experimental Mark 4 Typhoon class strategic missile cloakships. CELINE, HAGBARD DESCRIPTION: Commander in Chief, WDF Navy Silent Service; Minister of Defense, Discordian Confederation CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, WDF Leif Eriksson (CNS-001) FIELD OPERATIONS: 50% of operational time NOTES: Hagbard Celine refuses to hold any rank or title other than being addressed as "captain" aboard the Lief Eriksson, which is both the flagship of the WDFN Silent Service and the Discordian Confederation Navy. He coordinates activities between both fleets. REDCLAW, KHOR'AK BAHKTOSH (also known as Bill the Cat) DESCRIPTION: Commander in Chief, WDF Navy Kilrathi Fleet CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, WDF K'tithrak Mang (KVS-213) FIELD OPERATIONS: 90% of operational time NOTES: Khor'ak (a Kilrathi rank equivalent to admiral) Redclaw was the Empire of Kilrah's most celebrated fighter pilot until his capture in 1992 by then-Commander Benjamin D. Hutchins of the Wedge Defense Force in that organization's first contact with Kilrathi forces. After spending two months as a prisoner of war aboard the WDF Wayward Son (SDF-17), Redclaw defected and became a fighter pilot for the WDF. When the WDF disintegrated in 2288, he left the United Galactica in secret and began forming a fleet of Kilrathi vessels, manned by dissident Kilrathi. GENOM CORPORATION MANN, DR. LAWRENCE R. DESCRIPTION: Master, GENOM Corporation CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: GENOM Corporate Operations Centre, New Avalon FIELD OPERATIONS: 5% of operational time NOTES: Dr. Lawrence Mann is the hand-picked successor to Kwei-Chang Caine as master of GENOM Corporation, which is still the most powerful and wealthiest corporation in the known universe. As such he controls all of its business applications and its considerable military arm, which operates as a parallel, albeit smaller, force to the Wedge Defense Force. This would place Dr. Mann and Field Marshal Ritchie at comparable rank levels, but Dr. Mann refuses any rank or title save "Doctor", to which his several doctorate-level degrees certainly entitles him. THRAWN, GRAND ADMIRAL DESCRIPTION: Commander in Chief, GENOM Military Arm Navy CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, Star Dreadnaught Chimaera FIELD OPERATIONS: 90% of operational time NOTES: Grand Admiral Thrawn is Gamilon by birth, and is renowned as a tactical and strategic genius. His complex and hard-to-figure battle plans are famous and feared. SKARNE, GENERAL OTTO DESCRIPTION: Commander in Chief, GENOM Military Arm Ground Forces CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Ground Forces Command Centre, New Avalon FIELD OPERATIONS: 65% of operational time NOTES: General Skarne rose through the ranks of GENOM's elite stormtrooper unit, the White Legion, and his heart is still with that unit's personnel. An exuberant and ebullient man, Otto Skarne is almost impossible to dislike. TANGRIL, GENERAL RAYNA DESCRIPTION: Commander in Chief, GENOM Military Arm Starfighter Forces CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Special Fighter Tactics and Weapons Group, WDF Peacemaker FIELD OPERATIONS: 90%+ of operational time NOTES: General Tangril is responsible for most of the excellent design refinements which have been instrumental in the TIE Fighter line's evolution from simple, utilitarian craft to beyond-the-edge weapon. WDF TACTICAL CORPS CURRIER, MAJOR GENERAL PATRICIA M. DESCRIPTION: Commander in Chief, WDF Fighter Command CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, Victory Veritech Squadron 261 (Concordia) FIELD OPERATIONS: 85%+ of operational time NOTES: General Currier is the only member of the original Eight-Ball Squadron who is still an active, operational Veritech fighter pilot. SMITH, MAJOR GENERAL C. NOEL (also known as Logan) DESCRIPTION: Commander in Chief, WDF Bomber Command CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, Broadsword Bombardment Squadron 12 (Tiger's Claw) FIELD OPERATIONS: 75%+ of operational time ZUKOWSKY, BRIGADIER GENERAL CHERYL A. DESCRIPTION: Chief Test Pilot, WDF Navy Experimental Fleet; Chief Test Pilot, Virtual Laboratories, Incorporated CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, Gunstar Bombardment Squadron 121 (Red October) FIELD OPERATIONS: 75%+ of operational time NOTES: General Zukowsky was a member of the crew of Thundergod One, and has been the principal test pilot on most Mandeville fighter and bomber designs since 2388. ALDZINJAL, GENERAL PERRY DESCRIPTION: Commander in Chief, Wedge Defense Force Marine Corps CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, Armored Assault Unit #4 (Indomitable) FIELD OPERATIONS: 40% of operational time NOTES: General (then Major) Aldzinjal was the commander of the 101st Salusian FTL Cavalry when it was attached to the WDF in 1991. He became a WDF officer upon the WDF's reformation in 2388. BRECKENRIDGE, SERGEANT MAJOR NOAH DESCRIPTION: Sergeant Major of the Corps, WDFMC CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Office of the Sergeant Major of the Corps, WDFMC Headquarters, New Avalon, ZCDS FIELD OPERATIONS: 10% of operational time NOTES: Sgt. Mjr. Breckenridge came to the WDFMC from thirty years of sterling service with the Starfleet Marines. GROSS, VAUGHN DESCRIPTION: Reality CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: None FIELD OPERATIONS: 100% of operational time NOTES: Vaughn Gross holds no rank and has attended only one meeting of the High Command, but is included on the list anyway. He is a wandering free spirit who acts as the Wedge Defense Force's unofficial ambassador to every place he goes. He is, nominally, the WDF's Reality Officer, charged with the awesome responsibility of maintaining the integrity of the entire multiverse. It is a responsibility he shows only a cursory awareness of, but performs admirably nonetheless. BACON, CAPTAIN DEREK G. (also known as Lightnin) DESCRIPTION: Reality's Comic Relief CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Commanding Officer, WDF Tom Servo (MST-3000) FIELD OPERATIONS: 90% of operational time NOTES: Captain Bacon is the Wedge Defense Force's Morale Officer. The maintenance and programming of the Wedge Defense Force Entertainment Network is the responsibility of Captain Bacon and his staff, including Commander Jer Johnson, Reality's Comic Relief's Technician. FAHRVERGNUGEN, LORD WOLFGANG AMADEUS DESCRIPTION: Chief Operating Officer, Fahrvergnugen Industries AG CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: None FIELD OPERATIONS: 1% of operational time NOTES: Lord Fahrvergnugen created the Wedge Rats, the Wedge, and, later on, the first incarnation of the Wedge Defense Force almost single-handedly. The second incarnation of the WDF was born with the aid of a large staff, including Admiral (then-Commander) Hutchins, to whom Fahrvergnugen relinquished the positions of Chief Engineer of the Yards and Master of the Yards in 2383. (Admiral Hutchins further relinquished the position of Master of the Yards to Admiral Mandeville in 2388.) He is a brilliant but somewhat eccentric (read: crazier than a bughouse) scientist with connections throughout the multiverse; his own nature, origins, and such are murky at best, although his motivations are quite clear. Currently, almost all of his time is taken up by the management of Fahrvergnugen Industries AG, the second corporation in the United Federation of Planets. Dated: 10 November 2417 [I'm not sure whose signatures will be here. I compiled the report, even though I was an Expert of Justice at the time; ReRob's signature, Daver's (as CINCWEDGE) and Lord F's should be here too. Others, I don't know about yet.] --END OF FILE --END OF FILE --END OF FILE