Venetir Heavy Space Fighter

(Version 1.01 - Last Modified: 03/30/2003)

Designed primarily as a scout for the Grand Fleet, the Venetir proved itself as a valuable heavy combat fighter, capable of engaging a large number of smaller targets. Carried in small numbers by the Adun Class Carriers, these fighters were able to combat the large Devourer Zerg creatures easier then the Lightning Interceptors. These are used to support the Lightning fighters in all combat roles, but they still possess a powerful sensor suite to aid in reconnaissance missions.

The main weapons of the Venetir are the Photon Rail Guns and the Missile Launchers. Both of which were designed to fit around the sensor suite and the fighter's powerful engine. While there was talk within the Grand Fleet to designs two fighters, one that specializes in reconnaissance and the other that specializes in combat, the arrival of the Zerg stopped such plans. Like the Lightning Interceptor, the Venetir's propulsion system is based around a powerful engine located in the rear of the fighter's main body.

M.D.C. by location:

• Photon Rail Guns (2) - 150 each
• Medium Range Missile Launchers (4) - 150 each
• Long Range Missile Launchers (2) - 200 each
• Wings (2) - 350 each *
• Cockpit - 250
• Main Engine - 400
• Main Body - 1200 **
• Shield Generator - 1800 ***


M.D.C. Armor Rating: 9 (See Mega-Damage Properties for more details on M.D.C. Armor Ratings and M.D.C. Weapon Ratings)
Notes:

*	Depleting the M.D.C. of a wing will reduce the fighter's maneuverability in an atmosphere, causing a penalty of -6 to dodge, and it will also destroy one of the Medium Range Missile Launchers.
**	Depleting the M.D.C. of the Main Body will put the fighter out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity.
***	The shield generator creates a powerful shield around the fighter. At maximum strength the shield has 1800 M.D.C. and regenerates at a rate of 50 M.D.C. per melee round and can remain active indefinitely. If completely depleted, the shield cannot be recreated for half an hour, after that time it can be reactivated at full strength.

Speed:

• Sublight: Can travel at up to 40 percent of the speed of light (0.40c) and accelerate / decelerate at a rate of 1.3 percent of light (0.013 c) per melee.
• Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum cruise speed is Mach 9 (6705 mph / 10,800 km/h) and can enter and leave an atmosphere with Earth-like gravity.
• Maximum Range: Effectively unlimited by drive system, but only carries enough supplies for the crew for three weeks.

Statistical Data:

• Height: 26' (7.9 m)
• Width: 50' (15.2 m)
• Length: 83' (25.3 m)
• Weight: 260 tons (235.9 metric tons)
• Reactor System: Khaydarin Crystal Reactor with a life span of 150 years.
• Propulsion System: Anti-Gravity Generator
• Cargo: Minimal storage space that usually holds three suits of Light Combat Armor and the three Pilot Survival Kits.

Weapon Systems:

1. Photon Rail Guns (2)
   The Photon Rail Guns are an improved version of a regular rail gun. They fire charged particles encased inside of solid shells. When the shells hit a target, they burst and the charged particles create a small, explosive chain reaction, which causes increased damage to the target.
   • Range: 5 miles (8 km) underwater, 10 miles (16.1 km) through an atmosphere, and 1000 miles (1609 km) in space.
   • Damage: 3D6x10 M.D. per burst of 30 rounds from a single rail gun or 6D6x10 M.D. per burst of 30 rounds from both rail guns.
   • M.D.C. Weapon Rating: 12
   • Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand-to-hand attacks (usually 4 to 6).
   • Payload: 15,000 rounds for each rail gun, for a total of 500 bursts per rail gun.
2. Medium Range Missile Launchers (4)
   These launchers are the main weapons of the fighter and are designed to attack enemy power armor, robots, and fighters. One launcher is located in each wing and the other two launchers are in the fighter's main body.
   • Missile Size: Medium Range Missiles
   • Range: 160 miles (257.5 km) in an atmosphere and 80,000 miles (128,748 km / 0.43 light seconds) in space.
   • Speed: 3600 mph (5794 km/h) in an atmosphere and an acceleration of 6% of light (0.06c) per melee in space.
   • Damage: Varies with type of missile warhead.
   • Blast Radius: Varies with type of missile warhead.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, or 8 missiles.
   • Payload: 8 missiles per launcher, for a total of 32 medium rang missiles.
3. Long Range Missile Launchers (2)
   These launchers are the heavy weapons of the fighter, allowing it to inflict heavy damage against any target, such as a enemy fighters, ground installations, or spaceships.
   • Missile Size: Long Range Missiles
   • Range: 3400 miles (5472 km) in an atmosphere and 1,800,000 miles (2,896,819 km / 9.7 light seconds) in space.
   • Speed: 5000 mph (8047 km/h) in an atmosphere and an acceleration of 8% of light (0.08c) per melee in space.
   • Damage: Varies with type of missile warhead.
   • Blast Radius: Varies with type of missile warhead.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2 or 4 missiles.
   • Payload: 4 missiles per launcher, for a total of 8 long rang missiles.

Standard Systems:

1. Fighter Bonuses
   The fighter is extremely maneuverable and the pilot is automatically integrated into the sensor system, adding +5% to the piloting skill of the pilot, +2 to dodge attacks from energy and projectile weapons, and +4 to dodge missiles and similar tracking devices.
2. Electronic Warfare System
   The fighter is equipped with a simple EW package that allows it to generate 2 points of ECM, 2 points of ECCM, and perform one EWS special function per melee. The following EWS special functions are available: Attract Tracking Device, Break Tracking Device Lock-On, and Scramble Sensor Information. See Electronic Warfare and EWSs for more details on Electronic Warfare and Electronic Warfare Systems.
3. Communication System
   The fighter is equipped with a Crystal Communicator that has a range of 5 million miles (8.05 million km) with other crystal communicators and a range of half that with other devices.
4. Sensor Systems
   The fighter is equipped with four powerful sensor systems. The first is a powerful radar array that has a range of 10 million miles (16.1 million km) and uses standard radar waves, which are fairly easy to jam, but it is obvious when the radar array is being jammed. The second is a standard gravity sensor that has a range of 45 million miles (72.4 million km). The third is a standard neutrino sensor that has a range of 25 million miles (40.2 million km). The final system is a magical energy sensor that will detect anything that has more then 50 points of PPE or ISP, is a supernatural creature or creature of magic, or is a dimensional anomaly within 2 light-years.
5. Targeting Computer System
   Connecting the fighter's sensor systems with the weapon systems is the Targeting Computer System. The system is designed to control all of the weapons currently equipped on the fighter. This system can track up to 150 targets simultaneously, providing detailed information about the targets from the fighter's data files. All direct fire weapons receive a bonus of +5 to strike and all missile weapons receive a bonus of +3 to strike. These bonuses are in addition to any previously stated bonuses or penalties.
6. Pilot Survival Kit
   All fighters come equipped with a portable survival kit. Inside the small reinforced box is a medium sized flashlight, two hand flares, one rocket flare, a small mirror, a pocket knife, basic first aid items, water for one week, and nutrition patches for four months.