F-9 LANCER

     Craft:  Krandor Astrodynamics F-9 Lancer
     Type:  Space Superiority Fighter, archaic
     Scale:  Starfighter
     Length:  10 meters
     Skill:  Archaic Starship Piloting, Lancer
     Cost:  5,000 credits (3 Million credits +, in mint condition)
     Crew:  1
     Passengers: None 
     Cargo Capacity:  15 kg
     Consumables:  1 week
     Hyperdrive Multiplier:  None
     Hyper Backup:  No
     Nav Computer:  No
     Maneuverability:  4D+2
     Space:  4
     Atmosphere:  280/800
     Hull:  1D
     Shields:  None
     Sensors:
          Passive: 10/0D 
          Scan:  15/1D
          Search: 20 /1D+2
          Focus:  2/2D
     Weapons:  
     2 105mm Projectile Cannons. (Fire Linked)
          Scale: Starfighter 
          Fire Arc:  Front
          Crew:  Pilot
          Skill:  Starship Gunnery
          Fire Control:  1D
          Space Range:  1/3/5
          Atmosphere Range:  100/300/500
          Damage: 1D+1
     1 Pin Torpedo Tube
          Scale:  Starfighter
          Fire Arc:  Front
          Crew:  Pilot
          Skill:  Starship Gunnery
          Fire Control:  2D
          Space Range:  1/5/9
          Atmosphere Range:  100/500/900
          Damage: 5D+2

     The Lancer was the first efficient single man combat fighter. 
Quicker and more agile than the then contemporary Hero fighter, the
Lancer was not nearly as popular among the general public as that
model.  For one thing, the Lancer did not have self sealing fuel
tanks.  Just about any damage to it's propulsion systems would
cause the fuel to flood the drives, and the ship to explode. 
Secondly, the Lancer could only carry 5 of the Pin Torpedoes that
were it's primary weapon.
     Still, there were many that found the Lancer to be superior to
the Heros, for their own needs.  Proficient pilots, that did not
want to rely on other crew members loved the Lancer, after they had
the fuel tanks replaced.  In the atmosphere, the Lancers were much
more dangerous ships than Heros, and there were many that purchased
these ships exclusively for atmospheric use.  Finally, there were
several early warlords that took great pride in the bravery of
their pilots.  The fact that the Lancers could be destroyed with a
single hit demonstrated the courage of those flying them.  These
Warlords tended to use no ships other than Lancers as their fighter

craft.  One of the most successful of these Warlords was Nigarr Iso
Dkran.  His legendary Death Lancers were one of the most successful
fighter wings ever.  After Dkran's defeat, the surviving members of
the Death Lancers flew their solid black Lancers into the heart of
their home systems sun.  The only known Death Lancer ships still in
existence are a squad of eight fighters that were drawn in by the
wash of a fleeing Gordnol Cruiser.  The cruiser's destination was
not known, and those ships were never heard from again.
     There were far fewer Lancers produced than Heros, and those
that were produced saw extensive atmospheric use and modification
after they were no longer useful as Starfighters.  Surviving,
unmodified Lancers command enormous prices from collectors, and the
value of a surviving Death Lancers would be nearly incalculable.