DESTROYING ANGEL Craft: RPD X-4A Type: Experimental Superfighter Scale: Starfighter Length: 19 meters Skill: Starship Piloting; Destroying Angel Cost: Not for sale (4.1 million in construction cost) Crew: 1 Passengers: None Cargo Capacity: 15kg Consumables: 2 months Hyperdrive Multiplier: x1 Hyper Backup: None Nav Computer: None (uses R-7 astomech droid) Maneuverability: 4D+1 Space: 11 Atmosphere: Hull: 3D+2 Shields: 2D Sensors: Passive: 30/2D Scan: 40/3D+2 Search: 80/4D+2 Focus: 6/6D Weapons: 4 Heavy Laser Cannons (fire linked) Scale: Starfighter Fire Arc: Front Crew: Pilot Skill: Starship Gunnery Fire Control: 4D (see below) Space Range: 1-4/15/32 Atmosphere Range: 100-400/1.5km/3.2km Damage: 7D 2 Long Range Blaster Cannons (fire linked) Scale: Starfighter Fire Arc: Front Crew: Pilot Skill: Starship Gunnery Fire Control: 3D Space Range: 1-10/20/45 Atmosphere Range: 100-1km/2.0km/4.5km Damage: 3D 2 Extra Heavy Torch Cannons (fire linked) Scale: Starfighter Fire Arc: Front Crew: Pilot Skill: Starship Gunnery Fire Control: 2D Space Range: 1/5/7 Atmosphere Range: 10-100/500/700m Damage: 10D 6 Claw Armor Piercing Missiles Scale: Starfighter Fire Arc: Front Crew: Pilot Skill: Starship Gunnery Fire Control: 3D Space Range: 1/5/10 Atmosphere Range: 100/500/1km Damage: 6D (see below) The X-Wing has been the standard in space superiority fighters for over twenty years. RPD has been assigned to produce a replacement for the beloved fighter, and the result is the very, very impressive Destroying Angel. This is what is termed a "pie in the sky" prototype. Far to expensive to be produced in any numbers, the ship is packed with every improvement that the special engineering team (composed of RPDs usual staff, Verpine technitions, and a few Ulfgar recruited from the Yaeger sector.) could think of. A limited run of 50 of these craft have been produced, and will be tested in a wide variety of combat situations. Those improvements that prove most effective, and hold up the best, will be included in later versions of the ship that will be far more cost effective. In form, the Destroying Angel is somewhat like the Yaeger Hunter in appearence, with much heavier wings permanantly halfway extended, a New Republic type astromech droid slot behind the cockpit, and a fixed strut undearneath, mounting the Twin Torch cannons. The first run Destroying Angels are all painted a uniform white, without any insignia or ornamentation. The Destroying Angel is equipped with some truely remarkable improvements. The Claw Missiles are a good deal larger than standard starfighter missiles, as they are a two part warhead. The first half is a high yield localized warhead, designed to provide a massive localized explosion. The second part is a depleted Cynorad shell that is heated to up to 600ø C before impact. Within this shell is a high powered explosive. The first stage weakens the armor, and the Cynorad pushes through anything that remains, delivering it's payload right into the middle of the target. In game terms, the Claws can effectivly ignore modern starship armor, and can only be blocked by their partical shields. The Heavy Lasers and the Long Range blasters are both linked into the new Killsight targeting system. The pilots helmet is equipped with sensors that link into the weapon systems. As he turns his head, the weapons automaticaly orient toward the direction he is looking. The D.A.s helmet also superimposes 3-D sensor images over the pilot's regular view, enabling him to target anything, simply by looking at them. Furthermore, these sensors are remarkably easy to use, as reflected in the numbers above. The Destroying Angel's other controls are also almost as intuitve, making it possible for just about anyone to pilot them. However, in the hands of a proficient pilot, the Destroying Angel truely lives up to it's name. In fact, RPD is considering a making a second limited run of these Superfighters, for those missions where a fighter is of greater utility than a capital ship. Of course, they do cost considerably more than many combat corvettes, and the New Republic is not yet sure it realy needs these ships that badly. Note: If you give one of these to players, you have to make sure that they give them back. After all, RPD wants to take them apart, and find out what worked, and what didn't. But it is a nifty ship to let them play with once or twice, and give them a taste of what the future might hold.