The Rebel Faction

S9 Deathsaber

S9 Deathsaber

Designation: S9 Deathsaber


(Caption: The S9 as it would look without stealth armor.)
Name/Type: S9 Deathsaber
Designer/Manufacturer: Kashan Defence Incorporated
Combat Role: Multipurpose Starfighter
Crew: 1
Length: 12 meters
Speed: 120 MGLT, 1250 Kph
Acceleration: 16 MGLT/s
Maneuverability: 100 DPF
Hyperdrive: x1
Shield Rating: 100 SBD
Hull Rating: 50 RU
Weapons: 1 KDI B-W5.3 Dual Laser Cannon, 2 Wing Tip KDI R-S4.3 Medium Laser Cannons, 1 Ventral Turreted KDI L-P7.3 Twin Gatling Mass-Driver, 6 KDI A-R7.5 Modular Hardpoints.
Other: Vanish 2 Sensor Mask, KDI A-B1.2 Integrated Sensor Suite.

Description: Several years after Kashan was founded, its Air Force was formed with fighters of the S-series. Eventually, the S-series evolved into advanced starfighters, like the S9 Deathsaber. The S9 Deathsaber is the Kashan Defence Fleet’s premier starfighter. Following previous Kashan fighters, the S9 is designed for optimal atmospheric performance, utility, and stealth. Its atmospheric fighter lineage is clearly seen in the shape of the craft, and combined with its atmospheric specific flight systems, it has excellent atmospheric performance. It is also equipped with a variety of weaponry that is easily modified for specific roles. However, the greatest advantage of the S9 is stealth. The S9 is practically invisible to all enemy sensors. Ironically, the only way a S9 can be spotted is by the organic eye from what appear to be shifts in the nearby starscape. Currently, S9s are the only starfighters in Kashan production and comprise the majority of the Starfighter Arm, serving as anything from bombers to reconnaissance craft.



R&D explanations (O.O.C.)

Engines: The Deathsaber carries three fusial-thrust ion drives in the rear of the fuselage. Because of the arrangement and computer coordination, they actually work like a Triple Ion engine, giving the ship exceptional maneuverability, speed, and redundancy.

Because stealth was a key concern in designing the craft, the normal ambient glow of the engines could not exist to prevent its detection. As such, the engine’s exhaust, controlled by electromagnetic plates, is actually channeled through several areas to both the disperse the ion trail and leave no engine glow with which to visually trace the craft. The dispersion of the ions has been designed to make it appear to be one of the many naturally occurring ion clouds within space.

Other Flight Systems: Taking a cue from the Tie Defender, the S9 utilizes triple arrays of maneuvering jets on the wing assemblies, giving the ship excellent maneuverability. A somewhat large microthruster can be found on the tip of each main wing as part of the laser cannon assembly. These microthrusters give the Deathsaber excellent turning ability that rivals most Ties. Other atmospheric only maneuvering systems augment the ship’s already atmospheric fuselage, making it very maneuverable in the atmosphere. In the atmosphere, advanced triple air brakes, maneuvering flaps, and steering vanes enhance its maneuverability.

Shield Rating: The shield systems onboard the Deathsaber are nearly exact copies of the Forward/Rear Projecting Cygnus 4K7 Novaldex Shields used on the Assault Gunboat. The Kashan Defence Fleet captured a pair of the starfighters from the pirates that found the colony. KDI then studied the craft and duplicated as many of the systems as possible.

Airframe: The Deathsaber uses a unique construction meant to improve its atmospheric qualities. Part of this is met by the use of a Ultrachrome-Carbon Composite airframe. Ultrachrome is used to build the initial airframe and is then laminated with multiple carbon fibers, which heavily reinforces the frame, making it structurally sound even in high-g maneuvers that would be impossible for other starfighters or speeders to perform.

Stealth:
Stealth is possibly the S9’s biggest advantage. The fighter has been equipped with cutting edge stealth technology that ranges from Kashan designed stealth armor to devices manufactured originally by Fabritech. Combined with the ship’s non-angular hull, these systems make the craft all but invisible to any sensor system around; except the careful watching of an organic eye. The Deathsaber was designed for stealth in mind for a variety of reasons. Foremost, the Kashan military is a big believer in stealth being one of the best form of defense. Second, it allowed the Kashan starfighters to easily make recon missions of nearby systems without being detected. Lastly, it allows Deathsabers to make effective surprise attacks.

Passive Stealth Armor
The S9 is completely plated with Nutorium-Neuranium Reactive Composite Armor. Each plate is made by liquefying the metals with ion fusers and flash-freezing it by the vacuum of space or any number of cooling agents. This process makes the metal abnormally dense and therefore stronger. Nutorium, which makes up 93% of the armor, is a specialized hull plating material that was developed to defeat sensors systems, allowing a ship to move about with relative stealth (CUSWE). On the S9, when Nutorium was liquefied, it was bombarded by Neuranium particles for added protection and stealth. Neuranium is one of the heaviest, densest metals found in the galaxy. Some gravity-sensitive species claimed to be able to feel a small warping of the space-time fabric of gravity when close to a large piece of neuranium. Among its most useful properties was the fact that even a millimeter-thick piece of neuranium was impervious to sensors (CUSWE). Unfortunately, Neuranium is also relatively heavy, which in turn reduced the vessel’s speed. As such, only a minimal amount for its effects was used on the Deathsaber. For increased strength, the backs of the plates facing into the craft are laminated with carbon fibers for increased durability and tensile strength.

Nutorium is naturely black. Also, Kashan engineers added a glossy finish to the craft to partially reflect the starscape. In order to ensure that it does not reflect anything else, the gloss coating has been manufactured to only show colors of the stars.

The dark canopy of the starfighter is covered in the same reflective gloss as the rest of the craft and contains nano-Nutorium-Neuranium threads, making it just as effective in stealth as the rest of the craft.

While the passive stealth armor is nearly 100% effective against electronic sensors, careful organic observation of the surrounding starscape can reveal the presence of a S9 because the gloss reflects the stars facing it, not the ones it’s covering. Hence, when it is moving, the starscape seems to slightly change. Generally, it’s next to impossible to detect it when the observer is moving as well.

Vanish 2 Sensor Mask: This sensors countermeasure was developed and manufactured by Fabritech, this device combined electromagnetic and holographic transmissions to "hide" a starship from most sensors. This device didn't absorb sensor beams but, rather, disrupted them by sending back information on the environment surrounding a starship. The Vanish 2 made a ship virtually disappear by sending back sensor data about the starfield around it (CUSWE). The Vanish 2 system is always engaged to enhance the ship’s already formidable stealth properties. The main benefit to the S9 compared to its other systems is its ability to disguise the energy readings from raised shields and powered up weapons. Kashan personnel did not see the benefits of using holographic transmissions to visually disguise the craft because of its armor. As such, in order to conserve power and space, the holographic overlay normally in the Vanish 2 has been omitted when in use by the S9.

Weapons:
KDI B-W5.3 Dual Laser Cannon: Much like a normal, rapid-fire dual laser cannon, except with more power and range. Besides being larger and more powerful, the B-W5.3 also incorporates particle-accelerator at the end of each barrel, giving it improved accuracy and damage ratings. The B-W5.3 has a damage rating equivalent to the Taim & Bak KX-9.

KDI R-S4.3 Medium Laser Cannon: The R-S4.3 cannon is a compact heavy laser cannon that achieves the same effect of larger weapons by the use of a particle-accelerator at the end of the barrel. It also has the capability for small flak-bursts, which are generally used against opposing missiles or for strafing clusters of enemy troops. Normally, heavy laser cannons have lower recharge rates than normal laser cannons. The R-S4.3 bypasses this weakness by the use of a pirated Merr-Sonn advanced rapid-pulse energy module. The R-S4.3 has a damage rating slightly higher than the Taim & Bak KX-9.

KDI L-P7.3 Twin Gatling Mass-Driver:
Mass-drivers were among the first weapons used by the Kashan S-series because of their low cost and easy maintenance. Originally, they were mounted on the wings to hunt the beasts, but then were mounted in turrets. Over the years, these weapons have evolved into the gatling style weapons now found on the S9.

The L-P7.3 consists of two gatling style mass-drivers mounted in a single turret. With the caliber and punch is that of an autoblaster, each gatling assembley is equally suited for use not only against ground targets, such as the beasts, but are effective against enemy ships as well. An advantage of the L-P7.3 is stealth; it doesn’t produce any visible light and the fired slugs cannot be separated from the average space debris and dust.

Since it would be a challenging task to both pilot the starfighter and operate the turret, this weapon is normally controlled by the ship’s computer. It can be manually operated by the pilot if he or she so desires. Most often, though, this weapon is locked forward so that the pilot can easily use the weapon and still fly the fighter.

Because the S9 was designed as a multipurpose craft, the L-P7.3 was designed as a multipurpose weapon. Thus, it also carries modular slugs.

Slug type:
Solid: This is a basic, solid durasteel slug.

HE: This slug has an explosive tip for armor penetration.

Magnesium: In space, it is as useful as the standard slug. In atmosphere, the friction from the gases ignites the magnesium casing, turning it into an incendiary weapon.

EMP: This weapon releases a small electromagnetic pulse upon impact.

Radiation: This slug carries a radioactive core which is exposed upon impact. The nearby area of the detonated slug is made radioactive until removed.

Tracking: This slug is actually tracking device, which buries itself into the enemy hull as a miniaturized tracking beacon. Because of the size limitations, it only has an effective range of a light-year.
Underwing Pylons/Modular Hardpoint:
Each underwing Pylon can carry: 1 starfighter-grade Warhead or 1 KDI A-C3.7 Autoblaster Pod or 1 KDI T-x4.9 Rocket Booster Pod or 1 Sensors Pod or1 Fuel Pod each. Alternatively, it can carry 2 mini-concussion missiles or Modular Missiles (from the Sentinel-class) per hardpoint.

Underwing Pylons use the same idea of many modern-day attack helicopters with their own underwing pylons. Each pylon carries a single weapon or device. Usually, pilots use the pylons for missiles, bombs, and warheads of any type. However, the modular hardpoints also offer the advantage of variety. A single autoblaster can take one pylon, giving the ship more energy firepower. Alternatively, if the pilot wants better speed and acceleration, the addition of rocket pods can allow temporary bursts of speed and acceleration. Every device, whether an autoblaster or a fuel pod is covered in Nutorium-Neuranium Reactive Composite Armor.

The greatest advantage of the pylon system is it allows pilots to mix and match their weaponry. Occasionally, this leads to heavier firepower than normally (ex. 6 space bombs), but it can also lead to weaker firepower than some starfighters as well (ex. 6 concussion bombs). Because the warheads are not concealed internally, all weapons are carried in a Nutorium-Neuranium Reactive Composite Armor Launch tube to prevent them from being prematurely detonated by enemy fire.

KDI A-B1.2 Integrated Sensor Suite: One of the Deathsaber’s greatest strengths over its opponents is its sensor suite. Originally, the A-B1.2 was developed for the colony’s mining industry for use by prospecting scouts. However, it was soon discovered that the immensely powerful array of sensors had military applications as well. As such, the S9 can easily pinpoint enemy weaknesses, make detailed scans of objects, and can detect enemy starfighters before being detected themselves. This powerful sensor suite, which has a range 150% of standard starfighter sensors, is visible on the pilot’s right-hand side as cylinders protruding from the nose. They are armored with the Nutorium-Neuranium Reactive Composite Armor as with the rest of the ship.

The A-B1.2 includes:
1 Dedicated Energy Receptor: This powerful sensor detects electro-magnetic emissions. It is typically used to find weaknesses in enemy shields, but can also be used to detect heat, communication transmissions, or any device that makes unnatural electro-magnetic emissions.

2 Elector-Photo Receptors: These are basically enhanced cameras that can view and scan things in the various spectrums of light.

1 Full Spectrum Transciever: This sensor scans all Electro-magnetic and subspace frequencies for anomalies.

1 Enhanced Radiation Meter: This sensor detects radiation and is typically used to follow ion-drive trails produced by spaceships equipped with an ion drive.

Other: It should also be noted that for storage, the wings of the Deathsaber are capable of being folded like those on many modern-day naval airplanes.

Dark Red denotes areas that will most likely be changed.

EDIT: The Hull rating has been reduced by 30 RU to 50 RU, the hull rating of the Assault Gunboat which is of similar size and atmospheric heritage.

EDIT #2: The laser cannon's classifications have been changed.