Commodore Helix
Disintegrations done dirt cheap.
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create a mainline fighter craft for Helix Solutions
- Image Source: Mickael Boitte
- Canon Link: Vulture Droid
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: Wookiepedia, Vulture Droid
- Manufacturer: Helix Solutions
- Affiliation: Helix Solutions
- Market Status: Closed-Market
- Model: Condor Space Superiority Fighter
- Production: Limited
- Material: Durasteel, Quadanium, droid components, laser cannon components, missile launcher components
- Classification: Starfighter
- Length: 3.6 meters
- Width: 3.3 meters
- Height: 3.5 meters
- Armament: High
- Triple Heavy Laser Cannons (2)
- Heavy Ion Cannons (2)
- Concussion Missile Launcher (2)
- Discord Missile Launcher (2)
- Defenses: Low
- Deflector Shield Generator
- Squadron Count: High (16)
- Maneuverability Rating: High
- Speed Rating: Low
- Hyperdrive: No
- All Standard Features
- Discord Missile Launcher
- Improved Droid Brain
- Inexpensive: While less of a disposable throwaway fighter than its predecessor, the Condor is nonetheless fairly inexpensive, and retains a fraction of the Vulture's numbers, being deployed in large squadrons.
- Maneuverable: The Condor maintains the Vulture's ability to perform maneuvers that a living crew would find intolerable.
- Intelligent: Sporting a more advanced droid brain than its forbear, the Condor is capable of a degree of reactivity and improvisation in combat similar to Helix's ground forces.
- Ion Vulnerability: Like most droids, the Condor doesn't take strong static discharges healthily.
- Lazy Flyer: While the Condor can spin and turn on a dime, its substantial weaponry can weigh it down, and it takes time to accelerate to a decent speed and get to the dogfight in the first place.
- Poor Shield Strength: The Condor does at least include shields, unlike most droid fighters, but these will not absorb more than modest return fire.
- Instigators: Condors have a deserved reputation for clannishness, and will not take initiative to aid allies unless ordered to directly, seeing even allied fighters as rivals.
Yet another Helix modernization of a classic design, and its very own in-house starfighter, the Condor is cranked off the line in great numbers when needed, much like the Vulture it descends from.
Unlike the Vulture, however, Helix has always leaned a little higher on quality over quantity (though the Condor possesses something of both) perhaps due to being unable to sustain large armies or soak large casualties. As such, the Condor has some features that distinguish it.
Firstly, it is well-armed, sporting a pair of triple heavy laser cannons, missile launchers, and ion cannons, able to deal with whatever it encounters in a versatile manner.
Secondly, Helix has shown the same concern for droid intelligence here as elsewhere, fitting the Condor with an advanced heuristic learning system that enables it to eat inexperienced enemy pilots for breakfast, particularly when the droid performs feats and maneuvers organic pilots would find highly unpleasant.
Thirdly, it is equipped with deflector shields, though these are fairly weak for cost reasons, not protecting the vessel from more than moderate laser fire. As such, the droids are programmed with something of a pack mentality, and will aggressively cover one another in battles.
However, Condors are unpopular with other droids (Particularly with the Calliphoras), often considering infantry or even other fighter units "lesser" and associating only with other Condors out of battle. Rumors abound about Condor units "accidentally" hitting friendly fighters or ground targets with their weaponry abound, but none have ever been proven. What can be proven is that Helix data suggests Condors are responsible for nearly 86% of recorded inter-unit brawls aboard their starships.
The vessel is quite maneuverable, though somewhat less so than the vulture, and it can take time to accelerate to full speed to get where it needs to be.
Helix finds some of these downsides acceptable, due to the large numbers of Condors that actually keep surviving battles and keeping costs down.
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