Bookworm
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To develop a new starfighter for Aurora Industries to use and sell
- Image Source: https://startrekship...lr.com/page/155
- Canon Link: N/A
- Primary Source: AI-03, AI-05
- Manufacturer: Aurora Industries
- Affiliation: Aurora Industries, Closed-Market
- Model: IX-A15 Starfighter
Production: Limited
- Material: Trilamnium, Transparisteel, Alusteel
- Classification: Starfighter
- Length: 11 meters
- Width: 6 meters
- Height: 7 meters
- Armament: High
- Two Laser Cannons mounted on the wing tips
- Two Torpedo Launchers (three missile magazine each)
- Two Heavy Lasers Cannons mounted on the rear turret
- One Seismic Charge Deployer (has room for three charges)
- Defenses: Average
- Squadron Count: Very Low: 4
- Maneuverability Rating: Moderate
- Speed Rating: High
- Hyperdrive Class: Class 2
- Standard Communications and Sensor Arrays
- Standard Deflector Shield Generator
- Standard Ion Engines (Two 221 Sublight Engines)
- Standard Life Support Systems
- Standard Navicomputer
- Standard Targeting Computer
ADVANCED SYSTEMS
- Seismic Charge Deployer
- Heavily Armed - As the successor to the AI-005 and AI-003, the IX-A15 is heavily armed with multiple laser cannons and two torpedo launchers, along with a seismic charge deployer
- Fast - The IX-A15 draws heavily on the AI-003 in terms of speed and, to a lesser extent, maneuverability
- Cover Me - The rear turret, much like the AI-005 or the ARC-170, provides the fighter with rear cover fire
- Weak Spot - An unfortunate carry over from the AI-005, the IX-A15 has a weak spot in its armor and shielding, right below the rear turret. If hit, it will trigger all seismic charges and missiles in their compartments, destroying the fighter instantly
- Lower Numbers - Because of the level of armament needed to field the fighter, they only fly in squadrons of four
- Reliant on Rear Gunner - Without the rear gunner, the pilot only has access to the wing-tipped laser cannons and the torpedo launchers
As part of Aurora Industries' modernization programme for its ships, decisions had been made by Taeli and her board of chief engineers to begin phasing out the old AI-0X line of fighters, besides the Blitzar. However, the engineers did see merits in the design of two of the fighters slated to be discontinued. The AI-003 and the AI-005 both had design features they felt could be incorporated into a new next-gen fighter, a spinoff of the IX line called the IX-A15 fighter.
The new fighter was designed off the AI-005 frame, complete with rear gunner turret. Heavy firepower was still the name of the game for the new fighter, and with the design features included from the AI-003, the new fighter had an additional trick. A seismic charge deployer, capable of holding three seismic charges, was added in underneath the rear turret.
Speed and maneuvering were also key holdovers from the AI-003, but all of these design choices meant only so many of the fighter could be produced at a time, and it carried a large weakness to the rear of the ship. If a shot got through the armor and shielding, it would detonate all the remaining seismic charges and missiles in the craft, instantly destroying it.
