Triter Zone
The Littlest Space Pirate
- RGR-42 Scrimshaw -
Image Source - http://www.oocities.org/gundam_crossbone/xm-x_corefighter.jpg
Affiliation - Formerly Ossein Pirates, now defunct; currently Personal.
Manufacturer - Ossein Pirates affiliated outlaw techs.
Model - RGR-42 Scrimshaw.
Modularity - No.
Production - Unique.
Material - Carbo-plas, agrinium.
Classification - Starfighter.
Length - 12.8 meters with E-foils closed; otherwise variable.
Height - Variable.
Width - Variable.
Armament -
- 2x autoblaster.
- 1x ion cannon.
- 1x concussion missile launcher; 6x missile in magazine.
Special Features -
- 2x 360 degree barbette turret, for autoblasters.
- 4x E-foil thrust vectoring system.
- 1x computer aided control interface.
- 1x holographic battle information display.
- 1x A14 Repulsorlift Disk, stowed disassembled behind pilot seat.
- 1x ejection seat, with integral survival capsule.
- 1x hull scrubber.
Speed Rating - 1.5.
Hyperdrive Class - 2.
Strengths -
- Highly maneuverable.
- Extremely fast.
- Versatile weapon load-out.
- Excellent combat information display system.
- Small profile, making it difficult to hit.
- Limited armor protection.
- Poor deflector shields.
- Main weapons have poor range and limited effectiveness against shields.
- Large numbers of moving parts, requiring regular maintenance.
Description - The RGR-42 Scrimshaw is a novel starfighter originally designed and built by the Ossein Pirates, a well organized group of raiders who operated in and around the Tion Cluster some years ago. The fighter was intended to be the Ossein Fleet's premier attack craft; designed by Ossein leader Admiral Krayd Hasperre and his protege, Triter Zone, it had entered trial production at several Ossein affiliated outlaw tech bases before the destruction of the fleet, after which the gang splintered and the program was presumably discontinued.
The Scrimshaw incorporated a number of unique features, chief among them being the E-foil system. An unusual arrangement which mounted the craft's four engines on hinged booms with thrust vectoring nozzles, this configuration, coupled with a unique computer aided pilot interface, gave the small ship almost unmatched maneuverability; the Scrimshaw could affect snap turns and other maneuvers which were simply not possible for conventional fighters.
The Scrimshaw was armed with a pair of rapid-fire autoblaster cannons, mounted in rotating barbettes which allowed the guns to turn 360 degrees to track targets, capable of shooting forward, above, below or even behind, with automatic safety systems to ensure the weapons' firing arc did not damage the E-foils, and computerized tracking systems to keep them on target. Though capable of a tremendous rate of fire, the autoblasters had middling range and were not terribly effective against well shielded targets, and so were supplemented by a small concussion missile launcher and a forward-firing ion cannon. The latter of these was especially useful for piracy, as it allowed the small fighters to disable rather than only destroy their marks. The machine could even serve as a one-being courier, being equipped with a navicomputer, a class 2 hyperdrive and capable of carrying 100 kilograms worth of cargo; it was also fitted with a hull scrubber as standard, allowing it to disable most tracking beacons which might be attached to it.
Of note, Scrimshaws were also typically equipped with a holographic battle information display system, which collected data on the combat elements involved in a given engagement from sensor data and the feeds of allied spacecraft, and gave a broader picture of the engagement than the average starfighter pilot usually got. This was especially useful for commanders who liked to lead from the front.
The fighter did have its drawbacks, of course. Though maneuverable enough to evade most hostile fire, it was not well protected, its hull being made of carbo-plas and thin agrinium panels, and possessing only rudimentary deflector screens. The ship was also relatively high maintenance, and though it used as many off-the-shelf components as possible to save on production costs and prevent supply issues, its multitude of moving parts required regular servicing.
Nevertheless, the little starfighter was well regarded by its pilots, though there were never more than a handful of these. Fast, flexible and effective, the Scrimshaw was sadly not available in large numbers, the Ossein Fleet being defeated before the gang's production lines could start turning them out in any real quantity. It is believed that, had the RGR-42 been available in force at that time, the battle which destroyed the Ossein may have gone differently.
At this time, it is unknown how many Scrimshaws still exist; the examples available to the Ossein Fleet were few, and though they had an average kill ratio of roughly 10-1 during the final battle, only one is documented to have survived, leaving the fleet flagship to join the retreat just before Admiral Hasperre's suicide charge.
Intent - This fighter would initially be the property of Triter Zone, my pirate character; he would use it as his personal transport. Triter's would be the only known example remaining in service, however he would possess the schematics for it; should he ever revive the Ossein Pirates, a variation on this design would enter production, circumstances and resources permitting.
Who Can Use This - Triter Zone.
