Cloaking
technology is on the cutting edge of Kushan science, and is
only employed on one of their ships. The Spectre strike
craft, based on the heavy fighter chassis, uses
light-curving energy fields to render the ship invisible to
both sensors and the naked eye. This first application of
light-folding has not been without its trials and
tribulations, and much of the heavy fighter's weapons and
armor capability had to be removed to make room for the
field generators. This makes the fighter somewhat vulnerable
when it has to drop the cloaking effect to attack, and these
fighters are often more useful in a scouting role or in
small groups, raiding support vessels deep in
enemy-controlled space.
It is rumored that constant exposure to the cloaking fields
can have a destabilizing effect on pilots, and a certain
eccentricity amongst Spectre squadrons seems to bear this
out. Calling themselves simply "The Invisibles",
most of these pilots have lost loved ones to enemy action,
and see themselves as personifications of the ancient spirit
of vengeance, often taking incredible risks to track down
and destroy crippled enemy capital ships. Observers have
noted that Specter squadrons have even destroyed ships that
have already surrendered, though all cases have been
dismissed as the result of combat confusion and
communication jamming. Some Invisibles believe that the
cloaking fields let them see into the dark spaces between
the stars, and there are dark rumors of disturbing rituals
held in unused launch bays. These accusations, of course,
have never been proven, and the Spectre cloaked fighter
remains one of the most important tactical assets of the
Kushan fleet.
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