¹Ugradeable
to Energy Cannon (22 damage, fire time 3.1 s). *Burst fire; burst length: 1.4 s; burst wait: 1.3 s.
**Each launcher contains 1 missile, which has a max velocity
of 1,250 m/s and 30 hit points. The Acolyte must dock to
reload.
The Acolyte
class of heavy fighter/interceptor is unique to Kiith
Somtaaw. While other Kiith have worked to advance the
traditional Blade series of interceptors, Somtaaw found
itself unable to afford the various patents and maintenance
licenses being charged by the martial Kiithid to participate
in the upgrade program. Instead, Somtaaw struck a deal with
the enigmatic Bentusi. The Bentusi trade-ships are some of
the most powerful vessels in the Galaxy, but there are some
conditions that even they are unable or unwilling to take
their ships into. In return for the services of the mining
vessel Faal-Corum in retrieving certain artifacts from very
compact asteroid belt, the Bentusi "handed down"
an advanced fighter and drive system, which eventually was
back-engineered into the Acolyte fighter. While the
relatively pacifistic Bentusi would not transfer any weapons
technology along with the Acolyte design, they seem to have
no long-term objections to the Somtaaw arming the Acolyte
with duel rapid-fire mass-drivers.
With the
inherent advantages of an being based on adaptive Bentusi
technology, the Acolyte lends itself easily to modification,
and Somtaaw engineers are still working on expanding the
full potential of this fighter design. The ultra-efficient
fusion drive allows the Acolyte to function without
refueling, and this technology has been integrated into
other Somtaaw strike craft.
While Kiith
Somtaaw is a mining Kiith by trade, it does require
protection against Raiders and Imperialist patrols, as its
two Command ships, the Kuun-Lan and the Faal-Corum, range
far from the protection of Hiigaran space in their
exploration and resourcing missions. Acolyte wings are
manned by a relatively small group of hardened combat
veterans that began their careers during the Homeworld War.
These pilots are not easily surprised after 15 years in the
cockpit, and are the equals of any fighter pilots found in
the martial Kiithid…as many a pirate scout has discovered
to his regret.
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