*Burst
fire; burst time 1.2 s, burst wait time 1.0 s.
The
Taiidan scout-class fighter is code-named by Fleet
Intelligence after a small hunting bird native to the
temperate deserts on Kharak. The fiirkan hunts by riding the
wave-front of the huge seasonal sandstorms, plucking its
food as the violent winds drive various small animals from
hiding. The bird dives and twists at the edge of the storm,
but is never swallowed up by it, and that is exactly how
scout pilots prefer to fly this nimble light fighter. With
excellent speed, range and maneuverability, but negligible
firepower and armor, the Fiirkan class scout must behave as
its namesake does; always on the edge of combat, looking for
an opportunity, but never being drawn into the storm and
certain death. The minimal striking ability afforded by the
twin nose-mounted mass-drivers means that in order to pose a
serious threat, even to Corvette class vessels, Fiirkans
must fight in tight packs in order to concentrate damage. In
these large hunting flocks, scouts can be quite dangerous,
and a skilled squadron is very difficult to hit with
turreted weapons. When used in the purely scouting role,
they are usually deployed in pairs, and depend on their high
speed to avoid any trouble they might encounter. They can
shadow enemy vessels until help arrives.
Fiirkan
pilots are proud when other ship's crew refer to them as
'little birds' and their flight emblems, usually revolving
around the sharp bloody claw or beak motif, show that they
are well aware of how to draw blood from much larger
opponents and survive.
|