Starfighter
| Starfighter | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Spacecraft |
| Universe | Cytoverse |
“You pull the trigger, smart boy, doesn't take a brain to use a destructor. The IMP though, that’s another matter. Inverted Magellan Pulse. It breaks any shield—including your own —within fifty meters. ”
—Cobb[1]
A starfighter is a spaceworthy fighter plane.[2] A number of different starfighters are in production by the machines of Igneous Cavern.
Maneuvering Systems[edit]
Boosters[edit]
Central boosters are necessary for high acceleration for ships. Regular boosters can be found in junkyards and on hovercars, but grade-A central boosters can only be found on DDF military tech.[3]
The speed of a starfighter is measured in Mag. One Mag is equivalent to about three hundred miles per hour, or 134.112 metres per second.[4]
Types[edit]
Rig informs Spensa that an A-17 through A-32 central booster would fit in M-Bot.[3]
After the sanitation worker comes in and talks to their class, Spensa asks Rig what type of central booster is used on the current version of Poco-class starships. Rig immediately responds that it is an A-19 booster.[5]
Atmospheric Scoop and Wings[edit]
Whether there is atmosphere makes significant difference in flying techniques. Although starfighters can fly in space, in atmosphere, they have atmospheric scoops to reduce wind resistance and wings to provide extra lift and maneuverability. They enable turns that cannot be performed without them.[6]
Acclivity Ring[edit]
An acclivity ring is a ring made of acclivity stone, a powerful substance that acts as anti-gravity when powered.
The DDF, the Superiority, and the orbital debris field around Detritus use one or more acclivity rings to keep their ships in the air. They allow a ship to remain in the air even if the ship is motionless. These rings are very rare and their amount basically limits how many fighters human can utilize. Therefore, the salvage and recovery of these rings is one of Admiral Ironside's top worries and priorities.[7]
Acclivity rings can be rotated or angled to perform sharp turns and other advanced maneuvers.[8]
In addition to their use on starships, smaller acclivity rings are used for vehicles such as hovercars, hoverbikes, and the floating platforms Captain Hesho and the kitsen use to move around.[9][10][11][12] They are also used as tools to assist lifting and handling heavier objects: such as the maintenance gear Spensa uses on M-Bot.[13]
Several acclivity rings can be used in conjunction to lift something larger, such as the orbital ship yards.
GravCaps[edit]
GravCaps, or gravitational capacitors, are a main functional part of DDF starfighters, allowing for more maneuverability than would otherwise be possible.[14] When making sharp turns, the GravCaps prevent gravitational force from affecting the pilot for about 3 seconds,[14] allowing more flexibility than would otherwise be possible. As DDF fighters do not limit maximum acceleration to protect the pilot, the G-force produced when accelerating can easily crush the pilot, so starfighters are equipped with GravCaps. Standard DDF GravCaps can absorb G-forces, if the threshold of force that the GravCaps can handle is exceeded, the pilot can be injured.
M-Bot is noted to have superior GravCaps than DDF ships, which can absorb larger g-forces for longer than than the GravCaps used by the DDF. Additionally, M-bot's cockpit is equipped with a mechanism that can adjust the direction of the pilot's seat, reducing the vertical forces on the pilot.[3]
Sensors[edit]
All fighters are equipped with a sensor system that allows them to monitor their surroundings.
Val-class scouters have a particularly good sensor system, able to work an a longer range and produce more detail than the sensors on other fighters such as the Poco.[15]
Shields[edit]
All DDF and Superiority starships utilize energy shields to protect their hulls and their occupants from harm. They are controlled by a component known as a shield igniter. Shields function directionally, blocking incoming fire while allowing outgoing weapons through.[16]
Shields can be disabled by an IMP blast, leaving ships vulnerable to enemy fire.[14][1] DDF fighters must divert all power from their boosters—effectively either immobilizing the crafts or locking their trajectories—for around thirty seconds in order to reignite their shields.[1]
Weaponry Systems[edit]
Light-Lance[edit]
A Light-lance is a weapon and tool used by the DDF[14] and M-Bot[17] to grapple to debris or other ships, allowing slingshot maneuvers otherwise impossible, rescue maneuvers, and other maneuvers to drag debris into Krell ships.
It functions by shooting a beam of light at the target, attaching the two until the pilot releases them.[14]
It is described as a larger, more powerful version of the light-line.[14]
Destructors[edit]
The Destructor is a weapon used by the DDF and the Superiority to damage and destroy enemy ships.[14] Depending on the sequence of buttons pressed, the Destructor can fire a single projectile or a burst volley. The buttons can be held to charge and fire a concentrated beam.
A destructor is an energy beam weapon, and the primary means to shoot down enemy vessels. One destructor burst contains about 30 kus of energy.[1] One shot of it would be enough to take down a fighter if it hit the right spot, but it can be blocked by force-fields generated by shield igniters. DDF shipboard shields can withstand 80 kus which amounts to about three shots.[1] The Krell have both superior destructors and shields than those of the DDF and it usually requires six shots to disable the shield of a Krell fighter.[14] However, DDF ships have two advantages: the light-lance used for grappling and IMP that can disable enemy shields.[expand]
Types[edit]
Pocos have 138 Stewart destructors, which can generate up to 30 kus of energy.[1][15]
Val-Class scouters have a single 131, which has notably far less firepower than the 138 Stewart.[15]
Inverted Magellan Pulse[edit]
The Inverted Magellan Pulse is a weapon used by the DDF to disable the Krell starship shields.[14][1]
The IMP emanates from the ship, instead of being fired like other weapons. When used, it has a radius of fifty meters, neutralizing all shields, including those on the user's own ship. This leave all ships in range vulnerable for a time, until they fire up their shields again.[14] This is useful for team fighting, where one ship neutralizes a shield, and their wingmate picks off the vulnerable Krell ship.
It is unknown how old the technology is, as both M-Bot and the DDF fighter ships have this capability.[18]
Ship Classes[edit]
Poco[edit]
A standard form of fighter used by the DDF.
They are equipped with dual 138 Stewart Destructors.[15]
Their booster is an A19 Model, which allows them to move upward of Mag-10.5.[5][19]
Val-Class Scouter[edit]
Val-Class Scouters are ships intended for scouting and finding Krell which fly under the radar.[15] They are not intended for combat like other ships, but are made to be able to fight if the moment makes it necessary.[15]
They are equipped with a single 131 Destructor, with low firepower.[15] At the same time, they have low armaments, even in comparison to a Poco.[15]
They have a high-quality sensor installed into them, which are able to function at long-range, and provide a high degree of detail.[15]
They appear to have sharply angled wings, with a more narrow cockpit and fuselage compared to the Poco.[20]
![[20]](#cite_note-DDF_Val-class_Scout_Ship.jpeg-20){kind=link}
Notes[edit]
- ↑ a b c d e f g Skyward chapter 23#
- ↑ Skyward prologue#
- ↑ a b c Skyward chapter 22#
- ↑ General Twitter 2018
— Arcanum - 2018-11-20# - ↑ a b Skyward chapter 2#
- ↑ Skyward chapter 13#
- ↑ Skyward interlude I-3#
- ↑ Skyward chapter 32#
- ↑ Skyward chapter 11#
- ↑ Skyward chapter 31#
- ↑ Skyward chapter 34#
- ↑ Starsight chapter 20#
- ↑ Skyward chapter 36#
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Skyward chapter 14#
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Skyward chapter 41#
- ↑ Skyward Seattle signing
— Arcanum - 2018-11-10# - ↑ Skyward chapter 30#
- ↑ Skyward chapter 43#
- ↑ Skyward chapter 19#
- ↑ Val-Class Scouter Art