F-95 Morningstar

A-18 Crossbow
Type	Heavy Fighter
Primary User	Terran Confederation
Additional Users	Mandarins (stolen prototypes)
Introduction	~2667
General Characteristics
Length	20 meters
Mass	20 tonnes
Crew	1 (pilot)
Performance
Maximum Yaw	8 dps
Maximum Pitch	8 dps
Maximum Roll	8 dps
Acceleration	Excellent
Velocity
Cruise	220 kps
Maximum	400 kps
Afterburner
Maximum Afterburner	1200 kps
Armament
Guns
Particle Cannons (3)
Turrets
Dual-Mount Neutron Gun (1)
Default Missile Loadout
Image-Recognition Missiles (2) Torpedoes (2) Mace Nuclear Missile (1)
Components
Jump Drive	Yes
Defense
Shields
Fore	15 cm equivalent
Aft	15 cm equivalent
Armor
Front	20.0 cm
Rear	20.0 cm
Right	20.0 cm
Left	20.0 cm
F-95 Morningstar Target Identification.
Source	Special Operations 2

History

The F-95 Morningstar is a heavy fighter that served with the Terran Confederation during the later stages of the Terran-Kilrathi War.

The Morningstar was, at the time of its introduction in 2668, considered the most advanced heavy fighter yet fielded by the Confederation. Designed as a space superiority fighter and a formidable assault craft, the Morningstar was a heavily-armed craft created with the intent to easily engage virtually any threat posed by the Kilrathi Empire. It was also one of the few Terran fighters built with jump capability, granting it greater autonomy on the battlefield than what is afforded to most other Confederation fighters.

Unfortunately, the Morningstar's development and subsequent introduction into service was mired by technical flaws that plagued the fighter's jump drive. When activated, the jump drive would spontaneously shut down and render the fighter inoperable, leaving the pilot stranded in space. Early prototypes of the Morningstar also were incapable of retrieving ejected pilots due to the lack of a tractor beam. Several Morningstar prototypes would be lost due to the failure of their jump drives.

In 2668, the first Morningstar squadron, the Wild Eagles, was commissioned for combat duty on board the TCS Concordia. The squadron, led by Major Todd "Maniac" Marshall, was charged with field-testing the Morningstar in preparation for full combat implementation. The squadron also included Captain Markham "Crossbones" Colt, Captain Jeffrey "Talon" Burkheimer, and Captain Maria "Minx" Grimaldi. The squadron participated in several combat missions on the Concordia, all the while tending to the fighter's various flaws.

The existence of the Morningstar was leaked to the Kilrathi by agents of the Society of Mandarins, a network of Terran traitors. The Kilrathi commissioned the Mandarins to capture a Morningstar for further study. Captain Grimaldi was one such agent, and hijacked one of the Morningstar prototypes from the Concordia and detonated explosives to cover her escape. Grimaldi escaped with a Morningstar prototype, killed Captain Colt and permanently injured Captain Burkheimer, effectively destroying the Wild Eagles. However, Special Operations Division tracked Grimaldi's fighter to Ayer's Rock, the headquarters of the Mandarins, and launched a covert operation to destroy it and the Morningstar prototype before it fell into enemy hands.

After a prolonged standoff in the Ayer's System, Colonel Christopher Blair and his allies launched a full assault on Ayer's Rock in Morningstars, eventually destroying the base and the stolen Morningstar, which was piloted by infamous Terran traitor Zach "Jazz" Colson. During the engagement, the Morningstar proved its combat effectiveness, downing dozens of enemy fighters in combat and the entire Ayer's Rock installation.

Specifications

	F-95 Crossbow (2668)	YF-95/F-95 Morningstar
Sources:	Wing Commander Academy Manual	Special Operations 2/Wing Commander: Academy
Class:	Heavy Fighter	Heavy Fighter
Length:	20 meters	20 meters
Mass:	20 metric tonnes	20 metric tonnes
Max Velocity:	400 KPS	400 KPS
Cruise Velocity:	220 KPS	220 KPS
Afterburner Velocity:	Not Listed	1200 KPS
Acceleration:	Excellent	3 (relative)
Max Y/P/R:	8/8/8 DPS	8/8/8 DPS
Guns:	Particle Cannons (3)	Particle Cannons (3)
Missiles:	Image-Recognition Missiles (2)	Image-Recognition Missiles (2)
Missiles:	Torpedoes (2)	Torpedoes (2)
Missiles:	Mace Nuclear Missile (1)	Mace Nuclear Missile (1)
Armor (Front/Rear/Sides):	20.0/20.0/20.0 cm	20.0/20.0/20.0 cm
Shields (Fore/Aft):	15.0/15.0 cm	15.0/15.0 cm
Shield Recharge:	Not Listed	3 cm/seconds
Missile Decoys:	None	None
Jump Capable:	Yes	Yes
Service Entry	Not Listed	2667

Sources

TCSNA Handbook

• Spacecraft of the Terran and Kilrathi Fleets
  • "The Morningstar is generally recognized as the current Confederation state-of-the-art capital ship destroyer. It combines strong shields and armor with high maneuverability and excellent acceleration. Particle cannon and missiles make it a dangerous opponent for any fighter. However, its true strenght lies in its torpedoes and Mace missile. The Mace is the most powerful weapon currently employed in space combat. Equipped with a nuclear warhead, this weapon wields more explosive force than a torpedo.

Gallery

• 

  F-95 Morningstar Target Identification circa 2667

• 

  The Morningstar prepares for launch circa 2667