Orion

Orion
Type	Gunship
Primary User	Mercenaries

The Orion is a class of Mercenary gunship. Centurions are one of the four basic models of single-person ships available to the general public in Gemini Sector. They are available to privateers at Ship Dealers for 200,000 credits unconfigured. Around 2670, Orions became able to support level 7 engine upgrades and shield generators. Gabriel Quentin wrote about the spaeccraft in GEMINI SECTOR: AN OVERVIEW.

Images

Screenshots

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Renders

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Cockpit

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Sprite Sheets

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Specifications

Name	Orion	Orion
Source	Playguide	Privateer
Faction	Mercenary	Mercenary
Class	Gunship	Gunship
Max. Velocity	350 kps	350 kps
Aft. Velocity	800 kps	800 kps
Acceleration	Average	350
Max. YPR	Poor	107/105/115
Power Supply		800 GW
Energy Gauge		800 GJ
Guns	Mass Driver (2)	Plasma Gun (2)
Turrets	Laser (2, Tail)	Laser (2, Tail)
Weapons	Heat Seeker (3)	Launcher #1: Heat Seeker (3)
Cargo Hold	50 units	Ejected Pilot
Shields		Generator 5
Levels		3
Power		100 GW
Regen		4
Side Shields		50 cm equiv. each
Fore Shields		50 cm equiv.
Aft Shields		50 cm equiv.
Shield Effect		100%
Side Armor	35 cm equiv. each	35 cm equiv. each
Fore Armor	48 cm equiv.	48 cm equiv.
Aft Armor	50 cm equiv.	50 cm equiv.
Upgrades		Afterburners Tail Turret

Components

Base

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  No Upgrades

Sensors

Iris

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  Mk. I

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  Mk. II

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  Mk. III

Hunter

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  AW 6

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  AW 6i

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  AW Infinity

B and S

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  Tripwire

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  E.Y.E.

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  Omniscience

Engines

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  Upgrade 1

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  Upgrade 2

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  Upgrade 3

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  Upgrade 4

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  Upgrade 5

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  Upgrade 6

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  Upgrade 7

Weapons

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  Missile Launcher

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  Torpedo Launcher

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  Tractor Beam

Guns

Laser

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  Starboard

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  Port

Mass Driver

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  Starboard

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  Port

Meson Blaster

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  Starboard

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  Port

Neutron Gun

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  Starboard

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  Port

Particle Cannon

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  Starboard

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  Port

Tachyon Cannon

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  Starboard

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  Port

Ionic Pulse Cannon

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  Starboard

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  Port

Plasma Gun

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  Starboard

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  Port

Fusion Cannon

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  Starboard

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  Port

Steltek Gun

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  Starboard

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  Port

Wing Commander Privateer Player's Guide

Orion

The Orion is perhaps the safest of all the vehicles mentioned here. It is can carry the most armor and shields of all ships listed (at the expense of its maneuverability). This is a sturdy ship, designed to last.

Cockpit. Low visibility. The cockpit is dark and somewhat cramped, with less window area than the Tarsus. Dual MFDs are standard and easy to use (see illustration). Instruments are not as easy to use as in the Centurion, but are simple to get a handle on.

Speed/Maneuverability. Supports up to a Level 5 engine upgrade. Although the Orion has better than average speed, it’s difficult to pull through tight turns.

Ordnance/Protection. Supports addition of a rear turret. Even without the turret, there is room for two guns and one weapon or tractor beam. With Level 5 engine upgrades, there is no reason not to pick a high quality gun with a high energy drain. Supports up to shield upgrade Level 5.

Overall Performance Rating. Due to its low maneuverability, limited cargo hold, and the expense of outfitting it, I give the Orion a low B. With enough money, though, you can make this ship a high A. I highly recommend the full option package for this ship

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Privateer Playtesters' Guide

ORION

When you first purchase the Orion, you won't have adequate shields and armor to protect you from potential attackers. Begin by accepting cargo missions. Try to stay away from any mom difficult assignments until you have sufficient resources to upgrade to Level 3 engines, Level 3 shields and tungsten armor.

Suggested Loadout

• Shield upgrade 3 and engine upgrade 3 (eventually upgraded to Level 5 shields and engines)
• Tungsten armor
• 1 missile launcher with IR missiles
• Repair droid
• Level 3 ECM package
• 2 tachyon cannon
• Rear turret
• Tractor beam in turret
• Cargo expansion

• With this level of protection, you can now change your strategy and graduate to scout and bounty hunting missions. Join the Mercenaries' Guild to gain access to lucrative bounty hunting assignments. Avoid confronting groups of enemies. Since your ship is not very fast or maneuverable and you only have one missile launcher, you will have a hard time defending yourself against multiple opponents.

• While on a mission, go to the designated system and keep a sharp lookout for red dots on your radar. Once an enemy ship shows on your scanner. try communicat-ing with him. If it is not the enemy you are looking for, you should probably turn around and run. You do not want to tangle with hostile fighters unless you absolutely have to. Your opponents will not tend to follow you for very long so outrunning them should not be much of a problem.

• Try to accept scout, cargo and bounty hunting missions in the same system so you can double or triple your income without having to fly any extra distance.

• Once you have adequate shield and engine upgrades, move into the Clarke Quadrant. Selecting Perry as your home base is probably a wise choice. It is very easy to find missions in the some systems. There are also extremely lucrative trade routes available here. Agricultural bases as well as refineries are close by.

• While you are accepting scout, bounty and cargo missions, continue to upgrade your shield and engine to Level 5. At this point, the Orion is almost invulnerable. Attack and defend base missions will no longer pose a problem, so you can accept any mission that appeals to you. Now is also the ideal time to become a pirate since you own a heavily fortified ship. KM-252 and Pentonville are the two pirate bases closest to the civilized world. The Pentonville - New Detroit route is also ideal for drug running. You can now blow up honest merchants and retrieve their goods with your tractor beam with impunity.

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Appearances

• Wing Commander Privateer Player's Guide
• Wing Commander Privateer
• Privateer Playtester's Guide
• Privateer Righteous Fire

Behind the Screens

The Orion is referred to as TUG or "tugboat" in internal game files and development material.

Concept Art

Wing Commander Privateer

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Unused Manual Art

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Pre-Release Screenshots

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Source Models

• 37TUG - Orion
• DD_TUG - Orion
• LANDTUG - Orion
• LNCHTUG - Orion
• TUGLAND - Orion
• TUG-TO - Orion (afterburners)
• TUGPAD - Orion w/ Landing Pad
• TUGGEAR - Orion w/ Loader
• TUGPIT - Orion cockpit
• TUGPIT2 - Orion cockpit
• TUGSID - Orion cockpit
• TAILGUN - Tail Gun
• B_REPLAN - Landing Pad w/ Ships
• DD_DELR1 - Ship Dealer w/ Ships
• DD_DLR-S - Ship Dealer w/ Ships