Jalthi

Jalthi
File:Wc1jalthi.jpg
Type	Heavy Fighter
Manufacturer
Primary user	Kilrathi Empire

Jalthi Target Identification circa 2654

File:Cm-jalthi.jpg

Jalthi-class line-drawing from Joan's Fighting Spacecraft.

The Jalthi was a Kilrathi heavy fighter. It was included in Joan's Fighting Spacecraft Vega Sector Supplement for 2654.092. In March 2654, a pair of Jalthi posed as crippled fighters to ambush a pair of Scimitars. One Jalthi simulated maneuvering damage by moving away with intermittent thrusters while the other shut down entirely and simulated the loss of its stabilization hardware. Against orders Lt. Larry Dibbles took the bait and attacked the moving fighter. The second Jalthi powered up and attacked Dibbles' wingleader, Captain R.A. Skinner. After Skinner's fighter was destroyed, both Jalthi concentrated their firepower to destroy Dibbles' ship. The incident was the impetus for Taggart's Tactics.

Due to the Jalthi's six front-mounted cannons, Michael Casey gave Christopher Blair the advice to never attack a Jalthi head on. Casey claimed that if you did, the first shot would take out your shields and the second would blow through your cockpit into the reactor. Later, Sam expanded on this advice, telling Blair that due to the fighter's poor rear design, which had no rear visibility and large exhausts, to always attack from low and behind the fighter. To quote Sam, "Just jam a missile up those rear pipes and -- BOOM! No more kitty".

The heavily armed Jalthi was unquestionably one of the most feared fighters among its Terran opponents. Though low speed and maneuverability made the Jalthi a conquerable foe, its infamous "six shooters" were the bane of many human pilots. Jalthi squadrons, considered the plum assignment of the mid-war Kilrathi fighter forces, generally went to Kilrathi of noble blood. Bakhtosh nar Kiranka, noted ace and politician, achieved 34 kills flying a Jalthi during the Vega Campaign.

The Jalthi continued to serve with active squadrons through the 2668 Battle of Terra, despite the fact that its role was largely superceded by space superiority fighters like the Gratha and Hhriss.

Specifications

Class:	Heavy Fighter
Length:	32 meters
Mass:	22 metric tonnes
Max Velocity:	280 kps
Cruise Velocity:	200 kps
Acceleration:	Average
Max Y/P/R:	5/5/5 dps
Fore Shield:	16.0 cm equivalent
Aft Shield:	16.0 cm equivalent
Front Armor:	20.0 cm
Right Armor:	17.0 cm
Left Armor:	17.0 cm
Rear Armor:	10.0 cm
Guns:	Neutron Gun (3), Laser Cannon (3)
Missiles:	Fang FF (2), Stalker HS (1)