HF-66 Thunderbolt VII

HF-66 Thunderbolt VII
File:Tbolt-hires.jpg
Type	Heavy Fighter
Manufacturer	Douglas Aerospace
Primary User	Terran Confederation
Additional Users	Union of Border Worlds, Various Pirate Groups
Length	34 meters
Mass	20 metric tonnes
Max Velocity	380 kps
Max Afterburner Velocity	1000 kps
Acceleration	200 k/s^2
Max Afterburner Acceleration	800 k/s^2
Max Y/P/R	50/50/50 deg/s
Guns	Plasma Guns (2), Photon Cannons (2), Meson Guns (2)
Missiles	Standard Loadout Heat-Seeking Missiles (6), Torpedo (1)
Turrets	Single Mount Mass Driver (1)
Armor	120 cm fore/aft 100 cm sides
Shields	250 cm fore/aft
Decoys	24
Cloak	No
Jump Drive	No
Crew	2 (Pilot, Gunner)

HF-66 Thunderbolt VII Target Designation, circa 2673

The HF-66 Thunderbolt VII is a heavy fighter in the service of the Terran Confederation.

The Thunderbolt VII saw extensive action in the later half of the Terran-Kilrathi War. As a heavy fighter, it was designed with the ability to hold its ground in a dogfight against multiple enemy fighters and to assault high-priority targets. The Thunderbolt VII was built on a heavy chassis with a large weapons loadout capable of sporting one torpedo for anti-ship combat. It possesses heavy armor and a rear turret for self-defense. While not as fast as most starfighters, it was still sufficiently maneuverable to hold its own on the battlefield.

The Thunderbolt VII was deployed from numerous carrier groups during the final years of the Terran-Kilrathi War, and was used to assault numerous convoys and Kilrathi warships. When it was equipped with a torpedo, it proved to be an especially lethal threat.

One notable action of the Thunderbolt VII was that undertaken by Kilrathi pilot Ralgha nar Hhallas, who until 2669 was a loyal pilot of the Terran Confederation. That year, he betrayed his comrades on the TCS Victory on behalf of the Kilrathi and fled the Victory on a Thunderbolt after his involvement in the loss of the TCS Behemoth. His former comrade Christopher Blair pursued him and despite Ralgha's exceptional combat skills, gunned him down.

Thunderbolts continued to see action long after the end of the war in 2669. During the Border Worlds Conflict of 2673, the Black Lance acquired numerous Thunderbolts for use in their attacks against the Union of Border Worlds in their attempt to initiate a war with the Terran Confederation.

Thunderbolts saw infrequent usage by 2681, having been replaced by far more advanced heavy fighters.

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  Thunderbolt VII during Border Worlds Crisis, circa 2673

• Tbolt-pirate-hires.jpg

  Pirate Thunderbolt variant seen in the Hellespont system, circa 2673