Talk:F-44 Rapier II

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Claw Marks

Joan's 2654

Blue Prints

USG for WC1 sections

WC1 script (all missions)

Claw Marks

Comm Relay - Page 3

TCSO Show Scheduled

Vidstar Saranya Carr, exotic heroine of the popular Luna Jones, JumpScout serial, is accompanying the TCSO troupe to the Tiger's Claw. Carr, 25, stated, "You bet your life I'm happy to be working with the TCSO. I mean, you see Luna Jones blowing Kilrathi fuzzies out of space every week, but Saranya Carr doesn't know a nav computer from a dialogue transceiver. Since I can't help our fighting forces directly, I'm proud to be able to entertain and build morale. Besides," she adds, "I'm not completely unselfish. Perhaps I can persuade someone to give me a ride in one of those new Rapiers..."

Joan's 2654

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Class: Medium Fighter Length: 24 Meters Mass: 13.5 tonnes Maximum Velocity: 450 kps Cruise Velocity: 250 kps Acceleration: Excellent Maximum Yaw: 10 dps Maximum Pitch: 10 dps Maximum Roll: 10 dps Ship's Weapons: Laser Cannon (2), Neutron Guns (2), Dumb-Fire Missiles (2), Spiculum IR (Image-Recognition) Missile, Pilum FF (Friend or Foe) Missiles (2). Ship's Armor: Fore Shield: 7 cm equivalent; Aft Shield: 7 cm equivalent. Front: 5 cm; Right: 3cm; Left: 3cm; Rear: 4 cm

Know your Qualification Ribbons

If you can't tell a Rapier from a Raptor at a distance, you probably can't tell them apart on their Fighter Qualification Ribbons, either. Try your recognition skills on the Fighter Qualification Ribbons above. Each is awarded when you've completed your first mission in that class of fighter. Clockwise, from upper left: Hornet Scimitar Raptor Rapier

Blueprints

Stats same as Joan's

Ultimate Strategy Guide

For Tighter Up or Down Movements, Roll and Turn

he arrangement of thrusters on Hornets, Scimitars, and Raptors produces an unusual flight characteristic: up and down movements cannot be completed in as tight a radius as a turn to the left or right. Aerospace engineers are trying to correct the flaw in the new Rapier class, but it is still unknown whether their efforts have been successful.

Using Your Ship's Guns

Laser Cannon - At this point, the laser cannon was employed only on the Hornets, although scuttlebutt indicated that a new class of fighter, the Rapier, would use them as well.

Neutron Guns - It eventually showed up as the second gun on the Rapier, but at the time the Raptor was the only ship that carried the neutron gun.

Full Guns - On the Raptor, and eventually the Rapier, you could fire two guns at once. With the Raptor it was the mass driver and neutron. Later, on the Rapier it was the laser and neutron.

WC1 mission entry text

Omicron Wing (Gimle System)

It was the biggest disappointment of my career. Before I hit sick bay, Halcyon had told me I would be flying with Angel in the Gimle System. Now, Lieutenant Mariko was testing the prototype Rapier instead. Imagine, 450 KPS with enough acceleration to pull six gees, a laser cannon for distance, a neutron for trading punches in close, and the maneuverability to keep up with a Salthi. Now that's a machine.

As soon as I heard Omicron Wing had returned from their three-point patrol, I dashed to the bar and waited for their grand entrance. Everyone had the same idea and pushed into the tight quarters, to hear their report first-hand. They were beaming as they entered.

"Comparing a Rapier with any other ship we fly is similar to comparing the first hydrogen propulsion units with the ion drives we use now," said Angel. "Navigation point 1 was clear, but four Dralthi attempted to prevent our progress at 11,000 kilometers before Nav 2."

"We all know how quick and evasive they can be. With the Rapier, we hit them with the lasers as they approached at long range, and then matched every twist and turn when they came in close. I switched to neutrons, and since we can outrun them by about 50 KPS, just stayed on their tails and fired. A few shots and they were screaming about the black void of space. Spirit was just as successful using full guns."

"The two Gratha that we hit before Nav 3 display the real value of the Rapier," noted Spirit. "I just avoided their initial run toward us, then used my speed and maneuverability to take down their shields with my guns. One note of caution, however. Since the Rapier's maximum velocity is more than 100 KPS faster than the Gratha's, you risk collisions with the enemy if you aren't careful. Once the Gratha's shields were weakened, I took them out with a Spiculum IR and a Pilum FF. I fired the Pilum even though Angel was close by. I knew the Rapier would help her avoid the missile if it locked onto her ship."

Tau Wing (Gimle System)

Captain Devereaux and Lt. Mariko weren't pleased when the prototype Rapiers were assigned to other pilots, especially when they heard their next mission briefing. Halcyon ordered them to check out a large group of bogies at Nav 2, flying the heavy Raptor.

Theta Wing (Kurasawa System)

It was great to be assigned to the Black Lion Squadron and finally have the chance to take the helm of a Rapier-class heavy fighter. I'd heard all about their speed, maneuverability, and armaments when Spirit and Angel had checked out the prototypes in the Gimle System. I was psyched for this mission.

I'd run into so many poor pilots flying the Dralthi, that I was a little complacent when we found a five-ship wing guarding a Dorkir at Nav 1A. But these guys were hardened vets, and they gave us fits with their darting maneuvers. I couldn't believe I'd taken damage from a light fighter, but my guard was down and they scored from long range with their laser cannons before I gathered my wits about me. I won't use the excuse that I was flying a new fighter, since the Rapiers responded to the slightest touch on the joystick.

Once the protection was destroyed, we concentrated on the Dorkir. It was like a shooting range. Always attacking these large ships from the rear, the Rapier's quick response allowed us to wait until the last second before unloading our guns and turning off to avoid a collision. At such close ranges, as little as 750 meters, our full guns were incredibly effective.

"These Rapiers could make you lazy, Prankster. Don't let it give you a false sense of security. They're quick and nimble, but we're still carrying only three centimeters of armor on our sides. Just think what a Jalthi could do to that."

Omicron Wing (Kurasawa System)

I nodded my affirmation as I climbed into the Rapier's custom cockpit. The canopy was sliding before I had taken my seat and the launch caught me with only half the harness buckled. The launch team wasn't wasting any time.

We were cruising at full speed and really burning the afterburners when we hit the asteroids. I came to a screeching halt using backspace, then upped the throttle to 300 for our journey. It wasn't the safest speed, but I felt the extra maneuverability of the Rapier would keep us safe. It woudl have, but for the four Jalthi who saw us before we could sneak through the field. I told Bossman to break and attack and armed the lasers for some long-range shots. The cannons didn't do much to the Jalthi, but did split them up as they approached through the obstacle course.

Chi Wing (Kurasawa System)

Bossman had weakened the next target to find my sights and I smashed through the final defenses with neutrons. Next, I target each of the remaining three Dralthi and gave them my personal thoughts on their cultural heritage. I was firing hard and fast with the lasers before they had a chance to turn and attack the Rapiers. Before I knew it, all five Dralthi had fallen to my guns. The Rapiers were untouched.

We were pumped for the four Krant that jumped us on the way back to the carrier. I targeted each in turn and went through a series of taunts designed to make the cats look at the Rapiers as they would at flightless birds. The actual words can't be repeated here. I watched to see which would turn to face us, then targeted one of the others, locked in, and told Bossman to attack my target. I wanted to make sure he went after of the other ships that were trained on the Exeter. I turned away from the locked target and burned after the other attacking Krant.

After the debriefing, I found out I was being reassigned to the Star Slayer Squadron flying Raptors. I wasn't looking foward to giving up the Rapier, but I didn't say anything to the colonel. When he told me that Commander Della Guardia wanted to see me, I shot out of the room like a laser beam. Even in war there are good times. I was sure this meeting would be one of them.

The Final Assault: Preparation for Victory

All available Rapiers had been ferried to the Tiger's Claw for the final battle. Technicians swarmed over the craft, making last-minute calibrations to the targeting system, loading weapons, and performing routine maintenance before the big push. Training flights were constant for the pilots who had yet to fly in the TCSN's most advanced medium fighter.

Epsilon Wing (Venice System)

We were turning for Nav 2 when he replied. "Stay focused, Ship: Rapier Prankster. We'll be chasing the tails of more Kilrathi than you've ever seen soon enough. This is their last chance, and with High Command in the area it'll be swarming with rabid cats. Stay on your toes now."

We hit more mines on the way to Nav 3 and an asteroid field on the way to Nav 4. One mistake I made in the last one almost sucked the air out of the Rapier. The ejector system was completely destroyed, and the computer and communications systems were damaged.

I was afraid the afterburners would melt the tubes. It might have been the longest continuous burn ever attempted in a Rapier, but the ships somehow held together. Hunter and I made it to the carrier and passed our data discs along to tactical ops before we raced to meet Halcyon.

Nu Wing (Venice System)

The Tiger's Claw fighter patrols had identified multiple Kilrathi targets in the Venice System. With the assistance of fighters from the carrier Kyoto, we were ordered to engage and destroy specific ships and escorts throughout the system. Nu Wing would rendezvous with Rapiers from the Kyoto and head out in search of a Fralthi. According to Intel reports, Gratha, Salthi, and Krant would protect the 500-meter cruiser.

We lost a Rapier to the four-Krant escort for the Fralthi at Nav 2.1 don't know why the pilot just headed straight in, but he never had a chance against the eight combined laser cannons at long range. Maybe his flight recorder will give us some insight later.

I didn't have to tell Hunter to attack my target when I turned toward the Fralthi. In fact, he was ahead of me on the first pass at that target. I couldn't keep track of exactly what the other two Rapiers were doing, but I came in from the rear and fired a Dart and Spiculum on my first pass, a Pilum and Dart on the second, and then switched to the guns. After each attack, I turned away and let my blaster power regenerate, then turned back and held my fire until I reached a distance of 2000 meters. The explosion was incredible.

When we found out why the Rapier pilot from the Kyoto had rushed in on the Krant, we realized we had witnessed one of the most heroic acts in the war. Flight recorder data revealed that a computer system malfunction, not unusual in such a new ship, had taken away his ability to turn, eject or communicate. Knowing that he couldn't fight, he'd sacrificed his life and his ship and just tried to inflict as much damage as possible in a suicide rush at the enemy. We held our own memorial service on the Tiger's Claw for the young pilot.

Phi Wing (Venice System)

The Ralari's shields and armor yielded to the full guns and Darts from the two Rapiers, but once again, it took longer than expected to finish the job. We turned toward the carrier and kept our fingers on the afterburners instead of using autopilot. We could get home faster that way.

Omega Wing (Venice System)

Hunter and I were really scanning the radar display when the mines showed up about 41,000 kilometers from Nav 1. Know-ng speed was of the essence, I took a slight chance and kept the setting at 300 KPS instead of the recommended 250. It was a bit Ship: Rapier hairier winding through the mines, but we made it through without any real damage. As soon as we exited the rocks, we went to auto-pilot for our trip to Nav 1.

Secret Missions related text

Between Missions (Jotunheim System)

"I've got to admit that the lieutenant hasn't lost a second in reflex time and he can still put a Hornet, Raptor, Scimitar, or Rapier through its paces better than anyone," he explained. "The problem is that he's taking every mission personally, and trying single-handedly to take out every enemy fighter. He's not only a danger to himself, but to his wingleader as well. You never know what he's going to do next."

Rho Wing (Jotunheim System)

Mission Chronology:

1. Four Gratha attacked 55,260 kilometers from Nav 1. 2. Four Jalthi hit when 15,000 kilometers from Nav 1. 3. Four Rapiers attacked when 19,800 kilometers from Nav 2. 4. A Rapier and the Exeter appeared 8,000 kilometers from Nav 2. 5. Four Krant, in two wings, and four Gratha started blasting away when we were 53,444 kilometers from the carrier.

Post-Mission Analysis:

I don't know how Intel could have been so wrong. This mission was the most bizarre I'd ever flown. As it turned out, the mission was the result of a bogus radio message from the Kilrathi. It wasn't the Johann, but the mythical Gwenhyvar that appeared at Nav 2. They were trying to draw us into an ambush and they almost succeeded. I knew something was wrong when Rapiers attacked our position before we reached the Exeter, so I was prepared for something unusual.

Wing Commander

Beta Wing (McAuliffe System)

Talk to ICEMAN

Maverick. They call me Iceman.
Don’t let Knight fool you. The Scim’s a gun-heavy slug.
Forget finesse, just head straight in, guns blaring.
Give me a ship that takes skill.
A Raptor, even a Hornet… or one of those new Rapiers.
If half of what they say is true, the Rapier’s a true artist’s ship!

Omicron Wing (Gimle System) Talk to SHOTGLASS

   Hey, Maverick. How’s it goin’?

   You heard about those new Rapiers? Ever'body's talkin' about 'em.

   I'm not so sure about 'em, though.

   I flew jus' about my whole career in Scimitars an' Raptors.

   Liked the Raptor best, even though she didn't handle too good.

   She sure was fast once you got her goin', though!

Talk to HUNTER

   Maverick, , mate Have you 'eard the news?

   The Claw's gettin' a prototype Rapier to test fly!

   I've been lookin' over the specs on 'er.

   She's tagged a light fighter, but she's better armed than a Scimitar.

   There's a pair of laser cannons, for distance work...

   ...an' a set of neutron guns, for the dirty infightin'!

Talk to MANIAC

   I'm lookin' forward to seein' one of these new Rapiers!

   They say she's got tougher shields than anything in the fleet.

   She must be just about invulnerable!

   Ian St. John

   'Ang about, there, mate...

   She may 'ave God's own shields, but she's armored like a light fighter.

   If they knock down the shields, she's no tougher than a Hornet.

   Todd Marshall

   Wow, I never thought about that...

Mission Briefing

   Now, there's just one more thing about this mission I need to mention...
   We've just gotten a pair of prototype starfighters, Rapier-class.
   The brass wants to know how the Rapier performs in action...
   ...so I want you to put her through the paces.

   Ian St. John
   Good job, Maverick, you lucky bloke Let me know 'ow she feels!

   Peter Halcyon
   Now, I don't want you going nuts out there, Maverick...
   This is a hot piece of hardware, but it hasn't been tested under fire.
   No one really knows what she can do ... or what she can't.

   Christopher Blair
   I understand, sir. Don't try anything too fancy...

Debriefing

   Peter Halcyon
   Welcome back, Maverick.
   What'd you think of the Rapier?

   Christopher Blair
   She's quite a ship, sir.

Peter Halcyon

And what did you think, Devereaux?

Jeannette Devereaux

I must agree with the Maverick, mon colonel. It is quite a vessel.

   Jeannette Devereaux

   I believe that it will prove more effective even than the Raptor...

Jeannette Devereaux

...especially against the more nimble Kilrathi fighters.

Tau Wing (Gimle System)

Talk to KNIGHT

   So, Maverick. Now you've flown a Rapier. You like it?

You nod as you sip your drink.

   Joseph Khumalo
   I read that we're getting the first Rapier squadron on active duty.
   Colonel's already named the squadron Black Lion...
   I wonder who'll be assigned to it?

Epsilon Wing (Dakota System)

Colonel's office

   Peter Halcyon 
   Glad to hear it. We’ll be leaving Dakota soon, and I need to make some personnel changes. 
   Effective immediately following the jump, you’ll be reassigned. 
   I want you in one of the new Rapier-class mediums, in Black Lion Squadron. 

   Christopher Blair 
   Yes, sir. You won’t be sorry.

Theta Wing (Kurasawa System)

Preflight

Talk to ANGEL

   Allo, Maverick. You have a moment, no? 
   The Colonel has directed our crew chiefs to prepare our Rapiers for battle. 
   I had hoped we would have flown them more before now. C'est la vie. 
   Should you get the chance, let me know how they fly. It is tres important. 
   Au revoir, Maverick. 

Omicron Wing (Kurasawa System)

Preflight

Talk to KNIGHT

   Good day, Maverick. Heard you're flying a Rapier these days. 
   Is it really as quick as everyone says? I've got to see it in action. 
   I just got back from a patrol out near Kurasawa IV.That was a nightmare. 
   Me and Lightning were jumped by a couple of wings of Gratha. 
   We managed to take out five of them before they got Lightning. 
   If we'd had those Rapiers, I bet that we'd never have taken a hit. 
   They're good ships. You're lucky to get to fly one out.

Epsilon Wing (Venice System)

Preflight

Talk to HUNTER

   Maverick, mate I understand we'll be flyin' together for a while. 
   Colonel's just moved me over to Black Lion squadron and Rapier fighters. 
   I can't wait to get out in one of these new Rapiers, mate! 
   As I recall, she's got both lasers and neutron guns, right? 
   The lasers were designed for firin' at a distance... 
   ...an' the neutron guns for extra punch up close!

Nu Wing (Venice System)

Briefing

Peter Halcyon

   You'll rendezvous with two Rapiers, Foxtrot Wing, from the Kyoto, here. 
   From this point, you'll proceed to Nav 1... 
   ...skirting the edge of an asteroid field.

Secret Missions

Beta Wing (Jotunheim System)

Talk to SPIRIT

   Would you care to join me for a drink, Maverick? 
   There is no more news of Epsilon Station, or my fiancé. 
   But I will not think of that now. Shotglass believes we may fly in asteroid fields today. 
   I hope he is right. There is something I wish to try. 
   Have you ever seen Iceman in an asteroid field? No? 
   He does some amazing things. 
   If his front shield is gone, he will turn tail... 
   ... and let his enemy come up behind him. 
   He performs evasive maneuvers and uses his thrusters... 
   ... and sets course straight for a large asteroid. 
   At the last moment possible, he rolls out. 
   The Kilrathi does not always follow successfully. 
   Of course, Iceman prefers to do this in Hornets or Rapiers, not Raptors.

Variant Comparison

Stat\Variant	YF-44 (2654)	F-44A (2654)	F-44B (2654)	F-44C (2654)	F-44G (2654)	F-44H (2654)	Blade (2701)	Vanguard (2701)	Cavalier (2701)
Length:	24 meters	24 meters	24 meters	19 meters	19 meters	19 meters	19 meters	19 meters	19 meters
Mass:	13.5 metric tonnes	13.5 metric tonnes	13.5 metric tonnes	15.0 metric tonnes	15.0 metric tonnes	15.0 metric tonnes	15.0 metric tonnes	18.0 metric tonnes	20.0 metric tonnes
Max Velocity:	450 kps	450 kps	450 kps	450 kps	450 kps	450 kps	415 kps	365 kps	300 kps
Max Afterburner velocity:	1300 kps	1300 kps	1300 kps	1300 kps	1300 kps	1300 kps	815 kps	690 kps	570 kps
Acceleration:	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	150 k/s^2	150 k/s^2	150 k/s^2
Max Y/P/R:	10/10/10 deg/s	10/10/10 deg/s	10/10/10 deg/s	10/10/10 deg/s	10/10/10 deg/s	10/10/10 deg/s	90/90/90 deg/s	75/75/75 deg/s	65/65/65 deg/s
Shields:	8.5fb cm	7.0fb cm	8.5fb cm	8.5fb cm	8.5fb cm	11.5fb cm	280 cm	230 cm	280 cm
Armor:	6.5f/5lr/5.5r cm	6.5f/3lr/4.0r cm	8.5f/5.0lr/8.5r cm	6.5f/5.0lr/5.5r cm	6.5f/5.0lr/6.5r cm	7.5f/6.5lr/7.5r cm	415 cm	500 cm	550 cm
Guns:	MK 25 Laser Cannon (2), MK 40F Neutron Gun (2)	MK 25 Laser Cannon (2), MK 40F Neutron Gun (2)	MK 25 Laser Cannon (2), MK 40F Neutron Gun (2)	MK 25 Laser Cannon (2), MK 40F Neutron Gun (2)	MK 25 Laser Cannon (2), Particle Gun (2)	MK 25 Laser Cannon (2), Particle Gun (2)	Meson Blaster (2), Tachyon Gun (2)	Laser Cannon (2), Neutron Gun (2)	Ionic Pulse Cannon (2), Laser Cannon (2)
Missile Hardpoints:	1x2 Dart DF, 1x2 Pilum FF, 1x1 Spiculum IR	1x2 Dart DF, 1x2 Pilum FF, 1x1 Spiculum IR	1x4 Dart DF, 1x4 Pilum FF, 1x2 Spiculum IR	1x2 Dart DF, 1x2 Pilum FF, 1x1 MAMV	1x2 Dart DF, 1x2 Pilum FF, 1x2 Javelin HS	1x2 Dart DF, 1x2 Pilum FF, 1x2 Javelin HS	3x20 (60DF), 2x5 (10HS)	4x20 (80DF), 3x5 (15Porcupine)	4x20 (80DF), 2x10 (20IR)
Missile Decoys:	none	none	none	none	2 Chaff	2 Chaff	none	none	unlimited
Devices:	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Sonar, Shield Battery, Gun Power Core	Deployable Turret, Sonar, Gun Power Core, Gun Battery	Deployable Turret, Shield Power Core, Shield Battery
Jump Capable:	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes