Darket
The Darket is a light spacecraft fighter. It was first introduced in 2668 by the Ki’ra Clan. Its lack of armor and light shielding were made up for in its ability to evade enemy fighters making them difficult to track. Valued for its fast turn rate and acceleration, the sleek, fast design saw heavy usage near the end of the Terran-Kilrathi War. The Ki'ra Clan weren't dissuaded by the Empire's defeat, but continued to improve upon their design over the course of the Nephilim War, giving birth to at least three unique variants of the fighter equipped for various roles. They were also later adapted to include Blackfish-type cloaking devices, which made them an especially lethal threat in the post Nephilim era frontier, where piracy and general lawlessness were the norm. The Darket stalker was a pirate favorite around 2700 A.D. for its ability to ambush unsuspecting commercial traders on the space lanes.
A Comparison:
| Stat\Variant | Darket (2668) | Darket Dragonfly | Darket Raptor | Darket Stalker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length: | 24 meters | 24 meters | 24 meters | 27 meters |
| Mass: | 12 metric tonnes | 12 metric tonnes | 12.5 metric tonnes | 14 metric tonnes |
| Max Velocity: | 520 kps | 580 kps | 515 kps | 425 kps |
| Max Afterburner velocity: | 1250 kps | 1150 kps | 975 kps | 800 kps |
| Acceleration: | 250 k/s^2 | 190 k/s^2 | 190 k/s^2 | 190 k/s^2 |
| Max Y/P/R: | 90/80/90 deg/s | 110/110/110 deg/s | 90/90/90 deg/s | 80/80/80 deg/s |
| Shields: | 80 cm | 80 cm | 130 cm | 80 cm |
| Armor: | 200 cm | 270 cm | 310 cm | 390 cm |
| Guns: | Meson Guns (2) | Laser Cannon (2), Tachyon Gun (2) | Meson Blaster (2), Ionic Pulse Cannon (2) | Laser Cannon (2), Neutron Gun (2) |
| Missile Hardpoints: | 1x2 (2HS) | 2x20 (40DF), 1x5 (5HS) | 2x20 (40DF), 2x5 (10HS) | 2x20 (40DF), 1x4 (4VampHS) |
| Missile Decoys: | 6 | none | unlimited | none |
| Devices: | N/A | Engine Power Core, Cloak, Sonar | Shield Battery, Flares, Cloak | Gun Power Core, Cloak, Deployable Turret |
| Jump Capable: | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Images
Alternate History (the real world)
The Darket first appeared in Wing Commander III: The Heart of the Tiger. Three variants of the class are later seen in Wing Commander: Arena where the flyable fighters include the Darket Dragonfly, the Darket Raptor, and the Darket Stalker. Darkets also appear in the Novel False colors being flown by the Free Republic of the Landreich.
Works Cited
- Star*Soldier (Arena Manual)
- False Colors (Novel)
- Warbirds (WC3 Foldout)
