Darket
| Darket | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Light Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Ki'ra Clan |
| Introduction | 2668 |
| Primary users | Kilrathi Empire Pirates |
| Produced | 2668-2700 |
| Variants | Dragonfly, Raptor, Stalker |
The Darket is a light spacecraft fighter. It was first introduced in 2668 by the Ki’ra Clan.
Its relative lack of armor and light shielding were compensated for by 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 throughout the Terran-Kilrathi War.
The Ki'ra Clan was not dissuaded by the Empire's defeat in 2669, 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 commonplace in some sectors.
The Darket Stalker was a pirate favorite around 2700 for its ability to ambush unsuspecting commercial traders on the space lanes.
Variant 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/s2 | 190 k/s2 | 190 k/s2 | 190 k/s2 |
| 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
A Darket flown off the KIS Sivar's Glory in 2669.
A Darket flown by Najji Ragitagha in 2669.
A Darket Dragonfly flown by a mercenary pilot in 2701.
A Darket Raptor flown by a mercenary pilot in 2701.
A Darket Stalker flown by a mercenary pilot in 2701.
Alternate History (the real world)
The Darket first appeared in Wing Commander III: 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.
