Rakix-class Dropship

"Lethal, silent, and charred to hell. The Sangheili are mesmerized by her, damn Helljumpers' might be properly in love with the thing. We need more, now more than ever." -Anonymous ONI Lieutenant reporting on the prototype Rakix Dropship Developed through joint operations intelligence and special operations projects between the Swords of Sangheilios and the Naval Special Warfare Command of the UNSC, the Rakix dropship incorporates technologies and strategic capacities garnered from the working partnership of two former enemies. As part of a larger technological and intelligence exchange program between the UEG and SoS, the Rakix project demonstrates the marriage of distinct technological, cultural, and strategic forces. 
== Background ==
The Rakix is named after a bird of prey native to Sanghelios. Inhabiting the northern forested regions of Yermo, secluding themselves to live in the dense canopy, Rakix use their clawed wings and poisonous barbed tails to both cling to branches as well as hunt smaller prey on the forest floor. Rakix live in small family groups and use wolf-pack tactics to massacre smaller prey, either stinging and slashing or scooping up and dropping their prey from above to be ravaged by the rest of the pack. 
Keeping in UNSC and Sangheili naming conventions the Rakix in its name alone embodies the joint occupation and design of the advanced dropship. Spec-Ops Sangheili as well as ODSTs' utilize the Rakix on allied operations involving intelligence, counter terrorism, sabotage, and espionage. 
== Specifications ==
Larger than both the traditional UNSC Pelican Dropship and the Sangheili Phantom or Spirit dropships the Rakix features a length of thirty-four meters, a width of thirty-three meters, and a height of fifteen meters. The Rakix is designed to comfortably accommodate humans, Sangheili, Unggoy, and Mgalekgolo, its side and rear deployment/loading bays offer versatile operations capabilities for its occupants. 
The large polygonal head of the dropship houses the primary computers of the vessels advanced systems, a small armory and storage space at the lowest level, as well as pilot, co-pilot, and operator. Broad rotary engine nacelles double as robust landing legs with high impact grade strutting for those particularly rough landings into enemy territory. A long sloped and angular body helps inherently shrink the vessels radar signature as well as ablative stealth coating and other stealth materials to mask EM signals. 
Operating primarily as an incursion and exfiltration craft the Rakix is designed to enter enemy space and leave with whatever mission contents it arrived for before being detected by enemy forces. Offensive capabilities offer the extra security needed on high profile missions. 
=== Armament ===
Rakix-class Dropships feature two small pulse laser turrets which can swivel and vector from the midpoint of the nacelle bridges', a dorsal coil gun and ventral nose mounted chain gun offer LZ-clearing superiority and additional defense from aerial threats. 
=== Complement ===
Depending on the crew diversity the Rakix can support up to 16 seated and strapped in Humans, Sangheili, or Unggoy with standing stations offering a total of 24 spaces or 18 with 4 Mgalekgolo.
=== Systems ===
Category:Vehicles