Gunstar

The **Gunstar** can be considered the ultimate in Starfighter design. It has been in service with the Rylos Starfighter Command for centuries yet has never gone out of date. The fighter was designed to fight against fighters of the Ko-Dan, but are capable of taking virtually any starfighter or even light capital ship. When the fighter is landed, the engines point downwards and the fighter takes off straight vertically. In order for the pilot and gunner to get into the fighter they use an elevator attached to the fighter itself or a special loading ramp when available.

The Gunstar is operated by a crew of two. One is the Navigator, he pilots the ship and performs evasive maneuvers for the ship itself. The Gunner sits in front of the pilot / navigator and is in a special turret that allows him to rotate in virtually any direction to target enemy fighters and ships. In case of emergency, the whole cockpit is ejected. The fighter has state of the art holographic displays and incredible fire control computers which allows the fighter to do the job that might be expected out of several lesser fighters.

Because the Rylons have lost their combat instincts due to eons of being at peace, the Rylons recruit from other worlds pilots and gunners who have not lost their combat instincts. Some Rylons consider the Gunstar crews to be primitive but others greatly admire the crews who are Gunstar gunners and navigators. The tests for Gunstar crews are incredibly rigorous and only a few manage to past the test to be the crew of Gunstars.

The fighter is quite heavily armed with five laser cannons. These laser cannons are positioned with one in the nose, two to each side, and two mounted aft. Their positions are such that three laser cannons can always be fired together. For use against capital ships, the heavy fighter also mounts a heavy particle beam. The rate of fire of this weapon is limited but is incredibly powerful when fired.

The fighter also carries four bays for photon bolt missiles. These are basically medium range missiles with six missiles each for a total of twenty-four missile missiles. Usually the missiles carry heavy warheads and a missile is usually capable of destroying a target with one or two hits.

Because of increasing threats, an improved version of the Gunstar was developed. Still an experimental design, this version adds additional shielding and is better armored. This is not what makes the experimental heavy fighter truly dangerous however. The fighter has a weapon modification known as "Death Blossom." The fighter mounts additional energy weapons which fire in an automatic mode, firing more rapidly than the fighter can normally fire. As well, Death Blossom adds an additional thirty-six photon bolt missiles. They also automatically lock onto targets and fire simultaneously. The big weakness with this weapon system is that it can drain all power and often put the fusion reactor into automatic shutdown.

# Notes

1. ↑ Gravitic propulsion enables the fighter to enter and leave an atmosphere under its own power.
2. ↑ The mounts positioned so three can always fire at one time. One is mounted on the nose, two are mounted on the sides, and two are mounted aft. These mounts are medium powered and are designed as both anti-fighter and anti-missile defense.
3. ↑ These weapon mounts are relatively short ranged but are incredibly powerful, designed for use against capital ships. The weapon mount fires basically directly forward although can angle up to ten degrees to either side.
4. ↑ The improved GS-X1 "Experimental Model" is also fitted with the Death Blossom system - a computer controlled laser system combined with missile launchers. Once the gunner activated the weapon, the system is on automatic. The system controls both weapons fire and propulsion system. When the system is put on standby (Requires 30 seconds), large ordnance bays open up revealing the fighters payload. On the pilot activating the system, the fighter begins rotating on all axis and firing ordnance in every direction. The system has a huge drawback, which is that the system will operate for only one minute. Afterwards, the fighter has an 80% chance of the fusion reactor going into overload. In that case, the fighter will be without any power except life support. The pilot / flight engineer can try to use power from life support to kick start the fusion reactor. If it fails, life support is lost and restarting system will require for times normal amount of time. Once the fighter recharges, all other weapons can be used normally. The "Death Blossom" Laser Cannon Arrays are very powerful but short ranged as well. The 4 "Death Blossom" Photon Bolt Missile Launchers are a good backup for the laser cannon system, with 9 medium range missiles each launcher.

# Sources

1. ↑ http://kitsunesden.xyz/SF-Conversions/Rifts-Other-Vehicles/Last\_Starfighter\_Gunstar\_Starfighter.htm