Colonial Blackbird Class Reconnaissance Fighter

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The Blackbird is a short-lived, prototype Colonial stealth fighter designed by Galen Tyrol and built by many deckhands and officers on Galactica.

Frustrated at the dwindling number of available Vipers due to loss and wear-and-tear, Galen Tyrol begins to build a new fighter from scratch. The fighter design evolves due to supply shortages as well as improvisation and the imagination of participating crew members. The new fighter becomes more a reconnaissance vehicle than an actual fighter craft.

The Blackbird is designed to use the Viper launch tubes, and therefore shares the same general shape. Unlike the Viper, it is built more for speed than for maneuverability and is not equipped with guns but is later fitted with a missile launcher. Upon the suggestion of Karl Agathon, the Blackbird uses black-colored carbon composite materials that make it largely undetectable by DRADIS and unaided visual viewing. This was a practical consideration in light of all metal being reserved for Viper repairs.

Along with the usual RCS mechanisms for directional control, the Blackbird is powered by four obsolete DDG-62 engines that came from the flight deck of the Baah Pakal. Further, unlike other ships of its size, the Blackbird is FTL-capable.

**Purchase TN:** 526 (To Build) 350 (New) 233 (Used)

**Restriction:** Mil (+3)

• • Starfighters require the Pilot Starship Skill to be operated.

• • Many starfighters have vehicle mounted weapons, these vehicle weapons require the Vehicle Weapon Proficiency feat.

• • A starfighter in combat is always moving either under its own power, or by its current momentum, unless it has been brought to a full stop (a starfighter coming to a full stop is a move action, a starfighter at a full stop is considered flatfooted until it moves again. This rule dose not apply to vehicles able to hover in place). On a turn that a starfighter does not come to a full stop, and does not make a move action that round, the starfighter still moves forward in a straight line an amount of squares equal to one half its normal movement. (Vehicle Trait)

• • Carbon Composite Material Covering: adds +4 to any check made to locate the vehicle using any sensor system below PL 8.

• • Contoured Stealth Hull Geometry adds +4 to any check made to locate the vehicle using any sensor system below PL 8.

***Accommodations***

• • 1 Seat

***Structure Traits***

• • Contoured Stealth Hull Geometry (PL 5)

***Power System***

• • Fusion Generator

***Vehicle Systems***

• • 2x Advanced Afterburner System (PL 5) • • 4x Fuel Tanks (PL 5) • • R.C.S. (Reaction Control System) (PL 5) • • Maneuvering Thrusters (PL 5) • • 2x Rocket-Jet Space Engines (800 meters) (PL 5) • • Fuel Economizer (PL 6) • • RAM Scoop System (PL 6) • • Hyperdrive, Class 9 (PL 6) • • Navicomputer (PL 6) • • Landing Gear (PL 4) • • Life Support System (PL 5) • • Radio Transceiver (PL 5) • • Utility Flare System (PL 5) • • Class III Sensor Array (PL 6) • • Collision Detection Sensors (PL 6) • • Proximity Sensors (PL 6) • • Sensor Baffler (PL 6) • • Anti-Accident System (PL 6) • • Chaff Launcher (PL 6) • • Stealth Screen (PL 6) • • Missile Lock Alert (PL 6) • • Targeting System (PL 6) • • 2x Missile/Torpedo Strikefoil, Large (PL 5)