Kilrathi Empire Dralthi-IX Rhino Medium Fighter

**Name**: Dralthi-IX Rhino Multi-Role Fighter
**Craft**: Caxki clan Dralthi-IX Rhino Multi-Role Fighter
**Type**: Medium Fighter
**Scale**: starfighter
**Length**: 38 meters
**Skill**: starfighter pilot
**Crew**: 1
**Cargo Capacity**: 3.1 metric tons
**Consumables**: 14 days
**Jump Drive**: x1
**Nav Computer**: yes
**Maneuverability**: 3D
**Space**: 5
**Atmosphere**: 295; 850 km/h
**Hull**: 5D+2
**Shields**: 1D+2
**Sensors**

* Passive: 20 / 0D+1
* Scan: 40 / 1D
* Search: 60 / 1D+1
* Focus: 2 / 2D

**Cloaking Device**: While cloaked, +2D+1 Difficulty to detect ship
**Weapons**

* **2 Civilian Grade Plasma Guns**  (firelinked)

Fire Arc: forward
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 3D
Space Range: 1-3/8/15
Atmosphere Range: 10-300/800/1,500m
Damage: 4D+2
* **2 Civilian Grade Tachyon Guns**  (firelinked)

Fire Arc: forward
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D+2
Space Range: 1-3/8/15
Atmosphere Range: 10-300/800/1,500m
Damage: 3D+1
* **Long Range Heat Seeker (LRHS) Missiles**

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: Starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 3D+2
Space Range: 1-8/20/40
Atmosphere Range: 10-800/2,000/4,000m
Ammo: 3 external quint(5) hardpoints; 15 total
Damage: 4D
* **2 Standard Dumb Fire (DF) Missile Banks**

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: Starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-2/5/10
Atmosphere Range: 10-200/500/1,000m
Ammo: 20 per bank
Damage: 3D
* **Electronic Counter Measure Module**

Fire Arc: all
Crew: 1
Skill: sensors
Space Range: 1-5/13/25
Atmosphere Range: 10-500/1,300/2,500m
Effects: Enemy Sensors and Fire Control -1 pip
* **Enhanced Countermeasure Pod Dispenser**

Fire Arc: aft
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: sensors
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-5/13/25
Atmosphere Range: 10-500/1,300/2,500m
Ammo: 50
Effects: Enemy Sensors & Fire Control -1D
**Description**: The Dralthi was a Kilrathi medium fighter. It was included in Joan's Fighting Spacecraft Vega Sector Supplement for 2654.092.

There is perhaps no single ship that is more symbolic of the Empire of Kilrah than the bat-winged Dralthi fighter. A string of early successes combined with a distinct silouette permanently imprinted the Dralthi in the minds of its human opponents. This psychological impact was furthered by the fighter's huge production run - it was the most commonly encountered fighter in the Vega Sector theater of operations.

The first production model, the tiny KF-100, entered service in 2529; as such, it saw service during both the 2594 invasion of the Varni Republic and the 2598 battle with the Mantu. When the conflict with the Terran Confederation began in earnest, the KF-100 Dralthi remained one of the Empire's premiere medium fighters. Though superseded by later models, the KF-100 remained in service through the last year of the Vega Campaign - ultimately playing a key role in the destruction of the Pegasus Naval Station.

The second design (classified simply as Dralthi) entered service in the late 2640s. The new model featured a host of technical improvements, including extended life support and the introduction of an ejection system. They made their debut during an attack on the Epsilon Prima System, catching the TCS Tiger's Claw by surprise. Terran intelligence had failed to predict their extended range - costing the Tiger's Claw five pilots.

The Dralthi was, however, by no means a marvel of Kilrathi engineering: The huge, ovaloid wings blocked visibility to the sides of the fighter, forcing Kilrathi pilots to pitch rather than yaw during combat. Additionally, the shield generators were plauged by technical glitches - if hit too quickly in rapid succession, they would often fail completely.

Notoriously merciless ace Dakhath nar Sihkag ("Deathstroke") was credited with 78 space-to-space kills flying a Dralthi during the last years of the Vega Campaign. His fighter was shot down in 2654 by 1st Lieutenant Mariko Tanaka.

In one unique use of surplus Dralthi, the commander of the Dioscuri System garrison issued the fighters to the planet's low-technology natives, teaching them to defend their planet from human 'aggressors'. The Dralthi was succeeded on the production lines in 2655 by the Dralthi II.

On 2654.110, Jeannette Devereaux of the Tiger's Claw observed that the Dralthi fighter was the most common Kilrathi fighter in the Vega Sector. She also noted that it took 1.4 missiles or over seven laser blasts to destroy the fighter.

**Source**:

* Wing Commander Encyclopedia: Dralthi IX
* Wing Commander Information Center: Dralthi IX
* The Wing Commander Role Playing Game (page 319)
* thedemonapostle