Falx Supina Light Starfighter (Wolfen / CAF):
This fighter design comes from the days before the Wolfen joined the
Consortium of Civilized Worlds and is an incredible light starfighter design
for the time of its development. While the Osprey from the Human Alliance
was adopted for the medium starfighter, the Falx Supina was initially adopted
by the consortium, being in many ways a better fighter that the Human Alliance
light fighter design. Like other fighters adopted by them, it was given
a standard CAF designation. It was only until the Scorpion was developed
that the Consortium replaced this fighter in service and the Falx Supina
is a better fighter in the atmosphere due to being more aerodynamic. Like
the Gladius, the Falx Supina is still being used in the Wolfen militaries
and an upgrade version has been developed and is steadily replace the older
versions of the fighter in the Wolfen Militaries. Older versions of these
fighters still serve in human as well as Wolfen hands, are found in the
Free Worlds Council, in Independent Fleets, and in Mercenary Companies.
The new fighter is the equal and in many ways the better of the Scorpion
although differently equipped. Wolfens love fighter combat because it is
more individual and their fighters are often referred to as their claws
and teeth. The name Falx Supina is the name for a Roman dagger.
Like the older versions of the Gladius and like many light fighters,
the original Falx Supina had no defense shields. While the fighter is fast
and well armored, the fighter is more vulnerable to damage than many newer
designs. The fighter is as fast as the larger but much newer Black Eagle
Starfighter due to the fact that the ship is more engines and power plant
than any other system. The fighter is lightly but still well armed with
two light particle beams. The ship does not carry fixed missile mounts
but instead carries mounts that can carry a variety of different missiles.
There are a total of two hard points and the missiles are external so atmospheric
speeds are reduced with ordinance. The missiles are partially recessed
so this is minimized but is still a factor like it is with the Gladius.
The Wolfen developed a new version of the Falx Supina to solve some
of the problems with the original design and so it could operate better
with the newer Gladius starfighters. Unfortunately, like the Gladius, there
is problem with the new design due to it having a very low parts compatibility
with the original fighters. The advantages far outweigh the problems, the
new Falx Supina has a booster that makes the fighter much faster, actually
faster than a Scorpion, and the new fighter is more maneuverable, and has
greater weaponry than the original. The new fighter has light shields and
has a center hard point than is designed to carry a heavy rail gun or additional
missiles. Sensors have been upgraded to the new standards as well.
This fighter design uses modified starship speed and ranges. See
Revised
Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.
(Note: The power system is fusion not anti-matter because the
author's opinion is that anti-matter is to dangerous to be used in vehicles
that may be used in an atmosphere. If a starship powered by anti-matter
was to detonate in an atmosphere it would cause huge planetary damage.
At GM option, this can also be applied to all starfighters or this fighter
can be changed to anti-matter.)
| Model Type: | PBI-25 / SF-12B | Original Model |
| PBI-25D | Advanced Model |
Vehicle Type: Light Interceptor / Strike Fighter
Crew: One
| M.D.C. By Location: | Standard: | Advanced: |
| Side Particle Beam Cannons (2): | 20 each | 40 each |
| Missile/ Weapon Hard Points (2 or 3): | 8 each | 12 each |
| GR-1000 Rail Gun pod: | None | 200 |
| Auxiliary Engine: | None | 150 |
| [1] Main Body | 400 | 475 |
| Reinforced Cockpit: | 100 | 150 |
| [2] Variable Force Field: | None | 200 per side (1,200 total) |
Notes:
[1] Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the fighter out of
commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support
and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating
wreck.
[2] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one
shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (60 MDC) per melee
Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight:
Original Fighter: Has a special sublight engine that allows
the ship to travel up to 40 percent of the speed of light. Fighter can
accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 1.6 percent of light per melee.
Advanced Model: Has a special sublight engine that allows the
ship to travel up to 40 percent of the speed of light. Fighter can accelerate/decelerate
at the rate of 1.6 percent of light per melee and with using the Auxiliary
Engine, the fighter can reach up to 2.0 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion:
Original Fighter: Maximum normal speed is Mach 8 (5931.6 mph
/ 9546 kph), fighter can enter and leave an atmosphere because flight system
is by contra grav. When starfighter is carrying missiles, speed is limited
to Mach 6 (4,448.7 mph /7,159.5 kph), but can still enter and leave atmosphere
because flight system is by contra grav.
Advanced Model: Maximum normal speed is Mach 8 (5931.6 mph /
9546 kph) with just standard engines and is Mach 10 (6,700 mph / 10,800
kph) with auxiliary boosters, fighter can enter and leave an atmosphere
because flight system is by contra grav. When starfighter is carrying missiles,
speed is limited to Mach 6.5 (4,819.5 mph /7,756.2 kph) with just contra-grav
engine and Mach 8 (5931.6 mph / 9546 kph), but can still enter and leave
atmosphere because flight system is by contra grav.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by drive system but only
has supplies for pilots for twelve days.
Statistical Data:
Length: 32 feet (14.0 meters)
Height: 14 feet (4.3 meters)
Width: 35 feet (13.4 meters)
Weight: 6.5 Tons (5.9 metric tons) empty and 9 tons (8.2 metric
tons) fully loaded.
Power System: Original Fighter: Advanced Fusion with
20 year life span, Advanced Model: Advanced Fusion with 35 year
life span.
Cargo: Minimal Storage Space, place for a rifle, handgun, small
survival kit, signal flares, and food rations.
Market Cost: Original Fighter: 20 million credits. Advanced
Model: 35 million credits
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
- Standard Model:
- Light Particle Beam Cannons (2):
These guns are mounted on
the sides of the fighter and may be used individual or simultaneously.
While not as powerful as most new fighter weapons system, The weapon is
still powerful and effective.
Range: 4 miles (6.4 km) through atmosphere and 200 miles (321.8
km) in space.
Mega-Damage: 1D4x10+10 per single blast, or 2D4x10+20 per double
blast
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of
the Pilot (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited
- Missile Pylons (2):
On the underbelly of the fighter are
two missile racks that allows the fighter to carry one cruise missile,
two long range missiles, or four medium range missiles each. Individual
pylons must carry all the same type ordnance but each pylon may carry different
types of ordnance. Cruise missile are normally carried when on an anti-capital
ship role and long and medium range missiles when fighting other starfighters.
Cruise Missiles has a top speed of Mach 25 in an atmosphere and
in space has an acceleration of 10% of light per turn (far faster than
any starship). Long Range Missiles has a top speed of Mach 20 in
an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 8% of light per turn
(faster than any starship). Medium Range Missiles has a top speed
of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light
per turn. Since starships will no longer engage at rock throwing distances,
whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed of target,
launcher, and missile. When drive goes dead, missile will still cruise
unless set to self destruct but has very low odds of hitting starships
(Great for hitting bases and planets because target does not move and missile
when dead at -25% to detect.) Cruise missiles have minuses to hit small
targets but are all considered smart missiles. Missiles can be launched
on multiple targets simultaneously.
Range: Cruise Missiles range is 8,000 miles (12,875 km)
in an atmosphere and 4,000,000 miles (6,437,376 km/ 21.5 light seconds),
Long Range Missiles range is 3,400 miles (5470 km) in an atmosphere
and 1,800,000 miles (2,89700 km/9.7 light seconds) in space, and Medium
Range Missiles range is 160 miles (257.5 km) in an atmosphere and 80,000
miles (128,750 km/0.43 light seconds).
Mega-Damage & Properties: See
Phase World Missiles
tables (Cruise Anti-Matter does 4D6x100 MDC and Long Range Fusion does 2D4x100 MDC).
Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of two, three, or
four missiles.
Payload: 1 Cruise Missile, 2 Long Range Missiles, or 4 Medium
Range Missiles per Pylon.
- Advanced Model:
- Particle Beam Cannons (2):
These guns are mounted on the
sides of the fighter. These cannons have been upgraded and are both more
powerful and have a better range than the original cannons. The particle
beam cannons are controlled by the fighters pilot and when both weapons
are within range, the particle beams and rail gun, if mounted on central
hard point, may be combined to inflict greater damage.
Range: 5 miles (8 km) through atmosphere and 500 miles (800
km) in space.
Mega-Damage: 1D6x10+10 per single blast, or 2D6x10+20 per double
blast (6D6x10+20 when the particle beams and the rail guns are combined
together).
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of
the Pilot (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited
- Missile / Rail Gun Pylons (3):
On the underbelly of the fighter
are three racks with the side two as pure missile racks and the center
able to carry either missiles or a heavy rail gun. The rail gun is a copy
of the GR-1000 rail gun carried on the CAF Scorpion Starfighter and weighs
quite a bit. It is streamlined to reduce the drag of the weapons pod
- Missiles:
Each hard point may carry one cruise missile, two
long range missiles, or four medium range missiles each. Individual pylons
must carry all the same type ordnance but each pylon may carry different
types of ordnance. Cruise missile are normally carried when on an anti-capital
ship role and long and medium range missiles when fighting other starfighters.
Cruise Missiles has a top speed of Mach 25 in an atmosphere and
in space has an acceleration of 10% of light per turn (far faster than
any starship).
Long Range Missiles has a top speed of Mach 20 in
an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 8% of light per turn
(faster than any starship). Medium Range Missiles has a top speed
of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light
per turn. Since starships will no longer engage at rock throwing distances,
whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed of target,
launcher, and missile. When drive goes dead, missile will still cruise
unless set to self destruct but has very low odds of hitting starships
(Great for hitting bases and planets because target does not move and missile
when dead at -25% to detect.) Cruise missiles have minuses to hit small
targets but are all considered smart missiles. Missiles can be launched
on multiple targets simultaneously.
Range: Cruise Missiles range is 8,000 miles (12,875 km)
in an atmosphere and 4,000,000 miles (6,437,376 km/ 21.5 light seconds),
Long Range Missiles range is 3,400 miles (5470 km) in an atmosphere
and 1,800,000 miles (2,89700 km/9.7 light seconds) in space, and Medium
Range Missiles range is 160 miles (257.5 km) in an atmosphere and 80,000
miles (128,750 km/0.43 light seconds).
Mega-Damage & Properties: See
Phase World Missiles
tables (Cruise Anti-Matter does 4D6x100 MDC and Long Range Fusion does
2D4x100 MDC).
Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of two, three, or
four missiles.
Payload: 1 Cruise Missile, 2 Long Range Missiles, or 4 Medium
Range Missiles per Pylon.
- GR-1000 Rail Gun:
The Rail gun can only be mounted one the
central hard point of the starfighter and is the fighters most powerful
weapon system in many ways. The rail gun is the same rail gun as is carried
in the C.A.F. Scorpion Starfighter. Weapon is mainly used as an anti-starfighter
and strafing weapon. Projectiles come out of launchers at close to the
speed of light. Cannon uses a 30 mm projectile. The rail gun can be combined
with the laser cannons. The gun may be combined with the internal particle
beams
Range: 16 miles (26 km) through atmosphere and 1,600 miles (2,575
km) in space.
Mega-Damage: 40 round burst does 4D6x10 M.D. (Can be combined
with particle beam cannons and still only costs one attack).
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of
the Pilot (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: 10,000 Rounds (500 Bursts).
- Special Bonuses:
This fighter is extremely maneuverable;
add +5% to the pilots piloting skill, +1 to strike, +1 to dodge energy
and projectile fire, and +2 to dodge missiles, obstacles, and stellar debris.
The fighter also have a very advanced terrain following system. All bonuses
are in addition to pilots bonuses (Hand to hand and Starfighter Pilot:
Basic or Elite).
[ Phase World TM and Wolfen are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium
Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and
Palladium Books Inc.]
Image created and copyrighted by Kevin S. Wiliams (kevin@omcp.com) .
More Kevin S. Wiliams artwork at His Starship Gallery
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).
Copyright © 1999, Kitsune. All rights reserved.
