Consortium CTR-124W Kitten Light Starfighter Trainer:

Like the original Terran kitten, this trainer could be described as small, cute, and cuddly but has the potential of having razor sharp claws. The Kitten Light Starfighter Trainer is the main trainer used by the Consortium Armed Forces, Human Alliance Navy, and the various Independent Defense Forces within the Consortium of Civilized Worlds. There are a small number of the older Human Alliance Finch trainer also in service.

The Kitten has served in this role for over a century and there are no plans to replace these vehicles. It is also owned by quite a few private individuals, it is used in both private and military aerospace shows, and a few militaries have even added weaponry to the fighter and use them as light starfighters. Because of the widespread use of these trainers, they have sold very well and can be found in large numbers all over the C.C.W. and in moderate numbers outside of Consortium space as well.

The Trainer is very small and is smaller than virtually any other starfighter design in military service in the Three Galaxies. It is also surprisingly fast, very maneuverable, and capable of taking quite a large amount of punishment for a fighter of its size. To reduce the cost of each, the ship does not have variable shield or military class radiation and particle shield. The reactor on the fighter is also a civilian type design, an upgraded version of the fusion plant originally mounted on Finch light trainer.

Unlike the Scorpion Starfighter, the Kitten is designed to be aerodynamic and can operate equally well in both space and an atmosphere. Several light starfighters including New Coventry Badger and the Bushido Industries Tanto have many features similar to the Kitten Trainer.

There is also the Bobcat and now the Bearcat which are both light fighters based on the design of the Kitten. In many ways, both could be considered enlarged versions of the Kitten light trainer. For being based on a trainer, they are both surprisingly dangerous designs. The Bobcat actually spawned a number of unauthorized copies outside of Consortium territories.

The computer and fire control systems of the Kitten are closer to civilian standard than military standards although the displays are set up like standard C.A.F. starfighter displays to aid in training. The trainer has a special feature that allows the base to take control of the trainer from a out of control pilot. These controls can only be disconnected from the outside and have several security systems to prevent tampering with the system. The military was very clear that they wanted to prevent pilots in training from destroying the trainers if possible.

A standard Kitten has no weapon system but instead has two very low powered lasers that enable the pilot to indicate if he has struck the selected target or not. Some governments, mostly outside of Consortium space, have modified the light trainers with weaponry and use them as light starfighters. The vehicle can perform this role but is not well suited to the role of light starfighter in large part due to the light armor of the trainer. The refit replaces the marking lasers with light laser cannons and adds a single missile rack on the bottom of the Trainer. This can carry a single capital missile or a mixture of lighter ordnance.

This trainer uses modified starship speed and weapon range rules. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World / Three Galaxies 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: CTR-124W

Vehicle Type: Light Trainer (Some converted to light fighter)

Crew: Two (Student and Instructor)

M.D.C. By Location:

	Wing Light Lasers (2 - If mounted):	30 each
	Missile Hard Points (1, Underside - If mounted):	8 each
	[1] Wings (2):	180 each
	[2] Main Body:	300
	Cockpit:	100

Notes:

[1] Destroying a wing will cause the trainer to crash if it is flying within an atmosphere. Destruction of a wing has no effect in space.

[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the trainer out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.

Speed:

Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.

Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship to travel up to 20 percent of the speed of light. Fighter can accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 1.6 percent of light per melee. Particle and Radiation shields can be increased to military standards, if increased the Trainer can reach a top speed of 40 percent of light.

Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is Mach 8 (5,931.6 mph / 9546 kph), can enter an atmosphere because flight system is using contra grav. Fighter versions, when carrying ordinance, top speed in an atmosphere is Mach 3 (2224.4 mph / 3,579.8 kph)

Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by drive system but only has supplies for pilots for two days.

Statistical Data:

Length: 22 feet (6.7 meters).

Height: 8 feet (2.4 meters).

Width: 20 feet (6.1 meters).

Weight: 4.5 tons (4.1 metric tons)

Power System: Advanced Fusion with 6 year life span.

Cargo: Minimal Storage Space, place for a rifle, handgun, small survival kit, signal flares, and food rations.

Market Cost: 12 million credits, Military class particle and radiation shields cost 500,000 credits, Laser Cannons cost 200,000 credits (100,000 each) and Missile pylon and control systems costs 20,000 credits.

WEAPON SYSTEMS (None fitted standard):

Two (2) Light Lasers Cannons: The Trainer normally has no weapons fitted except a set of targeting lights to indicate a hit or not. They have the same range as the laser cannons listed here that can replace them. If fitted, the “light starfighter’ will have a light laser cannon on each wing.

Maximum Effective Range: 4000 feet (1219 m) through atmosphere and 78.8 miles (121.9 km) in space.

Mega-Damage: 2D4x10+20 for both cannons (1D4x10+10 if one is destroyed)

Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the Pilot (usually 4 or 5).

Payload: Effectively Unlimited
One (1) Missile Pylon: If the Trainer is fitted as a fighter, one missile hard point can be fitted on the underbelly. This allows the “light fighter” to carry one cruise missile, two long range missiles, or four medium range missiles. The pylon must carry all the same type ordnance. A Cruise missile is normally carried when on an anti-capital ship role and long and medium range missiles when fighting other starfighters. Cruise Missiles have 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 have 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 have a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed of target, launcher, and missile. When drive goes dead, missile will continue to travel in a straight line 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 unpowered, is at -25% to be detected.) Cruise missiles have penalties to hit small targets but all missiles are all considered smart missiles.

Maximum Effective Range: Cruise Missile range is 8,000 miles (12,875 km) in an atmosphere and 4,000,000 miles (6,437,376 km/ 21.5 light seconds) in space, Long Range Missile range is 3,400 miles (5,470 km) in an atmosphere and 1,800,000 miles (2,897,000 km/9.7 light seconds) in space, and Medium Range Missile range is 160 miles (257.5 km) in an atmosphere and 80,000 miles (128,750 km/0.43 light seconds) in space.

Mega-Damage & Properties: See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details (Cruise Anti-Matter multi-warheads inflict 5D6x100 M.D.C. and Long Range Fusion warheads inflict 2D4x100 M.D.C. each.)

Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2) missiles.

Payload: One (1) Cruise Missile, two (2) Long Range Missiles, or four (4) Medium Range Missiles.
Special Bonuses: The Trainer is designed to be both very maneuverable and very forgiving. This gives the following bonuses: add +5% to the pilots piloting skill, +2 to dodge energy and projectile fire, and +3 to dodge missiles, obstacles, and stellar debris. The fighter can be specially programmed so it emulates the performance characteristic of the fighter it is emulating, in those cases use the other fighters performance unless superior to the Kitten (The Kitten cannot outperform itself) The Trainer 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).

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Image drawn and copyrighted by Roman Kochnev (r_kochnev@hotmail.com) .

More Roman Kochnev artwork at The Science Fiction Art and Design Portfolio of Roman Kochnev

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