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Rapier Class Hunter / Killer NSN

The Rapier class destroyer is a hunter/killer model commissioned by the New Syndicate Navy (NSN) and built by Albatross Industrial. Designed to engage and destroy large, heavily armed targets such as cruisers, carriers, and star bases, the Rapier is technically a capital class vessel, but are usually deployed in small squadrons and used as interceptors against incoming fleets. Their high speed, high maneuverability, and small signature radius combined with impressive firepower make these ships extremely effective at cutting down large warships. Rapier pilots will generally strafe their targets with several high speed passes, hitting it with torpedoes and plasma cannons on the way in, while pounding it with turreted artillery on the flyby and way out. The combat effectiveness of the Rapier depends generally on the strength of its shield and the skill of its pilot, as its low armor rating will not protect it for long.

DESIGN: The NSN, having recovered from the Wolf Den incident (link below) and re-establishing itself as a regional superpower with the acquisition of both the Mastodon and Megalodon Command ships, as well as a bevy of new, more effective warships from the Xerxes corporation, was looking to take the offensive once more against the regional federation. However, while they were on the mend as a war machine, the NSN had learned many lessons from its early losses against both the federation and outer rim pirates. The war with the Bloody Thorns, while eventually victorious, cost the NSN dearly in ships and manpower. They found themselves needing relatively cheap craft that could be ganged up to destroy larger, much more expensive ships, while their own fleet of cruisers was being rebuilt. The Rapier class destroyer, designed by Albatross Industrial in a no bid contract as part of their deal delivering the Megalodon command ship, filled the role well. It was cheap off the production line, with the floor model having only basic steel armor, in some places only one layer thick, and a stock tier 1 shield generator. They were cheap to buy, and were usually upgraded after purchase using confiscated resources from the fleets they were assigned to, which included upgrading the steel armor to combat grade, and upgrading the shield unit. The original design lacked the ordnance wings the current model has, giving it a sleeker, 'tadpole' like shape to further minimize its already small signature radius, however this was problematic as it limited the amount of firepower the Rapier could bring to bear. The addition of the ordnance wings greatly increased its capacity in that manner, and with the downward sloping design, did not add much to the vessels overall signature radius, while greatly increasing its firepower. The Rapier is currently undergoing combat trials at Ludd Station.

Role: Destroyer , Hunter / Killer
Shields: Yes
Armor: Low-med
Warp Drive: Yes
Food Production: No
Hangar Bay: No
Speed: High
Maneuverability: High
Firepower: 4x forward torpedo tubes
4x forward plasma cannons
3x dorsal mounted homing missile turrets
4x rear facing homing missile turrets
4x wing mounted pulse laser turrets
2x wing mounted artillery turrets


ARCHIVES:

NSN Wolf Den and the Incident at Ludd Station
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=812655055

NSN 'Mastodon' Command Ship
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=890912781

NSN 'Megalodon' Command Ship
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2519711251

Devils Reach - Markus Thornes Flagship
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1408419169