This is the primary starfighter of the Yaeger nation. First
developed about a hundred years ago, the Hunter has undergone many
improvements, but it's basic form has remained the same. The
Hunter is a flexible craft, capable of atmospheric flight, as well
as space combat.
The wings of the Hunter are jointed, and can be folded in
against the main body. At the end of each of the wings, there is
a single missile hardpoint. When the wings are fully extended, the
Hunter has a wingspan of 18 meters.
There is also a 25 cubic meter cargo bay that can act either
as uncomfortable housing for two individuals, an ordinary cargo
hold, or a bomb bay. In addition to holding the pilot, the primary
weapon system of the Hunter is mounted beneath the cockpit. That
is, an advanced light plasma gun, on a unique mount. The gun can
be extended on a double jointed swiveling base, or it can be locked
in a forward position, to avoid shearing forces, or finally it can
be withdrawn entirely into the base of the cockpit to provide even
greater protection, a configuration often used during atmospheric
reentry.
Hawk charge missiles are standard for the hardpoint, and to
replace them with any other missile or torpedo, modification of the
weapon system is necessary, as the targeting system is calibrated
for the Hawks. Obviously, replacing them with some other weapon
would require even greater modification, but is not impossible. 4
missiles are held in each hardpoint.
When the Hunter's gun is extended, it provides a 180ø area of
fire both below and to the front of the ship. This incredibly
large area of fire, the rapid rate of fire of the plasma gun, (it
can be fired up to four times a round, with half the usual
penalties for multiple actions) and the relatively great power of
the plasma gun enable Hunters to engage and destroy much more
powerful ships.
There are a pair of major weak points in the Hunter model
starfighters. For one thing, the plasma gun that is the Hunter's
main strength, channels a great deal of energy when fired. If the
gun is hit, the Hunter will explode. This destruction will be
nearly complete, at least in the cockpit section. The other major
weak point are the wings of the Hunter. A solid hit will punch a
hole in the wings, and can destabilize the Hunter's flight, and
limit it's maneuverability and speed, especially in the atmosphere.
Despite it's various weaknesses, the Hunter is a formidable
starfighter. More than a match for many of the ships of the New
Republic, the Hunters were central to the Yaeger nations survival
in the face of the Empire's attack.
Hunters, with their wings folded, can be stacked within cargo
ships in great numbers. In the battle of Korthas Yaeger, a fleet
of Hunter ships slipped through the Imperial blockade in an old
garbage hauler, and then attacked from the rear, destroying large
numbers of surprised Imperial ships before they were destroyed by
the sheer weight of the Empire's numbers.