SAGA Ships

Fighters

SAGA relies heavily on its Fighter Arm to cover a large area and conduct strike missions. Fleet doctrine is strongly biased towards fighters and carriers, perhaps because of the large number of fighter pilots from the Luftwaffe and Kriegsnavee to transfer to SAGA. SAGA doctrine envisions numerous long-range fighter strikes well befre the main ship-on-ship clash is joined. Like many GA ground vehicles, GA Fighters make use of MABS (Modular Armament Bay System), which allows interchangeability of weapons for different missions. Most comments here are based on the standard configuration; fighters can also carry alternate configurations of hardware.

• Repulse Shieldbearer

This unique three-man craft is classed as a fighter, but does not have any weapons. Through improvements in Kuat’s Gnome defense field technology, the Repulse is alble to project shield energy to other craft in a squadron. This allows a fighter in the squadron to gain extra shield power or replenish lost power. The Repulse is fairly large and fairly slow, but since it is a reservoir of shield energy it can be tough to take down. Repulses are only sent on more dangerous missions, or on defensive missions, where speed is not a factor.

• Stalker Stealth Fighter

A moderately-armed fighter with above-average maneuverability. It has two primary hardpoints, typically flare cannon, and two missile bays. The Stalker’s most notable feature is its IR masking and ECM suite. The Stalker is also built of radar absorbent materials, rendering it extremely difficult to detect. Often used as scouts, or covert strike missions.

• Yeoman Intercept Fighter

A popular concept since the inception of space combat was a fighter that was stripped down to make it as fast and maneuverable as possible. The Yeoman interceptor is a fine exemplar of this school of thought. With its two primary hardpoints and one missile bay, it is lightly armed, and its shields and armor are, or course, nonexistent. All of this is sacrificed to give the Yeoman an edge in speed and handling. They are therefore often used as point-defense craft to defend capital ships against fighters.

• Lancer Space Superiority Fighter

A good all-around fighter, noted for its pathetic attempt at aerodynamic shape. Room for two primary weapons and three missile bays coupled with good speed, maneuverability, and protection make this one of the most balanced fighters in the GA arsenal.

• Hood Heavy Assault Fighter

This is a beefy fighter, one of the largest single-seat craft in service with any fleet. The large engines keep it at fighter speeds, and it’s well-armored, but the Hood’s main point is its 8(!) primary weapon hardpoints, often loaded with fighter-grade flare cannon. Sometimes pilots will split the primary hardpoints between a long and short range weapon system, or one that works well against energy shields versus one that works well on hulls. The Hood has no missile bays; it needs none, as any fighter caught in the swath of its powerful main weapons will be torn to pieces. The Hood is a threat to many corvette-sized vessels, and is often tasked with backing up bomber wings to give the enemy target that final blow.

• Avenger Bomber

A large, four-man craft perhaps better classed as a corvette, the Avenger’s main purpose is to deliver its eight nighmare torpedos to an enemy capital ship. Ball turrets above and below the craft serve as point defense, but these ships are rarely deployed without fighter escort.

• Dauntless Light Bomber

SAGA eventually realized the need for a faster bomber for quick-hitting missions against enemy warships. Much less heavily armoured than an Avenger, and with a smaller payload (two torpedos), the Dauntless is substantially faster. Two men are required; one pilots, the other controls the tail gun meant to discourage enemy fire. Although it inflicts less damage than the Avenger, it can undertake missions the slower craft would have no hope of returning from. Standard Dauntless variants also have an armament of two primary bays (usually some form of energy cannon like Flare) and one missile bay; however the Dauntless Agility Type strips these out in favor of more engines and afterburners. This Dauntless variant (nicknamed the Intrepid) relies on pure speed to avoid interception; in exercises it has the lowest loss rate of any SAGA bomber.

Small Capital Ships

• Logistician Fighter Supply Craft

Widely considered the most dangerous craft to fly, Logisticians carry ammunition and missiles to resupply fighters in the combat zone. It has four quick-dock sleeves compatible with all SAGA fighters and can often fully restock ordinance under combat conditions in a matter of minutes. However, because they carry so many extra missiles, a Logistician almost always blows up with a big boom.

• Dasher Sloop

An 8-man craft with 2 lucent banks. Often used for long-range escort, as fighter cabins tend to become uncomfortable over the course of days.

• Koardji Superscout

This 75-man craft is outfitted for long-distance recon missions. It I capable of operating independently for an extended period of time. It is capable of atmospheric takeoff and landing. It has a large sensor range. Often on its own in deep patrol, or part of picket groups.Koardj crews are typically largely comprised of robots and Nu.

• Spheroid Dropship

Rounded dropship used by the Grand to rapidly deploy ground troops. Each spheroid is the size of a large building, and is capable of deploying an entire batallion of several hundred men together.

• Grand Army Interstellar Transport (GAIT)

Several Spheroids are attached to a troop transport, which is often large enough to accommodate an entire brigade of troops and their equipment.

• Sparrow Escort Carrier

Designed to provide fighter escort to supply lines, the Sparrow carries a dozen fighters. Fairly well-shielded, and with decent point defense, but no anti-capital ship weaponry.

• Pintle Frigate

Optimized with small-calibre rapid-firing weapons, this ship has one simply role: point defense. At least three are almost always deployed around any larger GA capital ship, and inf lets and task forces they help form the picket line.

• Halberd Strike Cruiser

Produced by the Kuat Consortium. The Halberd’s main armament is its large complement of torpedos. This missile boat often strikes at enemy ships while either, closer range scarppers are engaging, or sometimes softens up the enemy fleet for the final blow.

• Stormcrow Destroyer

With lucent banks, a duet of turreted Luminaire blasters, and missiles, the Stormcrow is fairly well-armed for a ship of this size. This 300-man vessel is sometimes used for heavy escort, and often forms the picket line of a battlegroup. Two fighter squadrons.

Large Capital Ships

• Starbolt Cruiser

The principle ship-to-ship vessel of SAGA, similar in many ways to Legionnaire-class Line cruiser, except it eschews the fighter space for additional firepower. The Starbolt’s main weapons are its two Merton cannon, but they are backed up by missiles and Lucent banks (manaforce cannon also exist). The Starbolt has the capacity to use one ultima missile, but the missiles are not stored on the vessel during peacetime. An extremely tough and durable ship, with thick combat fields and additional hull armor.

• Cavalier Carrier

A massive carrier capable of carrying three-hundred and fifty fighters. Otherwise, armament is mainly focused on point defense, with flak guns and anti-fighter missiles. In an ideal battle, a Cavalier engages with its fighters while other craft keep enemy capitals pinned down. Vulnerable when caught with many of its fighters away, which is why it maintains several on combat air patrols. The core of SAGA fleet strength; Carrier groups built around Cavaliers are the principle building blocks of SAGA fleet operations.

• Aquitane Battleship

Somewhere along the way, SAGA decided to screw subtlety for sheer power. The Aquitane, which carries 200 fighters, is armed with a GigaMerton Cannon. Radiant blasters and merton cannon are the most common backup, but the Aquitane also has missiles and antipodes, as well as flak cannon for point defense. The Aquitane also has extremely powerful shields, but, predictably, is fairly slow. Typically, the command ship of a large task force or fleet.

• Executor Superdreadnaught

Flagship of the Space Armada, Grand Army, a massively huge and powerful ship. Carrion built a ship modeled after the Executor, and there are repeated rumors of the GA wanting a second, but cannot afford it.