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YP2Z "STARSPARK" STARFIGHTER
AFFILIATION
SHADE.
MANUFACTURER
Kurtiss-Heath Aircraft Corporation.
CLASS
Snubfighter.
ROLE
Interceptor.
COMPOSITION
Titanium and armored glass.
DIMENSIONS
Length - 12.53 meters.CREW
1 pilot.
PASSENGER CAPACITY
N/A.
CARGO CAPACITY
75 kilograms.
HANGAR CAPACITY
N/A.
CONSUMABLES
1 standard week.
SPEED/MANEUVERABILITY
The YP2Z Starspark has a top speed of 115 MGLT and has decent maneuvering characteristics.
ARMAMENT
- 1x medium raygun (medium laser cannon equivalent).
EQUIPMENT
- 1x class 4 hyperdrive.
- 1x navigation computer.
- 1x ejection seat.
DESCRIPTION
The YP2Z Starspark is a light starfighter designed and manufactured under the auspices of the Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Establishment, better known as SHADE, the global defense organization of the planet Tolvis VII. Developed from the earlier P2A Skyspark interceptor, the Starspark was conceived as a sort of "Super Skyspark" which could range further afield than its relatively short-ranged predecessor, allowing it to escort Tolvite trade and diplomatic missions into the wider Galaxy. The YP2Z Starspark, like the Skyspark before it, is a hybrid of Tolvite structural engineering and Galactic propulsion technology. Utilizing an up-rated variant of the same Kuat Drive Yards-sourced drive unit used in the Skyspark, the Starspark has a 15 MGLT performance increase over its predecessor, despite the added weight of the other major addition to the design, a class 4 hyperdrive, also sourced from KDY, linked to a MerenData navicomputer. To accommodate these modifications, the fuselage of the Starspark has been slightly enlarged compared to its predecessor.
At present, the YP2Z Starspark is in the process of undergoing acceptance trials with SHADE, with a limited pre-production run equipping several experimental squadrons. Unfortunately, the evaluation program seems to have stalled, not due to any flaw in the spacecraft itself, but due to political wrangling between SHADE and the international legislative body known as the League of Sovereign States. The main issue seems to be whether SHADE has any business overseeing interstellar force projection, and indeed, whether a hyperdrive-equipped starfighter could be considered and overreach on their part. There is also debate as to whether the budget allocated to the Starspark development program might be better spent purchasing a production license and technical package from KDY for the components used in the standard Skyspark.
In the meantime, squadrons equipped with the Starspark continue to put the type through its paces, routinely breaking speed and distance records on their world. Many pilots of the Skyspark, however, fear just what their future might be...
LEGALITY
Restricted. YP2Z Starsparks are starfighters, and are subject to extra licensing requirements and increased scrutiny by authorities.INTENT
To create a vessel for use by characters and NPCs from the planet Tolvis III which would be useful over longer distances.RESTRICTIONS
Essentially all examples of the YP2Z Starspark were built for and are operated by the Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Establishment's Space Interceptor Command. This ship is not available to beings not affiliated with SHADE without good reason.