Sandpiper Second Generation fighter craft description

By Tronzoid
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The Sandpiper is a generation II Starfighter propelled by a keralox combustion engine. It is designed to either intercept incoming enemy forces or stay close to important assets and act as a defence platform against enemy fighters
(The reason why generation II Starfighters don't look that advanced is because they are not evolutions of atmospheric fighter craft, they are essentially the space equivelant of fighters in the 1920s through to the early days of the Second World War: They are craft designed for another medium while also being easy enough to mass produce.The Sandpiper was also first produced in an era where nuclear rockets did not yet have the propulsive oomph of chemical rockets, a nuclear thermal rocket is just too low thrust to be useful at dogfighting ranges. Generation I craft on the other hand were basically either hastily assembled messes of struts, engines and weapons or repurposed mining craft. The Sandpiper is essentially one of the first reliable mass produced fighter craft)

Battle bus evolution

Soon after the first space engagements begin, a need for efficient logistics craft would arise; An army marches in its stomach, and so would any realistic space army.
The craft could start out as just a number of Starfighters connected to a central habitat, which take them to where they need to be. The bus hangs back at a safe distance, while the Starfighters use their drop tanks to make the trek to the battlezone.
These "battle buses" would make up the first generation of dedicated fighter resupply and crew habitation vehicles.
They would start out as mere habitat modules with a few more docking ports welded on, with an NTR welded on as well, but, over time, they would develop armour and the ability to be flown separately...


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