XT-30 Piranha
Blue Phantom Chronicles - Starfighter - Interceptor
The XT-3 series features the fastest and most advanced stock fighter series in ShiCon's XT-line. Introduced with the XT-30 Piranha , size and weight have been reduced and new, advanced thrusters have been added at the expense of a yet acceptable reduction of shield strength and weapon charge.
While the Piranha is a defined as the formal successor to the outdated but still popular XT-2 series' Victory Mk2, many see it as the true essence of what the flawed original XI-15 Interceptor should have been, combining the speed and small shape of an interceptor with adequate firepower and long range hyperspace capability of the Victory Mk2.
Despite its overall superiority the Piranha took a fair amount of time to establish itself, owed in no small part to its long development time and high production costs. Therefore, rather than taking over the Victory Mk2's place, it was instead employed as an additional force for special assignments.
Along with several niche productions and test builds, the XT-3 line also includes the heavy XT-38 Cobra which sacrifices some of the Piranha's agility for better armor and the addition of EMP cannons which give the Cobra more versatility.
Armament
4 laser cannons
2 warhead launchers
Basic Info
Name: XT-30 Piranha
Manufacturer: Shicon Dynamics
Dimensions: 10 x 6.9 x 2.5 meters
Status
v2.1.1 Released
June 08, 2020
Author Information
Original Design: Vince T
Model & Textures: Vince T
OPTing: Vince T
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Dev notes & Origins
The Piranha was originally designed as Vince Trageton's personal starfighter. Which he used to escape the Dhilani flagship Leviathan during the Battle for Bricera in the fifth comic. Several changes have been made to the model since the original conception. Someof these would later be re-introduced as a different fighter of the XT-3 series, the XT-38 Cobra.
History & Involvement
The Piranha was commissioned following the short war against the invading Dhilani Empire, as a response to the need for a high-speed superiority fighter that could match the Dhilani's fast and agile swarm fighters whose sheer numbers were enough to overwhelm the otherwise capable XT-2 series fighters.
Ironically its first deployment after entering service during the Task Fore Warrior Uprising would be against just those XT-25Bs which it was supposed to surpass. While its speed and agility would indeed provide some advantage over the XT2's, the Vic2s made up for that with greater durability and stronger shields, which in the end rendered both ships pretty much equal - another reason foor the XT2's continued success.
XT-30/H Cobra Heavy Fighter
The XT-30H, nicknamed the "Fat Piranha", is a heavier version of regular the Piranha. Slightly slower and less maneuverable, it carries a greater warhead payload and an additional pair of dorsal-mounted ion cannons in an overall sturdier frame.