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Kestrel Cruiser (Vanilla)

Experimental Light Civilian Cruiser
Zeiss Central Factory

Mass: 757.2t
Acceleration (Void): 16.97m/s^2
Acceleration (Air): 16.17m/s^2
Jump Range: 2000km

Dimensions: 56m x 37.5m x 15m
Gyroscopes: 5 Large

Environment: All
Connectors: 1
Cargo: 15 Containers (1 Large, 14 Medium) (various unconnected)
Fuel: 4 large tanks, 16 small tanks
Oxygen: 4 tanks, 32 generators
Power: 12 batteries, 4 large reactors (~110.8MW, 85% reserve)
Weapons: 2 Light Rotor Displacement Guns (hell-lances)

Crew: 3 Required, 6 Possible
> 1 Pilot
> 1 Navigator
> 1 Engineer
- 3 Passengers

Maximum Payload +505t

The Kestrel was the first FTL-capable ship class constructed natively in the Estpolis System, and utilised an experimental FTL drive quite unlike the standard warp drives utilised in other parts of the Phoenix Stars. At the cost of range (interplanetary rather than interstellar), it was capable of near-instant travel with no gravitational disturbances of any kind. This 'tactical' drive proved exceptionally useful; especially so for civilian flights, which could make interplanetary trips in hours rather than days.

The Kestrel as a ship was also the best the ZCF had to offer; with extraordinarily powerful engines for its size, it could haul much larger payloads into orbit. Combined with powerful gyroscopes, it could easily outmaneuver even the most dogged opponent - allowing it to either run like hell or engage the enemy with its particle beams.

Elsewhere in space, in the midst of an insurrection, a Kestrel was used to steal and run critical information back to government headquarters. Across several hostile star sectors. Shortly after the information was deciphered, the Kestrel was deployed again, where it singlehandedly destroyed the rebel command battleship. This ended the rebellion in short order, and catapulted both the ship and its crew into legend.

Behold.

An SSGL with large-scale supergridding (thanks to the ART team for bringing it to the masses). The most notable elements are the main engines and the jump drive. Large hydrogen thrusters were the only way projected to even get this thing off the ground (and this is probably still true even if the ship came in 25% lighter than expected), and the jump drive is a nod to the original ship from FTL.

Basic explanation of supergridding here.

The ship is a tail-sitter - gravity is aligned with thrust rather than perpendicular to it. Treat it like a rocket.
Accordingly, it has a working gravity generator-based ladder, which is slightly janky. Walk more to the sides.

The ship has an airlock using merge blocks, allowing for a partially pressurised interior. Said interior is fully-furnished, though it is mostly confined to the forward half. The aft half is full of fuel tanks, cargo containers, and the jump drive.

Two small rotor displacement guns have been added, because they actually pack a punch now (breaks anything lighter than a large heavy armour block) and I can't be bothered piping up proper weapons. The control script is fully functional and can be found here.

It's also fully survival ready. If you're nuts.

Every control seat on the ship will catapult you outside for some reason.

Thanks to LSG for featuring this in one of their videos!


Pilot:

[Hotbar 1]
[1] - Canopy Projector - Toggle
[2] - Camera - View
[3] - Throttle Up
[4] - Throttle Down
[5] -
[6] - Jump Drive - Jump
[7] -
[8] - Override Gyroscopes (Stabilise)
[9] - Hydrogen System - Toggle

[Hotbar 2]
[1] - Initiate Landing Sequence
[2] - Landing Gear - Extend/Retract
[3] - Landing Gear - Add New Feet
[4] -
[5] - Bridge Lights - Toggle
[6] -
[7] - Rotor Lances - Fire Salvo
[8] -
[9] - Antenna - Toggle

[Hotbar 3]
[1] - Internal Forward Airlock - Open/Close
[2] - Internal Aft Airlock - Open/Close
[3] - External Dorsal Airlock - Open/Close
[4] - External Ventral Airlock - Open/Close



Delta-V is the speed the ship can accelerate to before running out of fuel. A good measure of a ship's 'range'.
Delta-V values do not account for atmospheric drag or planetary gravity. The only exception is when a ship's dedicated lifting force causes a power overload, as that takes gravity into account.
Everything is calculated for loaded mass under 1G (except for the dry mass).

Very much inspired by the Kestrel from FTL.

[Mods You Don't Really Need, But Should Have]
[DraygoKorvan] Atmospheric Physics (drag/lift/reentry heating)
[Midspace] Unlimited Ship Speed
[Dr. Novikov] Space Just Got Real (lighting/skybox)
[LeonserGT] Vanilla Weapon Rebalance
[Stone Cold Jane Austen] Invisible Armour Edges That Don't Break Every Single Update

[Scripts]
[dagriefaa (me!)] No-Ammo Rapid-Fire Rotor Gun Script
[MMaster] Configurable LCDs
[Whiplash141] Artificial Horizon
[Whiplash141] Drop Pod
[jonathan] Heat Sink


Supergridding - brought to you by the ART team

And you!