User Guide

Turret. Many of the heavier fighters are equipped with swivel-mounted neutron guns, to fend off enemy fighters dur-
ing torpedo runs. These two guns are modified for a higher fire rate but shorter range.
Anti-Matter Gun. These huge weapons are found only on capital ships for use against other capital ships. Like torpe-
does, they ignore shields, directly attacking armor. Anti-matter guns are slow to aim and cannot readily be used against
fighter-sized craft, but a single shot can vaporize a fighter. Be sure to stay out of the fire lanes between two warring
cruisers!
Phase-Transit Cannon. This weapon actually forms the keel of the new Terran Confederation-class dreadnought; it is
too large to be mounted on any other ship in the Confederation Navy. The phase-transit cannon bypasses shields and
is capable of destroying any ship with a single shot. It is a refinement of a similar weapon found in the wreckage of the
Sivar, the Kilrathi dreadnought that single-handedly destroyed the Goddard colony in 2654. Presumably the Kilrathi
have more Sivar-class dreadnoughts, but none have been spotted since that first appearance.
DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS
Chaff Pod. The Confederation recently developed chaff pods, sophisticated electronic devices that fool enemy missiles
into diverting away from your ship. There are some drawbacks to chaff pods, of course. You must deploy chaff pods at
the last moment before missile impact, because the pods’ effect lasts only a short while. Chaff only works on missiles
that are currently targeted on your ship; any missiles launched after you drop the pod aren’t fooled. Finally, chaff doesn’t
destroy the enemy missile, it simply diverts it. If you’re too close to the chaff when the missile hits it, you might take
damage anyway. It’s best to be moving at least 150 kps when you drop a pod.
Flak Cannon. Fighters provide the bulk of a capital ship’s defenses, but the largest ships also lay down heavy flak bar-
rages that can bring down any fighter. In addition, flak cannon are used for point-defense against torpedoes.
Phase Shield. The latest in defense technology, these capital ship shields are impervious to damage from all fighter-
mounted missiles and guns. Torpedoes are the only fighter-mounted weapons capable of getting through.
Unfortunately, the number of torpedoes available to Terran Confederation forces is low. Pilots are advised to use them
wisely.
OTHER SYSTEMS
“Stealth Technology.” Rumors of Kilrathi stealth fighters, invisible to human or instrument detection, are completely
unfounded. Such technology is far beyond the capabilities of Confederation or Kilrathi scientists.
Tractor Beam. A tractor beam locks onto a small target (an ejected pilot, for example), pulling it to your ship. The
tractor beam is a vital tool in search-and-rescue missions.
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