Pirate Kestrel

theincrediblenick

Pirate Kestrel - A variant of the Teladi Kestrel, this M5 class vessel shares many of the same characteristics. As with most Pirate variants of other races ships, the Pirate Kestrel has seen an increase to it's speed at the expense of a small amount of cargo space. Given that the Teladi Kestrel was already the fastest production ship in the known universe, the forces of law and order are going to have a hard time catching pirates and smugglers using this craft.

Ship Information

Pirate Kestrel

Name	Pirate Kestrel
Race	Pirates
Class	M5, Light Fighter
Predecessor	None
Successor	None
Variants	Advanced Kestrel Kestrel

XbtF	X-T	X²	X³:R	X³:TC
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[hide][top]General Information

The Argon Military have yet to release their intelligence assessment of the Pirate Kestrel, but did release the following short statement:

A departure from conventional Teladi design, the Pirate Kestrel is now arguably the fastest production ship in the known universe. It may boast phenomenal acceleration but it suffers poor manoeuvrability.

The Pirate Kestrel is one of the two variants of the Kestrel, the other being the Advanced Kestrel.

[hide][top]Background

Shortly after the Teladi ship design and research teams based in The Vault unveiled the brand new Kestrel with much fanfare, the first Pirate Kestrels were seen in the Argon sector Belt of Aguilar. An anonymous Argon Customs Pilot had the following to say on the matter:

"On patrol near the East Gate we scanned two Teladi vessels carrying contraband in the form of Space Weed and Space Flies; we ordered them to drop their cargos and gave them ten seconds to comply. By the time the ten count finished they were at the West Gate and we were looking like a pair of prize fools"

Sources within the Argon Federation have been surprised with how quickly the pirate clans were able to replicate the Kestrel, with several openly voicing suspicions that the Teladi must have been complicit in the inception of the Pirate Kestrel. Whether there is any truth to these rumours or not, the fact remains that the pirates are in possession of the fastest M5 in the known universe.

[hide][top]Known Ships of this Type

None recorded.

[hide][top]Statistical Comparison

Pirate Kestrel
Specifications	X³: Terran Conflict
Version	Pirate Kestrel Mk I
Min Notoriety
Speed	181.5 - 635.2 m/s
Acceleration	61 - 215 m/s²
Steering	20.1 - 50.3 rot/min
Reactor Output (power)	104 MW
Hull Strength	1500
Shield Type	1 x 5 MJ Shield (Unknown)
Weapons Energy	1500 MJ
Weapons Recharge Rate	37 MW
Cargo	19 - 52 M
Gun Count	4
Price	¢N/A

[hide][top]Equipment

The Pirate Kestrel is faster and slightly more manoeuvrable than the Kestrel design it was based on, but still shares the drawbacks of poor steering and a weak main armament. This is a better ship for scouting and smuggling than fighting, but can still cause an opponent a nasty surprise in a dogfight with it's 5 MJ of shielding and it's powerful rear turret.