Named for a tiny stinging creature (an terran analogue might be gnat), the DL(D) 01 Kuff Light Drone is the smallest capital starship know in service with any power, being little larger than a typical heavy shuttle. It is not built as might be expected from its size as a fighter or smallcraft, but as a capital ship in miniature.
This would be largely impractical for any regular species that would require a physical form, but a Qyax digital intelligence can reside within, or remotely control a Kuff without any infrastructure save the computer system itself.
The core of the Kuff is a single 990TXq output particle beam cannon, focussed by the Kuff’s tiny GV coils. These are the smallest GV coils of their type, and only possible because of the extra space afforded by the lack of crew that forces much more expensive and compact GV coils on the similarly-sized fighters and bombers.
The particle beam only has an accuracy envelope of 99500 km, but this is sufficient for the Kuff to engage its intended target, capital ships, whose defences have already been stripped by larger weapons.
With no crew and simple but effective self-repair systems – the sort of technology used in most androids or robots, but scaled up – the Kuff is capable of self-sustenance and doesn’t require a carrier. It is either left to its (nonsapient) AI control, or remotely piloted by an digital intelligence on accompanying craft.
This comes at some cost however, and the Kuff also lacks a small craft’s agility. Two tiny VN000950 engines, scaled down by Voolot-Nhoor for the VN001750s used on the Synkor, provide the Kuff with only sufficient manoeuvrability to keep up with the capital ships of the fleet: 16.2mc and an estimated 190 MEUs. For a craft little larger than a fighter, this is about half what would normally be expected.
The Kuff mounts a capital shield grid rated to 198 TXq output, but no significant armour. Three 160-TXq lazer cannons provide the Kuff with some limited point-defence, but this is its primary protection against fighters, since it is entirely incapable of engaging in a dogfight.
The Kuff’s final armament comes in the form of 18 4TXq-yield SO-Rahyt 12 missiles, mounted on external hardpoints.
The SO-Rahyt 12s have an accuracy envelope of 122 000km and so are effective in engaging fighters that would otherwise be able to easily out-manoeuvre the Kuff before they get into range. They are equally useful in assisting the Kull to reduce the shields of enemy capital ships for its particle beam. However, the limited number means that the Kuff typically only has a short maximum effective endurance, after which its effectiveness tapers off.
Product Information:
Range: Qyax Computation
Race / Species: Elenthnar
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