Battlestar Galactica: Colonial Viper

Colonial Starhound class Viper is a combination Fighter/Interceptor, capable of both space and atmospheric combat; the Viper is the primary fighter craft presently employed by the Colonials. A standard Vipers is 29 feet (8.85 meters) in length and carries one pilot. A Viper's weapons consist of Laser-Torpedo guns and can be outfitted to carry two missiles under each wing.

Vipers are powered by a hybrid reactor system that includes a Tylium energizer with a single 1,570.8 cm^3 fuel cell and two Fusion reactors. These systems combined have an output of 200 Terajoules and provides the Viper with power for life support, weapons, engines and all ship systems. This power pack gives a Viper the ability to sustain space travel for nearly two weeks if necessary.

Vipers have three Ion engines, providing the ship with a maximum acceleration of 110.25 m/s^2 and a speed greater than Mach-3 in atmosphere. Vipers use liquid mercury fuel for their Ion engines, stored in the wings and two internal fuel tanks. Turbo boost is acomplished by dumping and igniting solonite plasma along with the ion exhaust. Once "Turbo" is engaged the Viper becomes the fastest Sub-Light fighter in space.

Vipers also employ a form of Ram-Scoop/Jet Intake system, that processes particles in space and within the atmosphere of planets, hydrogen in particular, and turns it into usable fuel for the Fusion reactor and engines.

Viper cockpit is pressurized and can induce a state of partial "suspended animation" during pilot sleep periods, in order to save on oxygen. In the event of catastrophic system damage, the entire cockpit module can detach and eject away from the damaged Viper craft, aforementioned suspension system allowing a pilot to survive for up to three days after ejecting.

Variants on the Viper include a two-seat version for scouting, as well as an unarmed type that employs an advanced A.I. system and engines capable of expelling ion particles at near light speed.


SCALE:	Starfighter
TYPE:	Interceptor
LENGTH:	8.85 meters
TONNAGE:	12,824 kg
SPEED:	Space: 73.5 m/s^2 (110.25 m/s^2 at turbo, -55.125 breaking) Atmosphere - 1,851 kph (3,331 kph at turbo, -1589 kph breaking)
POWER:	1 Tylium reactor (144.310^12 joule) 2 high-energy fusion reactors (58.410^12 joule)
STANDARD CREW:	1 pilots
STANDARD CREW:	1 pilots
PASSENGERS:	n/a
CARGO CAPACITY:	45 kilograms - 2 cubic meters
CONSUMABLE:	13 days
MANEUVERABILITY:	Class C
HULL/ARMOR:	4.2 centimeter re-enforced armored hull
WEAPONS:	Two 30mm Laser-Torpedo guns (standard) 4 two-hundred kiloton Solonite missiles (optional) 2 thirty megaton Solonite bombs (optional)