ARMAMENT: 4 x 66mm Repeating Cannons 1 x 15mm Chain Gun on Turret 2 x 20 Tube Launched Guided MMS-3 Missile (Optional Variable Warhead Loadout) Optional Undercarriage Mounted Ordinance up to 40,000lbs CREW: One Pilot Computer Assisted HISTORY: When it comes to aerospace fighter development, the SHR-17FB Shiane Ray is a whole new animal. It is so unlike Fighters that came before, and it's uniqueness and technical aptitude stand out. The Shiane Ray is the Epitome of long range assault fighter design. It represented the pinnacle of technology when it was being introduce, just before the start of the Corporate Insurrections. It's somewhat variable geometry wing structure gives it surprising maneuverability for a craft of it's size, which when coupled with it's range and heavy armaments make it a deadly assault fighter or hunter killer. An element of Shiane Rays can pose a significant threat to other Aerospace fighters, capital ships, and starbases alike - being maneuverable enough to avoid the larger guns that threaten bombers, and having sufficient armor to survive multiple direct hits from smaller munitions. The Shiane Ray's four 66mm forward firing cannons can quickly shred many aerospace fighters in a volley, and if more surgical accuracy is needed in a dog fight, the Shiane Ray can engage the turret mounted 15mm gatling cannon beneath the cockpit. Additional ranged combat is mad possible by the Tube Launched MMS-3 Missiles - while not quite the range of traditional Air to Air guided missiles, these MMS-3 series can use variable warhead load for variable missions. Among a few of the warhead options are Armor Piercing Shaped Charges, High Energy Plasma, Shrapnel and Fragmentation, Multiple Warhead, Cluster Munitions, Fletchette, and traditional High Explosives. While the Shiane Ray does have a sizable radar cross section from above or below, it's sleek chassis gives it a negligible cross section from the front, rear, or sides - when coupled with it's active electronic jamming, this makes it a sometimes difficult target to hit. Perhaps the Shiane Ray's greatest setback is the internal munitions bays for the MMS-3 missiles, as this requires extensive time to rearm after a strike. Additionally, though intended to be carrier launched, the Shiane Ray's expansive wingspan requires far more storage and maintenance room than many other aerospace fights, and significantly reduces the number of ships that may be carried in a carrier environment - this has made the Shiane Ray unpopular with fleet com, and seen the craft relegated mainly to planetary or station defense. The Shiane Ray was in Early production just prior to the start of the Corporate Insurrections. As such it had not been evaluated for military service with the E.O.C. military, but when hostilities broke out, available craft were quickly pressed into service of the corporate alliance military. One of the most notable engagements that saw the Shiane Ray in action was the battle of Farhgraid, being one of the early flashpoints of the Insurrections. While the Shiane Ray's performance was admirable in the battle, it was not deployed in sufficient numbers to turn the tide in favor of the Corporate Alliance. Because of the catastrophic defeat of the Corporate Alliance military at Farhgraid, the performance record of the shiane Ray did not really stand out or catch any attention. Due to the size of the Shiane Ray, carrier captains were hesitant to adopt it, so the Shiane Ray's deployment throughout the war remained limited. Among those pilots fortunate enough to fly a Shiane Ray, or those familiar with it's capabilities and who sought one out, it was a favored craft. Pilots engaging Shiane Rays learned to fear it - and Shiane Rays quickly became associated with aces (true or not) because of how hard it was to stop and the punishment it could deliver. Sadly, as a result of limited production runs, and animosity from surviving pilots in the E.O.C. who faced the Shiane Ray, it never saw widespread production or deployment in the post insurrection years, and was never well adopted outside the Corporate Alliance. It is now a relic of a bygone war that still stands as a sign of fear. CREDITS: Davorama (a.k.a Davo, Beyondbent, Powerfusion3D, PoserFusion3D), All the great Kitbashers who have posted images of assemblies with Davo's sets that inspired me.