Kirin

Kirin
Size (W×H×L)	171m×42.7m×347m
Cargo capacity	350 TC
Cargo bay extension	50 TC
Maximum speed	0.22 LM
Manoeuvrability	Roll: 1.3 Pitch: 0.5
Energy banks	4
Energy recharge rate	Excellent (6.0)
Gun mounts	Front, Aft, Port, Starboard 10 flak turrets on deck 5 hull mounted flak turrets twin aft plasma cannons
Missile slots	10
Shield boosters available	Yes
Military shields available	Yes
Hyperspace capable	Yes
OXP or standard	OXP
Available to player	No
Base price	N/A

Overview

The military have never been known to do things by halves and their planet-station-space supply logistic solution definitely isn't one of them. Sporting a fearsome array of counter-ship weaponry and a dedicated four ship strong Viper escort, this machine is seen by many as the universal Swiss army knife in the ongoing Thargoid war. They can be seen all over the 8 galaxies moving back and forth between insurgent hot spots, keeping the larger capital ships constantly supplied with goods and troopers.

There is very little about this ship that can be explained in diminutive terms. It is huge by conventional ship standards, being able to easily hide 2 Anacondas flying abreast beneath its massive tapered wing. This massive superstructure allows for the transport of up to 400 tons of cargo (uncompressed) ready for speedy deployment. Although it can fit in a standard station landing dock, it is something of a close fit requiring either a docking computer or a highly trained (and somewhat foolhardy) pilot. As a result it is most at home making planet fall or docking with military capital ships. It can even be docked with a hermit, its long nose proving just long enough to clamp onto the docking bay without smashing the tail end of the ship into the rest of the asteroid. But again this pastime is best left to the highly skilled or clinically insane. Then there are the expansive weapon systems; 4 laser hard points and a withering number of defensive flak batteries. Even the rear of the Kirin is heavily defended with two medium yield plasma turrets with interlacing fields of fire. If this wasn't enough, all military Kirins still on active duty are escorted by four Red-Knight Squadron military Vipers. These compact but tough fighters can take the fight to the enemy, whilst the Kirin either supplies support fire or puts some distance between itself and any assailant.

Additionally as a purely defensive measure the ship itself is bound by a "Halo" armoured ring. This structure - situated along its middle cross section and flanks - can soak up a large amount of damage that would have otherwise weakened the main ship. All in all, the Kirin is a difficult target to crack, perfect for blockade smashing and ground force deployment.

Notable features

There are ex-military and purely civilian versions of the Kirin, the Kirin XM and Kirin CV respectively.

Controversy

The history of the Kirin (as with all things military) is some what sketchy. No one ship yard appears to be able to lay claim to designing it. One day it didn't exist, the next, everyone was manufacturing one. This did enable the military to quickly fulfil their own needs and leave enough left over to cater for the rich trader market. There is a lucrative trade in surplus and "unrepairable" war-damaged Kirin, due to the massive amount of fire they can put into the sky around them. Although fearsome to look at, the damage caused by these weapons is well within the capabilities of most ships to take for a short period, leading to claims that the flak cannons were probably used for their psychological impact more than their physical one.

This ship is recorded as first seeing action during the Tibecea Incident. The ship in question broke from the main battle group to conduct a lighting rescue of the Tibecean station's remaining personnel, fighting through formidable Thargoid forces in order to do so. This apparent prototype was later procured by the GalCop History Museum, where it is on permanent display in a specially constructed dry dock on the outskirts of their Lave facility.

Credits

Modelled, textured & hosted by ClymAngus. Coding built and refined by Wyvern

This OXP would not have been possible without the support of:

• Ahruman: For his vertex shader code
• Griff: For his fragment shader code

Download

• Downloadable through the in-game Expansions Manager or
• Download here

Kirin Sport

As so many manufacturers were involved in building the Kirin, it stands to reason that at least one would alter the design and manufacture an unofficial, chopped variant. Thus the existence of the Kirin Sport, manufactured by a racing mod shipyard as a smaller, faster, more agile - and less well armed - civilian variant. Also downloadable through the in-game Expansions Manager.