Enhanced Vipers

Viper-E Patrol
Size (W×H×L)	50 m×18 m×65 m
Cargo capacity	1 TC
Cargo bay extension	N/A
Maximum speed	0.35 LM
Manoeuvrability	Pitch: 1.8 Roll: 2.8 Yaw: 1.8 Thrust: 35
Energy banks	3
Energy recharge rate	Excellent (4.5)
Gun mounts	Fore: 1x
Missile slots	2
Shield boosters available	Yes
Military shields available	N/A
Hyperspace capable	N/A
OXP or standard	OXP
Available to player	N/A
Base price	N/A

Overview

This OXP adds enhanced Viper Patrols, Viper Pursuits, and Viper Interceptors, to richer, stable systems; GalCop Deputies to stable poor/average systems; and Bounty Hunters to unstable/dangerous systems. They are not über ships - far from it - but with the advent of heavy pirates and heavy assassins into the core game, some toughening of GalCop Vipers seemed appropriate.

Hopefully, the sight of a squad of Vipers being trounced by a gang of bandits, or getting slaughtered by a bunch of assassins, will become less common. Some of the enhanced Vipers have highly skilled pilots, so any players acting as bandits should beware.

History

In a dangerous Ooniverse, the richer stable systems had traditionally been safe havens for traders. However, in the poorer, less well-policed systems, piracy was increasing. When tougher ships became available, pirate clans grew bolder, and those safe havens became the target of increasingly frequent raids. GalCop Vipers bore the brunt of these raids, and their losses began to mount. When trade started to suffer, the wealthy merchant guilds got together, and decided something had to be done. After much haggling, they struck a deal with GalCop, Faulcon de Lacy, and Griff Industries, to finance the building of enhanced replacements for the ageing Vipers. With a view to spreading the potential benefits to poorer systems, the Bounty Hunters Guild was brought onboard. As is often the case though, budgetary constraints - brought about by spiraling costs and pocket-lining by unscrupulous bureaucrats - limited the scope of the enhancements.

Nevertheless, GalCop's enhanced Vipers are now starting to make their presence felt, and this it is hoped will eventually turn the tide, and perhaps restore some semblance of normality. The improved performance and durability of the enhanced Vipers has also attracted the more skillful pilots, and recruitment - which had been declining - is on the up.