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Description

The Tarkavian Collective’s rapid advances into Khandarian territory gradually slowed, then stalled, in the face of fierce resistance from the Directorate’s massed conscript armies, Istarian auxiliaries, uncooperative weather and formidable natural barriers. As both sides drew back and dug in on the banks of the Chernivoda Marshes, the invaders resigned themselves to a longer than expected war while the defenders took heart from the fact that they had saved their capital from a well-armed and determined foe.

The winter months saw little action besides sporadic artillery fire and small-scale commando raids while both sides planned for spring offensives. Directorate generals expected another massive ground assault and were caught off guard when the Collective unleashed new long-range bombers on Khandarian industrial centres. The invaders’ aims were obvious: if they could not break the Directorate’s armies they would smash its manufacturing base.

Directorate pilots soon learned their Firebirds lacked the high-altitude performance to make first-rate interceptors while the Republic’s Strela fighters struggled to bring down Despoilers. Fortunately for the Directorate, two leading design bureaus had been working on alternatives since the Collective’s raids on Solonessa. Kaisada proposed the mass deployment of smaller, cheaper interceptors flown by recruits with basic training. Vereznik called for the refinement of advanced machines not yet in production. Kaisada’s designs had some success defending vital factories but as Vereznik’s reached maturity his bureau received greater funding. Better aircraft would help keep pilots alive and build teams whose skills and experiences would prove more useful over time.

The Spectre heavy interceptor put Vereznik’s theories into practice. Its exotic shape came as a shock to Tarkavian aircrews who had dismissed Khandarian designs as clumsy and derivative. Despite their early reservations, Spectre pilots quickly warmed to an aircraft with the firepower to destroy large bombers and the speed to evade their escorts. Even the civilians who have tired of state propaganda gain some reassurance from the howl of Spectres overhead; it might not yet signal victory but it promises revenge.

Design Features:

- The Spectre’s designers prioritised speed, range and firepower over manoeuvrability. A massive 24-cylinder H-block engine housed in the mid fuselage drives two contra-rotating pusher propellers via cams. This system is mechanically complex and prone to overheat when stationary, but delivers neutral torque, low vibration and high thrust. The absence of a forward propeller – which typically accelerates air over wings and control surfaces – leads to longer takeoff runs and poorer low-speed handling but more efficient high-speed cruising as the Spectre cuts through undisturbed air.

- The wings' long span reduces roll rates but improves high-altitude performance. Large self-sealing tanks extend range and endurance, allowing Spectres to operate from remote bases and/or spend more time in the air. Forward slats and rear flaps are used to reduce stall speed before landing, and reversible propeller pitch aids braking once the aircraft touches down.

- A retractable tricycle undercarriage makes ground handling easier and gives the parked aircraft a level stance. A skid on the lower portion of the Y-tail reduces the chance of the propellers striking the ground during takeoff and landing.

- The bubble cockpit provides good visibility and heavy frontal armour protects pilots from opponents’ guns. Ejector seats are fitted to improve survivability. The mid-mounted engine gives pilots better protection from fires than a forward-mounted equivalent, but offers less protection in crash landings.

- The Spectre’s main armament is housed in the lower fuselage. The usual combination of four 23mm autocannons can quickly down most heavy bombers and annihilate any fighters that stray into the Spectre’s path. Despoilers are best countered by Spectres armed with twin 37mm cannons which can score kills at a greater range. Spent shell cases fall into hoppers to prevent propeller damage and are reclaimed when the aircraft lands. Extra guns or rocket rails can be carried underneath the wings. The lack of forward propellers allows them to be placed closer to the fuselage, improving handling and accuracy.

- The Spectre’s strengths as an interceptor come at the expense of many traits desired in fighters. Pilots used to Firebirds find its controls heavier and manoeuvres slower in all axes. Attempts to engage opponents in dogfights, which invariably bleed off speed, compound these disadvantages. Spectres are best used in hit-and-run strikes against bombers while smaller fighters engage escorts, though in the chaos of massed air battles such tactics are harder to follow in practice.

- This Spectre’s colour scheme is typical for high-altitude aircraft: upper surfaces are painted with blue-grey ripple camouflage and the underside is lighter. The wings bear standard Directorate roundels and the tail identifying script. Kills are marked with blood drops and red eyes on the forward fuselage recall those of the vengeful spirits of Khandarian mythology.

Description

The Tarkavian Collective’s rapid advances into Khandarian territory gradually slowed, then stalled, in the face of fierce resistance from the Directorate’s massed conscript armies, Istarian auxiliaries, uncooperative weather and formidable natural barriers. As both sides drew back and dug in on the banks of the Chernivoda Marshes, the invaders resigned themselves to a longer than expected war while the defenders took heart from the fact that they had saved their capital from a well-armed and determined foe.

The winter months saw little action besides sporadic artillery fire and small-scale commando raids while both sides planned for spring offensives. Directorate generals expected another massive ground assault and were caught off guard when the Collective unleashed new long-range bombers on Khandarian industrial centres. The invaders’ aims were obvious: if they could not break the Directorate’s armies they would smash its manufacturing base.

Directorate pilots soon learned their Firebirds lacked the high-altitude performance to make first-rate interceptors while the Republic’s Strela fighters struggled to bring down Despoilers. Fortunately for the Directorate, two leading design bureaus had been working on alternatives since the Collective’s raids on Solonessa. Kaisada proposed the mass deployment of smaller, cheaper interceptors flown by recruits with basic training. Vereznik called for the refinement of advanced machines not yet in production. Kaisada’s designs had some success defending vital factories but as Vereznik’s reached maturity his bureau received greater funding. Better aircraft would help keep pilots alive and build teams whose skills and experiences would prove more useful over time.

The Spectre heavy interceptor put Vereznik’s theories into practice. Its exotic shape came as a shock to Tarkavian aircrews who had dismissed Khandarian designs as clumsy and derivative. Despite their early reservations, Spectre pilots quickly warmed to an aircraft with the firepower to destroy large bombers and the speed to evade their escorts. Even the civilians who have tired of state propaganda gain some reassurance from the howl of Spectres overhead; it might not yet signal victory but it promises revenge.

Design Features:

- The Spectre’s designers prioritised speed, range and firepower over manoeuvrability. A massive 24-cylinder H-block engine housed in the mid fuselage drives two contra-rotating pusher propellers via cams. This system is mechanically complex and prone to overheat when stationary, but delivers neutral torque, low vibration and high thrust. The absence of a forward propeller – which typically accelerates air over wings and control surfaces – leads to longer takeoff runs and poorer low-speed handling but more efficient high-speed cruising as the Spectre cuts through undisturbed air.

- The wings' long span reduces roll rates but improves high-altitude performance. Large self-sealing tanks extend range and endurance, allowing Spectres to operate from remote bases and/or spend more time in the air. Forward slats and rear flaps are used to reduce stall speed before landing, and reversible propeller pitch aids braking once the aircraft touches down.

- A retractable tricycle undercarriage makes ground handling easier and gives the parked aircraft a level stance. A skid on the lower portion of the Y-tail reduces the chance of the propellers striking the ground during takeoff and landing.

- The bubble cockpit provides good visibility and heavy frontal armour protects pilots from opponents’ guns. Ejector seats are fitted to improve survivability. The mid-mounted engine gives pilots better protection from fires than a forward-mounted equivalent, but offers less protection in crash landings.

- The Spectre’s main armament is housed in the lower fuselage. The usual combination of four 23mm autocannons can quickly down most heavy bombers and annihilate any fighters that stray into the Spectre’s path. Despoilers are best countered by Spectres armed with twin 37mm cannons which can score kills at a greater range. Spent shell cases fall into hoppers to prevent propeller damage and are reclaimed when the aircraft lands. Extra guns or rocket rails can be carried underneath the wings. The lack of forward propellers allows them to be placed closer to the fuselage, improving handling and accuracy.

- The Spectre’s strengths as an interceptor come at the expense of many traits desired in fighters. Pilots used to Firebirds find its controls heavier and manoeuvres slower in all axes. Attempts to engage opponents in dogfights, which invariably bleed off speed, compound these disadvantages. Spectres are best used in hit-and-run strikes against bombers while smaller fighters engage escorts, though in the chaos of massed air battles such tactics are harder to follow in practice.

- This Spectre’s colour scheme is typical for high-altitude aircraft: upper surfaces are painted with blue-grey ripple camouflage and the underside is lighter. The wings bear standard Directorate roundels and the tail identifying script. Kills are marked with blood drops and red eyes on the forward fuselage recall those of the vengeful spirits of Khandarian mythology.