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Description
First laid down during the 2143-2162 Fleet Replenishment Cycle, the Zephyr-Class was just one of a large number of Cruiser-Type starships created by an over-enthusiastic design unit at Liquid Design, the Republic's prime engineering and design contractor. Many of these (The Helios and Bolide-Class Cruisers being the earliest examples) were eliminated from the Fleet roster almost immediately as too specialized with only prototypes or shake-down models produced. The Zephyr survived because, unlike others of the era, it became an immediate favorite among a particular element in the Force; The Marines. Heavily armored and reasonably fast some might argue the firepower would have been lacking but this was not an important element to the Marines, who relied on precision orbital strikes to support ground operations rather than the sustained bombardment that could be provided by other starships. Instead the Zephyr was a suitable way to get those Marines into battle, soaking up fire from ground defenses and able to force a landing against heavy firepower.

Upgraded since that time, the Zephyr-Class still retains that focus with the new Block II and Block III models offering increased armor and heavier drives as well as adding battlefield gestalt and TRIPWIRE integration. An attempt was made to provide a dedicated landing and assault craft through the Tempest-Class, but considerable resistance by Captains oriented to the Marine Divisions has led to poor adoption and overt policy changes that have essentially stalled the introduction of that class. Many of the problems solved by the Tempest-Class were then further resolved by the introduction of the Zephyr Block III mid-way through the current 2163 Fleet Replenishment Cycle and that has essentially edged out the Tempest Class except in isolated examples.

Description
First laid down during the 2143-2162 Fleet Replenishment Cycle, the Zephyr-Class was just one of a large number of Cruiser-Type starships created by an over-enthusiastic design unit at Liquid Design, the Republic's prime engineering and design contractor. Many of these (The Helios and Bolide-Class Cruisers being the earliest examples) were eliminated from the Fleet roster almost immediately as too specialized with only prototypes or shake-down models produced. The Zephyr survived because, unlike others of the era, it became an immediate favorite among a particular element in the Force; The Marines. Heavily armored and reasonably fast some might argue the firepower would have been lacking but this was not an important element to the Marines, who relied on precision orbital strikes to support ground operations rather than the sustained bombardment that could be provided by other starships. Instead the Zephyr was a suitable way to get those Marines into battle, soaking up fire from ground defenses and able to force a landing against heavy firepower.

Upgraded since that time, the Zephyr-Class still retains that focus with the new Block II and Block III models offering increased armor and heavier drives as well as adding battlefield gestalt and TRIPWIRE integration. An attempt was made to provide a dedicated landing and assault craft through the Tempest-Class, but considerable resistance by Captains oriented to the Marine Divisions has led to poor adoption and overt policy changes that have essentially stalled the introduction of that class. Many of the problems solved by the Tempest-Class were then further resolved by the introduction of the Zephyr Block III mid-way through the current 2163 Fleet Replenishment Cycle and that has essentially edged out the Tempest Class except in isolated examples.