Vehicle:Crusader-class Gunship

"Weapons charged. Let the fun begin!"

- A Crusader Captain

The Crusader-class Gunship is a designed ship, used in the War Fleets of the  for a variety of supportive roles and situations. The ship is a fast moving, scout and raider vessel, while also performing with the main fleet, acting as a support vessel, designed to attack flanks and take down fighters and bombers that attack the heavier, slower cruisers and frigates. The ship also carries a small compliment of Mendel warriors, allow them to board a captured vessel, and search and detain it, or defend against boarding actions launched against them.

Crusaders are used largely in consort with the massive, the two largely complimenting each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Creation
The Crusader-class was developed by Ugandalorians many years ago. In their time, they emphasized strong, powerful frigates and battleships to form a central battle line, and blast through their targets, but, after their foes, especially Zarbania, adapted to this strategy with more bombers and smaller ships to out maneuver them, the Ugandalorians turned to a new idea. Polling together their knowledge, Ugandal and scientists developed the "Crusader-class" to act as a Gunship for fleets. This ship would free up frigates on patrol duty to be more active in frontline battle, where they where more suited, and the Crusader was able to fulfill their role, at a much cheaper cost, and also act in a front line, destroying the bombers and fighters that harassed their heavier ship cousins.

Crusader-classes where deployed in the final battles against the Dominatus, ironically enough, using strategies used against the Ugandalorians themselves many years prior, by outflanking and harassing the heavier ships during the final few battles.

Neraida War
Commander would use a number of Crusader-classes during the, and use them to assist his heavier forces in battle, especially during the guerilla campaigns undertaken by Mendel forces to assist their Republic allies. They would assist a large number of Vengeance-Class Frigates during the final battle, and would help mop up any remaining Neraida cells. After the victory, the Crusader-classes where sent back to patrol Mendel borders and trade routes once more.

Second Cyrannian War
Commander would deploy several Crusader-class ships to fight against the  during the, after the empire launched a massive assault on the world of. There, the Mendel where assisted by the Persan and Waptorian allies, and managed to hold back the Empire, but not without great causalities on the surface and above the world. Ryaler reorganized his forces, and prepared a response in kind, giving chase to 's forces, who where still very large, despite the causalities taken, and a grave threat to the Mendel Pact and their allies.

War of the Ancient Three
Crusader-class ships would see action against the, and later, the , making a good account of themselves, despite the overwhelming advantages posed by all three powers. Crusaders where used by Mendel forces to deploy their Super-Commando and Shock Trooper units during raids against the Matriarchy, after it was found they where mind controlling the Polar Crystal Alliance council. They where also used to probe Matriarchy defenses aboard their capital, called the Composer's Legacy.

Weapons
Crusaders have only one type of weaponry, but are packed with as many Light Turbolaser canons as possible in order to maximize fire power, but without leaving the ship vulnerable. These canons can tear through fighters with ease, and even deal heavy damage to frigates and cruisers, if the Crusader is in large groups, and assisted by their own frigates. The canons are designed to shoot from broadside, and, as such, their arc of fire is limited. As such, multiple Crusaders will deploy to offer overlapping fields of fire.

Defenses
The Crusader has strong armor and shielding, though mostly relies upon speed to protect it. While it is more durable then the standard Corvette used by other nations, it can still be torn apart by larger ships if the Captain is not careful.

Equipment
Crusader-Class Gunships often are outfitted with a Point-Defense laser to take out missiles and rockets aimed at the ship. Outside of this, Captains will loot tech from their foes, or take from the Black Markets of near-by worlds to further boost it's abilities.