Shipyard: Pirate

All Pirate ships, with the notable exceptions of the Manticore and Carrier, are specially modified versions of other commercial ships. While more expensive, they are better than their "clean" versions, and are that much more dangerous, both as your ship/escort and as your foe.

	Viper back to top
	As soon as Comara released the Viper frame on the general market, a few shiploads of frames were bought up by notorious pirate shipwright Olaf Greyshoulders. He and his crew have totally refitted the shell, and the familiar shape of its advanced armor plating hides a wealth of minor and major improvements to the basic idea. But, as with all Greyshoulders upgrades, there is a hefty price to pay for the improved model. It's up to you to decide whether it's worth it.
Ship Stats: Speed: 500 Accel: 800 Turn: 70 Shields: 60/12 Armor: 40/0 Guns: 3 (max) Turrets: none Space: 14 tons Cargo: 15 tons Fuel: 3 jumps Length: 7m Mass: 10 tons Crew: 1 Cost: 110000 AI Type: 4 (Interceptor) Strength: 65 Deionize: 8 Max Ion.: 44 Buy Random: 95% Hire Random: 65%
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Notes: Heavier than most fighters, it's still a Viper. A few quick shots of your blasters should disable it, and allow you to resell it for a pretty little penny.

	Argosy back to top
	How the advanced Heraan Argosy fell into the hands of pirate shipwrights is a matter of hot debate in some circles. The story that the ship dealer spins for you maintains that the plans were snatched during a daring hit-and-run raid several years ago. The truth of the matter is that Aurorans can be bribed, as can all humans throughout the galaxy. Senginar Hmel, the noteworthy shipwright, has been brutal with the original design spec, and sadly much of the original beauty of the lines of this ship has been destroyed, performance boosts aside.
Ship Stats: Speed: 260 Accel: 375 Turn: 30 Shields: 230/19 Armor: 315/0 Guns: 5 (max) Turrets: 2 (max) Space: 44 tons Cargo: 30 tons Fuel: 5 jumps Length: 30m Mass: 150 tons Crew: 10 Cost: 250000 AI Type: 2 (Brave trader) Strength: 225 Deionize: 20 Max Ion.: 235 Buy Random: 60% Hire Random: 35%
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Notes: This is a very fair light freighter with heavy defenses. Although certainly not a killer, it can defend itself against most light attacks quite admirably.

	Thunderhead back to top
	Never underestimate the abilities of pirates to hot up ships that are already way too overpowered. The Pirate Thunderhead gets around the problem of trying to soup up its engines by simply adding one more. Speed and acceleration both benefit from this procedure, and the Pirate Thunderhead is an awesome vessel. Good value for money.
Ship Stats: Speed: 475 Accel: 625 Turn: 50 Shields: 125/10 Armor: 210/0 Guns: 5 (max) Turrets: none Space: 46 tons Cargo: 10 tons Fuel: 4 jumps Length: 12m Mass: 15 tons Crew: 1 Cost: 425000 AI Type: 4 (Interceptor) Strength: 150 Deionize: 12 Max Ion.: 55 Buy Random: 95% Hire Random: 70%
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Notes: The very definition of a heavy fighter, the Pirate Thunderhead is a dangerous adversary in close combat, and the various variants' missiles can do some serious damage as well.

	Enterprise back to top
	The Enterprise has been a favorite of pirates for a hundred years or more. With a modular framework based so closely along the lines of the IDA Frigate (note the drive-train), the Enterprise is a joy to hotrod. This model sports several improvements, including both Federation-style shielding and Auroran railguns. Truly a must-have for the privateer on the move. Requires you to register EV Nova
Ship Stats: Speed: 210 Accel: 210 Turn: 25 Shields: 400/19 Armor: 645/0 Guns: 4 (max) Turrets: 3 (max) Space: 115 tons Cargo: 225 tons Fuel: 5 jumps Length: 55m Mass: 255 tons Crew: 35 Cost: 700000 AI Type: 2 (Brave trader) Strength: 325 Deionize: 25 Max Ion.: 275 Buy Random: 95% Hire Random: 65%
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Notes: Want a good heavy-duty freight vessel that can hold it's own in a battle? You got it. Perfect for exploiting trade routes through dangerous areas, the Pirate Enterprise is also, of course, an excellent pirate ship due to it's railguns.

	Valkyrie back to top
	Pirates and Valkyries have gone together almost since the Valkyrie was first released. Somehow the hotrodded starship seems to embody the very idea of a swash-buckling corsair; so much so, in fact, that people who fly normal, unmodified Valkyries get a few sideglances from other spacelane users. Pirates take great pride in maxing their 'Valks' out, and most Valkyries will sport afterburners and custom paintjobs, as well as radically altered shield grids. This darkly menacing custom convert by Olaf Greyshoulders is no different.
Ship Stats: Speed: 475 Accel: 550 Turn: 40 Shields: 410/25 Armor: 130/0 Guns: 6 (max) Turrets: 2 (max) Space: 57 tons Cargo: 20 tons Fuel: 5 jumps Length: 25m Mass: 150 tons Crew: 4 Cost: 500000 AI Type: 3 (Warship) Strength: 225 Deionize: 25 Max Ion.: 125 Buy Random: 90% Hire Random: 60%
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Notes: My personal preference for an escort ship (upgraded to IV), as their long range and devestating attacks work very well. Beware these ships in combat if they are in the upper levels; lower levels are breezes to take out, but IIIs are much more difficult, and IV are insanely fast and armed to the teeth.

	Starbridge back to top
	The Starbridge commonly in pirate service is relatively unaltered from its base design. There are a few reasons for this, but the primary one is that the Starbridge makes an excellent pirate ship as it is! Also, a good many... <ahem> 'privateers' were consulted about the vessel's design during the planning stage, and they feel that their comments have in some way helped shape this graceful keel. Most Starbridges used by pirates haven't had their engines tweaked much, but they do have more powerful guns than normal. Requires you to register EV Nova
Ship Stats: Speed: 410 Accel: 560 Turn: 50 Shields: 440/59 Armor: 140/0 Guns: 6 (max) Turrets: 1 (max) Space: 64 tons Cargo: 20 tons Fuel: 5 jumps Length: 20m Mass: 98 tons Crew: 2 Cost: 725000 AI Type: 3 (Warship) Strength: 275 Deionize: 35 Max Ion.: 220 Buy Random: 80% Hire Random: 45%
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Notes: Fast and furious, the Pirate Starbridge is a formidable foe, and a great ship to fly. Fast enough to be a serious contender against fighters (in speed -- in firepower it is just too good), that same speed makes it a major thorn in the sides of capital ships.

	Manticore back to top
	The Manticore is the most terrifying vessel that pirates have ever used. Built from salvaged Leviathans (just don't ask where they got them from), the Manticore's primary offensive weapon is the 'Crown of Thorns', a ring of modified Rauther Ion Cannons. This ring is fully independently targetable, and can easily disable large ships, while being accurate enough not to shred smaller vessels. Requires you to register EV Nova
Ship Stats: Speed: 200 Accel: 300 Turn: 30 Shields: 500/40 Armor: 850/0 Guns: 8 (max) Turrets: 4 (max) Space: 307 tons Cargo: 500 tons Fuel: 7 jumps Length: 100m Mass: 1750 tons Crew: 120 Cost: 12000000 AI Type: 3 (Warship) Strength: 425 Deionize: 30 Max Ion.: 225 Buy Random: 50% Hire Random: 30%
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Notes: Fear the Manticore... this is a hard core ship, no matter how you look at it. All of the variants are dangerous, and nice and powerful, boasting heavy missiles, fighters, or railguns, not to mention the Crown of Thorns. Take your pick, it'll be a hell of a fight no matter what. :)

	Carrier back to top
	Hrunyir Greyshoulders, father of Olaf, crafted the Pirate Carrier 60 years ago as a tool to aid in the suppression of worlds for ransom. This terrifying weapon mounts tubes for EMP torpedos, the most devastating explosive known (and banned by all space treaties, even between the Aurorans and the Federation). Olaf started work on a second carrier 20 years ago, and it is now reaching completion. He is still hunting for a buyer with enough cash and few enough scruples to buy it. Requires you to register EV Nova
Ship Stats: Speed: 200 Accel: 275 Turn: 30 Shields: 725/8 Armor: 825/0 Guns: 6 (max) Turrets: 4 (max) Space: 421 tons Cargo: 75 tons Fuel: 4 jumps Length: 490m Mass: 1850 tons Crew: 220 Cost: 15000000 AI Type: 3 (Warship) Strength: 475 Deionize: 20 Max Ion.: 240 Buy Random: 40% Hire Random: 25%
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Notes: If you thought that the Manticore was something to be weary of, you'll flip when you see an angry Pirate Carrier come down heavy on you. All of the variants are insanely dangerous. Thankfully, these ships aren't quite that fast, but with their fighters and wide range of missile weapons and railguns, keeping a safe distance is rather hard to do.

	The Unrelenting back to top
	This ship isn't available for purchase, you are given it during the Pirate mission string when you work for the Association.
Ship Stats: Speed: 235 Accel: 275 Turn: 35 Shields: 975/20 Armor: 1125/0 Guns: 8 (max) Turrets: 6 (max) Space: 903 tons Cargo: 100 tons Fuel: 6 jumps Length: 490m Mass: 1850 tons Crew: 220 Cost: 0 AI Type: 3 (Warship) Strength: 575 Deionize: 75 Max Ion.: 400 Buy Random: 0% Hire Random: 0%
Other Info: Armament: 2 Quad Light Blaster Turrets (133), 4 Pirate Viper Bays (218) + 4 Pirate Vipers (219), 2 EMP Torpedo Tubes (175) + 8 EMP Torpedos (176), 4 200mm Fixed Railguns (173), 3 Hellhound Missile Launchers (435) + 21 Hellhound Missiles (436), 4 Heavy Blaster Turrets (132), 2 Pirate Thunderhead Bays (284) + 2 Pirate Thunderheads (285) Outfits: 1 Pirate Jammer (248), 1 Exotic Ships & Weapons License (265), 2 Solar Panelss (228), 2 Marine Platoons (227) Other AI Behaviors: Has Afterburner at High Combat Ratings, Shows Percent Armor, Ship Uses Standoff Tactics, AI Ships Replenish Ammo AvailBits: AppearOn: OnPurchase: b8888 OnCapture: b8888 OnRetire:
Notes: The Unrelenting is another one of those ships that can claim to be the best in the game, but it all depends on the pilot's flying and fighting style. It's got a great base armament, but enough expansion room that you can make it all the deadlier.