Fast-Attack Stealth Ship

The Fast-Attack Stealth Ship is a blanket term for any number of starships fielded by the Gudersnipe Foundation and most notably by Gudersnipe School. The term is never applied to non-Foundation ships, and is a role for which a vessel may not have been initially designed. The term is also frequently applied to 'scout ships', but in reality is reserved for any ship capable of operating far-afield without support. There is no size-limit on FASS-type vessels.

Speed

Despite the name, Fast-Attack ships are in fact very slow. The term comes from original Fast-Attack Ships which are meant to DEPLOY very fast, not actually move that quickly. In the case of FASSs, the ships have a top "concealed" or stealth-speed of about 18-20 PSL, and a maximum speed of only 24-25 with a very poor Acceleration curve.

This is still fast enough to engage most civilian targets, which rarely exceed 20PSL, but not nearly fast enough to keep pace with fleet ships, which generally travel at a minimum of 30PSL, with an average speed closer to 40.

Design

The primary design-features of a fast-attack stealth ship are as follows: high-performance engines, weapons capable of engaging a capitol-class ship, and stealth systems. The latter is essential, as another typical design element is a lack of heavy armor required to operate in a fleet-role. Many former fleet ships, outfitted with stealth accouterments, have been placed in a FASS role, so a lack of armor is less a requirement than a commonality.

A popular example of a purpose-built FASS lies in the design for G.S.S. Bounty, originally conceived as a prototype for a new kind of warship that would rely on shields, rather than armor, it was quickly re-cast as a "high-endurance patrol ship" before the design was ultimately shelved. The original prototype was then sold to the Alliance, who saw potential in using the ship as a commerce-raider.

Usage

Officially, the Gudersnipe Foundation does not approve of attacks on enemy shipping, and classifies it's high-endurance FASSs as "scout ships". In the Crimson Blade they are often employed as raiders in hit-and-run attacks on enemy military targets. The Crimson Blade did also destroy and undisclosed number of Kamian cargo ships as quote "self defense" or to avoid detection while operating deep behind enemy lines.

The Alliance, meanwhile, used FASSs to great effect in disrupting Kamian supply lines, as well as fielding its variants as cutters and in some main fleet roles. They were also instrumental in dissuading attacks, as a well times strike by a few FASSs against an enemy carrier group could convince them that a larger force lay ahead.