The NovaHawk is a system patrol craft specifically designed to deal with pirates and small fighter attacks. Essentially high-speed gun platforms, thousands have been sold both to CCW worlds and independent planets and small collectives. Several have also ended up in the hands of runners and pirates, but are not favored due to their extremely low cargo capacity.

The NovaHawk's main weaponry are its 8 Medium Hi-Lasers, a pair to each "wing". It also has 16 medium-range missile launchers, four to each top set of wings. But what makes the NovaHawk a true threat to pirates and raiders are its numerous gravity cannon turrets and short-range missile launchers. There are eight gravity cannon turrets scattered across the ship's surface (the larger globes) and eight short-range missile launcher turrets (the smaller globes). These enable the NovaHawk to decimate fighter squadrons, runner ships and hold its own with frigates like the Berserker. If the NovaHawk has an Achilles heel it is definitely its lack of true heavy weaponry and short endurance. But seeing that most pirates and raiders don't have access to anything larger than a frigate, and planetary defense forces are not required to do extensive travel, this ship is ideal for the market niche it was created to fill, and has been the bane of piracy in the CCW for the last 35 years.

Type: GA-14 NovaHawk-Class Gunship.
Crew: 82
MDC By Location
Wings (4) - 2,500 each.
#Hi-Laser Cannons (8) - 1,000 each
#*Engines (4) - 3,000 each
#**Primary Sensor Cluster - 1,500
#Gravity Rail Cannons (8) - 500 each
#Short-range missile launchers (8) - 500 each.
***Forward Control Module - 2,750
****Main Body - 5,500 MDC
Variable Forcefields - 2,000 per side (6)
# Requires a called shot of 12 or better.
*Destroying an engine will reduce the ship's speed by 25%.
**Destroying the Primary Sensor Cluster will destroy long-range communications, primary sensors and firing control. Communications will be limited to .5 astronomical units, and the ship will rely entirely on gravity sensors with a 5,000-mile range (in space, that's effectively blind). The Hi-Lasers and Medium Range Missile Launchers are -6 to strike.
***Destroying the forward control module destroys the bridge and command and control. The ship can be piloted from engineering at -20% to pilot spacecraft skill and -5 to dodge. Attacks are half those of the pilot.
Speed:
Sublight: Can achieve a relative speed of Mach 12 (note that speeds in Phaseworld should not be considered true speeds but relative speeds to one another. If the NovaHawk accelerates long enough it can reach 60% of light speed.)
Atmospheric Propulsion: The NovaHawk was designed to be atmospheric as well (the lower wings fold up, allow it to land on primitive air fields). Top speed of Mach 3 in atmosphere.
Stardrive: The NovaHawk can reach up to five light-years per hour. But has supplies for only three months of travel.
Statistical Data:
Length: 420 feet
Width: (wingtip to wingtip): 680 feet
Height: 80 feet (not including lower wings, which can fold up).
Mass: 55,000 tons.
Power System: Anti-Matter Drive with 20-year lifespan before antimatter cells must be replaced.
Cargo: 100 tons (above and beyond ammunition) that would basically consist of loading shipping containers in some of the hallways.
Market Cost: 600 million credits.

Weapons Systems
1. Hi-Laser Cannons (8): Eight Medium-powered Hi-laser cannons are spread across the four wings. They generally fire in unison, groups of four, or all at once. Firing all eight requires the target to be within a 30 degree cone forward of the vessel, otherwise, no more than four can fire at a target at any time. All have a 90-degree arc of fire.
Primary Purpose: Anti-Spaceship
Damage: Each cannon does 1D4X100 M.D., two firing at the same target is 2D4X100 M.D., four, 4D4X100 and all eight do 8D4X100 M.D.
Range: 8 miles in space, 2 miles in atmosphere.
Rate of fire: Each cannon can fire four times per melee.
Payload: Unlimited.
2. Medium Range Missile Launchers (16) Recessed in each wing are four medium-range missile launchers, giving the gunship its long-range punch. Generally used against frigates, runner ships, assault shuttles and other small commerce raiders and smugglers.
Primary Purpose: Assault
Secondary Purpose: Defense.
Damage: Varies by missile type.
Range: about 150 miles in space, 50 miles in atmosphere.
Rate of fire: Can be fired one at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, 8, and 16.
Payload: 10 per launcher, for a total of 160.
3. Gravity Cannons (8): Eight dual gravity cannon turrets are placed across the fuselage and are capable of filling local space with a hail of 5 pound neutronium-jacketed solid slugs. Due to their placement and globular shape, numerous cannons can be brought to bear on any target (4). The kinetic energy is so great that any star fighter-scale vehicle hit without shield protection will require a piloting roll at -15% to maintain control.
Primary Purpose: Anti-Star fighter.
Secondary Purpose: Anti-spacecraft.
Damage: 4D6X10 M.D. per cannon.
Range: 3 miles in space, 1 mile in atmosphere.
Rate of Fire: As per number of attacks of the gunner.
Payload: Each shot fires two 5-pound slugs at .25 the speed of light. 500 rounds each (250 shots per turret).
4. Short-Range Missile Launchers (8): Eight short-range missile launchers are placed in turrets across the hull. They are used mainly for anti-missile and anti-power armor point defense.
Primary Purpose: Defense.
Secondary Purpose: Anti-Robot/Anti-Star fighter.
Damage: Varies with missile type, usually 1D6X10 M.D. for armor piercing or high explosive.
Range: 15 miles in space, 5 miles in atmosphere.
Rate of Fire: Can fire individual missiles or in volleys of 2, or 4.
Payload: Each turret has 40 missiles.
5. Advanced Sensor Systems: The NovaHawk carries a suite of advanced sensors capable of deep-scanning most ships' cargo holds for highly accurate readings on their cargo and their weapon systems and crew compliment, and can bombard local space with neutrinos, revealing the presence of any ship attempting stealth (reduce stealth effect by half) within 1,000 miles. This system can defeat any stealth system where the target vessel is still tangible. Additional bonuses: +2 to strike with gravity rail cannons and short-range missile launchers from advanced fire control, beyond normal bonuses to strike. +2 to dodge fire from cruisers and other large vessels. Gravity Cannons and short-range missile launchers are not affected by the small size of star fighters and power armors and robots.

Image © and is a creation of Dieter Ludmann