The Katar and the Mule: Two very different smallcraft

To finish off my Storm Knight wild hair distraction, here are two small craft, a 10 ton fighter and a 20 ton utility tug. I really like the Mule, even with its kitchen sink.

Storm Knight Katar-class Light Fighter

The Storm Knight's Katar-class light fighter is an old but reliable design notable for its shining Reflec anti-laser coating. While useful in recruiting posters, the Katar has proven inferior to the higher technology Aslan Taleryushi-class fighter at least in theory, though few actual encounters involve straight one-on-one fighter dogfights, and even in those, skill or luck often determines the outcome.

Still, for more than four centuries, the basic configuration of the Katar has remained unchanged. It is a heavily armored dual-seat silver arrowhead capable of 7g acceleration and high performance atmospheric flight. For system defense and escort duties, it is a perfectly adequate fighter, and the thousands of vehicles assigned to reserve Storm Knight flight officers have seen service across The Beyond and into neighboring sectors.

In a major battle, wings of Katar fighters might make a difference, but most Storm Knight tacticians prefer to utilize Sabre-class pinnaces in multi-function roles, including that of heavy fighter, rather than deploy light fighters likely to suffer heavy casualties.

Storm Knight Mule-class Utility Tug

The Mule-class utility tug is ubiquitous within the Stormhaven Republic and across much of The Beyond. The unassuming little ship is very expensive for a 20-ton vessel, but it would be incorrect to categorize it as a launch or a lifeboat. It is a utility craft equipped with everything, including, literally, a kitchen sink.

Equipped with powerful engines, the Mule can theoretically achieve 7g when carrying only its internal load. However, that is not its main function. Operating as a tug, it has a Type I docking clamp to allow it to attach other small vessels, external cargo mounts to carry an additional 60 tons of cargo, netting to secure another 120 tons, and a tow cable that allows theoretically unlimited tug capabilities. A small grappling arm allows it to capture and control cargo and solar panels allows it to stay on station for literally years at a time. Finally, a laser drill allows it to function as a salvage or mining vessel. Advanced computer systems allow effectively autonomous ship operations for either an onboard or remote operator.

The small bridge can theoretically seat two, a pilot and a cargo master, but for longer term operation, the other half of the forward compartment contains one bunk and a galley, equipped with the aforementioned kitchen sink. Operating for more than a week aboard a Mule can be difficult for most people, but a certain subclass can thrive in such an environment, and independent Mule operators can often be rather eccentric. While the Mule is as commonly assigned to former Star Knight personnel as a Katar fighter, it is a very different vehicle, operated by a very different breed of reserve Storm Knight. The Mule, with its often slightly battered appearance and a seemly endless numbers of cargo fasteners, external and internal, can look and sometimes smell like a junkyard, but it is a solid vessel, both reliable and versatile. Most experienced spacers know better than to criticize a Mule in front of its owner.