Im apparently on a roll with these small craft!

My attempt at making a heavy bomber resulted in something else - a gunship. :P

So with some accidental hurrah, I present the Saburian Gunship!

The Saburians, being a hardy desert culture and warrior society mostly isolated from the rest of the Arkellian Empire, have developed their own methods of transportation and defense that in many ways are their superior trademarks compared to the Royal Navy.

One such of these vehicles is known across the empire as the Sandskimmer. There are several variations of this craft, with the majority of them being low altitude hovercraft meant to "surf" the sand dunes in the saburian desert in search of resources. A few versions of skimmer craft, such as this one, have been modified to serve as escort gunships for larger vessels like the Song of War.

Saburian military teams, like always, serve as the crew aboard these vessels. Usually manned by 8 persons, the saburian gunship presents a unique take on the warrior society's methods of warfare. Large fan engines allow the craft to take off and land vertically from landing pads in Sabure's capitol, or land on vessels large enough to allow landing. Being a multipurpose vessel by "skimmer" definition, it's utility is unmatched by most vehicles. It can be used for cargo transport, troop movement, rescue operations, or resource gathering, as well as being an effective warship.

In a fight, the gunship can deliver a hefty broadside barrage for a vessel of it's size - four heavy cannons on each side are enough to deter desert predators or enemy pirates from making the gunship an easy target. The gunship's special weapon only furthers it's threat levels. Mounted on the underside of the ship's chassis is a heavily experimental and yet superb creation showing the saburians' mastery of the desert sun - a solar cannon.

The solar cannon's glossair rings can actually channel the sun's energy from the gunship's sails, and coil it into a massive sunbeam that will literally burn a hole through just about any material. Even the legendary hides of the saburian desert sandwurms are no match for the solar beam.

For added maneuverability, the shipwrights of Sabure added twin aerilons mounted just behind the engines, allowing for increased turn rates as well as stability. The aerilons are connected via a steering pylon connected through a third stabilizer mounted just behind the main structure of the craft.

World save coming at some point - come see the gunship on Mithrintia's gallery map!

- Rova