The model:

1/48 scale Monogram plastic kit.

 

Marauder-class Starfighter

It is not known where the Marauder originated from. What is known is that a small scavenger group operating in a remote sector of known space stumbled upon an abandoned freighter of unknown origin carrying 24 copies of the fighter. Knock-off examples of this simple fighter have been on the free-market ever since. The Marauder has not found much favor even amongst the poorer operators. It is powered by a single, bulky fusion-ion sublight engine that takes up virtually the entire main fuselage. The pilot sits in a cabin-cum-escape-pod perched on top of the engine. The unique thing about this engine is that all its thrust has been channeled into individual vector-nozzles; a tight grouping of 6 forming the main thrust line. There is no separate, main core thrust. The result is that the fighter is seriously underpowered, and, since the thruster arrangement is an integral part of the design, it has proved prohibitively difficult and costly to change either the engine and/or its control system. It is not stressed or equipped for warp-travel so it is dependent upon a mothership or permanent base. With plenty of superior second-hand Stingrays or Violators to be had on the free-market, the Marauder has had a rough time finding ready customers.

The small numbers of Marauders in service are mainly used by a few poorer planetary police forces, by private companies or pirates for point defense of bases or installations. The Marauder is armed with four particle-lasers and has a center-line hardpoint for heavy external weapons. There are no internal warhead launchers. Most operators have jammed the nose with upgraded sensors and electronics to offset the Marauder's poor flight performance, with the result that the noses of these fighters usually sport a veritable forest of antennae.