[K18 - Burnin Konn - FZ] Viper-class Assault Frigate - "Iron Resolve" (midi-scale)

Iron Resolve

A gift from the Markedons to Carm, and by extension, the Flame of Zhar- the "Iron Resolve" stands as both weapon and warning in the coming war against pirate lord Drego Karsk.

Class: Viper-class Assault Frigate

Crew: 350 (full strength)

Armament:

• 1x Forward-mounted main rail cannon
• 14x Turbolaser batteries
• Multiple laser cannon emplacements for point defense

Manufacturer: Hoersch-Kessel Drive, Inc. (HKD)

Launched: 5 ABY

Overview

The Viper-class Assault Frigate represents HKD’s aggressive return to military shipbuilding during one of the corporation’s many leadership changes. Designed as a fast-attack gunship, the Viper prioritizes forward assault capability and maneuverability over sheer bulk.

Its defining feature is the bow-mounted rail cannon- a weapon capable of crippling cruisers in a single well-placed strike. Supporting this are fourteen turbolaser batteries and a network of laser cannons optimized for anti-fighter screening and sustained engagements.

Though often dismissed as a "glass cannon" due to its aggressive silhouette and forward-weighted weapons array, the Viper-class has earned a far deadlier reputation in combat. Few cruisers, short of full capital ships, have survived a direct engagement once the rail cannon comes to bear.

History

The Viper-class project was plagued by delays, running over-budget, and multiple construction accidents during development. Internally, HKD engineers began referring to the effort as "Iron Resolve" - a tongue-in-cheek nod to the sheer stubbornness required to see the program completed. The name stuck.

The first frigate rolled off the line in 5 ABY, just as the Galactic Civil War drew to a close. With most major powers downsizing their fleets, HKD struggled to find buyers. The Markedons- one of the few post-war factions still investing heavily in naval strength- acquired the entirety of the limited production run.

Now, the lead vessel of the class, Iron Resolve, serves under Carm’s command, its guns poised to carve a path through pirate-held space.