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The XF-38 prototype starfighter was designed and built by Velmoran Military Engineering Works. Originally commissioned independently by then IBC Leader and a general in the RLF Acantha Heron, it was transitioned into the overall starfighter development push the company was making at the time. While a crude and modest starfighter, Acantha's approval of the prototype advanced its production more than it may otherwise have garnered, and with sufficient improvements it went into production as the first Xesh fighter, one of the most successful starfighters VMEW ever produced.

Characteristics[]

The XF-38 was a tiny starfighter with only token shields, no armor, and weak blasters for armament. What distinguished it was its speed, which carried it well beyond the threshold of most other fighters at the time. The aft half of the fighter was dominated by engines, or radiator panels designed to vent heat from the engines. The fore end, predominantly mandibles connected to the light blasters, housed the sensors, cameras, and other detection hardware. Intended as an extremely light advanced scout to be deployed in advance of attack forces, it was not well disposed towards engaging in dogfighting, relying on its speed and evasion capabilities for its own defense. It was successfully deployed against the Consortium in the field before the RLF/imperial war, and was largely adopted due to its low production cost.

History[]

Development[]

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The eventual stealth version of the XF-38

Acantha Heron approached VMEW after the successful reception to the XF-35 prototype at one of the RLF's early meetings to ask for a personal commission of their development teams to create a starfighter for her use. She specified that it be based on the ancient Eta-7 Jedi starfighter in use during the Clone Wars. With that template they started with a similar shape and design, but knowing that the basic starfighter would not mesh well when used in coordination with production versions of the other prototypes, they moved in the direction of a support fighter intended for stealth as it became clear the XF-35's energy requirements made its use in stealth operations non-viable. Thus, while developing a combat craft for Heron dubbed the Eta-8, they simultaneously developed a stealth recon variant under the designation XF-38. The two terms eventually became interchangeable. The XF-38 was simple enough to produce quickly, and was combat field-tested alongside the XF-35 and XF-37 prototypes against Consortium targets that opposed the Empire, which the RLF was allied with at the time. Having finished their Eta-8 for Heron, she offered to invest in mass production of the fighter for the RLF, and they accepted her terms eagerly. With only slight modifications to the sensor suite and canopy areas, they began producing the XF-38 as the Eta-8V Mk.II, which was soon to be nicknamed the Xesh.

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The combat oriented Eta-8V AC developed for IBC leader Acantha Heron

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