Stingray interceptor

The Stingray light multi-role fighter is a fictional spaceplane in the Wing Commander universe.

Stingrays are armed with two light plasma cannons and no missiles or anti-missile ECM decoys; they display uninspiring speed, shields and armor. They are dual-role craft: they can act as both general skirmishers and bombers. At the former role, they are fairly ineffective. At the latter, they are deadly.

Stingrays tend to enter battle in individual units. When a capital ship is in the area, however, three of them combine, via the overhead pylon, into a single Stingray cluster. They do not lose appreciable speed or maneuverability, and their six light plasma cannon combine into a single heavy cannon similar to the one found on the TB-81 Devastator heavy bomber, except faster-firing and weaker. This weapon can inflict damage on capital ships with disturbing ease. When the job is done, the three Stingrays separate and continue their lives as fairly ineffective fighter craft.

Stingray clusters can be easily dissolved (or prevented from clustering) by destroying one of the component ships; the simplest way to do this is to use a missile, as only one is necessary. Unfortunately, the Nephilim tend to field this craft in large numbers, and all Stingrays are compatible with each other; knock a cluster apart and it'll soon be back again with a new third member. The cluster's plasma cannon has been seen employed against Confederate fighters, and several shots will reduce a foolish pilot and his craft to glittering debris. However, there are few foolish pilots anymore, and those who are often teach their wingmates not to repeat their mistakes in short order. Finally, the distinctive sound of the heavy plasma weapon means that every pilot on the field knows instantly if a cluster has formed. In short, Stingrays are not particularly dangerous unless clustered, and when clustered they are relatively easy to deal with.