The Essential Guide to Force Exile/Makashi-class frigate

''Makashi'-class frigate

Description
Careful analysis of the Yanibar Guard Fleet structure in 6 BBY revealed that the fleet was lacking a decent small warship capable of fending off missile boats and other heavy starfighters. The Ataru-class gunships were too small to adequately fend off that type of threat, due to their focus on attacking larger ships with torpedo volleys. As such, the Makashi-class frigates were developed to fill that void in the Yanibar Guard Fleet.

The design was a throwback to the ancient Hammerhead-class cruisers of the Old Republic, except that the Makashi was two-thirds the size and carried significantly more firepower. The prongs that protruded from the central body were bristling with weaponry and contained most of the frigate's weapons, particularly those that fired forward and to the sides. A sizable aft battery was also included, but the rotation arcs of the prong turrets allowed the ship to both concentrate firepower forward as well as cover all angles. Midships were somewhat vulnerable, particularly in an aftward approach.

However, the ships were sturdily constructed. It was relatively easy to knock out the prongs and their batteries compared to destroying the ship's central core. The layered construction of each Makashi ensured that the ships could absorb plenty of punishment even as they screened the larger ships of the Yanibar Guard. In particular, the frigates were designed to take proton torpedo and concussion missile hits from starfighters.

Makashi-class frigates often acted as the eyes and ears of the Yanibar Guard. Carrying advanced sensor equipment and the Kraechar Arms MiniHub coordinating computer, they could relay target data to larger warships using extremely precise sensors. The MiniHub also allowed the Makashi-class to calculate firing solutions and generate damage projections, increasing the accuracy of friendly warships.

To protect this valuable asset, ship's engines were heavily shielded. Swift and lethal, the Makashi-class could keep up with any of the other vessels it was supposed to screen. It was not particularly maneuverable, though, relying on its firing arcs to protect it. Its large size for its role meant that it could not turn as swiftly.

The frigates were also designed to carry starfighters. They briefly carried Shoto starfighters, but only until the newer Sabres were available. The Makashi was the last ship built specifically to carry Shotos. Two Javelin shuttles completed its complement, intended to carry down the 50-man infantry company or other landing parties from the frigate. The shuttles were inadequate to efficiently deploy landing parties or ground troops, but it was impossible to cram more hangar space into an already-packed frigate. Instead, escape pods were sometimes used to deploy troops faster, though bringing along support craft such as Discblade freighters was another option. At any rate, the Makashi-class rarely operated alone.

One drawback of the Makashi-class was the tight quarters. Unlike the relatively roomy Niman-class, so much capability had to be packed into each frigate that little space remained for crew quarters or other amenities. Even the corridors and accessways were narrow; the only ship that was more cramped was the older Ataru-class gunship. The frigates could only operate for three months at a time, half the length of the Niman. While the Yanibar Guard Fleet admiralty praised the Makashi for its effectiveness and versatility, average crewers were known to complain about the quarters and furnishings on the frigates.

The weaponry on the Makashi-class was not particularly well-suited to engaging larger ships. The turbolasers and laser cannons were designed to fire rapidly and with long effective ranges, utilizing the increased accuracy of the extensive sensor arrays. Thus, they could quickly decimate attacking starfighter, gunship, or small freighter groups, but the only angle in which the Makashi could hope to make an effective assault on a warship of equal or larger size was head-on.

History
The first Makashi-class frigate was commissioned in 3 BBY. The ships were given priority in their construction and more were swiftly added to the Yanibar Guard after their initial evaluations. Shakedown cruises took longer than anticipated due to glitches in the software and targeting arrays, so the first frigate only became operational in 2 BBY. The frigates were slow to replace the Ataru-class gunships on patrols, though, because the Ataru-class was harder to detect and because the Makashi-class frigates were needed for fleet escort duty.

Two Makashi-class gunships, the Djinn Altis and the Jurokk, were present and helped the Niman-class cruiser-carrier Quinlan Vos defeat an Imperial Victory-class Star Destroyer over Drexel in 4 ABY. By this time, there were eight frigates operational. Six of them participated in the Battle of Yanibar against the Zann Consortium and none of them were lost due to their sturdy construction. However, five of them were so damaged as to barely be spaceworthy, requiring extensive repairs in the shipyards afterward.

A year later, a Makashi-class frigate was stationed over R'alla while Supreme Commander Kraen and his family vacationed on the world, in case of emergency. Its landing capabilities were used to help rescue a group of Wroonians who had been imprisoned in a secret Imperial prison destroyed by the Kraens.

The Makashi-class ships continued in the service of the Yanibar Guard for years after their commissioning, serving admirably in the ranks of the fleet.

Appearances

 * Force Exile IV: Guardian
 * ''Deception on R'alla