Starfighter

Starfighters were spaceworthy ships that made up the primary force of the Confederacy. They were the most common means of doing battle in space, and were popular with both Military and Pirates alike.

Early Use
After the invention of the Quantum Thrust Engine, Spacecraft were able to exit the Earth's atmosphere easily and maneuver through space at higher speeds than ever before. This allowed for the rapid exodus from Earth and the formation of the Eight Colonies. It was then that the humans discovered the Mechamon, floating through space. Using their remains, scientists were able to make vast improvements on the Quantum Trust Engine, which made it available to all. Space became populated with ships and the need for Space Routes became apparent.

Conflict
As mankind's troubles followed them into space, the need for a fighting vessel was created. Creating small, specialized attack ships became an affordable and easy option for most militaries. Many Starfighters were created in the image of the Mechamon themselves, some of them direct, albeit smaller and less protected, copies of the original. The companies that produced Starfighters were not part of the government, and often sold their creations to private buyers as well as the military. Space Routes became increasingly dangerous due the increase of private militias and banditry. The Confederacy was inadequate at dealing with the bandits, and their reputation suffered for it.

Aliens and Mechamon Attack
After an unknown period of dormancy, the Mechamon suddenly awoke, and began to indiscriminately attack any ship in their path. The awakening of Mechamon also brought the wrath of a strange alien species that was unknown to the humans. The Confederacy and others saw that their Starfighters were minimally effective against their new opponents, leading to a complete breakdown of the Confederacy and rise of the Volk Empire.

Disuse
Once the Empire harnessed the power of the Mechamon, the Confederacy Starfighter fleet was grossly outmatched and promptly destroyed. At that point, they had become obsolete as a fighting force and all captured Starfighters were scrapped for materials. They remained popular with pirates and other mercenaries, but their numbers were reduced thanks to the policing of the Empire

Lactea Conflict
During the major war between the Free Colony League and the Empire, the understaffed FCL often relied on former Starfighter pilots to fill in as Mechamon Pilots. Most of them found the transition to be easy and the most skilled quickly became ace pilots.