Impressive. Is an "onodata" a gunboat, or some other type of combat craft?

A two-man all-purpose combat craft. It can go atmospheric but is primarily a space fighter/gunship, armed with both fixed and turreted energy weapons.

Ah, interesting. I hope it fairs better than the German heavy fighters did in the Second World War.

It is an already well-established system. Fehnniks are very slow/careful in innovation, as well as being very tradition bound, so only the most time-tested tech would be in wide use. This is not to say that they would not be flexible against a new threat, especially as they tend to be a bit xenophobic and VERY concerned about anything that has even a hint of existential threat (and the new bad guys are very much that)

Heh, fiction is full of stories where the "creative hyperadvancement of Man conquers the universe," when history and evolution show time and time again that slow and steady, proven methods work best. Rome outlasted Alexander's Greek Empire, there are plenty of Ford Model T's still on the road, revolvers and bolt-action rifles remain in use, and cockroaches and sharks remain largely unchanged even after hundreds of millions of years. And even long after the Stone Age, rocks still kill people.

I must applaud your fictional story skills in regards to science fiction. I'd rather read a "rock-hard-ish" science setting story that is well written and makes sense, especially in regards to the behavior of the living and their societies, than cinematic eye candy that falls apart when you try to explain it. Keep up the good work.

There is a bit more fantasy tech in the scenario than I'd normally do, but as it isn't my story, I'll try to play with respect with Elin's established stuff.

Cool design.

Yes I suspect Nuclear plasma Beam or Mazer weapon? also something equivalent to Starwars concussion missiles possible Defence shield... though reading Steve's stories they are never used for combat

Is that all one ship, with the foreground hull as some kind of pontoon?

Two ships. The basic layout of the type is a pod forward fuselage and a long thin tail boom and four "wings" the thrust vanes. Think dragon fly, hence the onodata name.

Oh wow. Dragonflies. Why didn't I see it sooner?

To be fair, and accurate, dragon flies don't fold their wings. On the other hand, were I to do it in color, most would be vividly irridecent blue and green with contrasting and/or gold details.

That reads like it'll be fantastic. If I recall correctly there was a group who did research clear until the late 1970s trying to create a mechanical dragonfly.

That would be why the design reminds me of an ornathopter-type craft from Dune. I have the original issues of TotF but I don't think there was an accurate visual representation of one of these. I remember the name quite distinctly though.

The name refers to the actual spacecraft, the ships in the previous story are just trainers.