Editing Tau Merchant Escort

[[Tau]] Merchant Escorts like most ships in the Merchan Fleet, focuses more on broadside and split arc weapon weapons rather than frontal-hull weapons of the Protector Fleets. Because they are generally armed civilian vessels, Merchant Escorts don't get all that sweet warfare buffs, but they offset this by being cheaper and easier to swarm.

==Destroyer==
===Basic===
====Kass'l====
[[File:14438214_f1024.jpg|300px|right|thumb|[[Star Wars|These are ''NOT'' the Orca Dropships you're looking for.]]]]
The Kass'l-class Gunship or the Orca-class Destroyer ([[Derp|Not to be confused with the ''other'']] [[Orca]]) is a much more nimble vessel compared to the Kor'Vattra's other mainline escort, the Kir'qath. Equipped with both Railgun Batteries and Ion Cannons, its only pitfall is that it [[Derp|lacks its own Gravitic Drive,]] the Tau being unable to manufacture them on such a compact scale. Instead, they are transported via the Gravitic Hooks of larger vessels.

The Orca represents the mixed lance/macro weaponry option for the Tau Merchant fleet's Destroyers. Weak on the damage numbers and so-so as far as crits go, but overall considering the price its not that bad of a value. Even though you really need both weapons firing to do worthwhile damage, the fact that the Railguns can fire out to 13,500 before modifiers is a nice touch, especially if you choose to pick the fleet upgrade that extends lances ranges by 4,500. Could be fun to field a swarm of little snipers using the Orcas.

It is armed with 2 Light Ion Cannon Artillery and 2 Double-Barrel Light Railgun Turret.

*'''Length:''' 1.3km

===Ordnance-boat===
====Skether'qan====
[[File:14438219_f1024.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Meet the worst damage dealer of the game.]]
The Skether'qan-class Starship or the Messenger-class Destroyer is not a true fighting vessel in its own right, possessing only a single small Railgun battery. Instead, it stays near larger ships and uses its excellent manoeuvrability to stay out of danger as it uses its sophisticated Tracking System to aid other vessels in a fleet in targeting enemy ships.

Unfortunately, it has one if not, [[Fail|'''''THE WORSE''''']] crit numbers out of any ship, let alone an 'ordnance-boat' with its absolutely abysmal damage. Its only saving grace lies within the Targeting Systems special ability, which increases the accuracy of Defense Turrets by 5% for the Messenger and all other allied ships within a 4,500 unit range. A few Messenger Destroyers can help supplement a Merchant fleet from facing possible Carrier focused players, possibly quite useful considering their use in multiplayer.

It is armed with 4 Light Railgun Turret.

*'''Length:''' 1.5km

==Frigates==
===Basic===
====Kir'qath====
[[File:DefenderFrigate.jpg|300px|right|thumb|A decent all-rounder.]]
The Kir'qath-class Starship or the Defender-class Frigate is an Escort vessel, and for a time was the only true Escort in the Kor'Vattra. 

The Kir'qath is unusual for an Escort in that it is quite slow and not as manoeuvrable as the Imperial Sword-class Frigate that inspired it. It possesses greater firepower than a Sword, however, is equipped with both a multi-arc Railgun battery and a respectable Torpedo salvo.

In terms of the games, however, the Defender is an equivalent to the Castellan-class Protector Frigate instead, but drops the extended range of that ships macros to drop the cost while actually upping its damage and cpm numbers slightly.

Thanks to the homing ability of the Tau Seeker Missiles, having torpedo tubes on an escort is even more viable for them as a faction, since it allows them to launch salvos from longer distances which in turn makes it easier to combine strikes from multiple craft along with interceptor squadrons for coverage. You still need to be careful for highly manoeuvrable or just crafty players as they can still be dodged.

It is armed with 2 Missile Launchers, 1 Double-Barrel Railgun Turret and 2 Double-Barrel Light Railgun Artillery.

*'''Length:''' 2km

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