"The bane above." -Official motto of the Varcolac.

Lore

Overview

The D-41E Varcolac is a Lykanian 4.5th-generation multirole fighter aircraft, developed exclusively for the Lykanian Anti–Dark Aether (ADA) Task Force under the Lykanian Kingdom Air Force (LKAF). Classified as an Exterminator aircraft, the Varcolac was designed from the ground up to engage and eradicate Dark Aether Anomalies (DAA) — entities that conventional airpower often proves ineffective against. Although capable of carrying standard munitions and integrating seamlessly with regular LKAF strike groups, the Varcolac truly excels in counter-Anomaly operations, particularly in aerial interdiction and neutralization. Its primary armament, the Burst Missile Launcher (BML), allows it to simultaneously lock onto and engage multiple targets, unleashing a swarm of precision micro-missiles designed to destabilize and disperse Anomaly energy signatures midair. The Varcolac marked a turning point in Lykania’s aerial warfare doctrine, becoming the first purpose-built Exterminator aircraft in active service. Earlier fighters such as the Keraunos and Anubis were later redesignated as Exterminator-class platforms following retrofitting and tactical reclassification, but the Varcolac remains the benchmark model—the craft that defined the class itself.

Background and Development

The Varcolac was conceived under the LKAF ADA’s Project Exorcist, a specialized initiative launched in response to a sharp increase in Anomalous activity across Lykanian airspace. Conventional fighters such as the D-19F Morrigan and the more advanced Taranis were repeatedly diverted from their primary roles, rearmed, and refitted for anti-Anomaly operations—an approach that proved both inefficient and costly. In 1997, the ADA formally requested the development of a dedicated Exterminator aircraft—a fighter designed from inception to combat Anomalies directly. Freed from typical design constraints like stealth shaping and supermaneuverability (as seen in Project Nightfall’s Nyx II and Project Pharaoh’s Osiris II), design proposals progressed swiftly. The winning concept came from Drakon Dynamics, whose Werewolf prototype—a 4th to 4.5th-generation fighter centered around a burst missile delivery platform—promised rapid engagement and neutralization of aerial Anomaly swarms. By 1999, the first D-41 prototype, now officially named Varcolac, achieved its maiden flight. However, in March 2000, the fifth prototype suffered a catastrophic failure when its BML (Burst Missile Launcher) system malfunctioned mid-test, resulting in an explosion that killed the Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) and severely injured the pilot. The BML was subsequently redesigned and heavily reinforced, with major system redundancies added. It was finally deemed combat-ready by 2002. Over the next several years, Varcolac prototypes underwent extensive testing and refinement, culminating in the official induction of the D-41E Varcolac into active LKAF ADA service in October 2007.

Operational History

The D-41E Varcolac saw its first combat deployment during the Odessan Intrusion in August 2009. Varcolac units were dispatched in response to reports of a massive Verminid Anomaly swarm attacking villages and settlements along the slopes of Mount Tyros. Despite one aircraft sustaining damage after colliding with a Verminid mid-flight, no Varcolacs were lost during the operation. In mid-2010, Varcolacs were again deployed—this time in support of Norlandian forces during the Vansire Intrusion. Their primary objective was to engage a colossal Antlergeist Anomaly. Although the final blow was delivered by a Norlandian armored unit, the Varcolacs proved vital as a diversionary force, drawing the creature’s attention and preventing catastrophic ground casualties. During the Cascadian Uprising in 2020, several Varcolac units were rearmed for conventional combat and placed on standby as a last-resort asset. Ultimately, few were called into action, as Lykanian Osiris II and Nyx II fighters secured air superiority over the Libertine Air Force with minimal losses.The Varcolac’s most recent major deployment occurred during the Cartago Intrusion in 2025. There, Varcolac squadrons engaged a vast Verminid swarm while ADA ground forces fought through waves of Cultists, Lacrids, and two towering Incinerants. Despite one Varcolac being destroyed after being struck midair by an Incinerant, the operation was deemed a success. By dawn, all Anomalies had been exterminated, marking another decisive victory for the ADA and reaffirming the Varcolac’s place as one of Lykania’s most dependable Exterminator aircraft.

Gameplay

Alright, then. Here she is: my knockoff CFA-44. I really wanted to build a weapon system similar to the ADMM from Ace Combat or the BML-U from Project Wingman, but I had no idea how I wanted to do it. In the end, I decided to build a knockoff version of the CFA-44, which would end up being the Varcolac. It isn't a 1:1 replica for two reasons. 1. I can't afford that much detail and precision lol and 2. It isn't meant to be a copy-paste of the CFA-44 from the AC universe into mine, so I gave it a few touches here and there to make them appear a little different. The missile system was a pain to get right as well. I wanted to make it pop up, just like in AC, but I couldn't get it to work. I just left them inside the little bay they pop up from. Welp, that's pretty much it. Ag.1 will give you nav lights while Ag.2 will give you formation lights. Ag.7 will open the top and bottom missile bays. The missiles can be spammed, but SP doesn't have multi-lock, unfortunately. If you can switch targets fast enough, you could probably simulate a BML burst lol. Other than that, I gave it some machine guns and my LIMR-7 Sentinel missiles. Alright, that should cover everything. Enjoy.