ROGUE

Introduction
Starter aero. The ROGUE specializes in nothing short of offering a low-risk playstyle to those who seek it. A versatile fighter aircraft, and the mascot / box-art face of the franchise, the ROGUE's recognizability is unrivaled.

In-game description
Pride of the Aeroforce

''An adept and competent fighter, this was the first aero produced by Binary Technologies, one of the two rivals resulting from the collapse of Taylor Industries. A formidable medium fighter in the right hands, with several advantages became a proud achievement of the aeroforce.''

Usage
As the very first aircraft used by the player, it should come as no surprise that the ROGUE may lose its novelty as other Aeros become available. While its balanced payload/avionics load offers some degree of freedom, it also cannot run more specialized weapon sets without heavy sacrifice.

In spite of this, the ROGUE still retains its use even late into the game as a cheap medium fighter; with high maneuverability and decent armor, it is a capable dogfighter and ground attacker. One thing to note is its small size––both a help when flown as the player and a hindrance when flown by bots––which makes its tough airframe hard to hit in a fight at any range.

Overall, adaptability is the name of the game with the ROGUE, and it can fulfill any job depending on the setup.

Standard Variant
The ROGUE may appear as an enemy starting on day 5 onwards. It comes equipped with standard micromissiles and flies in a standard dogfighting pattern, deliberately leaving itself open to counterattack after many strikes. Simple to dispatch.

Vet-Variant
This enemy now comes with the ever-scary Diamondback missiles, and increased evasive abilities and aggression. If allowed to lock on to your tail, it can fire a devastating pair of missiles that are nigh-impossible for many planes to avoid without flares, but is harmless when approached head-on.

Ace-Variant
Upgraded to the Rogue Mk2 and now carrying two weapons, the ROGUE-Ace now combines its newfound power with extreme dogfighting savviness. Alternating between a Flail missile and standard Vulkan at close quarters, the ROGUE-Ace still only appears quite rarely during the final days, often as a re-enforcement. It can engage in a head-on pass and has extra range thanks to the Flail, though the submunitions are not as accurate as the Diamondback––and thus, somewhat less of a threat.