Space Fighter

Space fighters are small, maneuverable ships. The generally have a crew of one, if using compressor cannons, or two, a gunner and a pilot, if using spell-lock cannons. These small craft often lack long distance travel capabilities, focusing instead on maneuverability to sweep in close to large ships, inside their shields where they can strike at critical systems. As such, they are usually based out of larger vessels that can get them to the battlefield.
  Due to their small size, gunners on capital ships are generally unable to hit fighters at close range (although focused barrages have a chance of connecting with any fighter within the field of fire). The standard defense against a fighter attack is to deploy a defensive fighter squadron to repel the interlopers.