Engine Kill

Maneuver employed - more commonly by combat pilots - to preserve a ship's inertia while varying it's attitude. The maneuver is particularly useful in preserving an overall high speed, specially out of cruise or afterburn and it can be applied both defensively and/or offensively.

In combat engagements the maneuver is commonly applied to allow some non-conventional maneuvers in an attempt to gain an extra edge over the other pilot/ship or to try and level an unleveled engagement, as in those between different classed ships or ships with unmatched maneuvering capabilities.

This tactic is particularly deadly when applied from ships of greater class. It tends to reduce the maneuverability offset and turn the scales back to the ship with more firepower capability, so much that a counter to it has been devised using Cruise Disruptors.

The tactic may be also dangerous to the ship applying it. Once the engines are turned off the natural tendency is for the ship to travel in a straight line, making it an easy target. Experienced pilots try to reduce that effect applying this technique in conjunction with others, specially afterburning.

As the weapon systems are shut down when cruise engines are engaged, Engine Killing may be used in a pursuit situation, by either the pursuer or the pursued ship, so it may fire weapons while maintaining the same speed. This is more commonly employed by the pursuer, but it's also known to be cleverly employed by the pursued.