Form1
Moderator: D6 Discussion
Registered: Mar 2000
Posts: 553
|
STATS: X-12 Space Probe
In the early days of the Galactic Republic, exploration was common, and the rewards were great. Prospectors could jump into a system, do only basic scans, and claim it, without knowing about the contents of said system. The economy prospered - for a while, until widespread corruption devoured the heart of the Republic like a cruel cancer - and the prospectors made quick cash. As can be expected, quite a few corporations profited from the prospectors.
One, in particular, was an obscure system just on the edge of Hutt Space, from a virtually unknown system. This development was the X-12 space probe, designed to require no on-site human intervention. It would be the result of a comprehensive endeavour to make space exploration as quick and easy as the collective scientific talent of the Republic could make it. Speeches were given regarding it's design at scientific conventions, it's blueprints were widely distributed, and leading researchers were allowed to tour the R&D facilities.
Unfortunately, none of the technical information was even remotely understandable by the Republic community. It wasn't so much a matter of it being overly advanced or otherwise noteworthy so much as they were gibberish. When pressed on the matter, representatives for the corporation only in oblique, cryptic statement about how the scientist were harnessing "electron soup" and the "low tide in hyperspace," and couldn't be bothered to pursue this further.
Now, the scientific community forgot the incident fairly quick - scientists, as a rule, have short memories, and quite a few better things to do than concern themselves with bizarre aliens and instipid blueprints.
Even without the help of the Republic scientists, these odd aliens still managed to produce a working model and get it on the market. It floundered, mostly due to strange design quirks and a sever shortage of marketing for their products, so only a limited amount of them were ever produced. Still, a few sit alone, abandoned, in warehouses and a few other, bizarre spots all over the galaxy, waiting to go forth once more to the stars...
Craft: Azl'ki Unlimited Enterprising Systems X-12 Space Probe
Type: Exploration Probe
Scale: Character
Height: 10 meters
Width: 4 meters
Passengers: 1
Cargo Capacity: .5 metric tons
Consumables: 2 years
Cost: 12,500 cr to build
Hyperdrive Multiplier: x1.5
Hyperdrive Back-Up: N/A
Nav Computer: Yes
Maneuverability: 0D
Space: 7
Hull: 5D
Shields: N/A
Sensors:
Passive: 310/3D
Scan: 620/3D+2
Search: 1075/4D+1
Focus: N/A
Special Notes:
Passenger Cage: There is a large, cage-like series of metal connecting beams at the bottom of the probe. Strangely, this can, through an unknown method, contain a single passenger with atmosphere for an extended period of time. One of the beams contain a tube that extrudes a sort of foodlike substance that can, altough it is quite unappetizing, sustain most lifeforms for said period. The intended purpose of this device is unknown, since there is no controls of any kind on the insides of this device and the cargo capacity is nearly nonexistant.
Programming and Launch: Unlike virtually all self-contained probes, this probe is self-launched from the ground. This made most major exploration corporations wary, as most probes were launched from ships - it was cheaper and more efficient to do it that way, and there was no real reason for them to change.
Programming the unit is done via a large keypad and display on top, which works in easily readable if somewhat archaic Basic. The logic behind the probe, however, is bizarre, and requires a Difficult Knowledge Roll in addition to a Moderate Computer Programming/Repair roll to operate sucessfully. Misprogramming can result in a variety of errors, such as an incorrect destination, incorrect scans, and so forth.
There is no computer linkages of any type, unlike what one would expect. When the probe returns from it's mission, the results are simply displayed on the screen.
Dave
__________________
a little bit of shadow whisper... for those who got it.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|