My thanks to Roger Sanger, the copyright holder, for granting me permission to host this article on my web site.  To quote him, "I was looking for a new home for DGP's 2300 AD articles, and naturally I picked the best fan sites on the Web for that purpose.  Kudos to Pentapod's World!  Enjoy!" - Kevin Clark - January 24th, 2000.

PART 1

Excerpted from Pentapod Vererbungslehre ( published by the Astronomischen Rechen-Institut Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany) -- by Herr Professor Berhardt Gerber.  English Translation by William W. Connors
 

AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION

It is difficult to write with authority about the early evolution of the Pentapod race for a number of reasons.  Perhaps most important is the shroud of mystery which the Pentapods themselves have drawn about the subject.  Try as we might, we find little information without their help, and they seem reluctant to provide it.

Of nearly equal importance is the fact that there can be no common frame of reference between human beings and our Pentapod neighbors.  Their physiology and psychology are so unusual and exotic that we have a most difficult time in understanding even the most basic aspect of their culture.

What follows is, at best, conjecture.  It is quite possible our assumptions are as far off the mark as the early concepts of spontaneous generation were.  Nonetheless, here is our best estimate of the forces which have shaped the evolution of Pentapod technology and culture.
 

CONTRASTS

Because the Pentapod race has developed a technology which is based on organics instead of electromechanical systems like our own, the solutions which they have attained to various engineering problems have, of course, been different from those discovered by human technicians.  This being the case, it is often difficult for humans to understand the functioning of their various devices.  Nowhere, however, is the contrast between human and Pentapod technology more pronounced than in their starships.

In order to begin any study of Pentapod spacecraft, it is vital that the reader understand one point: Pentapod starships are fully self-aware living beings who have been genetically engineered to be able to travel between the stars.
 

EARLIEST EVOLUTION

Many theories have been put forth to describe the ancestors of modern day Pentapods.  Some of them may be correct, all of them may be wrong, we simply do not know.  What follows is my own personal opinion, which is shared by some xenobiologists and not by others.

It is certain that the Pentapod race was aquatic originally.  They make no effort to conceal this and their enclave on Beta Canum Venaticorum clearly displays this facet of their evolution.

At what point in their history they began to modify themselves with basic genetic engineering is unknown.  Certainly, they stumbled upon simple selective breeding far earlier than mankind did and began a program of eugenics which eventually made them what they are today.  Somewhere along the way, however, they seem to have lost their individual identities and came to look upon themselves as parts of the massive biological machine that is the Pentapod race.  Some have made a loose analogy to Earth hive insects or to the unusual icemice of Hermes.
 

SURFACE EXPLORATION

Eventually, as the Pentapods became more and more able to understand and modify their own ( and other) genetic structures, they became interested in the possibility of life outside of their native oceans.  They manufactured the first of their commonly known amphibious forms and ventured out of the seas.

On land they found a great assortment of living creatures the likes of which must have been undreamt of by their aquatic ancestors.  As they have always done, they looked at these animals in much the same way a human being might examine a large cache of spare parts.  Almost certainly, their first thoughts were something akin to "what can we make out of these?".

As they continued their conquest of the surface world, certainly creating versions of themselves that were wholly non-aquatic in nature, they began to examine the possibility of exploiting another frontier -- the sky.
 

ATMOSPHERIC EXPLORATION

Exchanges with Pentapods on Beta Canum have revealed that their homeworld has very few flying life forms which use wings for lift.  Far more common are creatures which hold themselves aloft by natural balloons filled with helium.  While early would-be flyers on Earth found themselves trying to master the often tricky science of aerodynamics, the Pentapods found themselves with life forms which served as excellent models ( and subjects) for aviation experiments.

Gradually, a new breed of Pentapod must have emerged.  Perhaps somewhat similar to its amphibious cousins, it was able to ride the winds of the Pentapod homeworld and study a realm unlike any which the race had ever explored before.  As the decades passed, they certainly became better and better fliers.  Higher and higher the realm of the Pentapods spread until they found themselves hitting a wall which must have seemed impassible to them.  Their wonderful balloon-Pentapods could never pass beyond the upper atmosphere to explore the hard vacuum of space.
 

EARLY PENTAPOD SPACECRAFT

Evidence supports the belief that the unyielding vacuum of space halted Pentapod expansion for some time.  Meanwhile, however, their mastery of the genetic sciences must certainly have grown by leaps and bounds.  Eventually, the Pentapods have told us, they made use of a propulsion system which existed in certain plants on the surface of their world to break through the boundary of space.

That means of propulsion, it seems certain, was solid fuel rocketry.  Although the exact nature of the plants which employed it is unclear, it seems likely that they resembled the Bunyip's hat which is currently playing a major role in the passive terraforming of Kingsland in the Zeta Herculis system.

Once again, a new breed of Pentapod must have emerged from the genetic "factories".  Possessed of a very hard outer shell and rigid internal bracing, these new explorers sailed aloft on a plume of fire not unlike our earliest space missions of the 1950s and 60s.

The evolution of these travelers certainly brought to the Pentapods an understanding of aerodynamics the likes of which they had never had before.  Eventually, they grew Pentapods with propulsion systems similar to liquid fueled rockets.  The latest evolution of these systems is still employed as thrusters on Pentapod starships and spacecraft today.
 

PENTAPOD EXPANSION INTO SPACE

The next step for the Pentapods seems to have been the establishment of long-period missions to the other worlds of their solar system.  Like early Earth explorations of a similar nature, they made use of low-energy orbits which, although fuel efficient, took decades to run their course.  Again, a new breed of Pentapod explorer was required, planned, and "constructed".

These creatures were far larger than their earlier ancestors and, like modern Pentapod spacecraft, must have sustained themselves by setting up a thermal exchanging process between their light and dark portions to generate electricity.  Such systems are not uncommon among other known life forms, such as the sea stalks of Hermes or the spitzenvogel of Neubayern.

Also at this time, the Pentapods must have established at least one orbital facility above their homeworld to support future space efforts.  If it followed the designs which they have employed elsewhere, the creature must have been a massive being which was self-aware.  Pentapod spacecraft which sought entrance to the station would pull up to it slowly and ease themselves into contact with the outer surface.  As in many spacecraft and stations currently in use by the Pentapods, this outer layer was pliable and slowly expanded to engulf the visitor.  The entire process may have taken as long as an hour to complete after first contact with the hull.
 

STAGNATION

Once again, the Pentapods encountered a barrier which put a stop to their expansion.  This time, however, it was not the almost tangible gradient between air and space, but rather the vast distances between stars.  Certainly the Pentapods could have "built" versions of themselves which were long-lived enough to make such travels at slower-than-light speeds, but the cost effectiveness of such a project was certainly in doubt.

The Pentapods seemed to have reached the end of the line, as far as space travel was concerned.  Unlike mankind, which exploited the mineralogical wealth of the other worlds in our system, the Pentapods saw their neighbors as fairly worthless.  Without the genetic stock of other life forms to exploit, the race began to lose interest in space.  Gradually, they seem to have wound down their missions to other worlds in their solar system.  As each of the long-term expeditions returned with a cargo of sterile samples and similar disappointing news, the Pentapod interest in space grew dimmer and dimmer.
 

RENAISSANCE

Shortly before the imminent final collapse of their space program, we are told, a very unusual scientific experiment paid off.  Certain aspects of the Pentapod "scientific community" ( a poor analogy, but the only one which I can find that fits at all) had been conducting research into a new type of technology which was based on mechanisms rather than organisms.

For several centuries, this endeavor had plodded along slowly.  Results were produced which justified its continuation, but truly useful breakthroughs were rare, leading the Pentapods to believe that there was certainly nothing that could be done with mechanical science that genetic engineering could not equal or exceed.  Ironically, many human scientists had expressed exactly the opposite view right up until contact with these unusual thinkers was established in the mid-23rd century.  Currently, it seems clear that both are perfectly acceptable routes to the solving of most technological problems.

By combining certain aspects of these generally ignored mechanical technologies with the far more accepted biological ones, Pentapod scientists seem to have stumbled across the basic elements of the stutterwarp drive.  Although we can not be certain, it seems clear that the discovery was a product of serendipity rather than design.  The exact natures of their researches at that time are unknown and will probably remain so until such time as the Pentapods deem it wise to inform us of them.

With their new stutterwarp drive units, which the Pentapods call a "mechanical displacement organ", they saw the stars open up to them.
 

EXPANSION

The first Pentapod explorations of neighboring star systems, like those of mankind, must certainly have brought delight to the race.  New life forms, the building blocks of future Pentapod researches, seemed to be abundant amid the stars.  With each new garden world that they came across, the Pentapods found greater and greater resources for their exploitation.

One by one, they traveled to new realms and established first outposts and later full-fledged colonies under alien suns.  It seems, based on my own research and that of the IEX's Dr.  Jacqueline Bohranian, that they gave only passing thought to the possibility of other sentient life forms evolving among the stars.  For some reason which I can not explain, they seemed to believe that their culture and existence were unique among the suns of the galaxy.

One can imagine, then, that their surprise in the spring of 2251 was far greater than that of the humans which they encountered.
 

FIRST CONTACT

In 2251, the Astronomischen Rechen-Institut's Hamid-class survey vessel Adler and Rayon de Lune ( her counterpart from the Institut des Etudes Exobiologiques) entered the DM+27 28217 system on a routine exploration mission.  They expected no surprises from this common red star, and the crews of both vessels were expecting a rather mundane and uneventful period.

Instead, they found an unusual, seemingly organic object in orbit around one of the worlds.  As they closed on it, the xenobiologists aboard Adler and Rayon de Lune agreed that this was some form of living spacecraft.  A small craft was sent over bearing representatives of both vessels ( and hence, both foundations and governments) and were taken aboard the alien craft.

Over the next few weeks, an amiable relationship was attained and both races left in peace with the knowledge that they had encountered a unique and very mysterious alien culture.

An excerpt from the Personal Log of Doctor Wolfgang Noel, senior xenobiologist aboard the AR-I survey vessel Adler, dated April 17, 2251:

Our studies of the object continue, but there seems to be little more we can learn about it from this distance.  I have asked the Captain to begin closing on it once again and he has agreed.  We are to wait five more hours and, if the situation remains stable, Adler will move to within two kilometers of the unknown while Rayon de Lune remains in her current position, ready to flee the area if conditions should warrant.

Our sensors have determined that it is not only living but seemingly of a high magnitude of intelligence.  There is speculation among the science crews that what we have encountered is not a spacecraft at all, but an actual sentient alien race.

If this is indeed the case, I fear we may have many text books to rewrite when ( and if) Adler and Rayon return to report our findings.
 

BETA CANUM VENATICORUM

The Pentapods maintain an enclave on this Earth-like world to allow them better contact and relations with the various nations of Earth.  For those interested in observing Pentapod starships in action, there is no better place ( in human space) to observe these great travelers.

Although the craft which visit Beta Canum must pass through other human systems before reaching the frontier of Pentapod space at DM+27 28217, they often pause long enough only to discharge the gravimetric build-up from their stutterwarp units before swinging around the star for recharging, and then quickly resuming their voyages.  As can be imagined, these are far from ideal viewing conditions.

Those vessels which arrive at Beta Canum often stand in orbit for extended periods of time, and curious humans may approach them aboard travel pods operated for the convenience of tourists by the local port authority.  From time to time, an individual craft may be available for examination through the Pentapod Enclave itself.

PART 2

Herr Professor Gerber has laid the groundwork for the basic evolution and background of Pentapod starship technology; part two features a more specific description of the working details of such craft.

The various aspects of this discussion will be presented in conjunction with a supplemental chapter for the Star Cruiser Naval Architect's Manual which details exactly how 2300 referees can design and construct unique Pentapod starships for their own campaigns.
 

AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION

Of all the races which mankind has encountered during its drive to the stars none has proved to be more mysterious and fascinating than the Pentapods.  The fact that they have been able to attain a level of technology which is almost equal to that of human beings but which is based wholly on the genetic manipulation of existing life forms has amazed terran scientists for decades.

In this text, we shall examine the often fascinating manner in which the Pentapods have overcome the hazards, problems, and puzzles of space travel without ever having invented such basic building blocks of terran science as the wheel.

As in the basic rules for terran starship construction, we will use cubic meters ( m3) to measure volumes, square meters ( m2) for definition of surface area, tons for 2the calculation of mass, and Livres ( Lv) or Mega-Livres ( MLv) for explanations of cost.  Where required, exact descriptions of other units will be given in the body of the manual.
 

1.  CONCEPTUALIZATION

Pentapod starships fall into the same basic categories as those built by human beings.  The most important thing to keep in mind while designing Pentapod starships is that they are just that.  They are fully aware, living beings whose ancestry can be traced back to the early explorers that traveled onto the land masses of the Pentapod homeworld thousands of years ago.  Just as these unusual aliens have altered themselves to adapt to various environments on various worlds, so too have they changed themselves to allow travel between the stars.  This is often a very difficult concept for those not familiar with the Pentapods to grasp.

SHIP CLASSIFICATIONS: Despite the unique nature of Pentapod starships, they fall into the same basic groupings as terran vessels: large ships, small ships, and remote objects.  Unlike large and small ships, which are self-aware living creatures, remotes are generally simple animals which are controlled by natural ( that is, organic) radio, maser, or laser exchanges with the mother craft.  They have been described, by more than one observer, as pets or seeing-eye dogs.
 

2.  POWER PLANT

Unlike terran spacecraft, which generate power on a continuous basis, Pentapod ships have a power reserve which provides them with energy for a limited period of time.  When they enter a solar system, they recharge by setting up an electrical current flow between their lighted ( hot) side and dark ( cold) side.

The specifications for a craft's power cells are listed as an output rating ( in megawatts) and a duration ( in days).  For example, a 5/10 power cell would provide 5 megawatts of power for 10 days.  A cell which is run at half power will last twice as long and so forth.

The volume which is taken up by the power cell is equal ( in cubic meters) to the square root of the total of the output ( in megawatts) squared plus the duration ( in days) squared.  The mass of a power cell is equal to its volume, and its cost ( in MLv ) is equal to 1/10 of the volume.  To illustrate, the 5/10 power cell given above would require a volume of 11.18 m3, mass 11.18 tons, and cost 1.18 MLv.

A Pentapod craft which is out of power is dead and ceases to function.
 

3.  FUEL

For the most part, Pentapod ships do not use fuel as terran ones do.  In some cases, they are equipped with organic liquid fuel rockets which can be used to make course changes or effect landings on various worlds.  These are covered in sections 4 and 14.
 

4.  THRUSTERS

Like terran ships, which use compressed gas thrusters to make fine adjustments to course, all Pentapod ships have a basic ability to re-orient themselves in space.  This is accomplished by the release of internally stored gases from various orifices on the outside of the starship's hull.

In cases where a craft is meant to touch down on the surface of a world and then lift off again, special organs which resemble liquid fuel rockets must be added to the genetic make-up of the vessel.  As a rule, these add 25% to the volume, mass and cost of the ship's power cell.

The amount of fuel which will be required for each landing and lift-off combination is determined in section 14.  It should be noted that, in most cases, a craft must be streamlined in order to land.
 

5.  DRIVE

Pentapod starships use a form of stutterwarp drive unlike that found anywhere in human space.  Although it is primarily organic in construction, portions of it are crafted from electromechanical technologies similar to those employed on human ships.

Pentapod stutterwarps are not as advanced or effective as those used on terran ships and designers will want to keep this in mind.  When selecting a main drive for a starship, the Stutterwarp Drive Table printed in the Naval Architect's Manual may be used as is, but only Old Commercial systems are available.
 

6.  NERVE CLUSTERS

Unlike terran craft which require large crews and dozens of work stations to function, a Pentapod starship is fully independent and self-aware.  Where human beings are called upon to govern every aspect of a starship's operation with the assistance of various computer systems, Pentapod craft have numerous nerve clusters which serve this function.  In essence, a nerve cluster is an independent brain which is capable of ruling a certain portion of the creature's body but not of creative thought.

The number of nerve clusters or crew members which a ship will carry is determined just as for terran ships.  Each nerve cluster has a mass of 5 tons and a volume of 5 m3.  The Pentapods do not have "computer" stations and are unable to employ redundant clusters as back-ups.

The "bridge" section is assumed to be the craft's primary brain and serves as a nexus for the control impulses of all the other nerve clusters.  It is capable of creative thought.  Pentapod starships have only one engineering cluster in the "bridge" section regardless of their power cell's output.

The engineering section will have 1 nerve cluster for every megawatt of power produced by the energy cells.  In combat situations, Pentapod craft are unable to employ damage control parties.

Only those stations which do not govern the actual operations of the vessel will call for the addition of crew members.  For example, a craft which carries stewards or troops will have crew members assigned to it, while all of the ship's bridge functions ( like navigation or communications) will be handled by a nerve cluster.

These rules apply for both large and small ships.
 

7.  ACCOMMODATIONS AND LIFE SUPPORT

Now that you know how many additional Pentapods will be carried aboard the craft, you must supply them with accommodations.  Any extra facilities added will be available for passengers at a later point.  This is determined exactly as it is for terran ships as are life support requirements.

It should be noted, however, that the Pentapods do not employ any form of simulated gravity in their spacecraft.
 

8.  SENSORS

Pentapod sensor technologies far exceed human levels in some fields and fall far short of them in others.  For example, their ability to "Construct" Gravitational scanners is almost nonexistent, but they are able to Create life sensors of unequaled accuracy.  Apply the following modifiers to the values given for terran starship construction when outfitting a Pentapod starship with sensors:

Type                    Modifiers

Navigation Radar:       No modifiers, all values are as listed.

Deep System Scanners:   2x volume, mass, cost, and area.

Gravitational Scanners: 3x volume, mass, cost, and area.

Cartographic Sensors:   No modifiers, all values are as listed.

Life Sensors:           0.5x volume, mass, cost, and area.

Active Sensors:         No modifiers, all values are as listed.

Passive Sensors:        No modifiers, all values are as listed.

9A.  WEAPONS

Many Pentapod starships do not mount weapons, being primarily commercial in nature, but there are exceptions.  Those that do have offensive capabilities generally rely primarily on organic lasers.  In some cases, Pentapod craft may be outfitted with launched weaponry, but these are almost always of terran construction and carried in organic versions of external slings.  All Pentapod weapons Systems are assumed to be in Masked Turrets.

The following table lists the most common varieties of Pentapod laser weapons:

Type                   Damage     Price     Vol/Mass

Defensive                x1     Lv100,000      1

Offensive/Defensive      x2     Lv150,000      2

Offensive                x3     Lv200,000      3



    ( all of them are Targeting: +0)

9B.  TARGETING

Just as Pentapod craft do not have "work stations" as such, they do not employ fire control systems in the way that terran designers think of them.  Rather, the brain which controls the ship is induced to grow a special nerve cluster which is adept at fire control functions.  Only one such cluster is required for the entire craft, though its mass will vary based on the number of weapons which it must support.  As a rule, the nerve cluster will have a volume and mass of 1 per weapon controlled and provide each weapon with a +1 for targeting.
 

10.  SCREENS

Pentapod craft employ screens which are similar in function to those used by human vessels save that their components are organic rather than electro-mechanical.  This makes them somewhat less effective than human-built screens.  Designers should make use of the Old Military Screens Table listed in Star Cruiser without alteration.
 

11.  HANGAR DECKS

Pentapod vessels do not employ hangar decks.  Rather, all of their auxiliary craft are carried in external mounts.
 

12.  HULL MASKING

Due to the unusual nature of power systems employed in Pentapod starships.  Hull Masking is not normally required as all of their craft radiate far less energy than similar terran vessels.
 

13.  HULL

Pentapod craft have two types of hulls: rigid and viscous.

Rigid hulls, which look like lengths of bamboo and are made of a superdense bonelike material, are used for craft which are intended to see combat or operate within planetary atmospheres.

Viscous hulls, which look like nothing more than teardrop-shaped blobs of slime, are far more common and are used on craft which need not enter atmospheres.

It is possible to construct rigid or viscous hulled starships in the same manner as normal ones, simply add the following data to the Hull Materials Table on page 15 of the Star Cruiser Naval Architect's Manual:

Hull               Signature       Lv      Tons       Armor

Material           Multiplier    per m3   per m3    Multiplier

Pentapod Rigid       0.7          1,500     6          x3

Pentapod Viscous     0.3          1,500     4          x5

14.  STREAMLINING AND THRUSTER FUEL

Only rigid hulls may be streamlined.  If the decision is made to do so, it is exactly as described in the Naval Architect's Manual.

Although Pentapod thrusters do not function in the same manner as terran ones, it is possible to treat them as similar in the design phase.  In actuality, Pentapod thrusters resemble regenerating liquid fuel rockets.  A highly volatile fluid is created by specialized glands and injected into a boney tube-shaped ignition chamber.  Once fuel is in the chamber, it is ignited by an electrical spark and an explosion is triggered to create thrust.

The fuel gland is equal in both mass and volume to the fuel tanks employed on terran ships as computed in Star Cruiser.  One important feature of the fuel glands used by Pentapod ships is that they can recharge themselves.  In general, a fuel gland can be ready to make its next descent / ascent combination in only 24 hours.

{ Fuel glands must have a source of the proper raw materials ( either carried aboard as cargo, or collected from the outside environment) in order to "recharge" themselves. -- KevinC }

15.  CARGO

Pentapod starships can ( and often do) have cargo storage facilities within them.  They are designed in a manner similar to that used for terran ships.
 

16.  PYLONS

Pentapod craft do not make use of pylons.
 

EVALUATION

1.  MASS
Total the mass of all components and carried vessels to find the normal average cruising mass of the ship.  As this may vary ( due to cargo, etc.) from trip to trip, it should be recalculated before each voyage.

2.  DRIVE EFFICIENCY
This is calculated in a manner similar to that used for terran vessels.

3.  FIRE STATISTICS
Record the data on the ship's weaponry as previously determined.

4.  COMFORT
Keeping in mind the fact that Pentapod craft do not employ simulated gravity, this can be determined in the same way that it would be aboard a terran ship.  It might also be noted that this is for passengers only, and that the ship itself always receives a 0 Comfort rating for combat purposes.  Further, human passengers will certainly find Pentapod vessels to be, at the very least, wholly disgusting to be aboard.

5.  EXPENSE
Add the cost of all components to find the cost of the ship itself.

6.  REFLECTED SIGNATURES
All Reflected Signatures are determined in the same way that they would be on a terran starship.

7.  RADIATED SIGNATURES
The unusual nature of Pentapod power systems makes their Radiated Signatures far less pronounced than those of human built craft.  Once the normal power usage is determined for the starship, multiply that number by 0.5 and then consult the table on page 11 of the Naval Architect's Manual to determine the radiated signature of the ship.

8.  HULL HIT VALUE
This is the same as for terran starships.  A hull which is reduced to 0 points indicates that the ship has been killed.

9.  POWER PLANT HIT CAPACITY
Divide the volume of the ship's power cell by 5.  This number, rounded up, is the total amount of damage which the system can sustain before the ship is killed.  The ship can sustain half of this amount ( rounded up) before being rendered inoperable.

10.  TARGET PROFILE
This is determined just as it is for human craft.

11.  FIRING ASPECT OF WEAPONS MOUNTS
Again, this is handled in the same way that it is in Star Cruiser.

12.  ARMOR VALUE
Simply record the value of any armor added to the hull during the design phase.
 

SAMPLE PENTAPOD VESSELS

{ I will create starship control sheets for these in the near future -- KevinC }

PENTAPOD SURVEY VESSEL

Original Date of Design: Unknown
Builder: Pentapods
First Example Laid Down: Unknown
First Example completed: Unknown
Streamlining: None
Sensor Package: Navigation Deep System Scan, Gravitational Scan, Advanced Cartographic, Advanced Life, Active, Passive
Nerve Clusters:
  Central: Pilot/Captain, Navigation, Communication, Engineering
  Tactical: Sensors, Remote, Flight Controller
  Engineering: 5
Work Stations and Crew:
  3 Stations;
  3 Crew: Steward, Medic, Security

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS:
Warp Efficiency: 2.29 ( 1.93 using laser and active sensor); Power Plant: 5 MW; Endurance: 30 days ( full power); Thruster Fuel: None; Range: 7.7 LY; Mass: 1,267 tons with typical load Passengers: 11 ( may include scientists); Cargo Capacity: 134 cubic meters; Comfort: 0 ( combat purposes only); Emergency Power: Not Applicable ( N/A); Total Life Support: 357 days; Equivalent Price: 15.361 MLv ( +1.96 ADJ) ( does not include lander or remote).

Movement: 5 ( 4 using laser and active sensors); Screens: 0; Radiated Signature: 3; Radial Reflected: 5 ( 6 if all optional sensors are used); Lateral Reflected: 6; Weapons: 1 Pentapod Defensive Laser in Masked Turret; Targeting Nerve Cluster: Yes; Radial Profile: -3; Lateral Profile: -1; Hull Type: Viscous; Armor: 0; Hull Hits: 5/2/1; Power Plant Hits: 8/4; Active Sensors: 7; Passive Sensors: 12; Ship's vehicles: Pentapod Multi-Purpose Lander, Pentapod Remote; Other Systems: None.

With its extensive life support, the Pentapod Survey vessel can remain in a system for a long period of time.  It also makes traveling away from established systems easier.  The ship's vehicles add versatility to the mission.  The multi-purpose lander will frequently carry some form of ground vehicle for explorations of a world's surface.

PENTAPOD ARMED MERCHANT

Original Date of Design: Unknown
Builder: Pentapods
First Example Laid Down: Unknown or N/A
First Example completed: Unknown or N/A
Streamlining: As Shuttle
Sensor Package: Navigation, Deep System Scan, Passive
Nerve Clusters:
  Central: Pilot/Captain, Navigation, Communication, Engineering
  Tactical: Sensors
  Engineering: 5
Work Stations and Crew:
  2 Stations;
  3 Crew: Cargomaster, Steward, Medic

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS:
Warp Efficiency: 3.15 ( 2.66 using laser) empty, 2.40 ( 2.02 using laser) with typical load; Power Plant: 5 MW; Endurance: 30 days ( full power); Thruster Fuel: 158 tons; Range: 7.7 LY; Mass: 484 tons empty, 1103 tons with typical load; Passengers: 7; Cargo Capacity: 619 cubic meters; Comfort: 0 ( combat purposes only); Emergency Power: N/A; Total Life Support: 40 days; Equivalent Price: 14.027 MLv ( + 2.44 ADJ).

Movement: 6 ( 5 using laser) unloaded, 5 ( 4 using laser) with typical load; Screens: 0; Radiated Signature: 3; Radial Reflected: 3; Lateral Reflected: 4; Weapons: 1 Pentapod Offensive/Defensive Laser in Masked Turret; Targeting Nerve Cluster: Yes; Radial Profile: -3; Lateral Profile: -2; Hull Type: Rigid; Armor: 0; Hull Hits: 3/2/1; Power Plant Hits: 8/4; Active sensors: None; Passive Sensors: 3; Ship's Vehicles: None; Other Systems: None.

This is a popular vessel with Pentapod merchants.  It has the merit of being able to get cargo and passengers to the surface without the problems of interface vessels.  It is similar to other merchants except that it carries a laser primarily for defense.  Although this added weight slows the ship down a little when it is unloaded, it does not affect its loaded characteristics.  Cargo capacity is also slightly lessened, but many cargomasters welcome the security.

PENTAPOD PASSENGER VESSEL

Original Date of Design: Unknown
Builder: Pentapods
First Example Laid Down: Unknown or N/A
First Example completed: Unknown or N/A
Streamlining: None
Sensor Package: Navigation, Deep System Scan, Gravitational Sensor, Passive
Nerve Clusters:
  Central: Pilot/Captain, Navigation, Commo, Engineering
  Tactical: Sensors, Flight Controller
  Engineering: 20
Work Stations and Crew:
  7 Stations:
  9 Crew: Stewards x 4, Medical x 2, Security x 3

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS:
Warp Efficiency: 4.93; Power Plant: 20 MW; Endurance: 20 days ( full power); Thruster Fuel: None; Range: 7.7 LY; Mass: 508 tons; Passengers: 41; Cargo Capacity: None; Comfort: 0 ( combat purposes only); Emergency Power: N/A; Total Life Support: 20 days; Equivalent Price: 11.48 MLv ( +0.83 ADJ).

Movement: 10; Sensors: 0; Radiated Signature: 4; Radial Reflected: 2 ( 3); Lateral Reflected: 4; Weapons: None; Targeting Nerve Cluster: N/A; Radial Profile: -2; Lateral Profile: -1; Hull Type: Viscous; Armor: 0; Hull Hits: 6/3/1; Power Plant Hits: 6/3; Active Sensors: None; Passive Sensors: 10; Ship's Vehicles: None; Other Systems: None.

This passenger vessel is intended for travel between established worlds which have interface vessels.  Such vessels are required to carry passengers to or from the world's surface.

PENTAPOD FIGHTER

Original Date of Design: Unknown
Builder: Pentapods
First Example Laid Down: Unknown or N/A
First Example completed: Unknown or N/A
Streamlining: None
Sensors Package: Navigation, Passive, Active
Nerve Clusters:
  Central: Pilot
  Engineering: 5*
Work Stations and Crew: None

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS:
Warp Efficiency: 4.41 ( 3.24 using laser) ( 2.58 using laser and active sensors); Power Plant: 5 MW; Endurance: 4 days ( full power); Thruster Fuel: None; Range: 7.7 LY; Mass: 178 tons; Passengers: None; Cargo Capacity: None; Comfort: 0 ( combat purposes only); Emergency Power: N/A; Total Life Support: N/A; Equivalent Price: 11.362 MLv ( +0.14 ADJ).

Movement: 9 ( 6 using laser) ( 5 using laser and active sensors); Screens: 0; Radiated Signature: 3; Radial Reflected: 3; Lateral Reflected: 3; Weapons: 1 Pentapod Offensive Laser; Targeting Nerve Cluster: Yes; Radial Profile: -4; Lateral Profile: -3; Hull Type: Rigid; Armor: 3; Hull Hits: 36/18/9; Power Plant Hits: 1/1; Active Sensors: 7; Passive Sensors: 10; Ship's Vehicles: None; Other Systems: None.

The "designers" of this vessel intended it to serve as an in-system defense vessel.  With no actual crew, this vessel can stay on station for an indefinite amount of time.  Its laser gives it a good offensive capability while its armor allows it to absorb some damage.

* Note: This small craft includes an engineering nerve cluster for the power plant.

PENTAPOD REMOTE

Original Date of Design: Unknown
Builder: Pentapods
First Example Laid Down: Unknown or N/A
First Example completed: Unknown or N/A
Streamlining: None
Sensors Package: Navigation, Active, Passive
Nerve Clusters:
  Central: Controller
Work Stations and Crew: None

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS:
Warp Efficiency: 6.93 ( 6.29 using active sensors); Power Plant: 4 MW; Endurance: 4 days ( full power); Thruster Fuel: None; Range: 7.7 LY; Mass: 36.7 tons; Passengers: None; Cargo Capacity: None; Comfort: 0 ( combat purposes only); Emergency Power: N/A; Total Life Support: None; Equivalent Price: 13.71 MLv ( +1.66 ADJ).

Movement: 14 ( 13 using active sensors); Screens: 0; Radiated Signature: 3; Radial Reflected: 2; Lateral Reflected: 2; Weapons: None; Targeting Nerve Cluster: N/A; Radial Profile: -4; Lateral Profile: -4; Hull Type: Viscous; Armor: None; Hull Hits: 1/1/1; Power Plant Hits: 1/1; Active Sensors: 7; Passive Sensors: 12; Ship's vehicles: None; Other Systems: None.

Its exceptional speed allows this remote to reach its destination quickly.  While this recommends it to many Pentapods, the remote is often used at a lower speed in order to disguise its ability and identity.  Although it is Pentapod in manufacture, it functions similarly to human remotes and probes.

Pentapod's World of 2300AD Navigation Links:

Back to the 2300 AD articles from The Travellers' Digest magazine menu
Back to the 2300AD magazine articles menu
Back to the Main Homeworld Spaceport menu
Back to the main menu