Stardrive

Explore the stars of a future where mankind takes its first leap into deep space.

With a determined crew and a sturdy ship equipped with the Eridan Jump Drive, capable of instantly transporting to nearly any star system, the entire galaxy is only seconds away.

In 2014 the Earth launched the first deep space exploration mission, Columbus. A series of robotic probes were launched to explore our nearest neighbors in the Milky Way. Using the newly developed Ion Drive, the probes were designed to slowly accelerate to nearly the speed of light over roughly 60 years, explore their targets, and beam telemetry back to earth at the speed of light using advanced laser communications.

Decades passed until 2110 when Columbus 16 was detected by the the EVLA radio telescope outside Socorro, New Mexico. The probe had returned and was transmitting a series of prime numbers. Scientists discovered that it had been reprogrammed with an invitation, instructions for building a type of interstellar drive and a very complex navigational formula for going from Earth to Epsilon Eridani.

Across the globe resources were brought together to build Mankind's first Manned Interstellar Vehicle. It took 22 years to build the MIV and equip it with the Eridan Jump Drive, a device capable of folding space between a specific point in the gravitational plane of one star system and transporting it directly to a similar point in another system. Over that time the most brilliant minds on Earth attempted to interpret the navigation formula to allow travel to other systems than Epsilon Eridani but to no avail. The variables involved were simply too complex and much of the data needed for other systems was simply not available. In a ceremony that was observed across the planet the MIV was manned by linguists, diplomats, scientists, and the obligatory military force and the formula was finally entered into the EJD, now pronounced E-jed, and the ship simply disappeared.

Three months passed until the MIV returned with a new permanent crew member on board, a Eridan. The Eridan are a species of huge gas giant dwelling telepaths that resemble octopi. The Eridan have eight very thin 5 meter long tentacles, 4.25 meter spherical bodies and no external sensory organs and are generally orange in color, however they change color according to their mood. They require a variable gravity environment and atmospheres common to gas giants, namely ammonia, methane, hydrogen and helium. They refer to Terrans as 'tool builders', and possess no technology of their own however they are quite proficient in advanced mathematics, psychology, astrophysics and quantum mechanics. Now that they are paired with tool builder races and able to leave their homeworld, they are consumed by the pursuit of exploration and the chance to experience their theories first hand. Eridan navigators now pilot all Terran vessels.

The year is now 2199, and Mankind has begun its great push into the stars. Human colonies constantly expand into the galaxy. Trade has been established with a the few new races that have been discovered, such as the amphibious Gebians, an artistic race of dolphin looking humanoids with two strong tentacle arms and snake-like tails, and the militaristic Scara Empire, a race of humanoid beetles with elongated heads and slim armored bodies. But the galaxy is not without hazards, from celestial-born phenomena to hostile races like the xenophobic Myrapods, a spacefarring race of nearly humanoid centipedes and the N'org, a race of highly advanced nanomachines that scour the emptiness of space consuming entire planets as raw materials to expand The Hive.

With the great uncharted expanse of the galaxy before you where do you want to go? Will you ply the trade lanes in search of commerce and opportunity, join the fight to defend the Colonial Alliance and make the stars safe for Terran-Eridan kind. Are you a Merchantman, Starfighter pilot, Space Pirate, Exodiplomat, Starship Engineer, Trade Bureau Detective, Exobiologist, or Astrophysist. Will you make first contact with new forms of life and establish diplomatic relations with new worlds, or explore the stars first hand and expand our knowledge of the universe? The New Golden Age of humanity is yours to explore.

Ships move on a different scale than people. Most have Biomass fuel. The standard unit of measure for distance and movement in space is the Kelikam Standard Sub-light Engines may only make a one hexside (60 degree) turn per round max without Ship System: Maneuvering Thrusters (levels of SS: Sub-light/(SS:Maneuvering Thrusters+1))= number of Move that must be taken between hexside (60 degree) turns.
Every Ship System: Force Shields requires an additional level of Ship System: Space Frame Hull. Force Shields may only be reinforced to 2x their starting level.
Space Frame Hull is the outer and inner hull of a Starship and required of all Starships. The ship can carry 1 metric ton of cargo or one Item: Heavy per level of Space Frame Hull. For every level of Space Frame Hull not holding a Shield system, a Shielded facing is acquired and the available shields must be allotted between facings. Class 2 is fore and aft, Class 4 is fore, aft, port and starboard, Class 6 adds dorsal and ventral, class 8 is fore and aft, starboard fore, starboard aft, port fore, port aft, dorsal and ventral, etc.
Ship System: Life Support is required for all star ships.
There is no limit on ship weapon WC. Ship weapons must have one Item: Heavy per 10 WC. Fighter weapons may take only 1 Item: Lightweight.
Sensors
Max Range = Officer Clue Bid times 5 Kelikams.
Biomass
A renewable energy source that is simply organic material that is used as fuel for a biomass reactor. In Stardrive we don’t blow the bad guys out the airlock, we drop them in the biomass reactor. Biomass is a plot device for the Operator, when he says you are out of gas, you are out of gas.
Terran Alliance Power Cells
A portable rechargeable power source. TAP Cells contain 1,000 Qi Pool of energy each, take one full turn to swap out and can be recharged by a Biomass reactor in 2 hours.
Torpedoes
Torpedoes move at a speed of 20-WC and must make a K: Artillery versus Electronic Counter Measures plus Range minus Space Frame every turn to maintain a lock.