Speed and Statistical Data:

Space Fold: Not Equipped. FTL: Factor 5 Cruising Speed: Mach 2 to Mach 2Ø; The approach speed of the ship will be equal to the speed of the target to be mined. Clearance: Varies; Generally 3Ø to 5Ø feet. Beam: Generally 1½ to 5 times the clearance. Length: Varies, however shorter vsls tend to fit into the niches better, so rarely are they longer than their beam. Weight: Varies. Generally about 1 ton per every 1ØØ crewmen. Cargo: Varies; Generally about 1ØØ tons of ore per every ton of vsl. Cruise Duration: Varies; Generally about 5 years.

Power Plant: Primary: Various nuclear reactors; Out put varies greatly. Secondary: Solar panel arrays; Often used in place of the main power plant, since it’s free, if circumstances permit. When otherwise, it is generally used only in emergencies. Tertiary:; Battery back up. These are only used in GRAVE emergencies, but have a full six-week capability at basic life-support levels. Propulsion: Primary: Tractioning drives; Secondary: Rocket power Flight System: Not Applicable; Not planet-fall capable. Cost and Availability:Every crewman equals about 2Ø€ towards construction cost; Takes about 3 months to build. Black Market Cost and Availability: Varies VERY greatly; Only ships stolen from somewhere else would be available on the black market, and since these are pretty big ships, it’s hard to off-load one. However, malconts often swap these and other vsls between each other for various purposes.

Weapons Systems: Because these ARE civilian vsls, they are rarely armed with anything but the most basic self-defense mechanisms.

1. Full-Force Barrier Field: This type of vsl generally has a full-force barrier field, but only a fairly light and rudimentary one. MDC: Generally not more than about 15Ø to 5ØØ Range: Self + about 1Ø feet. Payload: Technically unlimited; However, the barrier field prevents ANY approach to the vsl, and therefore must be lowered to allow cargo shuttles, in. Attacks Per Melee: Technically unlimited; Requires one melee action to raise, if the operator happens to be standing right there when the attack begins. Sadly, all too often they are not.

2. Point Defense Lasers: These automated laser batteries kick in whenever the Collision alarm alerts. Rarely are there more than four, though. MD: 1D4×1Ø per blast. Range: 1ØØ feet. Payload: Unlimited. Attacks Per Melee: Twice per melee.

Features:

1 MC (loudspeaker): Internal loudspeaker. ESM: Radar Detector. Passively detects other radars being operated. Radar: Civilian grade radar. Range 1ØØØ miles, can track up to 5Ø individual targets. 8Ø% reliability (ØØ% against unfriendly stealthed vehicles). AMC/FD (2): Anti-Missile Chaff/Flare Dispensers. Actually launches a glob of burning magnesium/aluminum alloy to confuse both radar AND heat sensory systems. Fires off Ø4 chaff/flares each time it is activated. The system is KNOWN to work on all KNOWN radar and infrared systems, but concerns continue that somewhere out there their MIGHT be a system that will be totally unaffected by the system. Reduce effects by 2Ø% against smart missiles (add +2Ø% to rolls for smart missiles.) Effect: Ø1-5Ø Enemy missile or missile volley detonates in chaff cloud- Missiles are all destroyed. 51-75 Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers away in wrong direction (may lock onto another target). 76-ØØ No effect, missile is still on target. Also note that the chaff cloud will also blind nearby heat sensors (and optically based sensors at night) for 1 melee. They will suffer the following penalties: Reduce melee attacks/actions, and combat bonuses by half. Duration: 1D4 melee rounds. Payload: 12Ø chaff/flares. Each time the system is engaged, the system fires off Ø4 chaff/flares.

HUD: Displays maps, radar, targeting information, and any OTHER information the crew member wants directly in front of them. FLIR/SLIR: Forward and Side Looking Infrared. Allows crew to get visuals at night and in deep space. Virtual Map: Displays a continuously-updating map of all bodies ahead for the pilot. Takes data from and gives data to other ships in the area. Effective navigation of 85% as updates come. Good to 5ØØ miles. Specific range can be adjusted in 1 mile increments. Video Camera: Records from the HUD. 5Ø hours of recording available. Full range optic sensory suite: Infrared, ultra violet, Magnification, night sight, color filters, thermal imager. Range is about 2ØØ miles for MOST sensors. Escape Pods: There are SUPPOSED TO BE 1 1Ø-man pod per every 5 crewmembers. And once in a while there are. Survival Pack: A pack of simpler emergency survival supplies: Pup tent, sleeping bag, black light, GPS, first aid kit (bandages, gauze, bandage tape, pads, antiseptic/analgesic), plasma torch (for small repairs and starting fires), repair kit (with MDC Repair Spray), sewing kit (a small spool of thread and 5 needles), 7 star flares (25Ø foot apogee), 1ØØ feet of black or brown parachute cord (15Ø lbs tensile strength; This is in addition to several hundred feet from their parachute itself), 2-5 days rations, 2 gallons water, water purification kit (good for about 1Ø gallons), manual-inflating liferaft (for at-sea abandonment), self-inflating lifevest (15# buoyancy). The liferaft can also double as a Pup Tent if so desired (though most pilots prefer to use a parachute for that, if anything, due to the fact that it is easier to hide). Typically kept with the escape pods. Not that a pup tent has very little use in hard vacuum, but can be handy if you crash land on a planet unexpectedly. EPIRB: Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon; An automated distress buoy that can be jettisoned in the event of massive catastrophe. Mining ships are unique for having these, as they tend to settle into a given asteroid for years at a time, and are therefore relatively stagnant and can be found, if the circumstances require. To date, EPIRBS have been used only in 1Ø% of all emergencies, and all of these have been CRITICAL; Fire on board ship.