Battlecruiser

The Destroyer (p. 348 EP) is the most common military spacecraft in the solar system - a medium tonnage, fast and maneuverable ship designed for long endurance and escort duty which defends against attacks at short range. Because of their flexible armament, high-speed designs and very efficient power supply in the form of an antimatter drive, Destroyers are typically all that is needed by a space navy force to defend territory or patrol vectors used as trading routes. But, they are not the entirety of the design. Smaller ships, from fighters carried on destroyers and larger vessels, to armed shuttles which act as patrol boats, interception satellites and even "light cruisers" or "corvette" designs exist as small, fast attack and defense or long-term independant operation ships. There are, however, also larger designs - these take three primary forms:

• Command Carriers are rare, large ships which are mostly armed with defensive weapons and almost always require escorts - their purpose is to launch and coordinate large amounts of smaller ships. Their mass harms their maneuverability and top speed, so these sluggish ships do not often leave their home ports but would be vital in an actual space war to force projection.
• The fabled "Dreadnoughts" are even more rare, seen as an outdated return to military tactics of the past. Heavily armed and armored these large ship designs are much more popular in fiction than in actual military engagements. Almost designed to show off the material wealth and engineering prowess of their builders, these ships can easily be overwhelmed by smaller, more maneuverable craft which cost much less time and effort to build in large numbers. No new Dreadnoughts are listed as under construction, and the majority left in commission are in the Jovian Republic or LLA.

The third common large ship class is increasingly popular, and is the Battlecruiser. Battlecruisers are larger ships designed along the same lines as the destroyer. They sacrifice armor capability of their larger size to maintain speed, but are still heavily armed - the intent is to be able to chase down and outgun ships with lesser armament, but evade or outmaneuver heavier and more powerful ships. Modern, spaceborne battlecruiser designs first appeared in the era of conflict immediately prior to the Fall, as a countermeasure to prospects of Dreadnought warfare. Several constructed Battlecruisers did well in the limited space warfare during the Fall itself, both against human forces and even TITAN ones. Comparable speed and defenses but greater power make them a good match for small numbers of Destroyers, and better agility and similar power mean they are more cost-effective against Dreadnoughts. 

In the modern period, every faction with a major space force owns one or more Battlecruiser-type designs, and some of them own several and are constructing more. The main drawback of the Battlecruiser is its greater expense and logistics - they take more material to build and to fuel, and more mental resources to run, either in form of AIs or Egos. The fact that open space conflict is not generally a popular or advisable position also means in some polities (such as the Titanian Commonwealth) with high transparency or citizen influence that Battlecruiser expenses are often frowned upon or judged harshly as opposed to less expensive Destroyers for defensive purposes. On the other hand, the Jovian Republic is proud of it's fleet composition and energy resources of Jupiter to fuel them - and plans on having the largest set of Battlecruisers in the Solar System by AF 15. 

Air Sled

In the early 21st Century, several military forces attempted to make "transforming" or otherwise adjustable armored vehicles which could rapidly switch between ground or short hops of air travel. Some of these succeeded, and in many ways are the ancestors to the Flying Cars (p. 168-9 Sunward) which are frequently seen on Mars. Other designs, however, did not directly incorporate "transforming" functions, but more of an accessorizing or attaching function. This effectively functions a bit like an EVA or Diving Sled, but for vehicles. While not as required as it may have been on the Earth, there are enough locations, including Exoplanets with atmospheres to make this design viable.

Air Sled: This long, skeletal airframe is designed to go over the top (or rarely the bottom) of a ground-based vehicle, such as a Mars Buggy. Made with collapsing and extending frame and anchor points, it can adjust its exact size to suit multiple configurations of vehicle. This allows it to lift up the vehicle off the ground several meters to clear obstacles or rough terrain and save time, or avoid complications such as mines. Like a Flying Car it can be considered a sister technology to, they are powered by methane and utilize vectoring turbofans to generate lift and motion. Typically, the unit is open to the air, unarmored, and designed to be utilize via physical or wireless interface with the attached vehicle - but some models have command and control chairs built onto the sled so a dedicated pilot can move vehicles from the Sled itself. Some also feature handholds so other passengers may grip them. The sled grips it's payload vehicle with powerful electromagnets and grip pad technology, making it almost impossible to dislodge. However, as it is balanced to carry heavy loads, the Air Sled tends to be unstable when flying just on its own, especially at higher altitudes. [High]

AIR SLED
Passengers 1*  Handling +10  Movement Rate -- Max Velocity 150 AV 10/10 DUR 100 WT 20

Air Sleds are not necessarily common around the Solar System after the Fall, but do see some use, and several of the milspec blueprints have leaked onto the Mesh. Commonly they are used by rural Redneck Martians who need to move around buggies and other vehicles over rough hills, poorly-maintained roads and even canyons and wadis. Local security and police forces sometimes use them for this purpose as well, but the Martian Rangers are much more likely to deploy a Flying Car or Security VTOL in their operations. Smugglers and militant Barsoomians may also utilize them to hide vehicles in locations which are otherwise inaccessible by ground. Gatecrashers occasionally use them to move around their ground vehicles or even large bots over difficult terrain, and similarly this may be used on Titan to move a single vehicle if the load does not require a full Cargo Copter.

Sleeper Ships

Before Egocasting and Resleeving became "mature" technologies which most consider to be safe in the right circumstances, physical travel in space was the only way for mankind to colonize the Solar System - both with automated bots and human colonists. However, for quite some time space travel was considered particularly time consuming - and even now compared to alternatives many long distance trips can take multiple months to complete as the ships wrestle with the vast distances of space and the movement of orbital mechanics. This made colony ships and commercial travel between planets a bit of a limited business which would leave people in groups for lengths of time - and was not considered ideal by many. Medical stasis technology altered that, however, bringing about a type of ship which is now basically antiquated.

Sleeper Ship: This type of ship is a Plasma Drive model based along the same principles as modern Bulk Carriers and Standard Transports - a central spar which contains the drive and engineering components which additional modules are placed around. However, unlike the Transport, the Sleeper Ship does not feature many seperate passenger compartments, and in fact, many feature only one habitation ring or module for crew and to acclimate passengers to gravity if needed. Instead, the bulk of additional space is taken up by non-rotating storage modules which are racked with stasis pods, similar to a Morph Storage Pod (p. 175 Firewall). These modules, crewed by professional staff, can hold a morph safely in a medical stasis for the months which may be required for a long space journey. The pods mean that a larger bulk of passengers can be carried - but some people may find the idea of a "sleeper ticket" uncomfortable.

As modern spacecraft became faster and more reliable, and egocasting technology emerged, Sleeper Ships rapidly became a niche market. While they could carry more passengers, the delicateness required by the stasis technology made them more expensive and resource intense than simply moving to resleeving to move workers around the system except in the largest of numbers, and they began to fall out of fashion. The Fall rekindled briefly the desire for Sleepers - many of the ships were recommissioned and hastily utilized to aid in the evacuation of Earth. Some worked, taking bulks of unconscious survivors to the closest locales like Mars or Venus. Some cut ties all together and joined Scum Swarms - much to the surprise of many sleepers. Other cases show the ongoing tragedy that was the Fall: Many sleepers never made it to their destination, disappearing into the Void to occasionally be spotted by astronomers or scavengers. Some sleeper ships hijacked their passengers, taking them as hostages or slaves for their own personal gain. Many sleeper ships never left the Earth, as transhuman raiders or TITAN forces attacked them before they could get underway - killing hundreds in their "sleep".

In AF 10, Sleeper Ships are still very niche. Depending on whose registry you check, there's between several dozen and several hundred ships of this class still in operation. Mostly they are an avenue for bioconservative travel which wants to bypass the long experience of space - meaning they tend to be concentrated around the Earth Orbital region, running to and from many destinations. Physical colonists or explorers who need to get to a distant moonlet, asteroid or hab may also elect to take long-haul Sleeper rides to the distant fringe. The Jovian Republic is highly interested in the Sleeper Ship technology, taking great pains to acquire several ships in intact condition over the years. One contracted group, Ellis Transport, runs a regular circuit from Ganymede to Luna to collect immigrants and visiting officials. There are even reports that JR's top aerospace contractors are trying to advance Sleeper Ship technology - attempting to build long-distance ships which might make it to a nearby star in a "worst case" scenario, but at the moment their designs appear to be just theoretical.

Passenger Capacity: 12 (300 Stasis)
Handling: N/A
AV 20 DUR 725 WT 145

Security VTOL

Security VTOL
Common vertical takeoff and landing vehicle used by security and military forces in large open habs or on Mars. It features a series of flexible rotors of smart materials, which while lower in velocity than vector thrust, is much more quiet for stealthier operations. They require a crew of four, but can hold a dozen passengers and have an external flexible cargo harness which can lift small vehicles such as several exoskeletons. As a general rule, they have a wingspan of about 14m, and have a maximum flight speed of around 500 kph. Their flexible smart material exteriors make them highly maneuverable. Typically, the VTOL has a forward weapon mount (HMG or Autocannons common) and a pair of Machine Guns as weapon mounts on the side. They utilize high-capacity batteries and efficient motors for a maximum operating time of around 10 hours. Also features exterior floodlights, radio booster and 250 km radar. [Expensive (50,000+)]

Hoverboard

The "hoverboard", or skateboard with no wheels has been a long-running concept of sci-fi stories well into the 20th Century. In the early 21st, several working designs were made, but most were generally only "proof of concept" designs for scientific purposes which were not viable for mass market production. However, advances in fabrication and materials science have allowed the design to be actually a viable market in some circles. Fundamentally, there are two different kinds of hoverboard. The less expensive and more common design blends hovering and high-powered mini-rotors to produce an air hovering effect, which can allow a medium-sized morph to hover as a maximum of 1 meter off the ground in Martian gravity or less, but has trouble maintaining lift and power in more Earth-like gravity. The more expensive model utilizes high-capacity batteries and superconductors to levitate utilizing magnetic fields, and can do so in almost any gravity a transhuman can survive in, but only works on ferromagnetic surfaces - limiting most to use in special parks, neighborhoods or other structures.

Hoverboard: These boards are a common amusement of children and young adults or as personal transportation, and are generally about 20 cm in length. The contact point between the board and the user is made of a gripping material similar to micrograv shoes, to reduce the likelihood of falling off the board, and control is handled via a combination of feet and meshed controls. The underside differs wildly between the two types, with magnetic boards featuring sleek superconductor tracks, and air-powered models having slightly boxier bottoms for their impulse fans. Both models technically work in microgravity, though the magnetic kind operates in vacuum, and only the magnetic is good for Earth-like gravity. Generally one operates the hoverboard at about 30+ cm off the ground, though the impulse kind can go as high as 1m. Average speed for a board is about 35 kph, but theoretically they can move faster if one removed safety features which prevent it. [Low] for air-powered, [High] for magnetic

HOVERBOARD
Passengers 1  Handling +10  Movement Rate 4/80 Max Velocity 35 AV 2 DUR 20 WT 4

'Board culture is diversely spread throughout the system. Luna, for instance, often regards hoverboards as childrens' toys before moving on to a backwing or winged morph. Venus and Titan both have skate parks and other sports areas for the boards, but for different reason - Venus so as to provide a dedicated place for magnetic boards, Titan as a public works effort to encourage people not to 'board in crowded streets. Spinhabs may also have public spaces set aside to board, and particularly among Scum or other free-wheeling anarchists boarding is popular even in micrograv - though this requires considerably more skill and contains more risk. Boarding is most popular among the urban martians, where it competes with parkour, bicycling and traditional skating (both inline and even skateboards) as an alternative to walking. Adventurous 'boarders even use the same paths as traceurs to get around above normal people. Leaving the city centers, boarding almost immediately dies off, however, as the use of air-powered models does not go well with Martian dust. Some people regard hoverboards as a public nuisance, as the air-powered models can be quite loud at full power - but luckily magnetic models are almost completely silent.

Constructor Truck

Constructor Truck
Once a sight common on big projects on Mars, the Constructor Truck is now more common on Exoplanet colonies. This vehicle has more in common with Cargo Haulers than a Crasher Truck, however, being large rugged trucks with smart material wheels. However, they do not possess the traditional flatbed or container section of a hauler, but instead have a modular rear section behind the cab, which can be adjusted to suit the needs of a certain project. They are powered by nuclear batteries for an extended lifespan, and their four-man cabs are pressurized and environmentally maintained - and include stations to operate several features of the vehicle. The exact features of a Constructor Truck often vary based on the jobs it is attached to, but several features are common. This includes modular internal storage containers and external storage racks for raw materials, a top-mounted manipulator arm with a modular end which can double as a variety of tools and can lift over 500 kg at a time (more if the Truck is anchored properly), wired and wireless recharging stations, racks for a multitude of drones (including the ability to carry up to two Dwarf bots), storage of a wide variety of tools and instructional materials - equivalent to a Tool Shop and an external onboard Cornucopia Machine. Internal computers have access to a plethora of information, from basic tool and material blueprints to academic information, to professional instruction on a variety of jobs. While they can be fully automated, many groups prefer at least one transhuman crewmember to oversee and secure the vehicle. Common variants and additions include small, non nanotech facilities to produce water, oxygen or other basic elements, nanoswarm hives, passenger racks for Hard Suits or exoskeletons or more sophisticated sensor suites for surveying jobs. Enhancements: Telescoping Limb (Manipulator Arm), Headlights, Radio Booster, Radar [Expensive (40,000+)]

Minesweeper Variant
This mod to the Constructor was developed after the Fall to clear areas of potential TITAN activity, or human weapon deployment against the TITANs. While the Consortium and Tharsis league stand by the TQZ, rare Exoplanets which see signs of TITAN or Alien activity occasionally still employ these vehicles to safely secure an area, disable potential hazards and clear them out for proper safety. The Minesweeper has tougher armor, which is insulated against fire, radiation and is self-healing. It has a dedicated Hive for a Guardian Nanoswarm set up to protect it, a reinforced frame and front bumper which counts the shell as moving 10% slower for purposes of DV if it crashes into something. The cab has a small "armory" section and some Minesweepers have articulated weapon mounts, they also tend to have sharper sensor systems which cover more areas, including nanodetection. To help protect the vehicle, it can also damage objects which attempt to come in contact with it. Adds Industrial Warmachine Armor, Fireproofing, Offensive Armor, Self-Healing, Fractal Digits, Chem Sniffer, Lidar and Nanodetector [Expensive (60,000+)]

Truck Capacity: 4 Handling: +0 Movement Rate 4/32 Max Speed 120 AV 20/16 DUR 300 WT 60
Minesweeper Capacity: 4 Handling: +0 Movement Rate 4/32 Max Speed 100 AV 38/40 DUR 300 WT 60

APC

Armored Personnel Carrier
Generic class of armored vehicle designed to carry passengers. These are used by private security or law enforcement as troop transports or even as prisoner transports, and are mostly common in planetary habs though some large and wealthy cylinders also employ them. They have 6-8 wheels, with thick armor made of fullerened composites and aerogels. The most common configuration for the APC is a driver and a commander or co-pilot seat up front, with an optional seat for a gunner, and space to hold around 8 passengers, with additional space for troops to ride on the outside. Some APCs have been modified to dock with Battlesuits or other exoskeletons to “ride” on the outside. APCs feature pressure doors and environmental control systems, which in addition to providing indefinite air also work to counteract chemical, biological or nanotech attacks (Count as Immunogenic system and Guardian swarm). In terms of weapons, APCs typically have an external weapon turret which is controlled from the inside. Typically these are Heavy MGs or Seeker weapon systems, but occasionally they feature even heavier autocannons. They may also have slits or windows in the side for interior troops to fire personal weapons from. Comes equipped with Headlights, Radio Booster and vehicle Radar. [Expensive (50,000+)]

APC Capacity: 11 Handling: +10 Movement Rate 8/40 Max Speed 70 AV 36/36 DUR 400 WT 80

Ute

Ute: also known as “Utility Vehicle”. This four-wheeled car features big tires and a rugged self-adjusting suspension and all wheel drive for maximum handling and utility on rough terrain. This vehicle is most common on Mars and certain Exoplanet colonies, but has variants which are used in other areas. It operates off a nuclear battery for an indefinite operating time. It has an enclosed cab, but not pressurized. The primary selling point of these is the large cargo bed in the back, which offers a high amount of utility between models and designs. Some are just flat beds, while others feature interior or exterior storage containers and other systems, such as seating for passengers. Some models feature netting or other soft covers to protect the materials in the back. Comes equipped with Headlights, Radio Booster, vehicle radar and Heavy Bumper normally. [Expensive]

Redneck Technical variant:
A common sight in the backwoods regions of Mars, the “Technical” version of the Ute features additional armor plating, bulletproof tires, a boosted engine and a turreted weapon mount placed in the back, though that usually restricts the amount of passengers which can be hauled. These are common among Barsoomian groups, rural police forces and scouts or security vehicles for Nomad tribes. Typically they are armed with a Heavy Machine Gun mount, but some of them have even heavier weapons like seekers. They add Heavy Armor, Articulated Weapon Mount and Ablative Patches. [Expensive (30,000+)]

Snowcrawler variant:
A version of the Ute vehicle for colder planets such as Titan, or other Exoplanets. The primary alterations is that the wheels are replaced with a highly flexible track system. This dramatically decreases the max speed of the vehicle, but gives it much better traction and maneuverability on icy surfaces. The Snowcrawler also has a pressurized, enlarged cab which is heated and has other life support functions, and has a T-Ray emitter to help see. Holds 50 hours of Air. [Expensive]

Ute Capacity: 2 (more as cargo) Handling: +0 Movement: 8/32 Speed 40/100/120 AV 26/30 DUR 200 WT 40
-Redneck Technical Capacity: 3 Handling: +0 Movement: 8/40 Speed 40/100/120 AV 42/48 DUR 200 WT 40
Snowcrawler Capacity: 3 Handling: +10 Movement: 4/16 Speed 60 AV 26/30 DUR 200 WT 40

Mobile Greenhouse

Mobile Greenhouse
A creation typically used by various Nomads on Mars, though variants of these can be found throughout the solar system. They feature lightweight but rigid base with wheels and an inflated and pressurized tube of translucent polymers, forming a large pressure tent. The inside features a collapsible and highly modular system of supports and endoskeletal struts which can be used to assemble planters, water systems, hooks for hydroponics and many other agriculture or aquaculture needs. They average about 38 square meters of surface, but their interior volume is flexible and multiple greenhouses can be linked together for more space. They have eight wheels, and are typically towed, but have a small electric motor and manual controls to self-propel if needed. They have rechargeable batteries linked to extendable solar panels, as a Greenhouse requires exposure to sunlight to function. Almost all modern Mobile Greenhouses come equipped with either integrated nanoswarm hives, or apiaries for Gardener Bees or Wasps. With their internal environmental controls, and enough plant material, they can provide indefinite life support to up to half a dozen transhumans. Some Scum ships are even known to attach greenhouses to the hull or tow them in space for extremely “ghetto” hydroponics or living space rigs. Comes with exterior floodlights and a Spindle to act as a tow cable. [High]

Capacity: 1-6
Handling: -10
Movement Rate: 4/20
Max Speed: 40
AV: 10/10
DUR: 40
WT: 8