Shipyard: Freighters

There are lots of different freighters in Nova. They come in all shapes, sizes, prices, and vary in how they should be used. From the tiny Cargo Drone to the massive Leviathan, here they are.

Ships here are listed by how the game classifies them; for example, the Starbridge, while a capable warship, is a freighter when used as an escort.

	Cargo Drone back to top
	The Cargo Drone is an inter-ship and in-system cargo transportation droid. It has a very simple Lebowickz-Huffman neural net, little turning ability and absolutely no shields. In war-torn systems these inoffensive craft are usually the first to be scrapped in a big firefight... not because they are deliberately targeted, but because one stray shot will total them.
Ship Stats: Speed: 400 Accel: 200 Turn: 20 Shields: 20/2 Armor: 20/0 Guns: none Turrets: none Space: 0 tons Cargo: 10 tons Fuel: 2 jumps Length: 4m Mass: 10 tons Crew: 0 Cost: 2000 AI Type: 1 (Wimpy trader) Strength: 1 Deionize: 1 Max Ion.: 3 Buy Random: 0% Hire Random: 95%
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Notes: You can't buy it, only hire it. It's cheap. It's cheap for a reason.

	Shuttle back to top
	Sigma Shipyards first produced this simple in-system shuttle over two hundred years ago, and the basic keel design hasn't been changed since. The shuttle has only enough power for three jumps, a single light blaster and a tiny shield generator; enough to protect against micrometeoroids but a few direct hits by even a light blaster will cause real problems for this craft.
Ship Stats: Speed: 400 Accel: 500 Turn: 40 Shields: 30/10 Armor: 30/0 Guns: 2 (max) Turrets: none Space: 11 tons Cargo: 10 tons Fuel: 3 jumps Length: 8m Mass: 15 tons Crew: 1 Cost: 10000 AI Type: 1 (Wimpy trader) Strength: 2 Deionize: 1 Max Ion.: 5 Buy Random: 35% Hire Random: 40%
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Notes: Not much to say; this is the first ship you're ever given. It's pretty bad. Get out of it and into something better (like a Heavy Shuttle) as soon as you can.

	Heavy Shuttle back to top
	Based on the keel of the Sigma Shipyards Shuttle, the Heavy Shuttle is half again the length of the original model and has the capability for an extra hyperspace jump over that of the older design. The simple jump engines limit the amount of extra cargo it can carry over and above what the older shuttle can, but that one extra jump is main reason the Heavy Shuttle has all but displaced the shuttle in most systems.
Ship Stats: Speed: 390 Accel: 485 Turn: 39 Shields: 45/10 Armor: 45/0 Guns: 2 (max) Turrets: none Space: 15 tons Cargo: 15 tons Fuel: 4 jumps Length: 12m Mass: 25 tons Crew: 2 Cost: 17500 AI Type: 1 (Wimpy trader) Strength: 3 Deionize: 2 Max Ion.: 7 Buy Random: 35% Hire Random: 40%
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Notes: A whole lot better than the standard Shuttle, the Heavy Shuttle boasts enhanced shielding and armor and a slightly higher jump capacity, but more importantly, a larger cargo capacity. These extra tons can come in handy if you have to transport a few passenger groups and their luggage, in addition to your freight shipment.

	Asteroid Miner back to top
	Asteroid mining has been the staple method of gathering materials since the time of the construction of the Kane band. Dr. Harbhajan Singh of the University of Mumbai first came up with a basic robotic craft designed to latch onto an asteroid and maneuver it close to a planet for processing. Today's Asteroid Miners are manned by a crew of six and are the backbone of the resource gathering efforts of the Federation and the Auroran Empire.
Ship Stats: Speed: 300 Accel: 200 Turn: 35 Shields: 100/15 Armor: 40/0 Guns: 6 (max) Turrets: none Space: 37 tons Cargo: 100 tons Fuel: 6 jumps Length: 30m Mass: 90 tons Crew: 6 Cost: 150000 AI Type: 1 (Wimpy trader) Strength: 20 Deionize: 6 Max Ion.: 35 Buy Random: 90% Hire Random: 0%
Other Info: Armament: 4 Asteroid Mining Lasers (270) Outfits: 1 Asteroid Scoop (271) Other AI Behaviors: Has Afterburner at High Combat Ratings, Shows Percent Armor, AI Ships Replenish Ammo AvailBits: !b424 AppearOn: OnPurchase: OnCapture: OnRetire:
Notes: The Asteroid Miner is a good enough ship for mining asteroids, with it's 100 tons of cargo space, but mining just isn't profitable enough (in my opinion) to warrant getting this ship. It's not a bad escort, however.

	Star Liner back to top
	Interstellar tourism took off when the Hypergate system was instituted (particularly from Earth, which benefits from quick and easy transport from surface to orbit via the Kane Band). The mainstay of the industry is a fleet of vessels bearing a remarkable resemblance to the luxury liners of pre-Band times. A typical complement of crew and passengers is about three hundred. The ships themselves are speedy through hyperspace, and have mild shielding for protection against asteroids and to enable them to get close to some of the more spectacular phenomena. Requires: Capital Ships License
Ship Stats: Speed: 200 Accel: 350 Turn: 35 Shields: 650/75 Armor: 150/0 Guns: 2 (max) Turrets: none Space: 46 tons Cargo: 120 tons Fuel: 12 jumps Length: 30m Mass: 150 tons Crew: 300 Cost: 500000 AI Type: 1 (Wimpy trader) Strength: 40 Deionize: 10 Max Ion.: 100 Buy Random: 80% Hire Random: 0%
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Notes: A pretty cool ship, both in looks and in functionality, this isn't a bad ship to get. When you get it, you can begin running charter missions to various places, which can be quite profitable. Somewhat slow, however, so make sure you purchase some upgrades so you're not pirate food.

	Terrapin back to top
	The aptly named Terrapin is the mainstay of the Federation's small traders. While ugly as sin, and about as fast as its namesake, the Terrapin carries one whole standard cargo pod segment. This huge cargo capacity for such a small vessel makes it a ripe target for pirates and Auroran raiders. They usually travel in "gaggles" with hired escorts, but sometimes a lone trader on his last monetary legs will try to journey alone.
Ship Stats: Speed: 175 Accel: 250 Turn: 35 Shields: 225/15 Armor: 75/0 Guns: 2 (max) Turrets: 1 (max) Space: 23 tons Cargo: 125 tons Fuel: 4 jumps Length: 25m Mass: 175 tons Crew: 4 Cost: 150000 AI Type: 1 (Wimpy trader) Strength: 20 Deionize: 8 Max Ion.: 50 Buy Random: 90% Hire Random: 60%
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Notes: Another medium freighter, it's 125 tons of cargo space can come in handy for escort work. However, if you're looking at getting one for yourself, you'd be better off getting a Star Liner instead.

	Pegasus back to top
	In the war against the Vell-os, many of the old cargo carriers were wrecked beyond repair, and the shipping houses whose livelihood depended on them faced financial ruin. A solution was found by a young engineer named Eyeya Soyahc, who realized that a Leviathan was too big to be destroyed utterly. Thus he organized teams to salvage the enormous cargo rings from the floating hulks. These rings were repaired and retrofitted with engines. The design was such a commercial success that it was adopted in its own right, and is now manufactured by many worlds. Requires: Capital Ships License
Ship Stats: Speed: 150 Accel: 150 Turn: 25 Shields: 400/22 Armor: 110/0 Guns: 1 (max) Turrets: 1 (max) Space: 40 tons Cargo: 1000 tons Fuel: 7 jumps Length: 100m Mass: 2000 tons Crew: 10 Cost: 2000000 AI Type: 1 (Wimpy trader) Strength: 75 Deionize: 20 Max Ion.: 175 Buy Random: 30% Hire Random: 20%
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Notes: This a great ship to have as an escort, as it's 1000 tons can help turn a huge profit with commodity trading. I wouldn't want it as my own ship, however, as it's painfully slow, and is just begging to be pirated.

	Leviathan back to top
	The Leviathan is probably the biggest ship you will ever see. There are only a few hundred of these giant freighters in existence, for two reasons. Firstly, only the biggest corporations could afford them, and secondly, the actual ship itself takes 20 years to build. Most Leviathans are actually close to 600 years old. Many were even active while the gate system was still operational, and have been handed down through the generations, from hereditary ship's master to ship's master. Most were retrofitted with jump engines when the technology became available. Requires: Capital Ships License, Requires you to register EV Nova
Ship Stats: Speed: 100 Accel: 50 Turn: 10 Shields: 450/7 Armor: 150/0 Guns: 8 (max) Turrets: 8 (max) Space: 20 tons Cargo: 4000 tons Fuel: 8 jumps Length: 500m Mass: 10000 tons Crew: 20 Cost: 12000000 AI Type: 1 (Wimpy trader) Strength: 100 Deionize: 25 Max Ion.: 250 Buy Random: 45% Hire Random: 35%
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Notes: A huge ship, with an equally large cargo capacity, these ships are best to simply raid for cash and cargo. As escorts, they are just too expensive: they hold 4x as much cargo as a Pegasus, but cost 6x as much.

	Valkyrie back to top
	Those in the know (particularly "Hypergate Monthly") have described the Valkyrie as 'the last of the great gas guzzlers.' This trim ship employs ancient liquid-fuelled reaction rockets instead of Thorium-based nuclear engines. For all her ancient design, however, the Valkyrie still looks and moves like a top-of-the-line in-system sports racer. Like the evergreen Porsche Starscreamer before her, the Valkyrie never quite seems to go out of style. Requires: Heavy Weapons License, Missile Weapons License
Ship Stats: Speed: 450 Accel: 500 Turn: 40 Shields: 400/20 Armor: 120/0 Guns: 5 (max) Turrets: 1 (max) Space: 50 tons Cargo: 20 tons Fuel: 5 jumps Length: 25m Mass: 150 tons Crew: 4 Cost: 350000 AI Type: 2 (Brave trader) Strength: 200 Deionize: 20 Max Ion.: 100 Buy Random: 80% Hire Random: 50%
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Notes: An overall great ship to have, the Valkyrie is perfect for almost any role it needs to play. It's cargo capacity is large enough to allow you to run a few cargo missions at the same time, but it's defenses (and offenses) are good enough to allow you to win in the occasional fight (my girlfriend completed the Auroran storyline in a Valk).

	Starbridge back to top
	The Starbridge is a relatively new concept in ship design, in a Federation where ancient traditions are the rule. This vessel channels power straight from a Thorium Nuclear Furnace into its large impulse drives, bypassing life-support and even jump engines. Ancillary power is then provided by turbines mounted behind the engines. This design provides very accurate control of thrust, and great power in normal space. The single drawback is that the turbines must be very strong, pushing the price up by a large margin. Requires: Heavy Weapons License, Missile Weapons License, Protective Technologies License, Requires you to register EV Nova
Ship Stats: Speed: 400 Accel: 550 Turn: 50 Shields: 430/64 Armor: 135/0 Guns: 4 (max) Turrets: 2 (max) Space: 66 tons Cargo: 30 tons Fuel: 5 jumps Length: 20m Mass: 98 tons Crew: 2 Cost: 600000 AI Type: 2 (Brave trader) Strength: 250 Deionize: 30 Max Ion.: 200 Buy Random: 50% Hire Random: 30%
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Notes: I prefer this ship over the Valkyrie, but only because of the style points it has. This is just a cool ship. It has great stats, and can be used as a warship to take out much larger vessels (pirating pirates is fun and profitable). I usually go straight from a Heavy Shuttle to a Starbridge.

	Mod Starbridge back to top
	The Starbridge was the state of the art when it was first released nearly two decades ago, but the latest version leaves it for dead. Improved engines and turning capabilities, as well as vastly increased offensive and defensive systems, ensure that this ship is on the wish-list of nearly every freighter captain in the galaxy. Requires you to register EV Nova
Ship Stats: Speed: 450 Accel: 620 Turn: 55 Shields: 465/68 Armor: 185/0 Guns: 6 (max) Turrets: 2 (max) Space: 77 tons Cargo: 20 tons Fuel: 7 jumps Length: 20m Mass: 125 tons Crew: 2 Cost: 750000 AI Type: 2 (Brave trader) Strength: 280 Deionize: 40 Max Ion.: 230 Buy Random: 50% Hire Random: 0%
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Notes: It's a Starbridge, but better. Not only does this ship just plain look meaner, what with the big friggin' guns on the side, but it is also enhanced in practically every way. The Mod Starbridge Class E is the most powerful civillian ship you can get in the game.