User manual FIREBIRD ELITE

[. . . ] 0 1 WARNING: Copyright subsists in all Firebird software, documentation and artwork. No part of this software may be copied, transmitted in any form or by any means. This software is sold on the condition that it shall not be hired out without the express permission of the publisher. If this program is faulty and fails to load please return it to the address below and it will be replaced free of charge and postage refunded. [. . . ] The LF90 is the current computer-aided model and comes with X4SUSAT sights. Missiles Missiles are always available, whatever the nature of your destination world, though no more than four may be carried at any one time. They are extremely effective weapons and are carried by the larger star ships. Your ship's computer will warn you when one is fired at you with a message on-screen. Unless your ship is fitted with ECM (see below) you will have to outmanoeuvre the missile, which will home in on you relentlessly. If a missile hits you, it can almost completely exhaust a fully charged shield and, if your shields and energy are low, may well be fatal. When fired, it will home in on that target and destroy it, unless your enemy successfully takes one of the precautions described above. One of the square missile status indicators on the astrogation console will then turn green. When any T 32 INTERPLANETARY TRAVEL possible target enters the cross-hair region the missile will lock onto it, the missile status block turning red. Missile specification: Lance & Ferman Homing Missiles (4x4) are now recommended for all small class tradecombat ships, but can be fitted as part of a mixed design weapon rack. LF missiles have 2IL-135 guidance systems, and optional manual directional control overrides. Warhead packed with Terminal 9 explosive, and the 4x4 is invulnerable to all known counteraction, except ECM systems. Readily available and relatively cheap at 30 Credits, missiles are extremely effective weapons. T targets a missile when an enemy is in your sights (a bleep confirms this). In the picture, this ship's energy banks are about to be substantially reduced. W Energy bombs An energy bomb will be offered for sale at a planet of Tech level 7 or higher, and can be used only once. It is activated by the W key and will destroy all other ships, asteroids, and missiles in the vicinity. Energy bomb specification: Medusa Pandora Self Homing Energy Bomb (available at Tech Level 7 worlds or higher) is a tactical weapon capable of Megazon Destruct Force 13. Developed by Klaus-Kline laboratories for multi-role combat using 'launch-and-leave' techniques. 33 INTERPLANETARY TRAVEL Once a defensive shield is depleted, enemy missiles and lasers will take energy directly from your ship's energy banks (1, 2, 3, 4 on your console). ENERGY LOW appears on-screen when further attacks will very soon spell disaster for your ship. Spinning away from a pirate ship is an escape capsule which will take the space brigand to a station nearby. DEFENSIVE MEASURES Safety Zone The Orbit Space around any Coriolis Space Station is safe. Entry to safety zone is signalled below the compass. Shields and energy banks Your ship comes equipped with fore and aft shields and energy banks. The shields protect your ship from aggressive fire, and will be recharged from the energy banks. Once a shield is depleted, enemy lasers and missiles striking that shield will take energy directly from the energy banks and may even destroy items of cargo or ship fittings. [. . . ] DIMENSIONS 80/20/90 ft CARGO CAPACITY 10 TC ARMAMENTS Ergon laser system MAXIMUM VELOCITY 0. 30 Light Much INSERVICE DATE 3027 AD (deLacy ShipWorks, ININES) MANOEUVRABILITY CF 8 CREW NUMBER 1 DRIVE MOTORS deLacy Spinlonic ZXU HULL STRESS FACTOR C-Holding A20-B4 HYPERSPACE CAPABILITY No PYTHON One of the larger trading vessels manufactured in Inera Orbit Space by Whatt and Pritney ShipConstruct. Cabin accommodation is cramped and spartan in contrast to facilities for cargo and 'alien environment' transport. Though slow and ponderous, the craft has powerful CC-Voltaire shields and Volt-Variscan Pulse lasers, earning it the nickname of the 'space porcupine'. Not commonly attacked by pirate ships, but a popular craft for freebooters, usually used as a way-station and storage hulk. [. . . ]