Refugee Adder

Refugee Adder "Xpat"
Size (W×H×L)	30m×8m×115m
Cargo capacity	15 TC
Cargo bay extension	N/A
Maximum speed	0.175 LM
Manoeuvrability	Roll: 0.9 Pitch: 0.5
Energy banks	1
Energy recharge rate	Poor
Gun mounts	Fore
Missile slots	Unlikely
Shield boosters available	N/A
Military shields available	N/A
Hyperspace capable	Yes
OXP or standard	OXP
Available to player	No
Base price	N/A

Overview

Seeing an Xpat (pronounced expat) Refugee Adder in space, reminds a commander of Cosmos' most grim destinies. Not often alone, but in groups, flocks of unfortunates and other fugitives to whom the ship represents last hope and desperate dream of freedom, but usually unaware of how extremely bleak the chances are of ever reaching the destination. Cynics may refer to them as 'transients' due to their short life expectancy.

History

After "The Inus Miracle", when Ib Martin successfully rescued himself and 68 fellow victims of cruel prosecution in a secretly modified Adder to reach safety on Aleusqu, whispered news of hope began spreading at hyperspeed. The schematics of Martin's Xpat modifications, a widely discounted patent by disgraced inventors Uli Gestirner and Pep Astroianni, were widely broadcast, and not long after, the first recorded spate of refugees took flight. Scores of the suppressed and poverty-stricken migrants grasped at the oportunity to find better lives, and initially a large number succeeded.

An Xpat at near full speed.

At first GalCop were slow to react, but gradually, as pressure from the wealth lobby increased, they took to a substantially more firm line of action. When it finally became evident that Xpats had become a favourite camouflage of slave-traders, the Reprobate Act was passed, and police were given orders to decommission Xpats upon sight. Tragically, this has done little to deter new waves of uninformed, desperate refugees.

Modifications

The Martin Xpat modifications are possible to implement at enthusiast mechanic level, although there have been deadly accidents with Xpats before they ever got off the ground. The hull is extended threefold, and the engine is moved and reshaped into a spinning drive, simply called the Martin, which manages to produce enough power for planetary exit with the added weight, and maintain witchjump capability as long as the workmanship is solid. Often it isn't, as the second most common Xpat fatality is hull shredding upon entering Witchspace.

The space expansion raises the potential passenger and cargo capacity a great deal, comfortably fitting 70 humanoids. The highest recorded number of passengers, is 128, but those were undoubtedly inhumane conditions.

The usual inhospitable welcome

Slave-trafficking

The slave trade caught on early to the vast number of convoys that suddenly were common in space, overwhelming authorities. Both big crime and small-time pedlers took to the trend of shipping slaves by cover of the immigrants, and found no reason to change strategy until the Reprobate Act came into effect. Since, only truly desperate slave-traders choose to do their business in an Xpat.

Download

• XptAdder.OXP v1.0 (2005) from CapnHack.com

Links

• ...I did this experiment with a refugee-packed Adder Murgh (2005)
• Refugee Adder? OXP lost (2009)
• Finding OXP's (2009)
• The Search for the Refugee Adder (2009)
• Still lost (2011)
• Author: Murgh
• Trumbloids