- Built By: Humans
- Used Primarily By: Humans
- Tonnage: 15 tons
- Hull Points: 15
- Crew: 3/15
- Maneuver Class: C
- Landing-Land: Yes
- Landing-Water: No
- Armor Rating: 3
- Saves As: Metal
- Power Type: Major or minor helm
- Ship's Rating: As for helmsman
- Standard Armament:
- 2 medium ballistae
Crew: 2 each - Cargo: 7 tons
- Keel Length: 80'
- Beam Length: 15'
The birds of prey are the second lightest ships in use by the Space Fleet. They are used for shuttles, spy missions, and landing craft, but seldom in heavy combat.
The beak opens to allow crew members to climb into the cockpit, where the spelljammer helm is located.
Crew
The bird of prey can be operated by three men, making it ideal as a long-range scout vessel. It can also carry small parties, but this is not recommended for long voyages.
Ship Uses
V.I.P Shuttle: This ship's decent passenger space makes for a good private shuttle for visiting admirals or dignitaries. Its forward cargo hold/stateroom can be altered to provide a luxurious living space.
Landing Craft: Powered and depowered birds typically act as landing craft for small parties sent from a larger ship. Most often, landers are depowered ships, avoiding any unnecessary losses of helms or helmsmen.
Other Configurations
Depowered/Combination Versions: Depowered ships are equipped with a mussel engine, a Mutator product that uses a large, photo-sensitive mollusk that pulsates when exposed to light. The mollusk is fitted with pistons which pump the craft's wings. This ornithopter has an SR of 1. Mussel engines big enough to drive a bird of prey take up 2 tons of cargo space. Ships that use a combination of helm and mussel engine have an SR boost of +1 and MC B.
Falcon: This is a fighter craft version of the standard bird. It carries a heavy ballista and is fitted with armor plating, bettering its AR by 1 and lowering maneuverability to MC D (unless under combination power).
Raptor: A rescue/insertion/extraction ship, the raptor carries two light catapults or jettisons. These are rare ships used by elite forces only.
Illustration
Deckplans
