Bumble Bee Mini-Tug:

Any dock and any modern industrial area needs forklifts to move materials around. This is just as true in the Three Galaxies as it is for today. One of the most common vehicles used in this role is the Bumble Bee Mini-Tug. They are used to move cargoes around in both zero G and micro-gravities with the use of powerful gravitic and magnetic tractor beams. This ship while slow at this role actually are used even to take cargoes from planet to planet within a system. This mini tug design has been around for a huge period of time (its origins are actually unknown by all but historians) and many companies produce this design or virtually identical designs.

The Bumble Bee has a HUGE amount of power but few individuals have ever considered arming theses ships. The huge power systems, equal to a medium starfighter, are used for the ships tractor system and for the engines of the ship. The tractor beams can pull huge amount of cargo for the size of the ship. The ship can pull 500 tons before the tractor system is overloaded. Even larger items are often pulled in with the use of multiple mini tugs. Even ships up to cruiser and medium cargo ship sized are often helped to pull in with the mini-tugs. These mini-tugs even assist larger tugs in pulling huge cargo ships into berthings.

In addition to the tractor beams, the mini-tug has two retractable arms that are used for various work roles. They are in a compart in the lower support structure. These arms are used for repair work and other similar jobs.

While these ships are fast when unloaded and are surprisingly maneuverable, these ships use all civilian components and do not have a lot of armor. These ships, like many industrial vehicles can also be controlled by remote although having a pilot increases general efficiency. One reason for the automated piloting system is to allow for autonomous operations and the other is so if someone attempt to steal a mini-tug, it can be returned back to where the owners wish. For operator safety, the tug does have an ejection system. The tug uses the skill of pilot starfighter to operate. The tractor system and propulsion systems stick out the sides of the ship are remove any aerodynamics from the tug. It can enter a planets atmosphere but must enter very slowly. When operating in an atmosphere, it is limited to ten tons of cargo.

This Mini-Tug design uses modified starship speed and weapon range rules. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World / Three Galaxies for more details.

(Note: The power system is fusion not anti-matter because the author’s opinion is that anti-matter is to dangerous to be used in vehicles that may be used in an atmosphere. If a starship powered by anti-matter was to detonate in an atmosphere it would cause huge planetary damage. At GM option, this can also be applied to all starfighters or this “fighter” can be changed to anti-matter.)

Model Type: HTTG-06X
Vehicle Type: Mini-Tug
Crew: One.

M.D.C By Location:

	[1] Contra-Grav Propulsion / Tractor Generators (2)	150 each
	[2] Main Body:	220
	Retractable Arms (2)	15
	Cockpit:	80

Notes:
[1] Loss of one propulsion /tractor beam generator will reduce acceleration of ship and cargo being able to be tractored by half. Loss of both systems will destroy both the tractor and propulsion system and cause the ship to float if in space and crash in an atmosphere
[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the mini-tug out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.

Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship to travel up to 20 percent of the speed of light. Mini-Tug can accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 1.2 percent of light per melee. Reduce acceleration by .1 percent of light per turn for every 50 tons of cargo being pulled.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is 300 mph (480 kph), can enter an atmosphere and can leave but is not designed for atmospheric flight. Cargo being towed reduces maximum speed by 15 mph (24 kph) for ever ton being towed.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by drive system but only has supplies for pilot for twenty four hours.

Statistical Data:
Length: 14 feet (4.3 meters)
Height: 20 feet (6.1 meters)
Width: 24 feet (7.3 meters)
Weight: 5 tons (4.5 metric tons)
Physical Strength: Equal to a P.S. 30 for retractable arms
Power System: Advanced Fusion with 5 year life span.
Cargo: Minimal Storage Space, place for personal equipment, small survival kit, signal flares, and food rations. Does not include towing capability with the ship can tow up to 500 tons in space and up to 10 tons in an atmopshere.
Market Cost: 6.5 million credits.

Special Equipment:

Tractor Units (2): These are the most important equipment on the tug. While many fighters and larger ships have tractor units as well, few ships have a ratio of mass to towing capacity as a mini-tug. The ship has the towing capacity of what is normally reserved for corvette or larger ships. The tractor unit is actually powerful enough to inflict damage to targets but has a very limited range
Maximum Effective Range: 25 miles (40 km) in space and 1,200 feet (326 m) in an atmosphere.
Mega-Damage / Effects: 2D6x10 if used as a weapon. The tractor can pull up to 10 tons in an atmosphere and 500 tons in space.
Rate of Fire: Once per melee round if uses as a weapon
Payload: Effectively Unlimited.

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Image drawn and copyrighted by Roman Kochnev (r_kochnev@hotmail.com).

More Roman Kochnev artwork at The Science Fiction Art and Design Portfolio of Roman Kochnev.

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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