Slylandro Probe

Name: Slylandro Probe
Craft: Slylandro Automated Probe
Type: Probe
Scale: capital
Length: 100 meters
Skill: capital ship piloting
Crew: none, automated
Autopilot Skill: Astrogation 6D, Capital Ship Piloting 6D, Capital Ship Gunnery 6D, Sensors: 6D
Passengers: 0
Cargo Capacity: 340 metric tons
Consumables: 0 life support
Hyperdrive: x1650
Nav Computer: yes
Maneuverability: 3D+1
Space: 15
Atmosphere: 505; 1,450kmh
Hull: 4D+1
Sensors

Passive: 30/1D+2
Scan: 40/2D+2
Search: 80/3D+2
Focus: 1/4D+1

Weapons

Lightning Weapon

Fire Arc: all
Crew: automated
Scale: capital
Skill: capital ship gunnery
Fire Control: 4D+2
Space Range: 1-4/8/12
Atmosphere Range: 2-8/16/24km
Ammo: energy based
Charges: 10 (requires raw material consumption to generate fuel)
Damage: 4D

Description: The Slylandro purchased their first 2418-B: Remote Self-Replicating Robot Explorer Probe from the Melnorme for exploration purposes, with the intent to use it for making peaceful contact with other races. Since it had the ability to replicate itself, they modified its program code so that replication became its overriding first priority.

The repercussions of this foolhardy action were grave. The probes not only attempted to break friendly ships into component pieces for use in replication, but also multiplied at a geometric rate, becoming a severe hazard to any HyperSpace traveler. Both the Thraddash and the Zoq-Fot-Pik have encountered the malfunctioning probes, and have deduced at least the general direction of the source of the probes. The Captain also had a brief but fatal run-in with a probe a few days before first reaching Sol. Captain I. Burton was killed in the attack, but strangely, the probe merely disabled the Tobermoon before departing.

The Captain is able to put a stop to this hazard when he makes contact with the Slylandro. When they learn what has happened, they give The Captain a code that will cause probes to self-destruct in case he encounters one. This is necessary since, unlike the out-of-stock catalog item 2419, the probes do not have a recall transmitter. The probes however are programmed to return to their point of origin after ten replications. When apprised of the situation, the Slylandro will reprogram the probes that eventually return to roam our region of space broadcasting the self-destruct code on a HyperWave hailing frequency, which causes a swift decline in their numbers.

Source: thedemonapostle