Name: Shin'kali BioshipsDescription: Shin'kali bioships are the Shin'kali race's means of FTL transportation and fleet naval combat; they are FTL capable ships with basic essential mechanical parts and a hull heavily infested with Shin'kali biomass, a cheap material grown through a long process. Bioships are either infested on captured ships or created, basic ship parts engineered together with a basic hull or frame infested with thick biomass that can act as numerous functions; the cockpit of a bioship is typically composed of a thick and transparent membrane, while the rest of the hull is composed of fleshy biomass hardened into thick Shin'kali flesh with a layer of calcified bone plating above the infested hull. Bioships can be constructed to fit any class or size type of ship, making them essentially a "template" applied to other ships. While composed mostly of organic biomass, many parts of a spacecraft cannot be completely organic; warp field or hyperspace drives are artificially constructed along with some anti-ship weapons such as plasma and laser cannons, missiles, and more. Otherwise, bioships are extremely valuable in life support; its organic parts being immune to EMP weapons, dedicated biomass clusters can cycle out water and carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen, causing the air to be incredibly "fresh". In addition, food can also be grown from biomass, making bioships extremely self sustaining and protective of the crew. Shin'kali bioships also have organic thrusters like other ships, capable of precise navigation and atmospheric flight; though weaker than other forms of thrust, being entirely chemical. Specific racial weapons of the Shin'kali include cannons that launch extremely large acid pods via methane gas detonation that explodes against a ship hull in an abundant amount of corrosive acid, wearing down the hull's defenses over time. In addition, one specific bioweapon makes use of the Shin'kali's large number of infectious husks, drop pods that launch into a ship hull and attempt to drill in, injecting a crew of ten tightly packed husks that attempt to board the ship and take over. Abilities: [*] Incredibly self-sufficient and EMP immune life support system, being made of biomass. Can easily cycle air, purify water, and even grow food. [*] Can use racial acid pod cannons and drop pod boarding. [*] Powers itself with bioenergy. [*] Biomass hull slowly regenerates damage. [*] Cheap to produce overall due to the use of biomass, which can be grown. Limitations: [*] Thrusters are weaker due to chemical methane fuel, unless particle thrusters are utilized in which more energy is expended. [*] FTL drives are slower than most military vessels due to the limited power biofuel can provide. Hyperspace drives typically alleviate this, but with the added disadvantages of travelling through hyperspace. [*] Outside biomass hull is weak to fire and energy attacks, disabling its regeneration and melting through more of the organic hull. [*] Must be 'fed' organic mass to power itself and regenerate lost biomass. Dead bodies work well for this. [*] Takes longer to produce, as biomass takes a long time to grow. How does it work: Biological processes allow the Shin'kali bioship to thrive in overall survival, having advantageous life support and regenerative abilities that allow it to regenerate damage through long journeys; as such, a travelling Shin'kali fleet is difficult to wear down through small skirmishes. Even acid pod rounds and energy can be regenerated if organic matter is provided. The smaller thrusters work via a chemical reaction with large sacs of compressed oxygen and methane gas produced by the biomass, thrusting out a nozzle of thick calcified biomass. (Unless the bioship uses particle thrusters, though using more energy). Excursions to life-bearing planets are not uncommon for travelling fleets in order to fuel their ships, making a travelling Shin'kali fleet often times a trail of death and infection. (These needed stops also account for their slower travel speed). Construction Times: Sub-corvette: 4-6 months Corvette: 8-9 months Frigate: 1-1.2 years Destroyer: 1.4-1.6 years Cruiser: 2.4-2.7 years. Battlecruiser: 4.6-5.1 years. Carrier: 9.4-10 years Battleship: 25.6-50 years Super-Battleship: 90-inf years ( As the Super-Battlecruiser class has no size limit. ) Flavor text: Shin'kali bioships have existed since the race first infested the ships of other races, selectively breeding more ships to become the self-sufficient products they are today. Referenced Technologies: Shin'kali Acid Grenades Attainability: [Semi-Open] Shin'kali racial, the only way someone else would have one is if it is given or stolen. Otherwise, only dedicated hives that are sufficiently expansive can construct and build these ships with the assistance of shipped or constructed mechanical parts. Tags: [Racial] [Military]
