Pod

Pods are small short-range spacecraft, rarely crewed by more than one person, though in some cases can hold as many as four passengers. Pods limited propulsion and maneuverability and range from 4 to 8 meters in length. No registered pod can be installed with a Zipp Drive.

Escape pods, while being longer-range and equipped with distress beacons, compact life-support, survival equipment, and navigational computers, are entirely automated, and designed to deliver their crew to a safe location.

Drop pods are similar in function to escape pods, however the crew has a greater degree of control over its destination. Upon impact, drop pods are designed to break apart into equipment and deployable barricades. Drop pods may also be used to deliver cargo to a target location. If a drop pod is delivered to a destination with a full fuel tank, it can be used to deliver passengers or cargo into orbit where the pod can be intercepted.

Breach pods are a four-crew variant of drop pods. They have no life-support, and are designed to latch on to the exterior of a spacecraft and detonate a breaching charge to give the crew access to the spacecraft’s interior.

Cryopods do not usually contain any propulsion, and are designed to keep their crew in stasis until triggered to open. Originally, cryopods were used during long space travels, but now they are mostly used to transport medical patients, prisoners, or if escape pods are unavailable.

Utility pods are fitted with maneuvering thrusters and articulating arms which can be configured with a number of tools. This allows utility pods to be used for building or repairing craft, installing weapons or utility systems to ship hardpoints, salvaging, scavenging, mining, or exploration of tight-spaces.

Escape, drop, and breach pod variants are normally not reusable. However salvaged parts are used in the manufacture of new pods.