Technically a nano-modified, radioactively stabilized form of tritium oxide (T2O), space Crew and Captains alike refer to it simply as "Water-Fuel". Water-Fuel is a stable, liquid form of tritium, suitable for easy handling and storage. The tritium is consumed in the Ship's reactors and Engines through various types of nuclear fusion reaction.
For centuries, spacers from all Quadrants have always strongly believed the tradition that drinking Water-Fuel is the only sure way to protect themselves from radiation, space sickness, inertia madness, and other grim hazards of the void. While the medical and scientific grounds for this might be doubted, the firm belief in the tradition amongst spacers is unshakable. There is no surer way to break the Morale of a space Crew than to withdraw their daily rations of Water-Fuel.
While it is possible to collect tritiated water in raw form from certain astronomical objects, such as tritium-oxygen asteroids or gas giant rings, Ship's Engineers will avoid putting such unrefined fuel into their Engines unless there is no other choice. Spacers too prefer to fuel their bodies with the refined fuel, fearing that dangerous "void spirits" may be present in raw Water-Fuel.
Historical Use of Water-Fuel[ | ]
In the time before the Hyperwarp's rediscovery and the Reunification, ships used Solar Sails as their secondary propulsion mechanism.
Solar Sails were deployed by pumping Water-Fuel into kilometers-long micro-filament structures, and retracted by pumping the Water-Fuel back out of the sails and into the tanks. In a deployed Solar Sail, the massive, actively-energized tritium isotope interacts dynamically with the solar radiation, absorbing the energy and then re-radiating the energy in an amplified and directed form, giving greatly increased thrust.
This resulted in travel at similar speeds to modern ships, approximately 1 Astrochromm Unit per week, but as one can imagine, the sail arrays were quite vulnerable to damage from accidents and from battle.
Water-Fuel Sales[ | ]
Water-Fuel is available at almost all populated zones. All but the most primitive of starports will sell it. The following factors impact the exact price of Water Fuel:
- Zones with high Starport ratings will sell water-fuel at much more affordable prices.
- Zone type impacts prices significantly as well. Refineries are the best zone type for refueling. Industrial/High Tech seem to be next. Orbitals follow. Population, Lux Pop and Mining are not great for prices. Farming zones have the worst refueling prices. A 10 Starport Farming world will usually have only a C rating for refueling prices.
- Zone faction impacts prices if that faction is Javat. Javat always has discounted fuel.
- Zone economy rating can give a $1 discount if it is over 6 (a very common situation.)
- Zone danger 7 or higher will add $2 to the price.
- Zone military rating 6 or higher will discount $2 from the price.
- Zone atmosphere will give a $1 discount if it is a moderate atmosphere.
Refueling always takes 1 turn, even for partial refueling.
Talents to Discount Fuel Costs[ | ]
| Icon | Name | Job | Required Rank | Type | Description | Cooldown
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
REFUEL
|
Fuel Bargain | Merchant | 1 | REFUEL | When refueling your ship, tough negotiation at the starport grants a 15% + Negotiation Skill discount | 12 weeks Cooldown
|
|
REFUEL
|
Underport Bribe | Smuggler | 8 | REFUEL | When refueling your ship, a small side bribe to the dockmaster grants a 15% + Negotiate Skill discount | 12 weeks Cooldown
|
|
REFUEL
|
Depot Sweep | Scavenger | 1 | REFUEL | When refueling your ship, scouring the starport for better deals grants a 15% + Explore Skill discount | 12 weeks Cooldown
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Alternate sources of Water-Fuel[ | ]
Fuel is sometimes available from wreckage in orbital operations and wild zones. Fuel can be stolen from defeated ships with intact hulls. This will cost a small amount of reputation with that ship's faction, unless the ship is a Pirate or an Independent ship. (The Magnanimous Victory Diplomat Talent can refund this rep loss, but will not prevent loss of rank, edict, or trade permit.)