Essential Components

Essential Components

“I don’t care if the power’s out in the passenger’s quarters! If I don’t get the main drive conduit patched, we’re all sucking vacuum!”

–Bosun McCaid, on board the Vigilant Aquila

All ships have certain vital Components, without which they could not operate. These Components are included in a ship’s basic design. They cannot be removed (lest the vessel turn into an expensive and useless hulk), but may be upgraded—replacing older and less useful Components with more powerful versions. These Essential Components are specifically for starships capable of warp-travel—a system defence monitor or inter-system tug, for example, would not require a warp drive or Geller Field.

A warp-capable starship’s Essential Components are the following:

### **HULL**

The framework on which a starship is constructed, a hull, more than anything else, defines a starship. This is also one of the few Components that cannot be upgraded.

### PLASMA DRIVES

Gigantic edifices of almost incomprehensible technology, plasma drives take up immense amounts of space within a starship’s hull. Without one, a starship is little better than a cold, drifting tomb.

### **STAR DRIVE(Warp Drive for Dark Heresy)**

Stardrives can work in just about any way the GM wishes. Thus, their performance depends on the intended scope of the campaign more than anything else. The GM should work out the mechanics of stardrive operation to suit the campaign. GURPS Space has detailed guidelines on the many different options and possibilities for GMs who wish to design their stardrives to suit a campaign. For GMs without GURPS Space, this section presents some ready-to-use examples.

### VOID SHIELDS

Void shields create barriers of energy around a starship. The weaker versions on transports exist mainly to deflect celestial debris, while a military vessel’s void shield is strong enough to absorb incoming fire.

### **GELLAR FIELD**

Though a void shield protects a starship in space, it is of no use against the nightmarish inhabitants of the warp. For that, a warp-capable ship requires a Geller Field. This technology has existed since long before the Age of Strife, and creates a bubble of normalcy in that realm of chaos, and makes sure its creatures stay outside the hull.

### **LIFE-SUSTAINER**

Without the pumps, bellows, and filters of the life-sustainer, the air of a starship would soon be toxic fog, and the water, undrinkable sludge. Life-sustainers purify the ship’s atmosphere and recycle waste to produce clean water.

### **CREW COMPARTMENTS**

Even the smallest transports require thousands of crewmembers to operate. Many are menial laborer's press-ganged from the depths of hives, others are skilled void-men trained to operate a starship’s many systems. Regardless, they all require a place to live, be it a moldy bunk or well-appointed cabin.

### **BRIDGE**

Just like every body must have a head, every starship must have a bridge. Here, from his command-pulpit, the captain directs his vessel and the actions of his thousands of crew. Here also are the advanced cogitators that direct the ship’s targeting systems, sensors, and other systems.

### **SENSORS**

Sight is of little use when dealing with the vast distances of the void. Auspexes, grav-detectors, and auger arrays can spy the reflected light from a tumbling asteroid—or heat from an enemy vessel—thousands or even millions of kilometers away. More advanced sensors can even spot the warp-wake of a vessel traversing the Immaterium.

### **SUPPLEMENTAL COMPONENTS**

Though they are not needed for a ship to exist, many Supplemental Components are vital for a starship’s operations and even survival. There are many different types of Supplemental Components, aiding in everything from combat to cargo transport. Some of the more common types are weapons, passenger compartments, armor, plating, cargo holds, and the distinctive armored prows of Imperial warships, made up of 30 meters of adamantium or more.