A recent discussion in another proposal thread led me to consider the concept of tugs and transports as they apply in the Omega Octant, mainly since one of the ideas posted over there might also apply to a certain Omega faction.

At the time of writing, the Omega setting is chronically short on the kind of support units and mission variants that would otherwise allow the local factions to be campaign compatible. This is complicated by the "baked-in" dynamics in this region of the Milky Way, where most empires used their own bases, transports, and other such units.

By comparison, the kind of "one size fits all" approach in the Alpha Octant or M81 Galaxy, or the parallel developments on either side of the Lesser Magellanic Cloud's Core radiation shell, are, or were, easier to work out. (We don't yet know what kind of setup may be used by the playtest Triangulum empires.)

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Right now, with the exception of the Bolosco (whose fleet is mostly comprised of tugs) and Iridani (who have a tugboat designed to haul their Quest modules around), the only tug SSDs in print are for the Mæsron light and heavy tugs in Captain's Log #21. A series of four civilian units are offered in Captain's Log #20; while a number of Omega empires adopt these types, many more do not, and thus have to com up with their own solutions.

What's notable about the Mæsron tugs is how the OR-section data sets the tone for tug development across the region. Unlike in the Alpha Octant (where the presence of the Ptolemy-class tug in the Star Fleet Technical Manual set the stage for other fleet tugs to emerge in the setting) or LMC (where the Baduvai and Eneen adopted an old Jumokian League design, while the Maghadim developed along a different path with their own tactical transports), tugs were something of an afterthought in the Omega Octant.

The first "true" tugs in Omega were light tugs, such as the Mæsron TGL (which has a move cost of 2/3 when not carrying a pod, and a MC of 1 when carrying a single light pod). These were built to deploy the various outpost bases, or re-deploy them (for those empires whose outpost bases could be re-located elsewhere). Only gradually did the concept of developing pods or other uses come about. Notably, these were the first "modern" MC 2/3 hulls built by the Alliance; the Mæsrons would later re-tool some of the TGL yards in order to build light cruisers.

It was not until much later until the first heavy tugs entered service; the Probr built the first of this type during the Superpower Wars, which spurred the Mæsrons to field their own TGH in Y171. (The Mæsron heavy tug can carry one or two light pods, or one heavy pod.)

Neither Mæsron design was optimal, but the Alliance would not revisit the concept of tugs until after the Andromedan and Souldra invasions.

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Now, the main reason why I was thinking about this now was to see what kind of option the Federal Republic of Aurora might have come up with.

Once the Aurorans found their footing, they would have likely found use for such units when establishing their array of pocket battlestations; when supporting task forces being sent into Mæsron space; and later when launching other long-range expeditions (such as Operation Concerted Strike in Y204, or the later FRA intervention in the Probr-Trobrin/Paravian war in the mid-to-late Y210s).

Since the FRA lacks the luxury of a fully-fledged fleet yard, they have to make do with the jury-rigged facilities they have on hand. This might make it unlikely that they would invest the time and effort to develop a wholly new tug design on the Mæsron (or Star Fleet) model. But it would make it more likely that they could convert the CL into a "CLT", and perhaps use a larger hull type (such as the CLA or BC) as the basis for a large tug later on. (Of the two, the CLA might be a more viable option, since the more limited supply of BCs would be more in demand for combat missions.)

But then, there is a problem: what kind of pods would the Aurorans adopt?

It might seem reasonable to draw on their own heritage, by extrapolating the developments in Star Fleet prior to Y130 (or reviewing the records brought over from Klingon, Lyran, and ISC sources in the Y170s).

But then, perhaps it might be more logical to build their tugs with Mæsron pod templates in mind. That would make it easier to integrate their logistical networks with those of their allies, should those pods be made to work. The ability to make this work might depend on whether or not the Mæsron TGL and TGH attach their pods "behind" their primary hulls, or "beneath" them. If the former is the case, it may not be possible for the Aurorans to convert a CL into a theatre transport capable of operating such pods.

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Beyond the Mæsrons and FRA, the other Omega empires offer a range of questions to answer.

The "metal-hull" empires offer a more straightforward set of questions, or at least most of them do.

A number of Omega empires have no light cruisers, while others have no destroyers. (The Trobrin have neither.) Each of those would have to either build new yards in order to field light tugs, or perhaps forego the concept altogether and go with heavy tugs and frigate or destroyer transports only. (Perhaps the Trobrin never build a light tug, and use an FFT before later fielding a CA-sized fleet tug.)

Since some empires are taken out of action before the onset of heavy tugs, those powers (such as the Ymatrians) may not get one historically.

In the case of the Chlorophons, their logistics would be complicated by the need to use ships large enough to be flown by Phon captains. The "starliner pods" for would-be Phon tugs would presumably be designed to carry at least one Phon themselves, along with however many Keepers and/or Phon saplings they could carry to a new colony world. I would make things easier for them later in the timeline, by allowing the Mæsron and Probr "exile colonies" in Association space to operate the four civilian units from CL20 (armed with quantum phasers and/or energy howitzers in their weapon mounts) - akin to the Hydrans allowing the Borak and the oxy-nitrogen "exile planets" to operate civilian transports inside the Kingdom.

In the case of the Hivers, their "two sizes smaller than average" mantra might complicate matters for them. Would a Hiver "light tug" be akin to another empire's FFT, and their "heavy tug" be what others might call a destroyer transport?

And then you have the various "biological" empires (such as the Alunda and Branthodons), or the "exotic" factions (to include the Loriyill and Souldra). There might be some very unusual methods used by each of those factions, relative to what a more "mundane" empire might accomplish.

Eventually, the various "lost futures" empires may have this question to consider as well. I could readily imagine the Paravians of Omega fielding raid motherships...

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It might be a while before there's a chance to really flesh out this aspect of Omega Octant logistics. But it might be as well to have a thread here in which to speculate on the topic, if only to help things further down the road.

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Monday, July 14, 2025 - 10:10 pm: Edit

Are there some folks in the Omega Octant that wouldn't use tugs?

In their single-minded pursuit of serving and protecting the Drexari, would the Drex allow commerce across their borders? Without that, would they have much need of anything like tugs, or would FCR type support (possibly based on the hulls of their Patrollers?) be sufficient to keep Hypercannon ammunition and fuel (dilithium and antimatter) in good supply?

How much need for tugs would the Chlorophon have? With their inherent "Long-Term" views of things, would they have the same interest in collecting "Things" that we humans have? They have no need for foodstuffs to be transported (for the 'Phon themselves OR their Keepers, the only known peoples in 'Phon space). Also, would they be happy to allow Bolosco to carry whatever freight needs moving through their space?

Hivers consider their Barbs to be "Frigates." If they follow the Earth "Social Insect" model, they would have different castes within their society for different roles, some of which would be HIGHLY specialized. As such, might it be within their racial mindset to have extremely specialized "Freight Frigates," like double, triple, and quadruples sized Cargo Shuttles, manned by a special caste of Drone that go into torpor during interstellar flight?

(IIRC, part of the "Color Text" for the Yacht was that they were capable of flight from Earth to Vulcan, albeit in great discomfort, and I just thought that a specialized caste of insect that went into a torpor would be a perfect match for that sort of star trek.)

Anyway, these are just a couple screwball thoughts. Am I way off (as usual )? What do y'all think?

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Monday, July 14, 2025 - 11:31 pm: Edit

Over in Federation and Empire, there is a listing of each mission a given Alpha Octant tug, light tactical transport, or smaller transport variant can be assigned. These can be reviewed in (509.1), in (516.2), and in (539.72) respectively.

(The "lost empire" Paravians have provisional F&E rules in Captain's Log #48, covering the use of their Size Class 2 Raid Motherships from SFB Module C6.)

While the actual pods for these tugs have rules of their own, listed under (517.0).

Whule not all of these missions need necessarily apply here in Omega, a number of them very much would - for those empires in a position to use them, that is.

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In the case of the Chlorophons, bear in mind that articles both in Captain's Log #43 and in Captain's Log #51 have offered the concept of there eventually being Mæsron and Probr "exile colonies" in Association space, left over from when these empires held suzerainty over the region. (Somewhat akin to the oxy-nitrogen-breathing "exile species" in post-Liberation Hydran space.) So, once these colonies are successfully integrated into Phon society later in the timeline, I would see no problem with these "exile" colonists operating the four "Mæsron-type" civilian transports provided in Captain's Log #20.

But, for Phon-operated ships, I would say they would have to use tugs, not least to transfer personnel: as noted by SPP in Module Omega #5, Phon bases would have to be designed so as to allow their Phon "commanding officer" to be relieved. In which case, you'd need some sort of tug to transport said officer, plus its Keeper retinue, across Association space. (Or, indeed, to help set the base up in the first instance.)

Another option would be some sort of "robot" freighters, with a Phon ship nearby to operate them; but this would be sub-optimal in a Galactic octant as volatile as Omega. But even then, as noted over in F&E, freighters are not capable of the kind of "military-grade" missions which "true" tugs and fleet transports can accomplish.

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Drexari or no Drexari, trade or no trade, the Drex need to install their notoriously well-armed bases; to upgrade them, if called upon; to replace them, once they are destroyed; to repair them, should they be crippled; and to "resupply" them, if needs be.

All of which being missions that a tug would be of great benefit to, not least in terms of how much faster tugs and other fleet transports are compared to "civilian" freighters.

That said, the Drex do also need some type of "civilian" transports, to provide the basis for their Unity-wide logistical network.

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The Hivers would likely need both things: some sort of heavy transport shuttle-equivalent, as well as proper Size Class 4 fleet transports.

Now, I could see the Hivers building miniature "mission pods", which their transports would use in ways that Alpha Octant frigate and destroyer transports cannot - but which the likes of the Bolosco would be familiar with, from their Exchanger and Tradeship respectively.

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The Rynish concept of a tug might be quite different from that used by other Omega empires, due to two reasons: the pervasive transporter web at home, and the need to establish new colony sites on the outside of their home nebula.

In both cases, such ships would use impulse drives to move "operationally", and quantum transporters to move at a tactical level. Which might play a role in how they dock to and detach from pods, perhaps?

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As noted earlier, the two Omega empires with the biggest issues here might be the Alunda and the Branthodons.

The Alunda might be able to develop Host ship transports, but not "tugs" in the sense of being able to carry external pods. Even then, making use of such units might be a challenge, in terms of getting the cargo into and out of the Host ship in a timely manner.

As for the Branthodons, they might be limited to whatever a Dragonship - even one bio-engineered for transport duties - can carry: either in its claws, or perhaps on its back. But then, as also noted by SPP in Module Omega #5, they would likely have no "space" bases; they'd merely need to get whatever is being transported to and from a planetary surface.

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In short, I would say that... most Omega empires have a need for some sort of tug, or fleet transport.

Which is not to say that they would be equally capable, far from it. Some are going to be more, or less, versatile than others: something which might seem troubling from an Alpha Octant perspective, but which is par for the course here in Omega.

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 - 09:44 pm: Edit

Well reasoned, Gary!

(P.S.: I'm enjoying this conversation. )

Transporting 'Phon. How does a 'Phon move from the transport to his/her/its new home? Don't the ships and bases need to be built around the 'Phon commanding them?

(I wonder... A specialized tug for hauling one of their small bases from one location to another?)

Would a 'Phon MAJOR base (i.e.: something akin to a Starbase?) have interior docking facilities for 'Phon ships and some sort of super-duper transporter facility to enable a 'Phon to be transported from the orbiting facility to a planet's surface? If so, wouldn't that require the 'Phon to build such a base around EVERY world that has one or more of their people on it?

Components for this sort of base MIGHT be built at one base like it, then dragged by a sort of super-tug to where it was going to be set up...

Sheesh! It almost makes sense, given how slowly they've been presented at expanding.

Anyhootch, perhaps that belongs more in the discussion on Omega Octant Bases. Here, though, we're supposed to be discussing tugs and freighters.

Had a truly madcap idea that will likely (and VERY rightly ) be shot down; what if 'Phon tugs were "Twin" units? Basically, I can easily picture something with the hull form of a 'Phon ship siding up to something in need of towing and latching on, kind of like having a side mounted pod connector plate. Thing is, it would have an asymmetric warp field. IF, on the other hand, there were TWO units, one on either side of what was being towed, then these smaller ships, flown by 'Phon who were much younger than normal ship captains, would be "Student Captains," learning HOW to fly their ships, and operating in pairs so if one had a problem with a situation, he/she/it could ask his/her/its "Tag-Team Partner" for answers. IMO, this would be a lot better for the 'Phon than sending out a Frigate with an untried, and potentially non-capable commander.


Whew! That was quite a bit on the Chlorophon. Now, what about, say, the Hivers?

Love the argument you made about them needing tugs and not just relying on shuttle sized cargo ships. I might disagree with certain aspects of it, but of course, it's better to have a ship type that a player generated campaign might not use than to force them to not have something that the players want.

As far as what they might use, I can also see them using something similar in scale to the Pinnaces from the Magellanic Cloud. They would also probably, due to their own small size, use pods similar to the ones used there (or Tholian Packs).


One race that has me in a quandry is the Sigviron. I can easily imagine most every race out there, upon seeing a potentially "Soft" target (like a tug) flown by these viruses as something they want to destroy. For this reason, I can picture them wanting to make use of "Captured" (i.e.: taken over by infection) freighters of other races. This might explain why they were as aggressive as they were toward the Qixa; their freighters were welcomed almost everywhere, and hiding amongst the Space Bunnies is an easy way to potentially spread their infections.

You also brought up the Alunda and Branthodon. Living ships. Understandable problems. However, given how many things like "Pouches" have already been brought up for both of them makes me think that them breeding critters that, like honeypot ants, have collapsable organs for pure storage, is pretty reasonable.

Again, this is something that, perhaps, would best be put in the "Bases" thread, but methinks a cruiser sized organism that has an internal bay large enough for an outpost base ought to be fairly easy for the Alunda to gengineer. Same sort of "Hold" can carry four or five smaller critters; ones the size of small ground bases, that can be pure cargo pods. Perhaps even a purely space going one that can carry a full squadron of fighters as a sort of "Q-Ship Carrier" as their "Battle Tug" equivalent?

Again, I am enjoying this conversation.

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 - 11:50 am: Edit

I don't think Chlorophon transporter technology is advanced enough to "beam" a full-sized Phon captain into and out of its place aboard a starship or base; only the Ryn and Andromedans have demonstrated that level of transporter prowess, and neither is interested in sharing.

However, given that individual Phons are spherical in nature, it's quite possible for them to have sphere-shaped "transfer pods", in which they can "roll up" their vines and branches for the duration of transit.

For ships, this would be handled at the primary fleet yard. For bases, there'd likely be the use of a tug to "raise" the transfer pod out of a pre-existing base, and then to "lower" a new pod into place. (This is close to what SPP was suggesting, as per his notes from Module Omega #5.)

Although, for worlds with established Chlorophon populations, they could use a ground-based tractor beam to lift a Phon to and from the planetary surface, so as to swap commanders of a base in orbit of the planet.

Given the constraints of Phon engineering, it's unlikely (in my view) that they would set up a "twin-hull" tug design. Nor, given the typical placement of their engines, would I see them adopting a tug which "pulled" its attached pod (or pods). But, I could see them go the ISC route; in terms of designing a "push" tug, which docked the pod to the prow.

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Pinnaces are a good point of comparison, in terms of what would-be Hiver "freighters" might look like design-wise. Although, just as several Omega empires currently have access to express boats and passenger liners, the Hivers might need their own "executive transports", in order to transfer high-ranking officers (such as those used as "local" mental nodes) from one location to another.

One other use for a larger tug might be to move the Queen herself. Since most Hiver ships are designed to be operated by "regular-sized" Hivers, there would likely be some sort of "VIP pod" aimed at carrying the Queen in the kind of comfort she is used to. Although there is at least one scenario (SL197.0) in which a Queen can be carried aboard a "standard" Hiver warship, as an emergency measure.

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I suspect that the Sigs were slow to adopt the tug concept, at least by the time their "first" empire was destroyed by the Mæsrons.

Given that the small base they have in Module Omega #2 is able to move under its own power, it's likely that they simply flew it (slowly) from one star system to the next, and then "built up" from this base in order to establish a more permanent installation.

In theory, they might have developed a proper tug of their own in time for the Second Great War. In practice, however, they might have simply leaned into the logistical network being "offered" by the Sig-infected Nucian Treska Clan. Although we might need to wait a while before that "Omega"s Lost Futures" faction is outlined in more detail.

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The problem the Alunda have is how they move and install their pre-existing Guarder bases.

The problem they appear to have is that their sedentary "ground bases" are limited in size, due to the effect of the planet's gravity field. So any "space bases" - which are produced by cloning - would either have to be "grown" on-site (or rather, in orbit), or require some sort of tug to move them from a more developed space installation once they are ready for use.

We'd need to know more about the life cycle of the "wild alunda" creatures that Host ships and bases are derived from, before seeing what - if any - kind of transit requirements need to be talked about.

It's actually quite possible that, in an inversion of the situation with the Branthdodons - for whom SPP suggests networking a range of ground-based facilities, so as to approximate larger bases - the Alunda might be obliged to "network" a collection of Guarder-sized space bases in order to mimic the functions of a "base station" or "starbase". As in, there'd be several of these smaller bases docked to one another, in order to produce a gestalt "base" in outer space - something that, given the dietary requirements of the life forms in question, would put a severe limit on exactly where the Alunda Host can afford to actually place such "facilities'.

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At this point, it might be necessary to set up a dedicated thread in this BBS sub-section for large Omega bases, so as not to "overload" the tug and transport topic being focused on here...

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 - 04:04 pm: Edit

I was also thinking about a possible 'Phon transport last night. Does the fact that we both were mean I might be getting smarter? Gawd, I hope so! All these decades as what famed Qixa philosopher Bugs Bunny called "A Maroon" have been getting annoying...

Anyhootch, given the 'Phon laid-back sensibility (i.e.: ignore everything today until we can ignore it tomorrow) suggests to me that, if a 'Phon wished to travel somewhere, it would likely be content to casually "Get Dressed" (i.e.: "Put on a travelling ship like a set of clothes") over the course of three to ten years (depending on the size of the 'Phon).

If I may be so bold, instead of just being a passive sphere, what about making it a full fledged, but minimally capable starship?

Imagine taking a standard 'Phon ship SSD, removing a good chunk of the WARP engine (down to, say, moving no faster than a speed of six to eight on WARP power alone) and all the basic guns, perhaps only keeping a couple phasers.

Given their patience, might even the entire WARP engine be removed and the ship needs to make use of non-tactical warp.

Unlike the simple sphere you suggested, a ship like this would retain the control spaces, labs, tractor beams, shuttles, and transporter of a normal 'Phon ship, and might serve as a peaceful RV for the 'Phon in question.

Does that sound good, or is it more than what you are envisioning for upgrades to Omega?

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Friday, July 18, 2025 - 11:04 am: Edit

There are such things as pod types in the Alpha Octant which have impulse engines for limited independent operations; though not every Alpha empire does this.

For example: in Module C6, the "lost empire" Carnjvons have a troop transport pod (R19.60) which can move (slowly) under its own power. However, the "lost empire" Paravian barracks pod (R18.60) cannot do the same.

In theory, the Chlorophons could design their "starliner pod" in a similar manner to the Carnivon one. Perhaps even for use within a securely-controlled star system.

In practice, however, given how volatile Omega can be relative to Alpha, such a pod would still very much be best kept attached to a full-sized tug, when transiting between star systems.