Bitter Luck Ship

The Bitter Luck is a prototype Ulysses-class class long-range planetary survey and scout vessel. The ship was designed by H&K Far Reach a subsidiary of the larger parent company and was intended to fill a market between starfighters and larger ships. Five years after launch showing only lackluster success they were folded back in as a support division of the larger company.

The Bitter Luck is actually two medium ships, the Carrack or the main ship and the Dromon or top ship. Both ships can operate independently or integrated together. Nyx names the main ship the Queen's Heart and the top ship Aces High.

The Bitter Luck excels on long range hauls having been designed for system exploration, planet trail blazing and research on far out worlds. This is why the ship works great for Nyx as a transport, cargo and mercenary ship.

Ya that makes no sense I don't need a third name for my ship. If they are separated they each have a name, if they are together they have one name. Seems like two, not three.

Later she added the third name after the death of that crew member.

— Nyx to a previous crew member.

Home Sweet Home

For Nyx the Bitter Luck is far more than a ship. It is a memory of love from Saran her adopted father, it is a reminder of community from her pirate family, it represents her freedom, her choices and her home out in the black.

Maps

Split Ships

Misc

Class

Ulysses

Manufacturer

H&K Far Reach

Owner

Nyx

Crew

• Nyx

Armada Codex - Ulysses

This document presents the Ulysses-class long-range planetary survey vessel, which functionally consists of two medium-sized craft designed to function independently or joined together. The “Carrack” section is the base of operations, containing the primary scanning and communications systems plus spacious cargo holds and science labs. The Carrack has half a dozen cabins and a small barracks for another six personnel. It also carries four large survey drones and a rugged Rottweiler-class utility vehicle.

The slightly smaller “Dromon” is the other half of the Ulysses design. This is a VTOL heavy lifter designed to get the Carrack planetside and back in high gravity and hostile conditions or to explore on its own while the Carrack loiters on or above a given world. The Dromon is also in charge of mission security and is very well-armed. It has bunks for six and an anti-grav airboat for surface use.

The Ulysses craft are built to excel on long haul duties far beyond the frontier; conducting planetary surveys, stellar cartography, and remote reconnaissance. Useful in both civilian and military roles – they are well suited for cargo hauling or relief missions as well as general mercenary work. With their cryo tanks, ample supplies, and a variety of support vehicles, there are few missions for which this self-reliant duo is not ready.

Ulysses is named for the hero of ancient greek literature (aka Odysseys). The Carrack and Dromon names are reference to ancient seafaring ships, though the king of Ithaca (in addition to being fictional) predates both types of water craft by several centuries.

Though well built and multi-talented, Ulysses struggles to find acceptance in today’s market. Long range exploration is a rare vocation for civilians and government agencies tend to go with the cheapest option available. The Ulysses design, for the most part, uses standard Terran hardware and so is not overly expensive. The integration system and redundancy does, however, add a non-negligible amount to the price tag that a singleton ship avoids. So, at least for now, Ulysses is considered a specialist vessel designed for a niche market or for those who have a particular need to be two places at once.

As time goes by it gets increasingly likely that a lone Dromon will be purchased on the secondary market to serve as a gunship or well armed tug. In the same vein, a Carrack that has lost its Dromon (or that has been sold separately) may be in use as a slow freighter that happens to contain a sizeable laboratory. This could be of use to those who both manufacture and need to transport large amounts of pharmaceuticals or high-tech contraband.
Note:
Reference from the recent Kickstarter I purchased. This text has been placed in a variable so that it would not inflate the World Ember 2022 automated word count.