GURPS Sector General

[Pursuivant]

Protective Coating (TL9)

Thick-skinned creatures like Melfans and Tralthans, who can't effectively wear gloves, cover their manipulators with spray-on protective coating prior to performing surgery. Any species might benefit from Protective Coating if proper species-specific protective gloves and coveralls aren't available. (Although Kelgians will refuse to let the stuff touch their fur unless the alternative is certain death. Even then, they will complain loudly and will be miserable for days afterwards.)

Spoiler:  

Species which don’t (or can’t) wear gloves cover their manipulators with Protective Coating - a tough, flexible, sterile, spray-on plastic coating which dries on contact. It is impermeable to gas and liquids and can easily be peeled from the skin once dry. Multiple coats can be applied to give extra protection or to seal gaps or damage. It is available in transparent form or a variety of translucent or opaque colors. While intended for medical use, there is no reason why it can’t be used for other purposes, such as creating temporary clothing. A full body coating can substitute for a TL7 NBC Suit (p. B285) and it can also be used to mend small rips or holes in clothing or protective gear. Under hard use the coating must be renewed every 10 minutes. Under routine use, it can last for up to 4 hours. If left on, it will naturally slough off over several days.

Its drawbacks are that it sticks to hair and clothing and it traps heat and moisture, making full-body applications of Protective Spray miserable to wear for species that sweat and potentially dangerous for creatures which breathe or absorb nourishment through their skin. Treat a full body application as Winter Clothing when rolling to resist the effects of Cold, Heat, or Thermal Shock. The fact that it is impermeable makes full body applications dangerous to species that breathe or absorb nutrients through their skin, possibly causing them to Suffocate or suffer from Hunger.

Removing Protective Spray from clothing or hair takes 1 minute per 10% of body coverage. Ripping it away suddenly might cause hair loss and Mild Pain or tear delicate fabric. It takes 5 minutes per 10% body coverage to remove the spray from long or thick hair and causes Moderate Pain if it is ripped away. Kelgians, with their long, sensitive fur, might need to make Fright Checks!

A thin layer of Protective Coating provides no DR but gives the same benefits as surgical gloves. A thicker layer provides DR 1*, but gives -2 to Touch and -1 to DX and DX-based skill rolls involving the affected body parts. A very thick layer provides DR 2*, but gives -4 to Touch and -2 to DX and DX-based skills.

Protective Coating (TL9): A gallon of protective spray. Includes a wand applicator mounted on 1 yard of flexible plastic tubing. Contains enough to completely cover twenty Size 0 creatures (proportionately more for partial applications). $80, 5 lbs., LC4.

Protective Coating, 5 Gallons (TL9): Five gallons of protective spray. Requires a Backpack Sprayer or Protective Spray Dispenser. Holds enough to completely cover a hundred Size 0 creatures. $400, 25 lbs., LC4.

Protective Coating Can (TL9): A can holding enough coating to cover an adult human or similar Size 0 creature. Alternately, it contains enough to coat half of the user’s body twice, their arms up to five times, or their feet or hands up to ten times. $4, 0.25 lbs., LC4.

Protective Spray Dispenser (TL9): A semi-portable unit which holds a 5-gallon container of Protective Coating. Inset spray nozzle stations allow users to easily coat their hands or feet. A wand applicator with a 1-yard hose is mounted inside the unit allowing applications. Treat this like a Backpack Sprayer if used in combat. $150, 50 lbs. (empty)., LC4.

[Pursuivant]

Protective Gloves (TL9)

High tech surgical and personal protective gloves for humanoid creatures and other species with recognizable hands.

Spoiler:  

Work gloves, or similar protective gear for manipulative extremities, are made of tough, transparent material which doesn’t interfere with manual dexterity. Treat them as Bioplas Gloves (GURPS Ultratech, p. 174), except that they lack self-healing capacity and don’t give penalties to the wearer’s DX or skills.

Protective Suit (TL9)
This, plus a uniform or a set of coveralls, is the working uniform of an active Sector General physician or technician. It is light enough to be comfortable and provides protection in most hospital environments.

Spoiler:  

Visitors to worlds with hostile atmospheres and people working in hazardous environments commonly wear a light protective coverall made from tough, transparent material. This is effectively a Bioplas Body Suit (GURPS Ultratech, p. 174) with the Responsive Fabric (Ultratech, p. 39) option, except that the suit can’t heal damage. An integral emergency locator beacon is built into most suits.

The humanoid version of the suit includes integral non-detachable booties, unsealable gloves attached at the wrists and an unsealable full-face hood attached at the back of the neck. When not in use, the gloves can be folded into pockets in the wrists and the hood can be hang loose or be stowed in a pocket in the collar. The gloves fit tightly enough that they don’t interfere with sense of touch or manual dexterity. Exterior pockets and equipment loops allow access to equipment while the suit is worn.

It takes 30 seconds to don the coverall or 15 seconds to remove it once the gloves and hood are unsealed. Once the coverall is on, it takes a further 5 seconds to don and seal the hood, or 3 seconds to remove it. It takes 5 seconds to don and seal each glove or 1 second each to remove them.

Telltales give the user a +1 bonus to skill rolls to determine that the suit is sealed or unsealed. Careful users spend extra time (see Time Spent, p. B346) going through the safety checklist, giving them further skill bonuses to avoid mishaps.

When the suit is sealed, it protects against most hostile environments while also giving a +1 bonus to resist Heat and a +2 bonus to resist Cold and Thermal Shock. It also gives the user the Pressure Support 1 and Vacuum Support advantages. The suit allows wearers to walk or swim normally, but interferes with winged flight. Flight using Antigravity Belts is still possible.

The suit includes a built-in rechargeable Air Tank with a 4-hour air supply, but can be linked to larger Air Tanks or external air supplies. A skill roll allows the wearer to extend the air supply by up to 10%. Small integral heating, cooling, and humidity control units provide limited life support. It can contract or expand by up to 20% to form a tighter or looser envelope around the wearer’s body and can be worn over ordinary clothing. Additionally, the wearer can carry worn (but not carried) equipment up to Light Encumbrance underneath the suit.

Suits usually include a Personal Locator Beacon. Its radio signal can be detected up to a mile away. I can also link to any planetary cellular communication network, allowing rescuers to determine the wearer’s location from anywhere on the planet. It normally runs using the suit’s power, but can function for up to a week after the suit’s power runs out. The user can activate the beacon with a Ready maneuver. The beacon can also link to the user’s Biomonitor and will automatically activate if it detects a medical emergency.

Normally, no skill roll is required to use a Protective Suit, although it can count as an NBC Suit, Diving Suit, Pressure Suit, or Vacc Suit to use the relevant Environmental Suit skill. A critical failure might mean that it isn’t properly sealed, has problems with its life support, or has a low or failing power supply. Multiple critical failures might cause the user to suffer from Hypoxia, Nitrogen Narcosis, or Suffocation, or insidious effects of the outside atmosphere.

Variations of the Protective Suit exist for each species, so time required to don or remove a suit, or parts of it, can vary. For example, suits designed for eight-limbed Sommaradvans consist of a top and bottom part which are sealed at the waist and don’t include removable gloves. Illensans typically wear single-piece, loose-fitting, bag-like protective suits, which flex and expand to accommodate their extensible limbs. This doesn’t cause them any problems, but accentuates their shapeless appearance.

Regardless of model, protective suits have DR 15/5* and are effectively Hardened (2) against Corrosive damage. When sealed, they protect the wearer’s entire body; otherwise they protect all parts of the body except the hands and head. Other species versions typically protect all parts of the body except the head when unsealed.

Basic training for Sector General hospital staff includes the care and use of protective suits. Airlocks between different environments within the hospital airlocks have Protective Suits available for general use, although staff who routinely travel to different environments typically wear their suits everywhere in order to save changing time. Senior staff might have one or more suits reserved for their personal use. $2,000, 3 lbs., A/4 hours. LC4.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by SydneyFreedberg

I just started reading the first book last night.

I share your assessment of the series.

Unless someone requests otherwise, I will hold off on posting material about species from later books to prevent spoilers.

As it is, I've posted templates for the major Galactic Federation species. Earth-Humans, Illensans, Kelgians, Melfans, Nidians, Orligians, and Tralthans appear to be the most common - or at least most dominant - species.

Hudlars appear to be an emerging species, possibly contacted before they developed much technology, but working hard to catch up.

(The idea of the "Prime Directive" doesn't apply in the Galactic Federation. If Monitor Corps scouts encounter a planet with sapient life, they will eventually try to make first contact if the species appears to be a decent candidate for eventual membership. They will also contact hostile or distressed alien species if the alternative is letting the species go extinct. The result is some truly dysfunctional alien species, described in loving detail in later books in the series.)

BTW, there are safety backups aboard Sector General, you just haven't gotten to them yet. It also has lots of procedures in place to prevent accidental collisions, but all the safety features in the world can't stop a truly determined idiot.

[Pursuivant]

Personal Protective Exoskeleton

Spoiler:  

A variation of the Casualty Handling Gear, midway between a Personal Protective Vehicle and Space Armor, used for protection and cargo handling in potentially dangerous situations. Aboard Sector General, medical personnel from fragile species wear them when working around unpredictable large species patients.

It has four arms and four small, heavy-duty, off-road wheels. The body is mounted on a pivoting base which can also be tilted slightly forward to maintain balance and improve reach.

Protective Exoskeletons are species specific and can typically only be adapted to other species of the same Size with difficulty (minimum of 1 hour and a Mechanic skill roll). They are usually 1-2 feet longer or taller than average species height or length.

It is operated using Environmental Suit (Battlesuit), First Aid, Freight Handling, or Physician skill.

Its systems are designed to work with standardized tools and medical gear and such devices can be run using the suit’s power, using built-in power jacks. Sensors and manipulators within the suit allow the user to interact with their surroundings. Two of the suit’s arms are grabbers with Good Grip 2, Ham-Fisted 1, and ST 14. The other two are fine manipulators with Good Grip 2 and ST 10. All its arms move too slowly to throw object or be effective in combat.

[Pursuivant]

Personal Protective Vehicles

Spoiler:  

People in the Sector General universe commonly use small Personal Protective Vehicles to explore radically different environments which would be too dangerous to visit while wearing conventional environmental suits. They are all similar in basic design, but vary widely in purpose. Aboard Sector General, Threcaldian and SNLU staff use protective vehicles to visit other areas of the hospital, while oxygen-breathing staff use protective vehicles to visit the Telfi, Threcaldian, and SNLU wards.

All models of PPV are approximately 8-10 feet long, 4-6 feet wide, and 6-8 feet tall. They consist of a pair of wide, caterpillar-like treads which support a small sealed crew compartment. Batteries, life support equipment, and motive power are contained within the lower body between the treads. Sensors and manipulators are mounted on the exterior walls of the crew compartment.

PPV intended for use in extremely high or low pressure or temperature environments are heavily insulated and have redundant life support equipment for heating or cooling and (de)pressurization. They are usually spherical in shape. PPV designed for use in hostile environments where pressure and temperature differences aren’t as extreme might have larger, more lightly built crew compartments.

All PPV share these common features:

Controls: PPV are equipped with modular controls which can be easily swapped out or shifted to accommodate operators of different sizes and species. The vehicle can either be directly controlled by the driver or remotely controlled from a control station. Environmental Suit (Battlesuit or NBC Suit) is typically used to control PPV, but controls are sufficiently similar to standard ground vehicles that operation defaults to any suitable Driving skill.

If the operator is inside the vehicle, it can control all vehicle, controls, sensors, and manipulators from a single control station. Drivers of Size 0 or 1 find the control station to be cramped. Drivers of Size -1 or smaller don’t suffer from this problem.

Entry and Exit: PPV have a single hatch, mounted on the left or right side, which allows a Size 1 or smaller creature to get in or out of the vehicle. The hatch automatically locks from inside when it is closed and can’t be opened without remote access or brute force. Presumably, a key pad or equivalent allows authorized users to access a locked vehicle. Normally, no skill roll is needed to enter or leave a PPV, but unskilled users might need to make a default skill roll against Environmental Suit skill to properly seal the hatch. It takes 1 second to open or close the hatch and two seconds to get in or out.

Fuel and Replenishment: The fuel to propel the vehicle and power its systems is provided by extremely advanced batteries. They give a typical PPV a range of 25 miles, far more than the duration of its life support. If it matters, Environmental Suit/TL or Mechanic/TL skill might be able to slightly extend a PPV’s range.

Dedicated batteries and similar power systems provide cooling, heating, and artificial gravity as necessary. Sealed tanks provide life support gasses, as well as limited a water supply (approximately 1 gallon). Another tank provides limited waste disposal. All fuel and life support systems are accessible from both the vehicle’s interior and exterior.

Armoury/TL (Battlesuit), Mechanic/TL (Life Support) or (Environmental Suit) skill, or a suitable default, is needed to properly repair, recharge, or replenish power and life support systems. At the GM’s option, Environmental Suit/TL (Battlesuit, Diving Suit, or NBC Suit) can substitute when recharging batteries and replenishing or maintaining life support equipment.

Life Support: All PPV provide life support for one person of Size 0 for approximately 6 hours. Assume that each Size below Size 0 increases Life Support duration by 50%, to a maximum of 24 hours. A successful Environmental Suit or Mechanic/TL (Life Support) skill roll might be able to extend nominal life support. Oxygen (or similar breathing gas) consumption can be reduced normally using advantages such as Metabolism Control or skills such as Breath Control, but temperature control cannot. Life support duration is reduced proportionately if passengers are carried.

Manipulators: All PPV have numerous handling arms equipped with haptic sensors. These allow the occupant to remotely manipulate nearby items as if it was working with its own hands. Different sets of arms allow the occupant to handle items to the front, sides, or rear of the vehicle. If it matters, roll against the lowest of the operator’s DX, DX-based skill, or DX-based Environmental Suit skill to determine whether tasks performed using the manipulators are successful.

Passengers: PPV are typically large enough that a Size 0 operator can carry one Size 0 passenger. Smaller operators can carry proportionately more passengers, doubling the number of potential passengers per Size below -1 (e.g., 1 Size -1, 2 Size -2, 4 Size -3, or 8 Size -4 passengers). Size 1 operators can’t carry passengers, with the exception that they can carry one passenger of Size -3 or smaller on their lap or an equivalent location. Carrying passengers automatically makes the control station Cramped even if it wasn’t before and reduces life support duration.

Passengers cannot access vehicle controls without shifting positions with the driver. They might also need to make Vision rolls to see vehicle sensors or DX or DX-based skill rolls to operate vehicle manipulators.

Sensors: All PPV are fitted with sensors which allow the occupant to use all its senses while in the hostile environment. Depending on the design, the PPV might have a window for vision and audio pickups for sound or else special sensors which interpret alien sensations into suitable equivalents. Certain models of PPV might have sensors which expand the occupant’s sensory range, such as infrared sensors or radiation detectors.

Tracks: All PPV are fitted with wide, caterpillar tracks. This gives them a very low center of gravity, and limited ability to climb slopes and move over rough or boggy ground, but at the expense of speed, maneuverability, and stealth. Aboard Sector General, PPV are presumably slow and noisy as a safety measure, to allow people to hear them coming and to get out of the way in time.

Noise and Visibility: All PPV are tracked vehicles. Additionally, their life support systems might make noise when stressed. This gives a +3 bonus to Hearing rolls to detect a PPV when it is stationary, or +6 when it is moving.

A PPV whose interior is much hotter or colder than its surroundings might be extremely visible to infrared sensors or vision, especially when silhouetted against a much warmer or colder background. This gives a bonus of +1 or more to detect the vehicle.

PPV with extremely hot or cold surfaces might also be detected at close range by touch. Anyone with exposed flesh can roll vs. Touch at -1 per yard of distance, to extreme heat radiating from a very hot pressure vessel or to sense heat being absorbed by extremely cold vessels.

Hull Breaches: PPV with interior pressures much higher than the surrounding environment might explosively decompress if they are breached. This means that occupants suffer the effects of Explosive Decompression and might suffer the effects of Cold, Extreme Cold, Heat, or Extreme Heat. Those near a ruptured pressure vessel might suffer the effects of an Explosion which inflicts 1d to 6d of explosive crushing or explosive burn damage, based on the degree of pressure and temperature differential and the severity of the breach.

PPV with interior pressures much lower than the surrounding environment might suffer similar problems if they suffer a breach. Occupants of the pressure vessel suffer the effects of the increased Pressure, possibly causing the equivalent of The Bends or even crushing damage. Those close to the pressure vessel might suffer the equivalent of an Explosion which inflicts up to 1d HP of crushing explosive damage as they are sucked towards the breach. People on both sides of the breach might suffer the effects of sudden temperature changes.

In any case, vehicle occupants and those nearby might also be vulnerable to the effects of Hostile Atmospheres if suffocating or toxic gas gets into the pressure vessel or escapes from it. Potentially flammable gasses, such as methane, might become dangerously explosive if they are allowed to mix with oxygen atmospheres.

[Pursuivant]

PPV Types

Spoiler:  

Armored PPV: The Armored PPV allows members of relatively small or fragile species to safely work around members of larger species who aren’t fully in control of their bodies or minds. Aboard Sector General, they are used by staff members of smaller species working with Hudlar or Tralthan children. Specialized life support equipment is replaced by armor, armored windows, reinforced sensors and manipulators which are capable of resisting attacks by large, violent individuals.

Manipulators might be enlarged and strengthened to allow vehicle operators to pick up or restrain uncooperative subjects. Assume that at least one pair of manipulator arms has ST equal to the average Arm ST of an adult member of a larger species. Presumably, the vehicle is capable of being sealed and has very limited internal supply of breathing gas.

Cold Temperature PPV: The Cold Temperature PPV allows members of species native to milder temperatures to visit extremely cold, potentially airless, environments. They consist of a sealed, insulated, spherical pressure vessel with heaters on the inside and refrigerators on the outside. This allows the vehicle’s occupants to remain warm while not incinerating members of extremely low temperature species.

Assume that such PPV can operate at any temperature down to -458 °F (i.e., one degree above Absolute Zero). Sensors are modified to allow interaction with SNLU species, including the ability to sense and interpret vibrations as speech and the ability to “see” using strange energy emissions.

If this sort of PPV suffers a hull breach, its occupants immediately suffer 1d to 3d HP of burn (cold) damage per second from Extreme Cold, based on the ambient exterior temperature. They might also suffer the effects of Explosive Decompression. Native creatures outside the pressure vessel suffer the equivalent of 3d to 10d HP of explosive burn damage from hot escaping gas.

Hot Temperature PPV: The Hot Temperature PPV allows members of species native to much cooler temperatures to visit extremely hot, potentially high pressure, environments. They consist of a sealed, insulated, spherical pressure vessel with refrigerators on the inside and heaters on the outside. This allows the vehicle’s occupants to remain cool while not freezing members of extremely high temperature species.

Such PPV can operate at any temperature up to 1,000 °F. Sensors are modified to allow interaction with ultra-hot objects and species.

If this sort of PPV suffers a hull breach, its occupants immediately suffer 1d to 3d HP of burn damage per second from Extreme Heat, based on the ambient exterior temperature. They might also suffer the effects of Pressure based on the ambient exterior pressure. Native creatures outside the pressure vessel suffer the equivalent of 1d to 3d HP of explosive burn (cold) damage from ultra-cold escaping gas.

Radiation-Protected PPV: This vehicle allows members of more vulnerable species to visit highly radioactive environments and to interact with naturally radioactive species such as Telfi. Aboard Sector General, these sorts of PPV are used remotely to treat Telfi patients and to service the fission reactors inside the Telfi ward. Staff members wear normal radiation suits when dealing with non-radioactive, sick or dying Telfi.

The crew compartment is heavily shielded against radiation, protecting against radiation up to 1,000 Rads per hour and heat of up to 750 °F. Armor provides PF 1,000 against radiation beyond 1,000 Rads per hour.

Sensors are modified so that they aren’t affected by the effects of high levels of ionizing radiation. Internal Geiger counters and dosimeters warn the crew of potentially dangerous radiation exposure. Manipulators are modified so that they can handle intensely hot and radioactive materials.

A hull breach is likely to expose the occupants to lethal doses of radiation, as well as potential Explosive Decompression or Pressurization, the effects of Cold or Heat, and possibly damage from Extreme Cold or Heat.

Natives outside the pressure vessel might suffer 1d HP of explosive damage as a result of sudden decompression or implosion.

SNLU PPV: Members of the SNLU species use these PPV in order to visit warmer environments. They are a common sight in the corridors of Sector General. They clank as they move and the cooling systems whine when they are strained.

The surface of the pressure sphere (but not other parts of the vehicle) is dangerously cold. Cold can be felt up to 2 yards away by making a successful Touch roll. At room temperature and humidity, frozen condensation builds up on the sphere making its icy cold surface obvious. Anyone forced into prolonged contact with the vessel’s surface suffers 1d-2 HP burning (cold) damage per minute of contact.

The pressure vessel is also extremely obvious to infrared vision (+10 to Vision rolls) when silhouetted against higher-temperature backgrounds.

If submerged in a sufficient amount of water, ice quickly builds up on the cooling chamber eventually causing the vehicle to become positively buoyant in anything other than microgravity conditions. Assume that ice builds up on the sphere at a rate of 1 inch per minute, reducing the vehicle’s effective weight by 1% per minute until it begins to float. Eventually, ice builds up to the point that the vehicle can’t move; it either bobs to the surface so the tracks can’t get traction or by freezes in place. The ice will also cool the surrounding water (assume 4 cubic yards) by 1 °F per minute.

Meanwhile, the vehicle must roll vs. HT+4 every minute to maintain proper interior refrigeration. Failure means that the temperature rises by 10 °F multiplied by the margin of failure over a period of one minute. Failure by 4 or more or a critical failure means that the cooling systems fail. This stops icing and temperature drop of the surrounding water, but allows the interior temperature to rise by 50 °F per minute until the cooling systems are repaired. The occupant of the pressure vessel might suffer the effects of Heat or Extreme Heat as a result of the temperature rise.

Any hull breach in a warm, environment results in a 3d HP “burn” damage to the occupants per second. Depending on the pressure differential, occupants might also simultaneously suffer the effects of Explosive Decompression. If the interior pressure is considerably higher than its surroundings, cold gasses will explosively expand as they escape and warm, inflicting 1d to 3d HP of explosive crushing damage to those nearby.

Threcaldian PPV: Threcaldians use PPV in order to visit colder, lower-pressure, environments. They are also a common sight in the corridors of Sector General. The whine of their heating elements and the hiss of escaping steam serves as a warning to experienced staff to get out of their way.

The surface of the pressure sphere (but not other parts of the vehicle) is dangerously hot. The heat can be felt up to 2 yards away by making a successful Touch roll. Anyone forced into contact with the vessel’s surface suffers 1d-2 HP burn damage per 10 seconds of contact.

The pressure vessel is also extremely obvious to infrared vision (+10 to Vision rolls) when silhouetted against lower-temperature backgrounds.

If submerged in water, the pressure vessel might heat the surrounding environment to a dangerous degree while also allowing the inside temperature to fall to dangerously low levels. Assume that every minute that the vehicle is submerged it heats the water in immediate contact with the pressure sphere (assume 4 cubic yards) by 1 °F. Meanwhile, the vehicle must make a HT every minute to maintain proper interior heat. Failure means that the temperature drops by 10 °F multiplied by the margin of failure over a period of one minute. Failure by 4 or more or a critical failure means that the heating systems fail. This stops temperature rise of the surrounding water, but allows the interior temperature to fall by 50 °F per minute until the heating systems are repaired. The occupant of the pressure vessel might suffer the effects of Cold or Extreme Cold as a result of the temperature drop.

Any hull breach in a lower-pressure environment results in a steam explosion which inflicts 3d to 10d HP explosive Burn damage to anyone nearby. The occupants of the vehicle simultaneously suffer Explosive Decompression and 3d HP “extreme cold” damage per second as lower temperature air rushes in.

[Pursuivant]

Utility Floats

Spoiler:  

Many different types of low-speed contragravity vehicles are used for cargo handling in the Sector General universe, taking the place of 21st century forklifts and pallet jacks.

They are operated using Driving/TL (Contragravity) or Freight Handling/TL skill, but the GM can allow defaults from any related Driving specialization or Professional Skill. First Aid/TL10 skill can also substitute when operating Power Litters.

All consist of an open drivers station, which can be crewed by a single creature of up to Size 1 and an open cargo area. User-configurable controls allow different species to operate floats without penalties. Larger creatures can control floats by operating the controls while walking alongside.

When in not in motion floats typically hover about 6” above the ground. When moving, the driver can adjust the exact height between 6 inches and 2 yards. Contragravity generators on the bottom on the vehicle provide lift. Cold reaction thrusters provide propulsion and maneuverability. Retractable skids are used for braking and making hard low-speed turns. They also extend to support the vehicle when the contragravity is turned off.

Cargo is placed on in an open cargo area behind the driver’s position. Low-tech straps or stake sides or ultra-tech tractor beams keep the cargo in place. Additional safety features protect the driver from collisions or shifting cargo. Small antigravity floats or tractor pressor beams are used to load and unload cargo. Specialized features are built into the upper surfaces of the cargo area and can be activated from the driver’s station.

Floats carry all the features found on a TL8 forklift. Additionally, they carry flashing warning lights which activate when the vehicle is in motion. Deactivating the lights requires a Ready maneuver. Many carry Locator Beacons, small Radios, or onboard Computers.

Three major types of floats are described:

Cargo Float: Also called Cargo Litters, Gravity Sleds, Delivery Floats, Self-Powered Trolleys, or Utility Litters, cargo floats are small contragravity “pickup trucks” used to move supplies and equipment. They are about 10 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 8 feet high. They consist of an open driver’s station mounted on the front end of a low-slung open, slab-like cargo area.

Small Cargo Floats are identical except that they are only 6 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 4 feet high. They can be driven on their own or can towed as trailers behind another cargo float.

Members of larger species drive larger cargo floats. These take up more space but allow a larger driver and have greater carrying capacity.

Aboard Sector General, cargo floats are in constant motion along the main corridors of the maintenance levels. They are seldom seen on hospital levels, however, unless technicians have an unusually large delivery. They are almost never driven in hospital level corridors. Despite the fact that technicians drive as fast as is possible, accidents are very rare.

[Pursuivant]

Medical Cargo Floats

Spoiler:  

Hospitals use cargo floats with integral refrigeration and heating units to deliver meals to patients. Meals are synthesized by dieticians then delivered by orderlies. When not in use food delivery floats are stored near the ward’s food synthesizers. Sector General uses a number of modified Large Cargo Floats. Some are ultratech “crash carts” which carry multi-species emergency resuscitation equipment. Others serve as mobile operating frames, used to hold Hudlar patients in place during operations.

Chalder Transfer Tank: Chalder patients at Sector General are transferred from spaceships to the Chalder Wards using gigantic, mobile "fish tanks." Each tank is barely big enough to contain a large adult Chalder, and is designed so that it can be slowly maneuvered through the large corridors which link the wards and the nearby cargo bays. The tank is 40 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 10 feet tall. The vehicle itself is 45 feet long. When completely filled with water and patient the tank can weigh up to 300,000 lbs.

Water filtration, temperature control, and oxygenation systems provide short term life support. The walls of the tank can be made transparent or opaque and are strong enough to resist damage from a struggling Chalder.

Power Litter: Also called a Pressure Litter or Zero-G Stretcher, Power Litters are the futuristic equivalent of hospital gurneys or ambulance lifts. They are similar to a cargo float, except that the cargo area has been replaced by a life support pod and jacks and storage areas for medical equipment. Large litters are about 10 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 feet tall when the canopy is retracted. The driver and canopy add an additional 2-4 feet of height. The driver’s position can be modified to fit any species from Size 1 to Size -3. If necessary, litters can be joined together to accommodate even larger patients.

They have adjustable-hardness mattresses and multiple electrically-controlled patient positioning points, allowing them to accommodate virtually any sort of patient. Most species find them to be “sinfully comfortable,” when properly adjusted.

A retractable, flexible, sealable transparent canopy with DR 25 can be extended to cover both the driver and the patient. A mini air-lock and cold sterilizer unit allows objects up to Size -4 to be sterilized and passed into the patient area.

When the canopy is extended and sealed, technicians can control gravity force and direction, and atmospheric composition, pressure, and temperature for both patient and driver. Air filtration systems provide a sterile atmosphere. Humidity can be set at any level from 0 to 100%.

Pressure can be set from any level between vacuum and 5 ATM. Temperature can be set to any level between 0 and 150 °F or up to 50° F below or 100 °F above the ambient external atmosphere. The vehicle’s exterior can withstand temperatures down to -459 °F or up to 500 °F for up to 15 minutes, and survive temperatures between -150 °F and 250 °F indefinitely.

Internal gravity can be set to any level between microgravity and 10 G. When the litter is on the ground, its antigravity field can be extended to help load immobilized patients. Field emitters at the top and bottom of the pod can be adjusted to produce gravity fields at right angles to the main field, splitting total G-forces between the two vectors (e.g., up to 5-G pulling upwards and 5-G pulling downwards). This allows patients to be placed in traction without the need for extra equipment. In some cases, altering direction and strength of gravity fields might assist with medical procedures, giving a bonus of up to +2. Tricky use of gravity fields requires a roll vs. Electronics Operation (Life Support or Medical). Critical failure might damage the patient, or even rip them apart!

Exterior-mounted air tanks allow creation of “standard” atmospheres type for any terrestrial Federation species within 30 seconds. Atmospheres can also be customized to mimic all but the most unusual atmospheric conditions, including reducing, toxic, and mildly corrosive conditions.

Redundant controls allow conditions within the pod to be controlled from the driver’s station, the exterior sides, or within the pod itself, although only the driver’s controls work when the vehicle is in motion. Life support can be maintained for up to 6 hours for a single Size 2 patient or an equivalent mass and volume of smaller patients.

Light levels within the pod can be set to any level from very bright light to complete darkness. The canopy can also be made partially or fully opaque to control light levels and to provide privacy and security. Restraints are available to hold struggling patients in place and have an effective ST of 25. Contragravity and short-ranged tractor-pressor systems are used to load, shift, and unload patients.

Special Protective Gloves can electrically polarize the canopy material, making it incredibly flexible and allowing the wearer to reach up to 1 yard into the litter. While reaching through the canopy, the wearer has no penalties to DX and gains the DR benefits of both the canopy and the gloves themselves.

The problem is that exerting pressure against high interior pressure is physically exhausting. Operators have a -1 penalty to DX and DX-based skills per 1 ATM of pressure difference. Assess 1 FP per 10 minutes of work at 1 ATM pressure difference, halved per additional 1 ATM difference (e.g., 1 FP per 1 minute, 15 seconds with a 5 ATM difference).

A storage compartment in the litter’s base is large enough to hold up to 200 lbs. of equipment. It typically holds medicines and medical supplies for the most commonly-encountered Federation species. This includes a Biomonitor, Doctor’s Bag, Filter Masks, Protective Gloves, Suitcase Diagnostic Lab, Surgical Instruments, and similar gear designed for the physicians and nurses on call. Most Power Litters also incorporate a Diagnostic Bed (GURPS Ultratech, p. 197) with separate power system.

The pod can hold one or more patients with a combined mass of up to 2,000 pounds. The litter can carry one patient of Size 2. Each Size below Size 2 doubles the number of patients the litter can carry (i.e., 2 Size 1, 4 Size 0, 8 Size -1, 16 Size -2, or 32 Size -3). All patients must share the same environmental conditions within the pod, however.

Hospitals and ambulance ships typically have life support controls which can be linked to the litter’s life support, allowing patients to be quarantined indefinitely.

Compressed air thruster jets allow the litter to be maneuvered in microgravity with maximum acceleration of 1 yard/second. Roll vs. Free Fall or Piloting (Low Performance Spacecraft) to maneuver it.

In atmosphere, the litter can be pushed by hand (effective mass is just 1/20th or normal when gravity is neutralized), flown driven using low-powered hoverjets, or flown using antigravity units. Roll vs. Driving (Hovercraft) skill to control the vehicle as long as it remains within 1 yard of the ground. Skill rolls might be required when driving in difficult terrain or high winds.

When moving the litter by with the antigravity on, ST rolls might be needed to control it in windy conditions.

When antigravity controls are set at maximum, the litter has -1 G with respect to the local gravity, allowing it to rise up to 15 yards above the ground at a rate of 1 yard/second. This allows it to be flown using Piloting (Contragravity) skill.

The higher the litter rises, however, the harder it is to control. Roll vs. Piloting (Contragravity) at -1 per 3 yards of altitude. Additional penalties apply if flying in high winds or difficult terrain. Failure means that it becomes unstable (giving a cumulative -2 penalty to subsequent rolls until the driver regains control) or falls 1d yards. A critical failure or multiple ordinary failures results in a crash or rollover.

Pressure litters can also be locked into place using standard cargo clamps, keeping it from moving even at 5 G acceleration. In hospital settings floor-mounted clamps keep the litter in place during medical procedures. Litters designed for space rescue include physical and magnetic Docking Clamps which allow them to fit over a small airlock or Docking Tube. These give the litter an effective ST 15 to “stick” to a spaceship’s hull and allow patients to be transferred from an airlock to the litter in microgravity. Add $500 to cost and 50 lbs. to weight. Reduce maximum load by the same amount.

When the litter is open and on the ground, a 2-yard long loading ramp can be extended from the rear. The litter’s gravity panels move with the ramp, allowing the patient’s effective weight to be reduced during loading and unloading. When not in use, the litter can be partially collapsed, reducing its volume by half. It takes 1 minute to collapse or extend the litter, 10 seconds to extend or retract the cargo ramp.

Large Power Litters are used to transport a single massive patient or multiple small patients. They can also be used for ship-to-ship patient transfers in space, since they are designed to fit through a standard cargo airlock. Small Power Litters are used to transfer a single human-sized patient or several small patients. They are commonly carried by ground ambulances, light air rescue vehicles, and well-equipped civilian spaceships.

[Pursuivant]

Vehicle Statistics

TL	Name	HP/ST	Hnd/SR	HT	Move	Lwt	Load	SM	Occ	DR	Range	Cost	Damage	Notes
9	PPV, Armored	150/30	-1/5	12x	1/10	2.2	0.5	1	1+1PSV	35	25	$60K	6A, 2C, 1g, 1S.	[1]
9	PPV, Cold	50/20	-1/5	14x	1/10	2.2	0.5	1	1+1PSV	35	25	$60K	6A, 2C, 1g	[1]
9	PPV, Hot	50/20	-1/5	14x	1/10	2.2	0.5	1	1+1PSV	35	25	$60K	6A, 2C, 1g, 1S.	[1]
9	PPV, Radiation	50/20	-1/5	14x	1/10	2.2	0.5	1	1+1PSV	35	25	$60K	6A, 2C, 1g, 1S.	[1]
9	PPV, SNLU	50/20	-1/5	14x	1/10	2.2	0.5	1	1+1PSV	35	25	$60K	6A, 2C, 1g, 1S.	[1]
9	PPV, Threcaldian	50/20	-1/5	14x	1/10	2.2	0.5	1	1+1PSV	35	25	$60K	6A, 2C, 1g, 1S.	[1]
10^	Surface Cruiser	35/25	-1/5	14	Var.	3	0.75	3	1+3*	50	Var.	$250K	G, 1O, 8W	[1, 2]
10^	Utility Float, Cargo Float	35/25	-1/5	12	1/10	3	2	2	1+1PSV*	5	25	$25K	1E, 1O, 2Rr, 1s.	[1, 2]
10^	Utility Float, Chalder Transfer Tank	100/50	-2/6	12	1/3	150	140	5	1*+1	100	0.5	$150K	1E, 1O, 2Rr, 1s.	[2]
10^	Utility Float, Power Litter	30/25	-1/5	12	1/8	2.75	1.5	2	1+1PSV*	10	1	$50K	1E, 1O, 2Rr, 1s. 	[1, 2]
10^	Utility Float, Small Power Litter	20/15	-1/5	12	1/8	1.25	0.75	1	1+1PSV*	10	1	$10K	1E, 1O, 2Rs, 1s.	[1, 2]
10^	Utility Float, Small Cargo Float	20/15	-1/6	12	1/10	1.25	1.0	1	1+1*	5	5	$7.5K	1E, 1O, 2Rs, 1s.	[1, 2]

[Pursuivant]

Threcaldian (TLTU) (Threcald-5, Milky Way Galaxy) (-51 points)

A species of multi-armed steam-breathers, best left as NPCs due to their severe physiological limitations.

They are one of the more imaginative species described in the Sector General series, and (AFAIK) one of the early attempts by a SF writer to envision an extremophile species, long before the existence of extremophile animals was discovered. Unfortunately, as "background players" they are the victims of repeated continuity gaps.

Description

Spoiler:  

Psychologically, Threcaldians appear to be similar to humans, albeit with preferences altered to suit a species adapted to survive in a superheated steam atmosphere.

No description of the species is given. Physical traits are inferred from physiological classification. It is assumed that the species has at least four arms, four legs, two mouths, and two eyes. They are described as being small, and can comfortably fit into protective vehicles which are just 6-8 feet wide.

Threcaldians are a species native to a high temperature planet with 3 G of gravity and 3 ATM of pressure. Body temperature is approximately 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The atmosphere includes a high proportion of superheated steam, which Threcaldians breathe. They consume a diet of edible minerals and their blood is a superheated liquid metal.

Dependency, Increased Life Support, Pressure Support, Restricted Diet, and Temperature Tolerance: The fact that Threcaldians breathe superheated steam implies that they are native to an environment with crushing pressures and extremely high heat with the potential for widely varying temperatures, especially at altitude.

They are constantly dependent on this high temperature, high pressure environment and subsist on a diet of superheated minerals.

Threcaldians who travel to other environments must use small protective vehicles instead of ordinary protective suits. The Environmental Suit (NBC Suit) covers routine operation of these vehicles, although Driving skill can be purchased to cover use of pressure vessels which have sufficient range, speed, and size to be driven long distances and/or at high speeds.

Personal protective vehicles are spherical pressure chambers mounted on a pair of caterpillar treads, studded with a variety of remote handling and sensory devices. They clank when they move and periodically hiss as excess steam is vented from the interior. The generators produce a high-pitched shuddering whine as they maintain the internal temperature at comfortable levels for the occupant. The exterior temperature of the pressure sphere is quite warm, producing waves of heat which can be felt up to two yards away. Rupturing the life support chamber instantly depressurizes the interior, killing the occupant, and releases a blast of superheated steam which is extremely dangerous to those nearby. It is also likely that the surface of the life support vessel, although insulated, is sufficiently warm that it is capable of inflicting burn damage to living creatures who contact it.

Template

Spoiler:  

Attributes: ST 6 [-40]; DX 10 [0]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 10 [0].

Optional Attributes: Altered ST [±10/lvl]; Increased DX or IQ [±20/lvl]; Increased HT [±10/lvl].

Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-4/1d-3; BL 5 lbs.; HP 5 [0]; Will 10 [0]; Per 10 [0]; FP 10 [0]; Basic Speed 5.0 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0]; Size -3.

Optional Secondary Characteristics: Altered HP [±2/lvl]; Increased Will or Per [5/lvl]; Altered FP [±3/lvl]; Altered Basic Speed or Move [±5/lvl].

Advantages: Arms (Enhancement: Extra Flexible, +50%; Limitation: Short, -50%). [0]; Doesn’t Eat or Drink (Limitation: Drink Only, -50%.) [5]; Extra Arms (2 Extra Arms. Enhancements: Extra Flexible, +50%. Limitation: Short, -50%.) [20]; Extra Legs (4 extra legs, Limitation: Short, -50%.) [3]; Extra Mouth 1 [5]; Improved G Tolerance (x1) [15]; Pressure Support 3 [15]; Temperature Tolerance 5 [5].

Optional Advantages: 360-Degree Vision or Peripheral Vision [15 or 25]; Acute Hearing [2/lvl]; Acute Smell & Taste [2/lvl]; Acute Vision [2/lvl]; Common Sense [10]; Damage Resistance (Limitation: Cannot Wear Armor, -40%) [3/lvl]; Detect [Varies]; Double-Jointed or Flexibility [5 or 15];

Empathy or Sensitive [5 or 15]; Extra Arms [10/lvl]; Extra Legs [Varies]; Extra Mouth [5 each]; Extended Lifespan [2/lvl]; Improved G Tolerance [Varies]; Indomitable [15]; Innate Attack [Varies]; Intuition [15]; High TL [5/lvl]; Longevity [2]; Recovery [15]; Unfazeable [15]; Vibration Sense [15].

Optional Perks: Acceleration Tolerance [1]; Extra Eyes [1 each]; Separate Respiratory Intake [1]; Standard Operating Procedure (Careful Movement) [1].

Disadvantages: Dependency (High Pressure, Superheated Environment (Common), Constantly) [-50]; Increased Life Support (High Temperature, Pressurized) [-20]; Restricted Diet (Hot Minerals (Very Common)) [-10].

Optional Disadvantages: Bad Temper [-10]; Callous [-5]; Cold Blooded [-5 or -10]; Clueless [-5]; Incurious [-5*]; Loner [-5]; Low Empathy [-20]; No Sense of Humor [-15]; Oblivious [-5]; Odious Racial Habit [-5 or -10]; Selfless [-5*]; Selfish [-5].

Quirks: Nudity Preferred [-1].

Optional Quirks: Dull [-1]; Proud [-1]; Sexless [-1]; Staid [-1].

Skills: Area Knowledge (Threcald) (E) IQ [1] -10; Computer Operations/TL (E) IQ [1] - 10.

Optional Skills: Driving/TL (Type) (E); Electronics Operation/TL (A); Electronics Repair/TL (A); Engineering/TL (H); Environmental Suit/TL (A); Geology/TL (H); Mathematics/TL (H); Mechanic/TL (A); Navigation/TL (A); Physics/TL (VH); Piloting/TL (A); Survival (Type) (A).

Cultural Familiarities: Threcaldian [0].

Languages: Threcaldian (Native) [0].

Physiological Data: Physiological Classification: TLTU. Gravity: 3.0 G. Pressure: 3.0 ATM. Preferred Temperature: Unknown, presumably 450-600 °F comfort zone, preferred temperature: 572 °F. Height: 2 feet. Mass: 30-40 lbs. Lifespan: ~100 years.