Drone
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Drones
The Confederacy uses a variety of drones, from messenger drones to military scouting drones.
Messenger Drones
Messenger drones are required due to the enormous distances involved, and the energy required to transmit any data from one star system to another. These are quite small, consisting of a superluminal engine, a small control device and a data storage unit capable of handling an enormous quantity of information.
"Anal"-class Probe Drones
First developed in Year 2 based on a combination of historical unmanned robot probe designs, the "Anal Probes" are larger than messenger drones and have the ability to return to the star system they come from, using a roundabout route if necessary to prevent the Sa'arm from using the return path as a way of determining the source of the probe. The probes are small enough to be somewhat stealthy in a star system, but large enough to contain enough fuel and processing power to go to the star system, gather data and return. Preferably they should be launched from orbit, rather than from a ship.
It does not include an artificial intelligence, as it is programmed to self-destruct in the event of capture.
Field Reconnaissance Drones
V/STOL airborne drones, can be launched from specialized armoured vehicles.
Intelligence Drones
Used by pickup squads and anti-Earth First units of the Armed Forces of the Confederacy, the units are extremely small - about the size of an insect.
