Ship Reactor

Intro
Ships need power, and while Solar Panels can provide some of that, Stellarator Fission Engines are the fastest way to fill the massive Capacitors you'll need to survive prolonged engagements with enemy ships and operate the interstellar Johnson-Tanaka Drive.

Fueled with refined Uranium via Uranium Fuel Pods, these are highly volatile machines, capable of generating significant power and an equally significant amount of heat and radioactive debris.

In addition to the heat, there is a risk that these reactors may enter meltdown when damaged and driven too hard.

To clear instability, let the reactor rest at its lowest level or switch it off.

Ensure your ship has adequate Heat Sinks and Radiators to handle the extreme heat buildup these devices produce.

Building
500 Steel

200 Plasteel

100 Silver

20 Advanced Components

Work to Build: 384

Flammability: 10%

Hit Points: 500

Fuel
Uranium Fuel Pods are made at a Machining Table from 1 Steel and 5 Uranium, which yields 100 units worth of fuel.

Ship Reactors can hold 2500 units of fuel (25 Canisters.)

Modes
There are four modes for the reactor:

Overdrive I
Considered normal operating levels, Overdrive I produces 7,500W of power, and a low level of heat. The reactor core can stabilize, eliminating volatile buildup, and a full reservoir of 2500 units of fuel will last 4.2 Years.

Overdrive II


Providing 15,000W of energy, Overdrive II begins to slowly build up instability, risking shorts and radiation leaks if the core overheats without enough heat capacity. Heat output also doubles. While not intended for prolonged use, it is safe to occasionally switch to in times of heavy power drain.

Overdrive III


Providing 22,500W of energy, Overdrive III is a somewhat dangerous setting. The reactor begins to emit dangerous radiation, and as instability increases, radioactive ash will be emitted into the room. Heat is a major concern. It is ill advised to operate here for long.

Overdrive IV
Providing 30,000W of energy, Overdrive IV can rapidly fill the Capacitors, but is highly unstable, rapidly overheating and emitting significant qualities of radioactive ash. Shorts are common, starting fires and rapidly heating the room. This mode is only for the desperate.