Science vessel

Explorer-class Science Vessel is a fictional sphere-shaped starship in the StarCraft universe.

They were first created by the Terran Confederacy to actively patrol the fringes of known space as part of Epsilon Squadron, one of the divisions of the Confederate Starfleet. They were also adapted for civilian use to investigate astrological anomalies and scientific phenomena, hence the name science vessel. During the beginning stages of the galaxy-wide invasion of the ruthless Zerg aliens and the sophisticated and lethal Protoss aliens, Explorer-class starships were recalled from scientific and picket duties into the active battlefronts. They are an uncommon sight, but large Terran Confederacy fleets had at least one Science Vessel. They were adapted for electronic warfare duties and minor secondary combat support. They use their high-powered electronic systems to support friendly fleets, and are completely unarmed for starship-to-starship combat.

Unupgraded Science Vessels have a unique support ability: defensive matrix, which takes up 100 energy units. They can cast a high-power defensive shield on an allied unit that protects them from damage until 30 seconds have passed or the shield has taken up to 250 damage points worth of damage. This is often used to preserve damaged expensive units, such as the Behemoth-class battlecruiser, so that they have a chance to retreat out of the battle.

Upgraded Explorer-class science vessels also have two other abilities: irradiate and EMP missile. The irradiate ability (75 energy units) casts a field of radiation that does large damage to biological units in a certain radius. This is extremely damaging, but does not work on mechanical units, such as tanks or fighter craft. The science vessel can also fire an EMP missile (100 energy units) that wipes out the deflector shields and drains the energy of all units in a small radius. This is extremely effective against the Protoss xenomorphs, whose primary advantage are their regenerating shields.

Science Vessels, because of their sensors, naturally can detect cloaked or invisible units, such as the Terran A-17 Wraith-class starfighter or the Protoss Dark Templar.

In the StarCraft computer game, it appears that science vessels are about the size of a Behemoth-class battlecruiser or smaller. However, in the cinematics, the science vessel is a gigantic starship.

A known Science Vessel is the Amerigo, which was in service of the Terran Dominion but was infested by the Zerg. A commando team then boarded the spherical spaceship and destroyed it with a fusion charge. However, all of the six commandoes were killed by the Zerg in the demolition operation. [edit]

Quotes

"I like the cut of your jib!" (From The Simpsons)

"E=MC...d'oh let me get my notepad."

"Ah, fusion, eh? I'll have to remember that."

"Eck, who set all these lab monkeys free?"

"I think we may have a gas leak" (In high pitched voice)

"Do any of you fools know how to shut off this infernal contraption?"

"Ah... the ship.... out of danger?" (From Wrath of Kahn)

"Explorer reporting."

"Ah! Greetings, command!"

[edit]

Trivia

The Science Vessel somewhat resembled the titular space station of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, especially upon close examination.