By The Technical Manual Development Team
Art by Nick Greenwood
To continue celebrating the preorder and impending print release of the new Technical Manual, here are a few more tools and gadgets to add to your crew’s storage compartments, and information on tractor beams and a complications table focused on what could go wrong with them!
ADDITIONAL GADGETS AND GEAR
An array of additional equipment for your characters and crews.
Anti-grav Devices (Opportunity 2)
Anti-grav devices refer to technology capable of nullifying the force of gravity, enabling the lifting of extremely heavy loads. Primarily used during the 23rd century, anti-grav devices were integral to various forms of transportation, such as hovercars and aircars, allowing these vehicles to hover or fly. There are several types of anti-grav technology, including anti-grav harnesses, lifts, sails, and sleds. Each of these plays a specific role, from personal mobility aids to heavy lifting equipment.
Audio Receiver (Standard Issue for Comms Officer, Opportunity 1 Otherwise)
In the 22nd and 23rd centuries, earpieces were wireless receiver devices used by communications officers, science officers, and navigators. By the mid-2260s, their use became more common on Starfleet vessels. These earpieces featured several metallic rungs attached to a translucent lead inserted into the user’s ear, eliminating the need for tactile support. They could amplify signals throughout the user’s ship but lacked automatic protection to mute or lower loud transmissions.
Bio-neural Gel Packs (24th century and later)
Part of a ship’s computer’s bio-neural circuitry subsystem, these biological processors utilize neurodes to rapidly organize and transmit information the same way a brain does. Durable and reliable, these gel packs rarely malfunction; however, because of their biological nature, they are subject to some bacterial and viral infections.
Biosynthetic Glands
When parts of a patient’s endocrine system fail, unable to release necessary hormones into the bloodstream, biosynthetic glands can be inserted to help regulate the flow of these chemicals. Monitored by a central processing unit that tracks the body’s chemical levels, biosynthetic glands squeeze the appropriate amount of the hormone needed for the body to maintain typical reactions to its environment.
Duotronic Probe (Standard Issue for Engineers, Opportunity 1 Otherwise)
Duotronic probes are used for regulating plasma flow. While these devices work great for making broad adjustments to the plasma flow rate, they cannot be used to make the precise and minute changes necessary for more sophisticated systems.
Environmental Suits (Protection 1, Opportunity 2)
An environmental suit is specialized clothing designed for protection and life support in harsh environments, crucial for space travel. It allows individuals to perform tasks outside the spacecraft and explore planets with different atmospheres. The helmet provides a near-normal field of view with a clear visor, external and internal lights, and an earphone for communication. It connects to an oxygen supply and power sources for lights, communication, and propulsion. The life support and propulsion unit includes communication equipment, oxygen, propulsion controls, and padding for comfort. The harness secures the unit and includes leg bands, a tool belt, and magnetizable boots.
Holographic Emergency Advanced Triage Team (H.E.A.T.T.)
A spinoff technology from the emergency medical hologram, H.E.A.T.T. is called in when medical situations arise on a planet with an atmosphere or environment deemed too dangerous for people. The team could land on the planet’s surface with a shuttle-sized pod. Capable of working in areas designated as quarantined, and fully operational in high radiation environments and in a complete vacuum, the holoemitters on the pod projected a dozen emergency medical holograms to treat people in the impacted area.
Mass Spectrometer (Opportunity 1)
A mass spectrometer is a scientific device used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions, providing valuable information about the composition of substances. Originally developed in the 20th century, it remains in use centuries later for detailed chemical analysis. Mass spectrometers can detect subtle variations in materials, helping to identify chemical compounds, structural abnormalities, or impurities. This device is commonly employed in various fields, from medical diagnostics to investigating the causes of mechanical failures.
Sensory Node
Used to reinvigorate sensory processing, sensory nodes are developed for each of a being’s senses. The nodes are connected to sensory nerves, where the information the senses gather is converted into digital information and relayed to the patient’s brain. Sensory nodes can be adjusted to transmit increased sensory data, allowing the patient to experience stronger senses as needed.
Sonic Driver (Standard Issue for Engineers, Opportunity 1 Otherwise)
Utilizing oscillating compression waves, sonic drivers allow an engineer to screw in or unscrew bolts at a distance. The device can also be used to adjust fasteners and to toggle switches on or off from up to a meter away.
T-88 Diagnostic Scanner (Opportunity 1)
Considered the Sovereign class of hand-held diagnostic tools, the T-88 utilizes a comfort-grip handle that allows the user to hold it like a phaser. Able to be held in a single hand, the T-88 is much easier to control and direct where it is being pointed, providing a more accurate readout than other diagnostic tools like the D-53 or the T-72.
Visual Instrument and Sensory Organ Replacement
While the basic model of the VISOR enhances a person’s ability to process visual data, some upgrades have also been introduced to further enhance capabilities. These upgrades, such as projecting object composition, detecting energy flow patterns, and image magnification, have been considered unethical by some as they enhance a wearer beyond the typical capabilities of their species.
TRACTOR BEAMS
Tractor beams are a specific function of graviton production systems. A special emitter is located on the exterior of the vessel that produces gravitons and uses weak subspace fields to focus the emission into a beam. This allows a tractor beam to form and attract the target of the beam towards the ship as though the ship had a much larger mass. Spin of the gravitons, along with generated harmonics in the beam, allows a tractor beam to function as a repulsor beam and to help shape a subspace field from a starship to enclose a towed mass in the vessel’s warp field at the expense of the field’s gradient and overall efficiency at superluminal velocities. This means starships can tow other starships of similar or lower mass, but at slower warp speeds than their normal cruising speed.
Use the Tractor Beam Complications table whenever you want to randomly generate a problem with the tractor beam.
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