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EXT-0714

**Created for the Science Exploration Build Challenge in the Lunar Kolony Discord server by Terminal_6, design submitted by Supernerdje**

Prompted by an open request from The Cooperative, the EXT-0714 represents part of the first attempt by the engineers of the Nordur Reconnaissance Division at an external, commercial contract. Partly due to circumstances outside the control of the engineering team, important deadlines were missed, resulting in temporary utility features remaining on the final design and multiple planned features being replaced by stopgap measures or scrapped outright. While criticism from NRD faction leadership was harsh, at one point referring to the design as the "pregnant brick" and generally belittling the vulnerability of certain components and the port side of the ship, the assigned engineering team remained hopeful and optimistic that the EXT-0714 would function well in the given mission parameters.

Intended to operate in potentially hostile areas with minimal access to friendly vessels and bases, this liberally named survey craft is built with easy access in mind for any necessary maintenance. The ship has several subgrid hatches covering outside access to parts like the O2H2 generator array and the deployable point-defence turret. Internally the design is compact, but with enough room for the targeted crew of three to freely move around in a safely pressurized and oxygenated environment. An easy to use movable ladder design allows the crew to configure the vessel's access hatch for planetary landing with no docking station required, or for friendly vessels in zero-gravity where a level entry and exit for mag-boots is preferred.

Up to six engineers can embark on the vessel during it's journeys, but the cryo-chamber limitation requires either shift-sleeping or access to a friendly support vessel or base. With a cargo bay certified for 40,000kg of cargo, and enough leeway in the design for more without modification, the survey craft is intended by it's design team to use this cargo allocation to set up a support station on any planetary bodies it descends upon. The survival kit is specifically placed in such a way that it's removal doesn't affect the integrity of the ship, allowing it's parts to be repurposed for new bases or vehicles, should this be necessary. In the event that this vessel is unable to find a suitable or safe landing site, there exists more than enough capacity for returning to the carrier vessel in space.

Despite criticism from NRD faction leadership, the engineering team stuck with the vulnerabilities of the lower and port aspects of the survey craft. The engineers argued that the vessel should not be operating in situations where these sides are exposed for extended durations, and was more than capable of quickly leaving unfavorable confrontations. This disagreement over one of the core aspects of the design may have partly led to it's fate as an unfinished vehicle, with flaws ranging from missing quality of life features, unlabeled and poorly hidden components, and the co-pilot seat destined never to be officially configured. Nonetheless, the engineering team looks forward to their next assignment, with many lessons learned and soon to be applied!