Origion of a Spaceship: Iteron

Excerpt from: Origin of a Spaceship

Unlike many other species of spaceships, the entire Genus of Iteron breaks down into distinct species. Most often in this tomb individual species are separated from their Genus and Family. This is comparable to other family haulers who have individual genus and species that do not appear to overlap. Due to the fascinating properties of the Iteron it was decided to capture them in one section. Each of these species appears to have a unique property but are in fact mutations that can freely interbreed among themselves. However, each line breeds true amongst itself meaning that separate species must be documented as they are. This begs the author to categorize haulers as a single entry that crosses the multiple species.

History:

The Iteron was original classified as one species, Iteron. There were five known subspecies differentiated by the length and shape of their segmented hulls. The shapes were assumed to be nothing more then hull variation across the entire species. It was not until a recent study by a anthropologist who set down and laid out the internal structure of each Iteron against the other that they were reclassified into separate species. It must be noted that Iteron that interbreed do not create mules and instead produce a fascinating hybrid of highly specialized build.

Species Classification

• Epithal - The Epithal was once known as the Iteron Mark III. It is known for its long, slender hulled Iteron exoskeleton hull in the classic tubular design with the broad bulky mushroom shaped head that defines the family. Epithal are almost always found close to planets where the grazing is abundant. They are often not seen away from heavily populated regions and have never been a popular spaceship for most industrialists. Recent study has shown that the Epithal consumes an almost exclusive diet of planetary debris gleaned from close atmospheric grazing. It is the only Iteron known to have this as a primary focus of its diet. Focused breeding plans hope to bring this unique aspect of the Epithal into the forefront.

• Iteron Mark V - This behemoth spaceship is commonly known as the Iteron. It may be the most populous hauler across all family and genius of hauler. Highly prolific, the Iteron Mark V is a very long, multi-segmented spaceships. It is ponderous and placid of temperament able to live in every known region of space. While fragile they can be conditioned to a surprisingly sturdy state with reasonable agility. The herds of Iteron Mark V are so vast that they sweep across Empire space, freely intermixing with tamed populations.

• Kryos - A belt lurker, Kryos are scavengers. While they spend much time in belts they focus on stealing scraps of minerals worked out of asteroid clusters by exhumer fleets. Squat and boxy, Kryos appear to be juvenile Miasmos and were classified as Iteron Mark II. It was believed that they were an adolescent phase due to their relative rarity.

• Miasmos - The Miasmos and the Kryos were often confused with each other. The Kryos was thought to be an adolescent form of hte Miasmos thus explaining the classification of Miasmos as Iteron Mark IV. The two share a blocky, short structure with the basic Iteron exoskeleton easily identified by ocular observation. However, the Miasmos is heavier than the Kryos and feeds off of raw asteroid material. The Miasmos is also very docile and easy to trained. Blueprint manipulation of their genetic material has caused Miasmos to develop into individual strains for the wealthy. The various Quafe Iterons and the Amastris edition which are bred as novelty spaceships.

• Nereus - Docile and sweet tempered the Nereus is a popular first hauler. It is swift and agile, capable of carrying heavy loads. Unlike the more ponderous Iteron Mark V, the Nereus, once known as the Iteron Mark I is a well balanced spaceship for the needs of the average capsuleer. They are easy keepers, happy to stay in the station corrals or accompany their owners on cargo travels. They may be the most populated Iteron in space in numbers are hard to gauge due to their proliferation across all of Empire.

General Points of Note

The family Iteron shares several common hull structural points. They have a dark, rich green hull with a tubular shape. Their heads are rounded, fleshy mushroom shape bulges that allow them to plow through partial ridden nebula. As with most haulers they are soft tempered and easy to handle even for the most base skilled pilot. All can be trained to carry very large burdens at the loss of their limited agility.

Haulers have long been the staple of industrialists in all sectors of space. They can be found deeper in the outskirts and even in wormholes. However, their limited defensive and offensive abilities cause them to be easy targets for predators. Conversely they are easy breeders able to whelp large clutches at high rates of speed.

When the various member species of Iteron were separated out, due to its proliferation through empire space the Iteron Mark V was left with the moniker of Iteron.