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The Mu'hari Zephyr is a Polaris ship in Escape Velocity Nova. To purchase a Zephyr, you must have assisted the P'aedt in developing a cloaking device by observing a Zephyr in flight. Diplomats to the Wraith will have to wait for them to be developed without their involvement via chronological event.

"The Zephyr was originally designed specifically for use with the cloaking organ. Naturally, such a design meshed well with the requirements of the Mu'hari to interact and fly amongst the peoples of other nations, so they added design specifications until the final version of the Zephyr was born. It is a versatile little craft, falling somewhere between the categories of fighter, freighter and gunboat without falling short in any way." ― Buying a Zephyr

The Zephyr is a Polaris starship designed for the Cloaking Organ. It is a beautiful multirole vessel performing the roles of light warship, freighter and scout. Like other Polaran craft, it performs admirably at its designated roles.

These ships are obviously different to other Polaris ships, bearing a metallic chassis rather than the bio-material that is normally used in their shipwrighting. This helps it to blend when operating among the other races, which the Mu'hari are often called upon to do. Nevertheless, it is still a formidable craft bearing all the weapons expected of a Polaran warship and its strong armour compensates for any lack in shielding.

Stats[]

"The black-jumpsuited Mu'kimas of this innocuous looking vessel welcomes you warmly aboard her ship. Over the next half an hour, you come to realize that there is much more to these little ships than meets the eye, it looks both capable and somewhat deadly.
«Now, how can I be of service?» asks the young Mu'hari with amazing humility. You cannot help but marvel at how every Mu'hari you have ever come across behaves as if they are somehow less important than anyone else, while all members of the other castes seem to hold them in very high regard.
" ― Hiring a Zephyr

Prototype Variants[]

You may be personally involved in the development of the Zephyr on the technology branch of the Polaris storyline. These are the prototypes witnessed.

Shipvariant stat changes are relative to the stats of the basic model. The basic model is Cloaking mk0.

Prototype, mk0 (#375)[]

This is the Zephyr seen during the first Observe Cloak-Ship mission.

Stats

This variant has an extra BioRelay Laser, a Fusion Reactor and a Nil'kemorya Jammer compared to the basic ship. Theoretically, it should have a 'mark 0' cloaking device.

Prototype, mk1 (#376)[]

This is the Zephyr seen during the second Observe Cloak-Ship mission. According to the mission text, this Zephyr should have a cloak that most sensors can't detect. However, it has the same cloak equipped as the mk0 prototype.

Stats

This shipvariant costs 150k more, reflecting the additional ransom that the P'aedt scientists would be willing to pay you if you were to steal it.

Basic Ship[]

Cloaking, mk0 (#256)[]

Stats
  • Appear On bits: b319 & !b1301
  • Purchase/Hire Appearance %: 90%/50%
  • Purchase Cost: 2M
  • Hire Cost: 200k/upfront 20k/day
  • Nova pict 6070 thumb Speed: 400
  • Nova pict 6069 thumb Acceleration: 500
  • Nova pict 6072 thumb Turning: 60
  • Nova pict 6067 thumb Shields: 190
  • Nova pict 6065 thumb Shield Regen: 32
  • Nova pict 6065 thumb Shield Recharge per second: 0.96
  • Nova pict 6065 thumb Minutes to recharge Shields: 3.29
  • Nova pict 6052 thumb Armor: 750
  • Nova pict 6055 thumb Armor Regen: 40
  • Nova pict 6055 thumb Armor Recharge per second: 1.2
  • Nova pict 6055 thumb Minutes to recharge Armor: 10.41
  • Nova pict 6309 thumb Disabled at Armor %: 10%
  • Nova pict 6309 thumb Pre-disabled Armor: 675
  • Nova pict 6309 thumb Total Fighting HP: 865
  • Nova pict 6134 thumb Max Ion: 300
  • Nova pict 6134 thumb Deionize: 45
  • Nova pict 6062 thumb Total Outfits Space: 56t
  • Nova pict 6062 thumb Free Outfit Space: 30
  • Nova pict 6061 thumb Cargo Space: 50t
  • Nova pict 6001 thumb Max Guns: 2
  • Nova pict 6001 thumb Guns: 1 BioRelay Laser
  • Nova pict 6003 thumb Max Turrets: 1
  • Nova pict 6008 thumb Missiles: 1 Wraith Cannon (15 ammo)
  • Nova pict 6056 thumb Outfits: 1 Cloaking Organ mk0
  • Nova pict 6128 thumb Energy: 1200 (12 jumps)
  • Nova pict 6074 thumb Jump Time: 1 day
  • Nova pict 6073 thumb Jump Speed: 150%
  • Targetable by PD?: No
  • Strength: 400
  • AI Type: Interceptor

This is the first Zephyr made available to the pilot immediately after observing the first Cloak-ship. The cloak it has drains 8 shields per second and appears on the radar screen.

Cloaking, mk1 (#257)[]

Stats

This is identical to the base model besides costing 50k more. It nevertheless appears in the 'Lone Polaris Freighter', 'Lone Polaris' and 'Small Polaris' düdes.

Based on the text of the second Observe Cloak-ship mission, this should perhaps be equipped with a 'mark 1' cloaking device that doesn't appear on the radar screen.

"«Ver'Lliana has come up with a new design,» P'Jeena begins in his quiet, somehow formal manner, «that incredibly reduces the energy signature of folding space/time. It should leave no trace for most sensor types to pick up.»"

Wild Variant[]

The following shipvariant is unavailable in the shipyard and must be captured in the field.

Wild Prototype (#186)[]

Stats

Zephyrs with the more powerful loadout of the prototypes may temporarily appear in the 'Lone Polaris Freighter' and 'Lone Polaris' düdes. These ships would be worth a staggering 900k when sold as a captured escort. It's possible that the P'aedt were exploiting the novelty of the Zephyr to sell ships to their fellow Polarans at inflated prices.

Improved Cloak Variant[]

As the game progresses, Zephyrs begin to carry mark II Cloaking Organs.

Cloaking, mk2 (#258)[]

Stats
  • Appear On bits: (b1302 | b1307) & !b323
  • Purchase/Hire Appearance %: 90%/50%
  • Purchase Cost: 2.1M (+100k)
  • Hire Cost: 210k/upfront 21k/day
  • Nova pict 6056 thumb Outfits: 1 Cloaking Organ mk2

This Zephyr is indeed equipped with an improved cloaking device, which drains only 4 shields per second and doesn't appear on the radar screen.

Hyperspace Drifting Variant[]

As the game progresses, Zephyrs begin to carry Tunneling Organs.

Cloaking, mk2 and tunneling (#266)[]

Stats

The Zephyr's modern jumping speed of 150% is finally complemented with hyperspace drifting.

Gameplay Analysis[]

Zephyr Shipyard

"The next step up from the Striker, the Zephyr is another capable ship. Once armed with the Cloaking Organ, the Zephyr will phase in and out of sight when it is getting beat, thus prolonging it's life as an escort or creating an even bigger thorn in your side." ― EVula Survival Guide

The Zephyr can be considered the Polaris counterpart to the Starbridge: it can fulfill almost any role required of it and is far more flexible than any of its brethren.

This ship does not truly derive its niche from the Cloaking Organ as they can be equipped to any vessel.

As an armour focused ship the Zephyr prefers to face the Federation in combat, not the Aurorans who all equip armour shredding weaponry. For this reason, flying a Zephyr is a liability for the Investigate Fallen mission, where a large fleet of Auroran ships surround you and attempt to destroy you as you take off. Better hope you have an Afterburner or you get lucky with cloak activation if you find yourself in this situation.

True RAGE[]

Reactive Armor

The Kestrel and the Zephyr laugh at you, RAGE Gunboat.

While many pilots may not recognize it, the Zephyr is a very capable albeit unusual craft. Its light shielding may seem like a weakness but don't be fooled. As large amounts of armor are available from the Spun Diamond or Matrix Steel outfits, you can beef up your Zephyr to the level of an Aurora Cruiser. If you expend just 3 tons of outfitting space, you'll get 600 bonus armour. With another 12 tons, you'll get 1200 bonus armour in total. This is all backed up by the most effective armour repair of any ship in the galaxy. It's twice that of warships such as the Scarab or Raven and 80% that of the Kestrel, thus giving it surprising edge in combat against any other vessel it may encounter.

In terms of combat, the Zephyr relies almost exclusively on the Cloaking Organ. The best strategy when facing one or more large and potentially deadly foes is:

  1. to cloak before its weapons hit you
  2. uncloak behind it
  3. hammer it with your lazors and Wraithii for a few seconds
  4. fly away to re-cloak and let your armor repair any significant damage
  5. repeat the process until finish your foe(s).

This may seem time-consuming but when done properly it's so effective that it makes the Zephyr one of the few ships that can dominate a planet without spending huge amounts of credits on a fleet or fighters.

Images[]

The Zephyr was made by Dave Williams of ATMOS. He made both the model and textures.

Appearance[]

<ship description>

Ship Spins[]

This ship has 36 frames per set and 3 sets for 108 frames in total. It banks when turning in one direction for a certain amount of time. The weapon glow is unused.

  • Ship: 48x48
  • Weapon: 48x48
  • Engine: 72x72

Representative Images[]

Additional Images[]

Nova Polaris
Castes: Kel'ariyMu'hariNil'kemoryaP'aedtTre'piraVer'ash
Polaris Ships: Manta (v) (i) 250k, Sprite (v) (i) 500k, Striker (v) (i) 1M, Dragon (v) (i) 1.1M, Zephyr (v) (i) 2M, Arachnid (v) (i) 2M, Cambrian (v) (i) 2.5M, Scarab (v) (i) 7M, Raven (v) (i) 10M
Polaris Storyline (PreambleIntro MissionsDiplomacy BranchTechnology BranchRise of Ory'haraFall of the Polaris)
Polaris OutfitsPolaris Weapons
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