Emergency Beeper: This pen-sized transmitter sends out a high frequency, broad-band beep once it is activated. It operates fromm a sealed pwoer source and cannot be turned off once activated. Its power life is two days. Most communications equipment can pick up the beep if they are within one km and special emergency beeper trackers can pick it up at enormous distances.
Food Purifier: This backpack-sized device has a low-level radiation bombardment chamber built into it. Plants, vegetables, grain, fowl, fish, and even meat can be placed in this chamber and cleansed of most harmful organisms, poisons, and other conditions that would otherwise hamr a character if he were to eat them.
Some substances resist this bombardment very well (referee should roll 1d100 for each new food type to be purified, a 99-00 indicates the food is still tainted and resists bombardment). The food purifier has 50 uses from a single 20-SEU powerclip. When in use, this device shows up on every radiation scanner within range.
Grappling Gun: This rifle-shaped device comes equipped with 100 meters of high-tensile strength microline, a metal claw type grappling hook, and four explosive digger heads. It also has an optional minimotor for automaticreel-inand ascent.
The grappling gun is used for small-scale climbs after anchoring it with its grapple, or, unscrewing the claw an attaching an explosive head, blasting its way into a rock facing, thus creating an anchor. The optional motor not only reels the line in bu can also lift 120 kg weight. The anchor rod is fired by the same type of shell as in a grenade rifle. This device is of Vrusk origin.
Hot Rations Pack: The hot rations pack is a chemically treated plastifoil envelop that heats its contents instantly upon opening the pack and allowing the air inside. This is important to characters who are in a frigid clime, as hot meals are necessary to stave off the cold.
The hot rations pack's chemical reaction will show very clearly to any IR optical device or scanner within range for two turns. However, it is not hotenough to be used as a fire starter.
Life Bubble: The life bubble is of the same material and basic design as the infla-tent but completely envelops the wearer in one turn. They are worn like a backpack and are used by sailors or downed pilots on a watery world or sea. The normal oxygen supply inside one of these bubbles is two hours maximum but a small airhole can be opened for use of an attached snorkle, then sealed again against the elements. A life bubble will keep most bioforms alive until they are rescued or run out of provisions, but the enveloped character must keep movement down to a minimum to stabilize the airhole's position above the water.
Water Distiller/Purifier: This collapsible distillation filtering tank can purify up to 400 liters of water before it needs to be changed. This is a necessary item for explorers who cannot carry enough drinking water with them but are on a planet where water can be found. Characters drinking unfiltered water run the risk of infection, contamination, or even poisoning. The tank also has a section for dehydration, so plants can be inserted and the water drawn from them. This is also a good mthod for drying fruit and vegetables so they will last longer as rations.
SURVIVAL GEAR--SHELTER
Crete Sprayer: The crete spayer is a 1-meter-long tank tapering to a hose on the bottom that leads to a spayer gun. The user, with the tank carried or strapped on his back, can spray a sheet of crete from his device over whatever he wishes. Crete is a superfast drying (two turns) form of concrete that is incredibly strong even in a thin layer. In this fashion an explorer can weave a canopy of vines or make a lean-to from skins, spray it, and have a shelter that resists most environmental conditions. Crete is thermally insulated and is comfortable to far below zero degees and above one hundred degrees Celsius. One canister has enough crete to cover a 300-square-meter area. Create is considered hardcover and has 60 structural points. The range of the crete spray from the nozzle is only 60 centimeters, so it cannot be used effectively as a weapon.
Infla-tent: These inflatable tents are one-piece cocoons and come in single or two-man sizes. They are made of vinylast and are extremely durable and reusable. The infla-tent comes with pressurized canisters that pop them up in two turns, providing a secure haven in most planetary atmospheres.
Certain canisters, available at a slightly higher cost, inflate the shelter with coolant gas or insulating gas to keep the inhabitants alive in severe cold or hot climates. The worst atmosphere for an infla-tent is one with a high concentration of acid rain, which can eat through the vinylast in an hour.
SURVIVAL GEAR--APPAREL
Explorer Boots: These knee-high boots are made from waterproof, noncrushable material. They are insulated against desert heat, arctic cold, and tropical humidity. These boots can be purchased with built-in knife sheath, pistol holster, or patch pockets.
Explorer Vest: This heavy-duty vest comes with a variety of patch pockets, inside zipper pockets, velcro strips, rings, and snaps for maximum item attachment. It is designed with an attached plasti-pack on the back so breakables can be kept relatively safe. The Humans on the Star Frontiers Alpha Dawn rules book are wearing explorer vests.
Plasti-Poncho: Plasti-ponchos can be found in nearly every color and pattern and are made of silicate plastic that sheds water easily. They can stretch to completely encase the head or helmet, are designed with form-fitting sleeve/gloves that prevent the arms and hands from getting wet, and are attached to the boots. Bipedal bioforms wearing them tend to look like odd Yazirians, Dralasites look like deranged beachballs, and Vrsuk appear as plastic nightmares, Humma appear to be vicious tents, and Osakar are indescribable.
Suc-Set: This set is a combination of suc-gloves, eldo and knee suc-pads, and suc-boots. They are completely covered with thousands of suc-pods, the organic supersuckers found on Solar Minor. Suc-pods are attached in neat little rows that can hold more than double the wearer's weight (if the full set is worn) but can be easily unsucked by sliding in the direction of the climb. In this manner a wearer can belly-crawl up sheet walls, leap on to a vehicle and have a chance to stick to it, or remain sucked to the ceiling for hours.
Suc-pods have to be watered every 20 hours to keep them from drying outand dying. The only surface they suc-pods do not adhere to is one that is oily. Vrusk cannot use the suc-set; their physical structure is not suited for its use.