Probe

Probe
Realm	1
Category	Support
Role	Scout / Expedition Utility
Deployment	Space
-	Combat Stats
Attack	0
Defense	100
Shield	5
Speed	2700
Target Priority	3
-	Logistics
Cargo Capacity	10
Fuel Consumption	0.005
-	Build Info
Build Time	150s
Cost	1000 Steel, 1000 Quartz
-	Special
Special Abilities	Expedition Bonus Espionage Scan
Rapid Fire	None

Overview

The Probe is the primary reconnaissance hull of Realm 1: fast, cheap, and built for espionage scans and expedition utility — not for winning fights.

Special capabilities

Espionage scan

Probes are the standard tool for scouting colonies and pirate targets before you commit combat fleets. Detection risk depends on defender sensors, your Sensor Technology, probe count, and escorts — bring enough Probes, and expect losses when flying into hardened intel.

Expedition bonus

Probes improve early expedition tooling and remain useful as cheap expedition fillers when you need speed and utility more than firepower.

Strategic Use

• Scout before every meaningful attack
• Fastest Realm 1 hull — poor combat survivability
• Minimum build time: 5 ms per Probe from Realm 4, 100 ms before (Minimum build time)
• Many weapons have Rapid Fire against Probes; never rely on them as meatshields

References

• Expeditions — nebula runs and probe utility
• Fleet Detection — how defenders learn about fleets (separate from probe scouting)
• Sensor Technology — research that improves scouting
• Fleet and Ships — ship catalog