目錄 FTL Drive FTL Drive: Appearance FTL Drive: Drive Charge Space Combat Space Combat: Combat Endurance Space Combat: General Tactics Space Combat: Planetary Assaults Space Combat: Trans-Relay Assaults Starships Starships: Crew Considerations Starships: Cruisers Starships: Dreadnought Starships: Carriers Starships: Fighters Starships: Frigates Starships: Heat Management Starships: Sensors Starships: Thrusters Vehicles Vehicles: Combat Drones Weapons Weapons: Ablative Armor Weapons: Disruptor Torpedoes Weapons: GARDIAN Weapons: Javelin

FTL Drive

FTL Drive: Appearance

FTL Drive: Appearance FTL驅動航行：外觀

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New space travelers ask, "What does it look like outside a ship moving faster-than-light speed?" Part of the answer can be seen in a simple pane of glass. Light travels slower through glass than it does through open air; light also moves slower in conventional space than it does in a high-speed mass effect field. This causes refraction - any light entering at an angle is bent and separated into a spectrum. Objects outside the ship will appear refracted. The greater the difference between the objective (exterior) and subjective (interior) speeds of light, the greater the refraction. As the subjective speed of light is raised within the field, objects outside will appear to red-shift, eventually becoming visible only to radio telescope antennae. High-energy electromagnetic1 sources normally hidden to the eye become visible in the high blue spectrum. As the speed of light continues to be raised, x-ray, gamma ray, and eventually cosmic ray sources become visible. Stars will be replaced by pulsars, the accretion discs of black holes, quasars, and gamma ray bursts. To an outside observer, a ship within a mass effect drive envelope appears blue-shifted. If within a field that allows travel at twice the speed of light, any radiation it emits has twice the energy as normal. If the ship is in a field of about 200 times light speed, it radiates visible light as x-rays and gamma rays, and the infrared heat from the hull is blue-shifted up into the visible spectrum or higher. Ships moving at FTL are visible at great distances, though their signature will only propagate at the speed of light. 新一代的太空旅行者常會問，“太空船以超光速移動時外面看起來像怎樣？”部份的答案可以從一片單純的玻璃身上找到。光線穿越玻璃的速度比穿越外界空氣慢；光線穿越一般太空的速度也比穿越高速質量效應場要慢。這會造成折射－任何非垂直射入的光線會彎曲而分散成光譜。船外的物體看起來會像折射過的樣子。客觀（外部）與主觀（內部）光速差異越大，折射也越大。 當力場內的主觀光速提高，外頭的物體會出現紅位移現像，最後只能用電波望遠鏡天線觀測。通常看不到的高能量電磁來源會進入高頻藍光頻譜因而可用肉眼觀測。當光速繼續提高，X光，伽瑪射線，到最後連宇宙射線來源都可以看見。恆星會被脈衝星，黑洞的吸積盤，類星體，與伽瑪射線爆發源取代。 對外界觀察者而言，在質量效應驅動封套內的太空船會出現藍位移現像。假如在一個可兩倍光速移動的力場內，任何發散的輻射能量會是正常的兩倍。如果太空船位於200倍光速的力場內，它發散的可見光會變成X光與伽瑪射線，而船身的紅外線熱能會藍位移成可見光或頻率更高的光譜。 以FTL移動的船艦很遠就可發現，但是它們的訊號還是以一般的光速傳送。

FTL Drive: Drive Charge

FTL Drive: Drive Charge FTL驅動航行：驅動器電荷

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As positive or negative electric current is passed through an FTL drive core, it acquires a static electrical charge. Drives can be operated an average of 50 hours before they reach charge saturation. This changes proportionally to the magnitude of mass reduction; a heavier or faster ship reaches saturation more quickly. If the charge is allowed to build, the core will discharge into the hull of a ship. All ungrounded crew members are fried to a crisp, all electronic system are burned out, and metal bulkheads may be melted and fused together. The safest way to discharge a core is to land on a planet and establish a connection to the ground, like a lightning rod. Larger vessels like dreadnoughts cannot land and must discharge into a planetary magnetic field. As the hull discharges, sheets of lightning jump away into the field, creating beautiful auroral displays on the planet. The ship must retract its sensors and weapons while dumping charge to prevent damage, leaving it blind and helpless. Discharging at a moon with a weak magnetic field can take days. Discharging into the powerful field of a gas giant may require less than an hour. Deep space facilities such as the Citadel often have special discharge facilities for visiting ships. 當正負電流通過FTL驅動核心，它會產生靜電荷。驅動器平均運轉約50小時後它們就達到電荷飽和。飽和時間隨質量減輕的程度成比例改變；較重與較快的船艦較快達到飽和。 假如讓電荷繼續增加，核心會放電到船體。所有沒有接地的乘組人員會被電焦，電子設備燒毀，金屬隔間會溶化並融合在一起。 最安全的核心放電方式是降落在行星上，然後建立接地連結，就像避雷針一樣。大型船艦如無畏艦無法降落而必須放電到行星磁場中。 當船身放電，一整層閃電會跳進磁場，在行星上產生美麗的極光現像。當拋棄電荷時船艦必須收進感應器與武器以免受損，這讓它無法偵測與攻擊。在衛星微弱磁場中放電要花數日。但在氣體巨星的強力磁場中放電只須不到一小時。太空設施如要塞太空站通常有特殊的放電設備供來訪船艦使用。

Space Combat

Space Combat: Combat Endurance

Space Combat: Combat Endurance 太空戰鬥：戰鬥持續力

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Heat limits the length and intensity of ship-to-ship combat. Starships generate enormous heat when they fire high-energy weapons, perform maneuvering burns, and run on-board combat electronics. In combat, warships produce heat more quickly than they can disperse it. As heat builds within a vessel, the crewed spaces become increasingly uncomfortable. Before the heat reaches lethal leaves, a ship must win or retreat by entering FTL. After an FTL run, the ships halts, shuts down non-essential systems, and activates the heat radiation gear. Combat endurance varies by ship design and by the battle's location. Battles in the deep cold of interstellar space can go on for some time. Engagements close to a star are brief. Since habitable worlds are usually close to a star, battles over them are usually more frantic. 散熱限制了艦對艦戰鬥的長短與強度。當星艦發射高能武器，進行移動推進，與使用艦載戰鬥電子設備時，他們會產生大量的熱能。 在戰鬥中，戰艦熱能產生的速度比散熱還要快。隨著船內熱能累積，載人空間會變得更加不舒適。在熱能達到致命程度之前，船艦必須勝利或以FTL撤退。在FTL運轉後，船艦停止，關閉非必要系統，同時啟動散熱裝備。 戰鬥持續力因船艦設計與戰鬥位置而有所不同。在冰冷的星際空間中戰鬥可以持續較久。靠近恆星的交戰則很短。由於可居住星球通常接近恆星，在其上空的戰鬥通常更為忙亂。

Space Combat: General Tactics

Space Combat: General Tactics 太空戰鬥：一般戰術

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Shells lofted by surface navies crash back to earth when their acceleration is overwhelmed by gravity and air resistance. In space, a projectile has unlimited range, it will keep moving until it hits something. Practical gunnery range is determined by the velocity of the attacker's ordinance and the maneuverability of the target. Beyond a certain range, a small ship's ability to dodge trumps a larger attacker's projectile speed. The largest-ranged combat occurs between dreadnoughts, whose projectiles have the highest velocity but are the least maneuverable. The shortest-range combat is between frigates, which have the slowest projectile velocities and highest maneuverability. Opposing dreadnoughts open with main gun artillery duel at EXTREME ranges of tens of thousands of kilometers. The fleet close, maintaining evasive lateral motion while keeping their bow guns facing the enemy. Fighters are launched and attempt to close to disruptor torpedo range. Cautious admirals weaken the enemy with ranged fire and fighter strikes before committing to close action. Aggressive commanders advance so cruisers and frigates can engage. At LONG range, the main guns of cruisers become useful. Friendly interceptors engage enemy fighters until the attackers enter the range of ship-based GARDIAN fire. Dreadnoughts fire from the rear, screened by smaller ships. Commanders must decide whether to commit to a general melee or retreat into FTL. At MEDIUM range, ships can use broadside guns. Fleets intermingle, and it becomes difficult to retreat in order. Ships with damaged kinetic barriers are vulnerable to wolfpack1 frigate flotillas that speed through the battle space. Only fighters and frigates enter CLOSE "knife fight" ranges of 10 or fewer kilometers. Fighters loose their disruptor torpedoes, bringing down a ship's kinetic barriers and allowing it to be swarmed by frigates. GARDIAN lasers become viable weapons, swatting down fighters and boiling away warship armor. Neither dreadnoughts nor cruisers can use their main guns at close range; laying the bow on a moving target becomes impossible. Superheated thruster exhaust becomes a hazard. 水面船艦射出砲彈後，當它們的加速度不敵重力與空氣阻力時會墜落回地球。但在太空中，投射物有無限的射程，它會一直移動直到它撞上東西。 有效槍砲射程是由攻擊者的武裝與目標的操控力所決定。超過某些距離，船艦只要稍微增加閃躲能力就可勝過攻擊者較高的投射物速度。最大距離的戰鬥發生於無畏艦之間，它們的投射物有最高的加速度但是本身操控最緩慢。最短距離的戰鬥是護衛艦之間的戰鬥，有最慢的投射物加速與最高的操控能力。 對峙中的無畏艦以數萬公里的超長程距離進行主砲對轟。艦隊保持密集，持續進行閃避側移同時維持船艏槍口朝向敵人。戰鬥機也會出動並努力接近至擾動魚雷射程。謹慎的艦隊司令在進入近身戰之前先用長程火力與戰機攻擊削弱敵人。大膽的指揮官會直接挺進讓巡洋艦跟護衛艦可以交戰。 在長程距離內，巡洋艦的主砲已能使用。在攻擊戰機進入艦載GARDIAN火力射程之前，我方攔截機先與敵方戰機交戰。無畏艦從後方開火，以較小的船艦跟敵人分隔。指揮官必須決定是否進行全面肉搏戰或撤退回FTL。 在中程距離，船艦可使用舷側火砲。艦隊彼此交雜，變得很難有秩序地撤退。動能護壁受損的船艦極易遭受穿梭戰鬥空域的狼群護衛艦船隊攻擊。 只有戰鬥機與護衛艦才會進入10或數公里的短程“白兵戰”距離。戰機釋放它們的擾動魚雷，幹掉船艦的動能護壁使它可以被護衛艦圍攻。GARDIAN雷射變成活命武器，可射下戰鬥機與灼燒戰艦裝甲。 無畏艦與巡洋艦都不會在近距離使用它們的主砲；這種距離不可能把船艏對準移動中的目標。超熱的推進器排氣也會變得十分危險。

Space Combat: Planetary Assaults

Space Combat: Trans-Relay Assaults

Starships

Starships: Crew Considerations

Starships: Crew Considerations 星艦：船員照料

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Cabins give each individual ten cubic meters of space. On larger vessels private rooms are common. As ships get smaller, the number of crew packed into a single wardroom increases. Asari prefer shared spaces even on large vessels while krogan territorial instincts make it impossible for them to cohabitate even on the largest ships. On smaller vessels, "hot bunking" is the norm. Crew members are assigned different watches share the same bunk. When one gets off-duty, he wakes up the person in the bunk. While that crewman is on duty, the first gets his rack time. Spacecraft compartments can be isolated by air-tight doors in case of decompression. The cinematic version of explosive decompression is fiction; holed compartments either take enough damage that the occupants are killed instantly, or leak slowly enough that they are able to reach protective gear. Compartments are equipped with Emergency Life Supports Apparatus: fireproof plastic bubbles with air bottles. Small when stowed, ELSA comfortably accommodate one individual inflated. Damage control procedure cuts off ventilation to burning compartments. Without oxygen to consume, fires die in seconds. The compartment is re-pressurized afterwards for crew recovery. Mass effect fields create an artificial gravity (a-grav) plane below the decks, preventing muscle atrophy and bone loss in zero-gee. Large vessels arrange their decks perpendicular to their thrust axis. The "highest" decks are at the bow, and the "lowest" decks at the engines. This allows a-grav to work with the inertial effects of thrust. Ships that can land arrange their decks laterally, so the crew can move about while the vessel is on the ground. Warships normally turn off their a-grav systems during combat, reducing heat generated by systems and increasing combat endurance. To provide a point of reference for navigating in zero-gee, floors are painted a different color from the walls and ceiling. 每個人的艙房有十立方米的空間。在大型船艦中單人房很普遍。隨著船艦變小，同住一間寢室的船員數量也隨之增加。即使在大型艦艇上阿莎利族仍喜歡共享空間，但克羅根族的領域天性使他們就算在最大的船艦上也難和平相處。 在較小的艦艇，“熱鋪”是標準作法。被指派不同時段值班的乘組人員共用同一床鋪。當一人下班後，他喚醒鋪位上的人。當被叫醒的人在值班時，之前那位就進入就寢時間。 萬一發生減壓現象，太空船隔間可以用氣密門封閉。電影上演的爆炸性減壓都是虛構的；破裂的隔間不是損傷大到讓居住者馬上死亡，就是滲漏緩慢到夠讓他們有時間拿到保護裝備。 隔間都備有緊急維生裝置(ELSA)：是附有空氣瓶的防火塑膠泡曩。在儲藏時很小，但ELSA充氣後可以舒適地容納一個人。損害控制程序會切斷著火區塊的通風。由於沒有氧氣可以消耗，火燄會很快熄滅。之後區塊會重新加壓以解救船員。 質量效應場在甲板下產生人工重力平面(a-grav)，防止在零重力下造成肌肉萎縮與骨質流失。大型船艦將它們的甲板布置成與它們的推進軸垂直。“最高”的甲板在船艏，“最低”的甲板在引擎。這使人工重力可與推進的慣性作用一起運作。可登陸的船艦將甲板水平布置，這樣在艦艇位於地面時船員才可四處移動。 戰艦通常在戰鬥時關閉它們的人工重力系統，減少系統產生的熱能以增加戰鬥持續力。為了在零重力下提供參考點引導，地板會漆上跟牆壁與天花板不同的顏色。

Starships: Cruisers

Starships: Cruisers 星艦：巡洋艦

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Cruiser-weight starships are the standard combat unit encountered away from large naval bases, the "poor bloody infantry" of most fleets. Nimble scouting frigates have neither the punch nor the stamina to stand up to serious combat, and the mighty dreadnoughts are a strategic resource, carefully hoarded and committed to the most critical battles. Cruisers perform routine independent "show the flag" patrols in settled systems and lead flotillas of frigates in small engagements, such as pirate suppression campaigns. In major fleet engagements, cruiser squadrons support the dreadnought battle line by screening their flanks against enemies attempting to maneuver for a main gun "bow shot" from their vulnerable broadsides. Alliance cruisers are named after cities of Earth. 巡洋艦量級星艦是大型海軍基地之外最常遇到的標準戰鬥單位，算是大部份艦隊中的“大頭兵”。這是因為敏捷的偵查護衛艦既沒有火力也沒有體力面對激戰，而強大的無畏艦又是戰略資源，要謹慎地保存實力，只用於最重要的戰鬥。 巡洋艦可在移民星系執行例行性單獨“武力展示”巡邏，或在小型交戰中領導護衛艦船隊，像是海盜鎮壓戰役。在大型艦隊交戰中，巡洋艦小隊支援無畏艦戰線，阻隔其側翼以防止敵人試圖移動到無畏艦脆弱的舷側，進行主砲“船首射擊”。 聯盟巡洋艦以地球的城市命名。

Starships: Dreadnought

Starships: Dreadnought 星艦：無畏艦

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The dreadnought is the ultimate arbiter of space warfare; millions of tons of metal, ceramic, and polymer dedicated to the projection of firepower against an enemy vessel of like ability. No sane commander would face a dreadnought with anything less than another dreadnought. A dreadnought's power lies in the length of its main gun. Dreadnoughts range from 800 meters to one kilometer long, with a main gun of commensurate length. An 800-meter mass accelerator is capable of accelerating one 20 kg. slug to a velocity of 4025 km/s every two seconds. Each slug has the kinetic energy of 38 kilotons1 of TNT, three times the energy released by the fission weapon that destroyed Hiroshima. When used to bombard planets, some of this kinetic energy is lost due to atmospheric re-entry friction. As a rule of thumb, each Earth-atmosphere of air pressure saps approximately 20% of a projectile's impact energy. The turian fleet presently has 39 dreadnoughts; the asari, 21; and the salarians, 16. Humanity has eight. Alliance battleships are named for mountains of Earth. Everest-class: Everest, Fuji, Elbrus. Kilimanjaro-class: Kilimanjaro, Tai Shan, Shasta, Aconcagua, Orizaba. 無畏艦是太空戰爭的終極裁決者；上百萬噸的金屬，陶磁，與聚合物全用來打造這個火力投射平台讓它可以對抗擁有同等能力的敵人船艦。沒有任何一個有理智的指揮官敢面對無畏艦，除非他有另一艘無畏艦。 無畏艦的威力來自於主砲的長度。無畏艦長度從800公尺到1公里長，搭載的主砲也呈等比例的加長。一個800公尺的質量加速器可將一個20公斤重彈丸加速到每兩秒增加秒速4025公里。每個彈丸的動能等於38,000噸黃色炸藥，釋放的能量等同三倍摧毀廣島的核裂解武器。 當用於轟炸行星，部份動能因進入大氣層的摩擦而損失。根據約略的推算，每個地球大氣層空氣壓力會吸收近20%的投射衝擊能量。 圖瑞安艦隊目前有39艘無畏艦；阿莎利有21艘；而索拉瑞安，16艘。人類有8艘。聯盟戰艦使用地球的高山命名。 聖母峰級：聖母峰，富士山，厄爾布魯斯。 吉力馬札羅級：吉力馬札羅，泰山，沙斯塔，阿空加瓜，奧里薩巴。

Starships: Carriers

Starships: Carriers 星艦：航空母艦

取得地點：

All races provide their fleets with organic fighter support. Cruisers fit a handful in the space between the interior pressure hulls and exterior armor. Dreadnoughts have a hangar deck within the hull. Humans – who had only recently "graduated" from surface to space combat – were the first to build ships wielding fighters as the main armament. In fleet combat, carriers stay clear of battle, launching fighters bearing disruptor torpedoes. Fighters are the primary striking power of the ship; if a carrier enters mass accelerator range of the enemy, things have gone very wrong. It is possible to recover and rearm fighters during combat, though most carriers seal the flight deck and try to stay out of the way. The flight deck is essentially a corridor through the armor and into the heart of the vessel. A single well-placed torpedo is enough to gut a carrier. Alliance carriers are named after great leaders, artists, and intellectuals from human history. 所有種族都提供艦隊有人戰鬥機支援。巡洋艦只能在介於內部加壓艙與外部裝甲之間的空間中容納少量戰機。無畏艦在船身內有停機庫。但人類－最近才剛從地面對太空戰鬥中“畢業”－首先建造以運用戰機為主要武力的船艦。 在艦隊戰鬥中，航空母艦會遠離戰場，發動攜帶擾動魚雷的戰機。戰鬥機是此種船艦的主要打擊軍力；假如一艘母艦進入敵人質量加速器射程，事態將會很嚴重。 雖然在戰鬥中回收與補給戰機是可能的，但是大部份母艦寧願封閉飛行甲板而不這麼作。飛行甲板基本上是穿透裝甲直達船艦心臟的走廊。一發瞄準飛行甲板的魚雷就足以摧毀母艦。 聯盟航空母艦以人類歷史上的偉大領袖，藝術家，與學者命名。

Starships: Fighters

Starships: Fighters 星艦：戰鬥機

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Fighters are single-pilot combat small craft. They are lightweight enough that they can be economically fitted with powerful element zero cores, making them capable of greater acceleration and sharper maneuvers than starships. Kinetic barrier shields changed starship battles from short, vicious bloodbaths to extended, indecisive slugging matches. Only the main gun of a dreadnought could punch a mass accelerator slug through the barriers of an opposing dreadnought. This changed with the development of the fighter-launched mass disruptor torpedo, a short-ranged weapon that can penetrate kinetic barriers to destroy their projector assemblies. Starship GARDIAN defenses must be overwhelmed through swarm tactics. Fighter groups can take heavy casualties pressing their torpedo attacks home. Once fighter-launched torpedoes have crippled an enemy's barriers, the mass accelerators on frigates and cruisers can make short work of them. Interceptors are a type of fighter optimized to attack other fighters, with no ability to damage starships. Interceptors are used to screen friendly units from incoming fighter attack. 戰鬥機是單人戰鬥小型飛行器。它們輕到足以有效率地裝置強力零度元素核心，使它們比星艦有更大的加速度與快速活動能力。 動能護壁防護使星艦戰鬥從短暫，兇狠的浴血戰變成冗長，不明確的緩慢對決。本來只有無畏艦的主砲才能擊發質量加速彈丸貫穿對手無畏艦的護壁。但是戰機發射型質量擾動魚雷的發展讓一切改觀，它是一種近距離武器可以貫穿動能護壁摧毀其投射集合點。 星艦GARDIAN防禦早晚會被人海戰術淹沒。戰機群可以承受大量傷亡進逼它們的魚雷攻擊直到命中。當戰機發射型魚雷削弱敵人的護壁後，護衛艦與巡洋艦上的質量加速器就可輕易幹掉對手。 攔截機是一種專門用於攻擊其他戰機的戰鬥機，沒有任何破壞星艦的能力。攔截機用於阻隔我方部隊與來襲戰機攻擊。

Starships: Frigates

Starships: Frigates 星艦：護衛艦

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Frigates are light escort and scouting vessels. They often have extensive GARDIAN systems to provide anti-fighter screening for capital ships, and carry a squad of marines for security and groundside duty. Unlike larger vessels, frigates are able to land on planets. Frigate drive systems allow them to achieve high FTL cruise speeds. They also have proportionally larger thrusters and lighter design mass, allowing them to maneuver more handily. In combat, speed and maneuverability make a frigate immune to the long-range fire of larger vessels; in the time it take projectiles to reach them, frigates are no longer where they were predicted to be. In fleet combat, frigates are organized into "wolfpack1" flotillas of four to six. Wolfspacks speed through enemy formations, hunting enemy vessels whose kinetic barriers have been taken down by fighter-launched disruptor torpedoes. The wolfspack circle-strafes vulnerable targets, using their superior speed and maneuverability to evade return fire. Alliance frigates are named for great battles in human history. 護衛艦是輕型的護航與偵查船艦。它們通常有周全的GARDIAN系統，為主力艦提供反戰機隔離，並攜帶陸戰中隊以進行保全與地面勤務。不像大型船艦，護衛艦可以降落在行星上。 護衛艦驅動系統使它們可以達到高FTL巡航速度。它們也有大比例的推進器和較輕的設計重量，使它們可以更輕巧地活動。在戰鬥中，速度與操控性使護衛艦對大型船艦的長程火力完全免疫；在投射物到達目的地的過程中，護衛艦早已不在它們原來所在的地方。 在艦隊戰鬥中，護衛艦組成四或六艘的“狼群”船隊。狼群快速通過敵人陣形，獵捕動能護壁被戰機發射擾動魚雷消除的敵方船艦。之後狼群圍攻脆弱目標，使用它們優越的速度與操控性閃避回擊。 聯盟護衛艦以人類歷史上的大型戰役命名。

Starships: Heat Management

Starships: Heat Management 星艦：散熱管理

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Dispersal of heat generated by onboard systems is a critical issue for a ship. If it cannot deal with heat, the crew may be cooked within the hull. Radiation is the only way to shed heat in a vacuum. Civilian vessels utilize large, fragile radiator panels that are impossible to armor. Warships use Diffuse Radiator Arrays (DRA), ceramic strips along the exterior of the armored hull. These make the ship appear striped to thermographic sensors. Since the arrangement of the strips depends on the internal configuration of the ship, the patterns for each vessel are unique and striking. On older ships, the DRA strips could become red- or white-hot. Dubbed "tiger stripes" or "war paint" by humans, the glowing DRA had a psychological impact on pirates and irregular forces. Strip radiators are not as efficient as panels, but if damaged by enemy fire, the ship only loses a small portion of its total radiation capacity. In most cases, a vessel's DRA alone allows it to cruise with no difficulties. Operations deep within solar systems can cause problems. A ship engaged in combat can produce titanic amounts of heat from maneuvering burns and weapons fire. When fighting in a high heat environment, warships employ high-efficiency "droplet" heat sinks. In a droplet system, tanks of liquid sodium or lithium absorb heat within the ship. The liquid is vented from spray nozzles near the bow as a thin sheet of millions of micrometer-scale droplets. The droplets are caught at the stern and recycled into the system. A droplet system can sink 10-100 times as much heat as DRA strips. Droplet sheets resemble a surface ship's wake through water. The wake peels out in sharp turns, spreading a fan of droplets as the ship changes vectors and leaves the coolant behind. 驅散艦上系統所產生的熱能對船艦而言是相當重要的議題。假如它沒辦法處理熱能，船員會在船身內被烤熟。 輻射傳導是在真空中排出熱能的唯一方法。民間船艦使用的大型，脆弱散熱板無法加上裝甲。戰艦則使用擴散傳熱陣列(DRA)，是一種鑲在裝甲船身外部的陶瓷長條。這使船艦在熱成像感應器下看起如同有條紋一般。由於長條的配置取決於船艦的內部結構，每艘船的樣式都是獨特且醒目的。在舊型的船艦，DRA長條會發紅或是白熱化。人類把它稱為“虎斑”或“戰紋”，發光的DRA會對海盜與非正規部隊產生心理上的打擊。 條狀散熱器不及板狀有效率，但假如它被敵人砲火損傷，船艦只會喪失一小部份的散熱能力。在大部份的情況下，只靠船艦的DRA進行巡航完全沒有難處。但在靠近星系內部運作時則會產生問題。 交戰中的船艦會因操控推進與武器擊發而產生極大量的熱能。當在高熱環境下作戰，戰艦使用高效率的“液滴”吸熱器。 在液滴系統中，數槽罐的液態鈉或鋰用來吸收船內的熱能。之後液體以靠近船首的噴霧口排出，形成充滿數百萬顆微米級液滴的薄層。液滴在船尾被捕抓後再回收進系統。液滴系統比DRA長條可多吸收10-100倍熱能。 液滴層就像水面船艦劃過水中的尾流一樣。尾流在急轉彎時脫離，隨著船艦改變航向散成扇狀的液滴同時在後方留下凝結尾。

Starships: Sensors

Starships: Sensors 星艦：感應器

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"Light lag" prevents sensing in real time at great distances. A ship firing its thrusters at the Charon Relay can be easily detected from Earth, 5.75 light-hours (six billion kilometers) away, but Earth will only see the event five hours and 45 minutes after it occurs. Due to the light-speed limit, defenders can't see enemies coming until they have already arrived. Because there is FTL travel and communications but no FTL sensors, frigates are crucial for scouting and picket duties. Passive sensors are used for long-range detection, while active sensors obtain short-range, high quality targeting data. Passive sensors include visual, thermographic, and radio detectors that watch and listen for objects in space. A powered ship emits a great deal of energy; the heat of the life support systems; the radiation given off by power plants and electrical equipment; the exhaust of the thrusters. Starships stand out plainly against the near-absolute zero background of space. Passive sensors can be used during FTL travel, but incoming data is significantly distorted by the effect of the mass effect envelope and Doppler shift. Active sensors are radars and high resolution ladars (LAser Detection And Ranging) that emit a "ping" of energy and "listen" for return signals. Ladars have a narrower field of view than radar, but ladar resolution allows images of detected objects to be assembled. Active sensors are useless when a ship is moving at FTL speeds. “光延遲”阻礙極遠距離的及時感應。一艘船艦在冥衛一轉運站啟動推進器可以從地球輕易偵測到，遠達5.75光速小時（六十億公里），不過地球要在它發生後五小時又45分鐘後才能看的到。由於光速的限制，防禦者看見敵人來襲之後，他們通常已經近在眼前了。因為有FTL移動與通信但沒有FTL感應器，護衛艦偵查與哨戒任務變得十分重要。 被動感應器用於長程偵測，而主動感應器可取得短距離，高品質的目標資料。 被動感應器包括目測，熱影像，與無線電偵測器用來觀察與傾聽太空中的物體。動力船艦發散大量的能源；像是維生系統的熱能；動力爐與電子設備逸出的輻射；推進器的排氣等。星艦在幾近絕對零度的背景太空對比之下顯的相當醒目。被動感應器可以在FTL移動中使用，但接收的資料會因質量效應封套與都卜勒位移的影響而嚴重扭曲。 主動感應器指雷達與高解析光雷達（雷射偵察與測距）它們會散發“定距”能量波然後“聆聽”反彈訊號。光雷達跟雷達相比之下只有較窄的可視範圍，但光雷達的解析度可以組成偵測物體的影像。當船艦以FTL速度移動時主動感應器完全派不上用場。

Starships: Thrusters

Vehicles

Vehicles: Combat Drones

Weapons

Weapons: Ablative Armor

Weapons: Disruptor Torpedoes

Weapons: GARDIAN

Weapons: Javelin