Cyclops
A fortress of steel and light against the crushing dark.
The Cyclops acts as a massive, multi-purpose underwater vessel for deep-sea exploration and survival on Planet 4546B. Human engineers designed it before the Aurora crash to function as a mobile base that withstands extreme pressures which would crush smaller submersibles. For survivors stranded in this alien ocean, building a Cyclops often represents the final step needed to reach the deepest biomes and uncover the planet's secrets.
- Type
- Deep-Sea Submersible
- Affiliation
- Humanity (The Company)
- Power Source
- Nuclear Reactor
- Role
- Exploration, Mobile Base, Defense
Lore & Background
The vessel's history on Planet 4546B is marked by both utility and tragedy. While player-built units serve as lifelines for survival, derelict wrecks found in the depths hint at previous expeditions that failed to return. These ruins often contain logs detailing the psychological toll of isolation and the overwhelming hostility of the deep ocean fauna.
In Their Own Story
The reactor hummed low beneath the hull, a steady heartbeat against the silence of the trench. Outside the thick glass, bioluminescent weeds swayed in currents that didn't exist on Earth. The sonar pinged, a rhythmic echo cutting through the dark water. A shadow moved past the viewport—too large to be fish, too slow to be curious. Hands tightened on the controls as the pilot engaged the thrusters, drifting into the abyssal night where only the Cyclops could survive.
Reader's Guide
The Cyclops serves as a mobile command center for deep-sea survival on Planet 4546B. Its primary goal is to facilitate exploration beyond the range of smaller submersibles, allowing access to hazardous biomes like the Lava Zones and Lost River. Unlike static bases, this vessel offers mobility while retaining significant fabrication capabilities, including an internal fabricator and storage for resources.
Hierarchy is simple: The pilot acts as captain, managing systems manually. There is no AI crew; all functions require direct human input or automated maintenance cycles. Technologically, it represents peak pre-crash human engineering, utilizing a nuclear reactor that requires constant monitoring to prevent catastrophic failure.
Relationship with the ecosystem is cautious. While built for durability, its hull can be breached by large fauna such as Reaper Leviathans. The vessel emits noise and light, attracting predators, making stealth often necessary when traversing dangerous trenches. It stands as a testament to human resilience against an alien ocean designed to keep intruders out.
Did You Know?
- The Cyclops requires a specific reactor fuel type that must be crafted or scavenged from wreckage.
- It is equipped with torpedo launchers capable of deterring large hostile fauna.
- A derelict version of this vessel can be found in the Deep Grand Reef area.