Cloaking

Overview

Cloaking is a mission that allows a ship to be hidden from the enemy at the cost of extra fuel. A ship must be undamaged to cloak.

$\operatorname{burn} = max(5, floor(5 * mass / 100))$

Cloaked ships are also less likely to hit mines (50% of normal probability per light-year). They can also attack ships without attacking a planet simply by setting a Primary Enemy, although they will attack the planet as well if they take damage taking out the starships.

In games that started no later than September 11, 2011, cloaking devices had a 1% chance to malfunction randomly, leaving the ship uncloaked for that turn. Cloaking devices no longer malfunction randomly.

```We've had a problem in our engine room. Our cloaking device has failed!
```

Countermeasures

Being attacked by ships with a cloaking device can be tough.

There are mainly three more-or-less effective counter-measures:

• Lay many minefields where you suspect cloaked enemies (preferably overlapping minefields). Web mines are even better, if available.
• A Loki Class Destroyer will decloak any cloaked ships with in 10 ly around it (doesn't work versus ships owned by Feds, Lizards and Birds).
• Ships with a glory device can also be used to decloak (and possibly disable or destroy) a cloaked ship at the same location.

Cloak-Capable Ships

The Lizards

Name Tech Beams T/F En MC Dur Tri Mol Mass Cargo Fuel Crew Abilities Adv
Reptile Class Destroyer 3 4 0/0 2 50 22 33 15 60 50 120 45 Cl 5
Lizard Class Cruiser 4 4 3/0 2 190 42 81 30 160 290 330 430 Cl 20
Saurian Class Light Cruiser 7 4 2/0 2 85 32 67 23 120 150 260 336 Cl 10

The Empire of the Birds

Name Tech Beams T/F En MC Dur Tri Mol Mass Cargo Fuel Crew Abilities Adv
Swift Heart Class Scout 1 2 0/0 1 60 6 20 5 45 20 170 126 Neb, Cl 5
White Falcon Class Cruiser 3 4 1/0 2 110 32 61 33 120 140 430 150 Cl 10
Bright Heart Class Destroyer 3 2 4/0 2 140 22 43 15 80 40 90 122 Cl 5
Fearless Wing Cruiser 5 6 1/0 2 180 52 81 63 150 240 360 300 Cl 10
Deth Specula Class Frigate 6 6 4/0 2 280 25 45 89 113 35 140 240 RS, Cl 10
Resolute Class Battlecruiser 7 8 3/0 2 380 52 71 93 180 280 480 348 Adv. C 30
Red Wind Class Carrier 8 2 0/2 2 150 22 37 15 70 60 85 40 Cl 5
Dark Wing Class Battleship 10 10 8/0 2 450 170 183 110 491 150 290 910 Adv. C 80

The Fascists

Name Tech Beams T/F En MC Dur Tri Mol Mass Cargo Fuel Crew Abilities Adv
D7 Coldpain Class Cruiser 4 4 2/0 2 120 42 71 63 175 100 430 373 RS, Cl 10
D3 Thorn Class Destroyer 5 2 4/0 2 110 32 43 25 90 40 120 222 RS, Cl 5
Deth Specula Class Frigate 6 6 4/0 2 280 25 45 89 113 35 140 240 RS, Cl 10

The Privateers

Name Tech Beams T/F En MC Dur Tri Mol Mass Cargo Fuel Crew Abilities Adv
Br4 Class Gunship 1 5 0/0 2 60 12 17 35 55 20 80 55 Grav, Cl 25
Dwarfstar Class Transport 3 6 0/0 2 280 62 43 15 100 220 180 122 Cl 5
Br5 Kaye Class Torpedo Boat 3 4 1/0 2 70 22 17 15 57 20 80 40 Grav, Cl 30
D3 Thorn Class Destroyer 5 2 4/0 2 110 32 43 25 90 40 120 222 RS, Cl 5
Meteor Class Blockade Runner 5 4 4/0 2 250 22 17 55 90 120 285 102 Grav, Cl 90
Red Wind Class Carrier 8 2 0/2 2 150 22 37 15 70 60 85 40 Cl 5

Other Races

Other races cannot build cloaking ships. However, they can capture and use cloaking ships from other races, and can (for some races) clone them.

None