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This article is about the starship. For the weapon, see M-9 Tempest. |
The Andromeda Initiative Survey Ship Tempest is a scout ship used by the Pathfinder team to explore various worlds across the Heleus Cluster in the hope of finding suitable homes for Milky Way colonists in the Andromeda galaxy. Between missions, Tempest is the Pathfinder team's home, and everything in it is state of the art.
The Tempest was originally one of several purpose-built ships for each Ark's Pathfinder team. Kallo Jath was part of the team that designed and tested the Tempest and its prototype. When the Nexus struck the Scourge after arriving in the Heleus Cluster, the other Pathfinder ships were destroyed, making the Tempest one of a kind. Before the arrival of Ark Hyperion, Nexus leadership had planned to dismantle the Tempest for its parts, but Vetra Nyx protected the ship.
Internal Layout
Research Room
Practical applications of intel and samples gathered like upgrading weapons, armor, and the Nomad ND1 are done in the research room, supported by discoveries from the ship's tech and bio labs. It is situated at the ship's approximate center, between engineering at the aft and the tech and bio labs at the fore. Additionally, Strike Team missions can be launched from a terminal in this room.
Tech Lab
Technological items are sequestered and studied at the tech lab. It is located just opposite the bio lab in the fore section of the ship.
Bio Lab
The bio lab has containment and analysis facilities for biological samples like plants. It is located just opposite the tech lab in the fore section of the ship.
Meeting Room
The meeting room, situated toward the upper aft section of the Tempest, is a place to gather the crew or hold video conferences with the Nexus.
Engineering
Below the meeting room is the engineering room, housing the starship's drive core.
Armory
Also below the meeting room is the Pathfinder team's armory, where weapons are stored while off-mission.
Med Bay
Another facility below the meeting room, the med bay has beds armed with a variety of medical equipment to diagnose and treat potential injuries. This is also the location where a Respec Station can be found.
Cargo Bay
The cargo bay houses the Nomad scout rover. It opens up the underbelly of the Tempest to deploy the vehicle or the ground team itself on a ramp.
Crew Quarters
The crew are housed in wall-set two-man bunks in an area with ample space and greenery.
Galley
The galley functions as the ship's kitchen and dining facility. An L-shaped seater with a table opposite the cooking area plus a couple of swivel chairs forms the room's structural arrangement.
Pathfinder's Cabin
The Pathfinder's cabin is generally off-limits to the crew unless invited inside. It is the exclusive abode of the ship's commander. Amenities present include a sitting room, a music system, a email terminal, a wardrobe, and a window to (or a projection of) space taking up an entire side, and far larger living quarters compared to the crew's.
Bridge
This is where the ship's pilot steers the ship and where the Pathfinder operates the navigational system, synced specifically to them. The foremost section of the ship, the bridge also has a wide viewing area displaying the universe ahead. Additionally the galaxy map and email terminal can be accessed from this location.
Technology
The Tempest is designed to be small, stealthy and fast, trading off heavy armor and a main gun to excel in these. It is capable of covering 13 lightyears per day in FTL. The Tempest's size allows it to land on planets with little trouble, much like the SSV Normandy and unlike the larger Normandy SR-2. Four main thrusters provide its propulsion and it has four additional downward thrusters to stabilize its descent: two below the canard and two below the main wings. It is equipped with an array of scanners for determining groundside conditions before landing.
Crew
- Pathfinder Ryder - Current Pathfinder/Squad Leader
- Cora Harper - Squad Member/Second in command
- Kallo Jath - Pilot
- Dr. Lexi T'Perro - Medical Officer
- Dr. Suvi Anwar - Science Officer
- Gil Brodie - Chief Engineer
- Nakmor Drack - Squad Member
- Vetra Nyx - Squad Member/Logistics
- Peebee - Squad Member
- Liam Kosta - Squad Member
- Jaal Ama Darav - Squad Member
Datapads
Crew InfoBoard in the crew quarters
Found in the med bay on Lexi's desk
Trivia
- In the crew quarters, there are two plants vs. zombies plush toys on one of the beds. A nod from the EA developers to one of their other titles
- A small black and gold decal on either side of the aft hull identifies the ship as a "M90 SERIES CLASS A EXPLORATION VHCLE" with code 14K.BRCR 318 :O:
- In an apparent nod to previous Mass Effect titles, a red and white decal on both sides of the aft hull provides the following information: