Captain ZombieSmurf is the often misunderstood majority owner of the Albatross, a merchant-freighter starship that trades with and makes deliveries to fringe worlds - far-flung stations, non-spacefaring races (Prime Directive? To pay the mortgage on the ship!), etc. Between his bad luck and the fringe-routes the ship travels, the Albatross' crews are generally a melting pot of the citizens in the 'Verse. That's okay - he only pays them every other month, at best... The captain is not particularly honest, and may engage in a little smuggling on the side, if it seems safe.

"The one thing in life I seem to really care about is my ship, which has been in the family for a while, an Empress-class transport ship that really isn't anything to write home about. It's been around for a few years, and looks a mite flashier than most, but there really ain't much more that distinguishes it from the dozens of other types of ship flying through the Black. It has strengths and weaknesses, like everything else. Got her when my crew and I saved a noted genetic engineer from some terrorists."

About the Albatross (Empress-class)

Cargo can be loaded into the cavernous cargo bay four ways: the port and starboard cargo airlocks; the forward cargo ramp; via a winch through the bomb bay doors; or on the aft cargo elevator. The bay itself is wider than on, say, a Firefly, but it not as tall.

Accommodations are simple, though generally better for the passengers than for the crew, excepting the captain, of course. A common area behind the bridge has facilities enough to divert the rest of the crew for a spell, and to allow for someone to whip up a quick and nutritious, if tasteless, meal. More complete facilities can be found on the upper deck in the passenger lounge, which has a tendency to be used by the crew also. The bridge itself seats three, though generally only the pilot seat need be occupied most of the time. A co-pilot and sensor operator/navigator are only really needed when things get dicey.

Ship systems are a tad more complex than the average cheap-and-cheerful Firefly boasts, but only because they are more spread out on an Empress. One system failure or accident is less likely to take out everything from propulsion to the internal atmo feed in one fell swoop, but a mechanic had best be quick on his feet in an emergency or have knowledgeable friends ready to lend a hand.

An Empress ain't as adept at maneuvering as some, lacking external engine pods that rotate, but instead diverts thrust through slats in the top, bottom and side of each engine housing. This brick'll never pull an Ivan, but it can slide slowly to port or starboard, a trick pilots can exploit to catch confident pursuers unawares.