Global Properties - Caltrops

• Caltrops are minefields that remain in position for long periods of time.
• A mine layer is built at the cost of credits, and flies like a constructor (shown below) to a destination at which it deploys into a caltrop. Once deployed, a caltrop can no longer move.
• As enemy ships pass through, they are damaged. Friendly ships do not detonate the mines, even if friendly fire is on.
• The faster a ship flies in a minefield, the more damage it will suffer.
• Caltrops can be removed by either firing the PW EMP Cannon into it or by destabilizing the aleph in which the caltrop was deployed (if the caltrop was deployed in an aleph).
• Caltrops can be deployed anywhere in space, but are generally deployed inside alephs.
• After a certain amount of mines were destroyed, the caltrop disappears (as no mines are left). There is also a natural rate of decay, resulting in complete degradation after a certain amount of time.

Deploying Caltrops

• Caltrops are usually (if not always) deployed at alephs. As soon as enemy ships pass through, they are damaged. This forces them to slow down significantly, making them easy targets until they are clear of the minefield. They can otherwise be taken by surprise and killed or badly damaged by the caltrop.
• They are generally deployed at alephs that connect to unsecured sectors, and mostly in sectors containing important stations, as indicated in the command section.
• They are essential in a territory where a technology station had to be constructed close by an aleph connecting to an unsecured sector.
• They are also used when the enemy uses stealth ships such as teleport probe carrying scouts, stealth bombers, heavy troop transports or assault ships. Not only do they damage those and force them to slow down, they also allow anyone to see the exploding mines caused by the ship's passage, and therefore allow pilots to visually see the passage of the ship without actually detecting the ship.