Escape Pod
All space transports and capital ships automatically include enough escape pods for all non-droid passengers and crew—they’re built into the cost of the ship. By law, starships are required to have sufficient escape pods on board at all times, but military starships are exempt from this rule and may carry fewer than the normal amount (see Gaining Emplacement Points).
If a Colossal or larger starship is destroyed, any character on board who survives may make a DC 20 Acrobatics check to reach an escape pod. On a failed check, the character is stuck in a bit of wreckage that has enough air and heat to keep them alive for about an hour. (Obviously, a character who gets into an escape pod prior to a ship’s destruction does not need to make a check.)
Typical escape pods are small, single-use vehicles providing 1 day of life support for eight Medium creatures plus rations for another week and just enough fuel to reach a nearby planet. Many large ships upgrade their escape pods to more capable models.
Escape Pod (CL 1)
Starships of the Galaxy, page 50.
Huge starfighter
Initiative: −2; Senses: Perception +0
Defenses: Fort 25, Ref 10 (flat-footed 10) ; +2 armor
Hit Points: 40; DR: 10; Damage Threshold: 35
Speed: fly 8 squares (max. velocity 250 km/h), fly 1 squares (starship scale)
Fighting Space: 3×3 or 1 square (starship scale); Cover: total,
Base Attack: +−5; Grapple: 20
Abilities: Str 31, Dex 10, Con —, Int 10
Skills: Initiative −2, Mechanics +0 , Perception +0, Pilot −2, Use Computer +0
Crew: 0 (untrained); Passengers: 8
Cargo: none; Consumables: 1 day; Carried Craft: none
Availability: Common; Cost: 1,200
Small Lifeboats: These vessels, which can be installed on ships of Colossal (frigate) size or larger, provide life support for fifteen Medium creatures for up to 1 week, and they have enough fuel to fly across a star system to reach a hospitable planet. They include extensive survival gear, including emergency shelters, 1 week of rations, water purifiers, and a small hunting blaster. One bay includes (starship’s cost modifier)/50 lifeboats, and multiple bays may be installed. See Starship Accessory Systems for costs.
Large Lifeboats: These vessels, which can be installed on ships of Colossal (cruiser) size or larger, provide life support for up to 50 Medium creatures for up to 2 months, and they include a ×15 hyperdrive with enough fuel for a single hyperspace jump (plus a little left over for the ion engines and repulsorlifts to use during landing). Survival gear is similar to that of a small lifeboat. One bay includes (starship’s cost modifier)/100 large lifeboats, and multiple bays may be installed. See Starship Accessory Systems for costs.