Get the Cloud Cruiser ready to travel
Recover a reactor core with a Hauler Wasp and deliver it through the upper cargo lift, then balance reactor power, hydrogen fuel and balloon lift as you expand the Cloud Cruiser. Pilot from the helm and build Wasp pads to bring your smaller aircraft along.
Recover and bring aboard the reactor core
The core belongs inside the nuclear reactor. Alpha-era core descriptions include crashed Cloud Cruiser remains and difficult terrain; follow your active campaign objective when choosing a recovery destination. Use the installation prompts in your current game for the final sequence after bringing the core aboard.
- Prepare the Hauler Wasp before the recovery flight. Fuel it and repair damage so it is ready for cargo work. Plan the return approach before setting out, leaving yourself room to handle the load carefully.
- Use the Hauler Wasp's magnet to lift and carry the reactor core. The core is heavy and radioactive, so favor controlled movement and a clear delivery approach. Decide where you will unload before releasing the magnet.
- Bring the core to the Cloud Cruiser's upper cargo lift. This is the loading route for objects too large for ordinary doors. Complete the delivery carefully, then follow your current core-installation objective before expanding the base.
Choose modules by the job they do
| Module | Role and planning check |
|---|---|
| Nuclear reactor | Supplies most onboard systems. Match active electrical demand to available generation before adding more powered equipment. |
| Thrust system | Consumes liquid hydrogen for forward movement. Greater thrust increases speed and fuel use, so ease back when conserving fuel. |
| Hydrogen refinery | Processes hydrogen crystals into liquid hydrogen. Budget electrical supply alongside the raw material you bring aboard. |
| Hydrogen siphon | Collects hydrogen from the air outside the ship. Its operation contributes to electrical demand. |
| Fuel tanks | Store liquid hydrogen and require electricity for cooling. Include fuel storage when reviewing the ship's power needs. |
| Balloons | Provide lift. Added machinery and heavy cargo can require additional lift capacity. |
| Wasp pads | Let you bring Wasps aboard. Plan fuel storage alongside the pads so the mobile base supports further aircraft expeditions. |
Balance power before expanding the base
When several powered systems stop together, start with reactor supply and total electrical demand. Restore supply before restarting nonessential equipment. Bring machinery back into use gradually while checking whether the available generation supports it.
Expand in stages, giving each addition a clear purpose for the next expedition. Hull pieces and installed components add weight, while powered modules add electrical demand. Review both power and lift after changing the layout, and leave room to reach important equipment.
Keep fuel production and lift working together
Hydrogen refineries process gathered crystals, while exterior siphons collect hydrogen from the air. Both need electricity, and fuel storage also depends on powered cooling. When fuel production stops, check electrical supply and required input before leaving to collect more materials.
Balloon lift must support the ship's total weight, including machinery and cargo. If an overload alarm sounds, add balloon capacity or remove weight. Review the balance after a large delivery, because the additional cargo changes what your current lift system must support.
Use the right loading area for each delivery
Use Wasp landing pads for aircraft and the upper cargo lift for bulky loads. Leave room around both when planning the base. Keep a clear working route between your aircraft parking area, cargo handling space and helm so routine deliveries stay manageable.
The alpha cargo-lift design opens its upper aperture when a cargo-capable Wasp approaches, with conveyors carrying delivered cargo into storage. Watch the loading area during delivery and check where the load goes. Verify that your cargo arrived before setting off on another collection trip.
Pilot from the helm and turn early
The helm controls thrust, reverse and turning. The Cloud Cruiser's mass creates substantial inertia, so begin course corrections early and allow generous room around obstacles. Practice approaches in clear space before attempting a tight maneuver with valuable cargo aboard.
The alpha-era cruise-control setup uses a periscope to mark navigation points, with manual repositioning needed when a route is heavily obstructed. Follow the navigation interface in your current game before leaving the helm. Choose a clear route and stay attentive to the ship's progress while travelling.
Handle stalls and missing reactor cores
- Why does my Cloud Cruiser stop after reaching about 25 speed?
- A player with this symptom reported that reducing the throttle and applying it again restored movement. Try that as a workaround and check the liquid-hydrogen supply. If the stalls keep happening, describe the behavior through the in-game bug-reporting tool.
- Why did the reactor core disappear after I dropped it?
- Update the game before another recovery attempt: the EA 1.0-5 patch addressed cores losing objective markers after magnet release and cores despawning in the cargo lift. For a core already missing from your save, report the problem through the in-game bug-reporting tool. Include where you released it and what happened during delivery.