The rather unconventional design of CBT vessels is owed to them being built around a Xen Core, a mysterious power source with an energy output much akin to a tiny sun. Xen Cores not only serve as the main power source for CBT vessels but also as a means of propulsion for the ships themselves, as they allow for immediate teleportation at a given distance. The Xen Core’s teleportation ability is also frequently used to instantly warp Cleaners onto a planet’s surface to fulfil their mission and later recall them just as fast once their job is done. Tapping onto the Xen Core is not without its risks however, as extensive use can render it unstable and eventually bring it to implosion, with teleportation being particularly power-intensive.
The Assessor-class Escort Vessel serves to either accompany bigger research ships or to teleport troops onto a planet’s surface for advanced hit-and-run strikes on vulnerable targets as well as acquiring new test subjects.
The Rectifier-class Research Vessel only sports few guns compared to other ships of comparable size, for its role is not in directly engaging the enemy. Rather than that, it contains several laboratories for CBT scientists to conduct their experiments and holding cells for test subjects. Furthermore, its Xen Core is big enough to be used as an improvised weapon by using its teleportation capabilities against the enemy: incoming warships can be teleported into the nearest asteroid field or nebula.
