Slowly getting larger, seen through the shuttle window as you approach, the smooth lines of the Tradewind gleam like silver in the cold darkness of space...
A curious looking ship, the TradeWind is primarily circular in shape and nearly a hundred meters around; but very slim in profile, with a draft of barely twenty meters. Attached to this saucer-shaped body is a 'nose' that seems to have been added almost as an afterthought. Taking the form of a blunted, roughly conical shape, this structure houses the ship's bridge and living quarters.
Perhaps most curious of all is a ring that begins and ends to either side of this structure. It runs around the equator of the ship's circular main hull, standing out some five meters away from the body, and is apparently connected to the ship only where it emerges from the forward structure. Very thin and quite fragile looking, the ring's purpose is unclear. However, further inspection of the ship reveals no external propulsion system, which again brings your attention back to this ring.
Clearly this ship represents an innovation in ship-design.
You board the Tradewind through a small hatch, and enter the bridge...
Surprisingly roomy for its small size, the TradeWind's bridge is a model of efficiency, with nearly all ships' controls at the pilot's fingertips. The 'cockpit' as such is situated to the fore, and slightly below the rest of the cabin, in which four other chairs are arranged, along with two low benches toward the back. At the press of a button, a table rises from the floor between the swiveling chairs and off to the side is a hideaway bar. The pilot controls the stereo.
Aft you find the airlock. Situated between the flight bridge and the cavernous cargo hold, this small room serves as little more than a hallway between the two hatchways. The airlock, however gives the room its function.
You walk on through the airlock doors, which seal behind you with a hiss. You are standing inside the cargo hold. The whole interior of the ship's disc-shaped body is intended for hauling cargo. Divided into four sections, each has its own bay door that opens out at a diagonal to the beam, making a door each to forward port, starbord, and aft.
Currently the Tradewind is loaded with goods intended for sale at various starports. Despite the considerable size of the cargo hold there is very little room to move about, and everything is stowed away and carefully secured, wrapped in heavy tarps for the trip.
