Escape Velocity: Nova

At random you can encounter a Polaris Zephyr named "Shade of Blue". This is a reference to a ship in the beta test of the game. It has extra weapons including a 200mm Rail Gun. The ship will remain blue when captured.

Complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding item.

• Bio-Relay Laser, Fusion Reactor, Polaris Jammer, Wrathii: Complete 33% of the Polaris Missions.
• Capacitor Pulse Laser, Spun Diamond, Shield Organele, Organic Shields, Manta Bay, Anti-Matter Reactor, Nilk'emorya Jammer, Polaron Torpedos: Complete 66% of the Polaris missions.
• Cloaking Organ 1.1: Wait 180 game days after Cloaking Organ is unlocked in Track B.
• Etheric Wake Missile: Complete the third Gli-Tech-Nia Mission.
• Fire While Cloaked Wrathii, Polaron Torps, Tunneling Organ, Multi-Jump Organ: Unlocked at various points in second Polaris offshoot.
• Fusion Pulse Battery, Auroran Radar and IR Jammers, 100mm Turreted Rail Gun, Firebird and Phoenix Bays, Disabling Radar missiles and Fusion weapons: Complete 66% of the Auroran Missions.
• Heavy Blaster Turret, Titanium Lattice, Quad Light Blaster Turret, Shield Buffer, Shield Recharger, Legal Ion Cannons, Fed Viper and Andaconda Bays: Complete 66% of the Fed Missions.
• Ionization Dampener, Repair Droids, Overdrive, Aullival Sutherland Dampener: Unlocked at various stages in Pirate offshoot.
• Moash IFF Projecotor, Federation IFF Projector, Transmission Jammer: Complete first Auroran offshoot.
• Polaris Cloaking Organ: Complete Track A or B Polaris Missions (not notified in Track A).
• Polaron Cannon: Complete second Gli-Tech-Nia mission or earn in the Pirate offshoot.
• Polaron Multi-Torpedos: Unlock the Raven.
• Real Thorium Reactor, Fed Cloak, Fed Radar and IR Jammers: Complete 66% of the Fed Missions.
• Rebel Viper Bay, Illegal Quad Light and Heavy Blaster Turrets, Rebel Wrathii, Rebel Cloak, Rebel Bio-Relay Laser, Rebel Radar and IR Jammers: Complete 66% of the Rebel Missions.
• Sigma Mass Addition, Mount Reinforcement, Engine Tune-up, Eletrical Rewriring, Mass Expansion: Complete first Sigma Mission, and do not fail the second or third missions.
• Telekinetic Boost, Hostility Sense, Distraction Sense, T6-0 Strength Levels, Flower of Spring, Summer Bloom, Autumn Petal, Create Dart, Winter Tempest: First few, become a T4. Flower is T3, Bloom is T2, Petal and Darts are T1, Tempest is T0. Strength Levels correspond with the T Ranks.
• Wrathii (Federation): Complete the fifth Gli-Tech-Nia Mission.

Successfully complete a major story line to unlock four planets in the northwest part of the map. Go one jump to the right and one jump up from South Manchester. The planets correspond to the development team.

If you play the Vell-os missions and become one, onceyou get your telepathic ships (dart, arrow, javelin), you willbe paid double to transport passengers and cargo. People are willingto pay more for the use of a Vell-os craft.

Complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding ship.

Auroran Cruiser, Carrier: Become Heraan Thurokiir.

Auroran Firebird, Phoenix, Abomination: Become a warrior of the Heraan House.

Auroran Thunderforge: Complete second Auroran offshoot, wait about 30 game days.

Fed Destroyer, Carrier: Become the Fed Ambassador.

Fed Scout Ship: Complete the Fed weapon runs.

Fed Viper, Andaconda, Patrol Boat: Complete the Fed secure prisoner missions.

Pegasus, Starliner, Leviathan: Complete first Sigma Mission, do not fail 2nd or 3rd.

Polaris Arachnid, Scarab: Complete 66% of the Polaris Missions.

Polaris Manta, Striker, Dragon: Complete first few Polaris missions.

Polaris Raven: Complete almost all the Polaris Missions, probably about 5 missions left at this point.

Polaris Zephyr: Finish either Track A or B Polaris missions. You are not notified of its development in Track A.

R.A.G.E. Gunboat: Complete 6th Gli-Tech-Nia mission (Fed storyline only).

Rebel Dragon, Destroyer, IDA Frigate: Complete most Rebel missions (about 66% of the ).

Rebel Viper, Lightning, Thunderhead, Valkrye, Starbridge: Become Ory-Hara.

Unrelenting: Complete 66% of the Pirate missions.

Vell-os Arrow: Become a T2.

Vell-os Dart: Become a T3.

Vell-os Javelin: Become a T1.

Complete the indicated task to earn the corresponding rank.

Cunjo Hunter: 25% remaining when Cunjo Hunting.

Director of the Bureau of Internal Investigations: Complete Federation storyline.

Federation Ambassador: Complete 66% of the Fed missions.

Federation Naval Commander: Complete 33% of the Fed missions.

First Thurokiir of the Auroran Empire: Lead the Heraan House to becoming the First Family.

Have Hypergate Access: Start the third Sigma Mission or become Ory-Hara.

Heraan Thurokiir: Win the disabling duel against the other pack members.

Kar'Hallarn, Leader of the Pack: Complete about 50% of the Auroran missions.

Knight of the Red Branch: Complete Wild Geese storyline with Michalean alive and McGowan accepting the peace proposal.

Member of the Guild of Bounty Hunters: Complete the first Bounty Hunter mission.

Ory'Hara: Complete 33% of the Polaris missions.

Ory-Hara: Complete 33% of the Rebel missions.

Pirate Guild Master: Complete 50% of the Pirate missions.

Sworn Enemy of the Wild Geese: Board Eamon Flanaggin's ship; replaces Knight of Red Branch rank.

T6, T5, T4, T3, T2, T1, and T0: Complete Vell-os missions; ranks earned in listed order.

U.N. Shipping Courier: Complete the first U.N. mission.

Warrior of the Heraan House: Complete the duel for initiation.

Cats from Zero Wing can be encountered flying a red Leviathan. When hailed his picture will replace the normal Leviathan picture. Greet him and he will reply with the "All your base are belong to us" statement. He will also say "For Great Justice!" when attacked.