The Columbus class scout ship

This ship is immediately available to any race that begins with Ion drives as a racial technolony pick. As an early explorer, it excels at covering the local sector with it's speed-5. Several upgrade models exist, according to need and new technology:

The -518 version was developed with the advent of Basic miniturization, which brought the hull space from 26 to 28. This made it possible to include Basic Life Support, increasing the operational range from 0.7 to 1.8.

The -518b variant came when the new double-speed Impulse drives made it possible to reduce the engine count. It adds a sensor package that increases sensor range from 2 to 3.

A single -529 model was created to explore an isolated star cluster. The impulse drive savings was used to enhance range with a second basic life support, giving speed 5, range 2.9.

The -707 combines miniturization and impulse drives for a significant speed increase to speed 7, range 0.7. By this time, the borders have expanded, and exploring the perimiter of the empire requires more speed than range.

The -918 was the last ship of the series that was built, when Impulse.II drives further reduced size requirements. Combined with basic miniturization, this fast scout class finished the mapping job that the Columbus-507 began.