This script will add 2 new commands under the "Custom" menu:
1. Decouple/Recouple cluster: Allows a player-owned cluster to be broken up into its fighter+scouts. Or, if already decoupled, reforms the cluster from the ships, as long as they are all in formation with the fighter. Look in the readme for more information on how to use this properly.
2. Activate Cluster Software Scrambler: Developed by a rogue scientist working for the Pirates, this shady piece of software was developed in an attempt to aid the guild with their raids on the strange purple ships that appeared on the borders of their sectors. It disrupts a cluster's ship computer, thereby disabling its ability to break up for a small amount of time. It requires the Software Signature Scrambler to function.
Previous field tests of the CSS software revealed that clusters have an emergency manual decouple that activates when the structural integrity of the cluster's hull has weakened too much. Therefore, when the hull drops below a certain level, rather than blowing up, the cluster naturally breaks apart. Furthermore, if the Kha'ak are able to bring their jumpdrives back online, they may use it in an act of desperation to jump a safe distance away until control of the ship is regained. After about 2 to 3 minutes, the Kha'ak are usually able to regain control of their ship.
Why is the CSS useful? Currently, it is the only known way to surprise the Kha'ak and attempt to capture a cluster before it breaks up.* Using LV's HAT script, the player can, with a little skill, capture a cluster before it has time to react to the unusual breach of their ship controls. Just target the cluster and activate it. Unfortunately, it has very little use for destroying clusters.
*Capturing clusters themselves isn't the only way to obtain one. With my recouple command, if you can capture a Fighter and the right amount of scouts (5, 13, or 21), then you can use the Recouple command on the Fighter's command console and create your own clusters.
Change Log:
v1.50 (See latest post for details)
-Fixed crucial cargo transfer bug
-New recoupling system
-Ship names are transferred between cluster and ships
v1.41
-Added in some missing files that caused the entire cargo transfer to not function properly
-Reduced the command slots to only 2 instead of 3, following Gazz's suggestion.
v1.40
-Shield and Hull damage now transfer from cluster to ships, and vice versa. However, upon recoupling, a cluster will regain its shield power if the ships' shields were low.
-All "Attack" commands under the Combat menu now function using my decouple script with cargo transfer.
-When a cluster is attacked, it now reacts and attacks back, even if it's just sitting there. Any other clusters in the same sector will decouple and help.
-Fixed a bug with my capture algorithm. Still not sure how effective it is.
-Fixed the player autopilot activating upon using the Decouple/Recouple commands.
v1.30
-New cargo transfer - you no longer lose your onboard wares!
-No more free weapons/shields when a cluster is decoupled.
-[Beta] New attempt to be able to capture clusters. Just shoot! No HAT required. Please leave feedback on difficulty of this/if it works, as I haven't tested it yet.
v1.20
-Added Cluster Software Scrambler (Requires SSS)
-Slightly tweaked Decouple and Recouple commands
v1.10
-Added ability to reform a cluster.
v1.00
-Ability to break up a Kha'ak cluster.
Many thanks to B-O'F for his help and allowing me to implement his awesome Freight exchange scripts.
Please report any bugs to me immediately. As this is my first script, please leave me some feedback! Thanks!
Kortako