Latcher
Fugari Latcher — Parasite Class
Role
Silent cargo drain. The invisible tax.
The Latcher is the Fugari's economic weapon. Once the Envoy has completed its introduction, a Latcher attaches to your hull and begins feeding. You may not notice the drain immediately. That is by design.
This is not a conventional combat ship. It carries no strikers and no guardians. Its threat is mechanical and patient — a drone bay wired entirely for extraction.
Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Hull HP | 8,000 |
| Drone bay | 50,000 |
| Strikers | None |
| Guardians | None |
| Attack type | drone_latch |
Threat Vector
Economic. The Latcher's threat is the cargo it takes each wave. It does not shoot back. It drains.
Each wave of combat, the Latcher executes a drone_latch action: 10% of your current cargo hold is siphoned that wave. The drain targets cargo only — it does not drain drones. The drain compounds wave-over-wave if you hold position without destroying it.
Wave Combat Loop
The Latcher pulls you into standard wave combat on contact. The combat loop runs until one of three conditions ends it.
Your options each wave:
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Strike chips | Sends strikers at the Latcher's hull — the only way to reduce its hull |
| Hold | No strikers deployed; cargo drain still occurs that wave |
| Retreat | Disengage immediately; cargo already siphoned stays siphoned |
Because the Latcher has no strikers or guardians of its own, it cannot damage your hull directly. The attrition is purely economic — but 10% per wave adds up fast if you are holding significant cargo.
Ending the Encounter
The wave loop ends when:
- You destroy it — hull reduced to 0. Any cargo already siphoned that encounter is recovered (it was still in the Latcher's hold).
- You retreat — disengage accepted; siphoned cargo is lost.
- Full drain — if your cargo hold reaches zero, the Latcher detaches naturally. No further combat.
- Purge — a coordinated purge operation ends the encounter, earns 200 cycle points, and improves your FCS standing.
Purge Requirements
Purging a Fugari latch is the most rewarding resolution — it clears the encounter, earns points, and helps push the FCS down. It is also the most demanding:
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Drone commitment | Significant — purge is a force operation |
| Syndicate coordination | Solo purges are costly; syndicate-backed purges are far more efficient |
| Turn investment | Turn-intensive — you are vulnerable during execution |
| Reward | 200 cycle points + FCS improvement |
The correct moment to organize a purge is before the latch drains you significantly, not after. The Fugari will return. A successful purge buys time and improves your position against the faction.
Activity Log Notifications
The latch lifecycle generates activity log entries at key moments:
| Event | Log type |
|---|---|
| First contact / envoy arrival | fugari_contact |
| Demand issued | fugari_demand |
| Cargo seizure (inactive ship) | fugari_seizure |
| Contractor betrayal | fugari_betrayal |