The Cloud Cruiser is flown from the helm, where the pilot thrusts, reverses and turns — and for the long stretches between landmarks the cruise-control autopilot takes over, with manual help only needed when islands or storms block the route.
On this page
Helm placement and basic controls
The helm is usually placed at the top or front of the ship and lets the pilot thrust, reverse and turn. Staying at the helm constantly is impractical on longer routes, which is why the cruise-control autopilot exists — it does the boring flying while the pilot handles navigation planning and threat calls.
How the autopilot works
The pilot looks through a periscope, marks a navigation point on a map or air card, and the Cruiser calculates and flies the route on its own. Manual intervention is only needed when the path is heavily obstructed by islands, which is most common in the lower altitudes where terrain is dense.
Lift, weight and balloons
Lift is provided by hydrogen-filled balloons siphoned from the atmosphere, and the Cruiser's lift is directly tied to the relationship between total weight and the number of balloons — heavier loads require more balloons or removed weight. An overweight alarm blares when maximum weight capacity is exceeded and does not stop until the balance is restored by adding balloons or removing weight, and heavier vessels need higher thrust to get moving in the first place.
FAQ
What powers the Cloud Cruiser?
The Cloud Cruiser is mostly powered by a compact onboard nuclear reactor that produces about 25 Power Units per second. Every system except thrust draws PU, so balancing production against consumption is a core operating concern.