Assault Pod

Assault Pods are used to launch boarding parties against nearby enemy ships or bases. The armed boarding parties travel a short distance to a target that has it’s shields lowered sufficiently. On reaching the target, the attackers board the enemy vessel and fight with the defenders.

Assault Pods also serve as defensive forces if a ship or base is boarded by an attacker.

Assault Pods can be launched against a target when: Once an assault pod has been launched it is unavailable for a while until it regenerates a new boarding party.
 * the target is in range
 * the target has low shields

Note that assault pods can be shot down by Point Defense weapons while in transit to a target.

Assault Pods are also used by pirates to launch raids against enemy bases or colonies. In this case, when the assault pod reaches the target they board (for bases) or invade (for colonies) the target and fight with any defenders. If the attackers win the battle they loot the target, carrying away money, resources or other loot.