Osterman Neucleon

The Nucleon is a cruiser made by Osterman Light Vehicle Corporation.

After their notable failure with the Ecliptic, the company decided to develop a simple and cheap cruiser, in the hope of attracting the attention of the low income market segment. However, the first prototype produced was judged to be "unappealingly box-like" by the current company president Juanita Osterman-Polkett. The design team suddenly found themselves facing a tight deadline: they had 2 weeks to reduce the boxiness of the vessel, without impacting on the cost. As a result, it is often said by rivals that the Nucleon's distinctive shape is a design of desparation.

When the Nucleon was finally unveiled in 858, its shape was essentially a box with two forward engine nacelles formed by extending the existing chassis elements. This unusual construction caught the attention of the popular press, and for a couple of months the small cruiser was stylish enough to command some respect among the lower classes. However, the big breakthrough came when accident statistics revealed that mounting the piles 2 metres ahead of the main part of the ship made it more easily controllable, resulting in a 5% lower mislanding rate among the important 21-25 age group.

By the release of the Nucleon IV in 849, it was already the most popular cruiser for training schools, as well as the default vehicle for parents to buy their sons as a graduation present. The same ship was being re-launched every 2 years with only minor changes, and it seemed that its popularity was pretty much guaranteed.

Since the Nucleon II, the body panels have all been easily interchangable. This means that the cheap and box-like 'classic' styling can easily be upgraded to a more aerodynamic (but more expensive) 'retro' shell, even without any specialist tools. It is quite common to see a ship with parts of both styles merged together, creating an entire new way to make a fashion statement. This customisability was taken even further in 849, when fashion designer Carthian Blake produced a set of delicately painted alternate panels matching the style of his models' outfits. The fashion press embraced the idea of a vehicle you could change to match your outfit, and suddenly the humble Nucleon was in high demand among rich and poor alike.