Note: Combat saucers were an ill-fated attempt to create an agile and intimidating interplanetary policing vehicle to curb the growing piracy problems that arose after the building of Venus Station One. It was felt that a vehicle was needed which could be maneuverable and versatile in open space, essentially filling the role that a helicopter might fill in a difficult to patrol area on the ground. However, the ships, and the officers to crew them proved much too costly–and far less effective than expected at actually slowing piracy–so the ships were retired and sold off. Many of them ended up in the hands of pirates, smugglers, and other criminals, who were able to use them much more effectively than any police or Orbit Guard could have. Thus, combat saucers themselves became associated with criminal activity.